madii & dyl is a company from Australia that specializes in eco-friendly and hypoallergenic pillows for babies, toddlers, and children.  If you have a sensitive child or a child with breathing problems such as asthma you know how difficult it is to find bedding that doesn’t harbor dust mites.

From the madii & dyl website:

Made from 100% certified organic latex our pillows contain no chemicals, are hypoallergenic and naturally resistant to dust mites, mildew and bacteria. Designed for comfort, its softness, support and innovative design makes it the superior choice in children’s bedding. All pillows come with polyester pillow protector and pure cotton pillow case.

When I read the statement I was curious – what is “certified organic latex?” Is that a good thing?  It sounds like it would be good because it’s organic, right?

Actually, I’ve learned that natural latex foam is made from the milk of a rubber tree.  If it were synthetic latex it would be made with crude oil.  There are actually a few different types of foams that are used in making mattresses and pillows; polyurethane foam, latex foam, and soy or bio foam.  According to an article I found from the Healthy Child, Healthy World organization the preferred material for foam mattresses and pillows is natural latex because it is the only process that is free of polyurethane.

More on the madii & dyl pillows:

• Available in 3 different sizes.  Sooki Baby (3mo-18mo), Teenii Tot (18mo+), and the Mini Me (4 yrs+)
• Provide proper neck support and spine alignment
• Perfect for allergy sufferers
• Washable and should last up to 5 years

Personal experience:

We’ve been using our Teenii Tot for 2 months now and it’s a nice sized pillow for my tot.  She only suffers from asthma related issues when she has a cold but having asthma myself and I can see how this will be a nice pillow for her to use.  I love that it is washable.  We’ve fallen into the “Pillow Pet” trap (daddy brought it home for her right after our Teenii Tot arrived) and she loves her unicorn and insists on taking that to school with her.  It’s huge, harbors dust mites, and isn’t exactly the most ergonomical pillow…but she loves it!  I’m hoping that the unicorn won’t last for 5 years!  As for the Teenii Tot – the way my tot has behaving I’ll be lucky if this pillow makes it 5 years.  Here is a glimpse at what she did to the pillow after she unzipped the pillow case and the inner casing – who would have thought toddlers could be so destructive at nap time?

Where to buy? Purchase directly from madii & dyl and save 20% until the end of September with coupon code TEC20.

Follow madii & dyl online:

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/madiidyl

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/kidsdayout

Reference:  Healthy Child, Healthy World; What foam mattress should I use?

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Look at that face – that’s the face of a girl on a mission.  In Florida there aren’t many weekends that don’t involve swimming in the pool or ocean – or being outside for most of the day.  Yes, it’s often hot but as long as there is water nearby we will all survive. 

How many times have you looked at the shelf of sunscreens at your local store and ponder which one to choose?  There are so many different brands, SPF ratings, application types (spray, cream, wipes) how do you know what is best? 

Did you know that most of the brands on those shelves contain toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer?  WHAT?  Did you think that sunscreen would protect you from cancer?  So did I – until I read the 2010 Environmental Working Groups (EWG) sunscreen guide.  The EWG rated over 500 popular sunscreen products and only 39 of them are recommended as safe for you, your child, and the environment.  That leaves a LOT of products on that shelf that contain nasty toxic chemicals – and many of those products are in your homes. 

I had read about parabens when Lil’ B was born and found several brands that were paraben free - but even some of those don’t meet the EWG guidelines.  You can read their full report and their thoughts on Vitamin A, nanomaterials and other hormone disrupting chemicals that make the BAD list on their website.  I recommend reading the full report and decide what is best for you and your family. 

I recently tried Episencial Sunny Sunscreen that was provided to me from Eco Mom®to review.  It’s a mineral based sunscreen that is organic and free of nanomaterials and pertrochemicals.  According to the EWG report it rated an overall score of 2 which ranks in the recommendedgroup of sunscreens.  You can feel safe using Episencial when you are out in the sun. 

Compared to my previous baby sunscreen (that failed the EWG rating system) I was impressed with Episencial.  I’ve never tried a mineral based sunscreen before and was afraid it would be thick and cakey – leaving a nasty while glow about us.  Surprisingly it actually rubbed in quite nicely and didn’t leave a thick or white glow.  My husband tried it and wasn’t immediately in love – he said it didn’t rub in as nice as he’d like.  I disagree with him but we are all entitled to our opinions.  He did like it better than our old brand though. 

Price: $14.99 for a 4oz tube.  Not bad compared to some of the other brands that are comparable.  I could see myself purchasing more Episencial when this tube is empty. 

You can find Episencial at Eco Mom® along with the complete line of skin care products from Episencial.  Until June 30th you can save 20% off any item at Eco Mom® with coupon code TPARTYJUNE. 

More Sun Safety Tips:

1. Higher SPFs don’t really mean more protection – stick with a sunscreen less than 50 SPF and reapply often.
2. Layer up and wear SPF clothing when possible. 
3. Avoid the hottest part of the day when the suns rays are most damaging.  This is usually between 12-4pm. 
4. Find shade when you have to be out during the hottest part of the day. 
5. Don’t forget the sunglasses – protect your eyes!

Don’t be scared of the sun – but don’t expect a sunscreen to be your only line of defense against skin cancer. 

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If you joined us tonight for the #DiaperShops party on Twitter here are the coupon codes you have been waiting for! Now go and shop!

#1  Receive a free @fuzzibunz changing pad with a $10 purchase at Kelly’s Closet. Use code PARTYTIME Promo ends 8am est 4/30.

#2  Receive a free Smartipants diaper (no insert) with a $25 purchase at Kelly’s Closet.  Use code CAKE Promo ends 8am est 4/30.

NEW!!! Diaper Shops has added one more coupon code for all of you!  Seriously people, do not walk…RUN to Diaper Shops and well…SHOP!

#3  10% discount off your next order at Kelly’s Closet with code AFTERPARTY . (Cannot be used on bG,flip,econobum*) Exp. 5/4.

Limit one code per order and you may only use each code one time! Not good on any previous orders. 

To join future Twitter Parties please visit www.ecomommedia.com.

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So maybe Lil’ B won’t appreciate National Tell a Fairy Tale Day this year (unless she gets to eat the book) but reading is a wonderful gift to our children.  I have been reading to my oldest son since he was just a baby…almost every day.  He’s turned into a very successful reader, so successful that he’s actually reading above his grade level at school. 

Here are some ideas for sharing National Tell a Fairy Tale Day with your children, no matter how old they are. 

1.  Share your favorite fairy tale with your kids.  I wonder if Little Red Ridinghood will become our new favorite story since Lil’ B has red hair? 

2.  Play dress up and turn yourself and your children into characters from a favorite story.  Big brother would have fun dressing up as the big bad wolf. 

3.  Have your kids put on a puppet show of their favorite fairy tale.

4.  Help turn your child’s room into a scene from their favorite fairy tale. 

5.  Make a fairy tale inspired craft.  I really like the Little Red Ridinghood toilet paper characters on DLTK’s website.  What a great way to reuse those pesky TP rolls.

Sprout Baby online store has some cute eco-friendly toys that will help inspire your children to use their imagination.  I really like PlanToys wooden tea set.  Don’t forget to use coupon code SBBL055 at Sprout Baby and save 15% off your first purchase.  I’m part of their Word of Mom program and can earn a little extra money if you enter that code when making your purchase (Thanks!).  After you place your first purchase you can join the Word of Mom program too…look under their affiliate program. 

Now, I think I need to go find a copy of Little Red Ridinghood for my Lil’ Red!  What is your favorite fairy tale?  What will you do to share National Tell a Fairy Tale with your kids today?

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Can you really use ‘joy‘ and ‘cleaning‘ in the same sentence?  Does anyone really enjoy cleaning?  All I can think about is that five minutes after I clean one of the members of my family will come behind me and mess it up!  I mean seriously…I wipe the dinner table clean after a meal only to have someone leave another pile of crumbs a few hours later!  And for some reason hardwood floors are dirty the second I put the mop away!  It’s all rather exhausting if you ask me!

But that’s why I’m not “The Cleaning Coach” and Leslie Reichert is!  I virtually met Leslie back in September when I was on Twitter asking about stained diapers.  She graciously sent me an email suggesting that I try some Charlie’s Soap and pointed me to her website and her new book…”The Joy of Green Cleaning.”  She must have known how badly I was in need of some coaching!

The Joy of Green Cleaning is your ultimate cook book for green cleaning recipes.  It is jammed pack with 70 pages of recipes for kitchen cleaners, bathroom cleaners, floor cleaners, laundry cleaners and more!  Now that’s a lot of recipes.  Did you know you could make your own dishwasher rinse aide with lemon juice, club soda, and borax?  Or that a combination of borax and vinegar and water will remove mold in your bathroom?  The recipes in her book are really simple and use low cost and non-hazardous ingredients.

You can buy Leslie’s book in ebook or spiral bound versions and for all of my wonderful readers she has offered a $5 off coupon!  The ebook sells for $10 so that’s half off!  How can you go wrong? 

But don’t stop with just the book…visit Leslie’s other site, Shop Green Cleaning, to find all of your cleaning essentials.  There she sells the ECO-Sponge and Skoy reusable cloths.  You can also find Charlies Soap, soap flakes, and soda crystals for all your laundry needs…even for cloth diaper laundry! 

Use coupon code theecochic09 at either site and receive $5 off your entire purchase. 

You can also find Leslie on Twitter as @greenyourcleanand on Facebook as Leslie Reichert.  She also writes a pretty awesome blog called Clean Green Talk.  Today she posted her first tip in a series called 20 Day Cleanup to Thanksgiving.  I guess when I’m done online my task is to clean the guest bathroom!  I’ll do that after my cloth diapers are in the dryer. 

Leslie…I’m a difficult student but I’m sure with your help and your cook book with The Joy of Green Cleaning book, there is still hope for me!

This post is sponsored by The Joy of Green Cleaning but unless you are Cinderella I’m going to guess that you’ll feel the same way I do about her products!

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Giveaway alert! Win a $25 gift certificate from Sprout Baby AND get a coupon code for 15% off your first purchase at Sprout Baby AND a chance to win $2500 in cash!  Details at the bottom of this post.  Eco-ngratulations Nancy!

All of my readers can save on purchases at Sprout Baby and save 15% off your first order with coupon code SBBL055!!

Sprout Foods!

No, baby food does not have to be boring?  And it doesn’t have to come in a glass jar!  If you have shopped the aisles of the local grocery stores lately you might have noticed that the baby food has been invaded by celebrity chef Tyler Florence.  His gourmet organic baby food line, Sprout Foods, is spoiling babies all around the country! 

Babies just like Lil’ B are loving the new flavors such as Peach Rice Pudding and Oatmeal with Roasted Cinnamon Applesauce.  Sprout Foods uses all USDA certified organic ingredients with no preservatives, sugars, or fillers.  Their resealable pouches are BPA-free and leave a smaller footprint on the Earth than the traditional glass jars.  We received a variety pack of Sprout Food for Lil’ B to try and I have to tell you…the smell of the Peach Rice Pudding made me hungry!  I actually tried it and it’s REAL FOOD…not just baby mush in a jar!  Trust me…and Lil’ B…your baby will L-O-V-E Sprout Foods!

While I make most of Lil’ Bs food from fresh fruits and vegetables there are times when processed baby food is just more convenient (like when you’re traveling or visiting a theme park).  It’s nice to know there is a baby food out there that resembles homemade! 

Sprout Baby!

Sprout Baby is a sister company of Sprout Foods and they are working to provide parents with environmentally friendly baby products such as glass bottles and cloth diapers.  Another one of their partners is Healthy Child Healthy World which is a non-profit organization working to provide parents with steps to creating a safe, clean and green world for their children. 

Sprout Baby is celebrating their 1st birthday!  And they want to giveaway $2500 in cash!  Yes, for all customers who shop between now and Dec 15, 2009, we will be entered into a drawing for $2500 in cash! 

One lucky reader will receive a $25 gift certificate to spend at the Sprout Baby store online to purchase anything you like!  They sell Sprout Foods, cloth diapers (I can hear my readers yelling with excitement!!!), feeding items for baby, soothing items for momma, and so much more! 

All of my readers can save on purchases at Sprout Baby and save 15% off your first order with coupon code SBBL055!!

WIN IT!  Want to win the $25 gift certificate to Sprout Baby?  All you have to do is visit Sprout Baby online and tell me what you would buy if you won.  Leave me a comment below and be sure to leave your email address so you can be contacted when you win.  Giveaway is open to resident of the US only. 

Bonus Entries!
1.  Make a purchase at Sprout Baby using coupon code SBBL055 and earn 5 bonus entries into the giveaway.  Leave a comment below telling me what you purchased and the date. 
2.  Follow @sproutbabyclub on Twitter for 1 bonus entry.  Leave me a comment.
3.  Follow @theecochic on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (max 5 bonus entries).  Leave me a comment.
4.  Become a fan of SproutBaby.comon Facebook for 1 bonus entry.  Leave me a comment.
5.  Subscribe to my blog in your favorite readers for 1 bonus entry.  Leave me a comment.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER!

Contest will end on Friday, November 13th, 2009 at midnight (EST).

Yes, I was provided with samples from Sprout Baby to write this post…but as you can tell my the picture of Lil’ B…she really did L-O-V-E the food!

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GIVEAWAY!  This post is sponsored by Ladybug Diapers.  Read all the way to the bottom and enter the giveaway!As a special offer to all of my readers they are offering you 10% off all orders over $25 through the end of August 2009.  Coupon Code: ECB09 

ECO-ngratulations Anne!

Regular readers will know that my journey into the world of cloth diapers began last year when we found out we were expecting our second amazing child.  My mother used cloth diapers on both my brother and I but I didn’t want to use the old fashioned kind.  I wanted to enter the world of modern cloth diapers!  It wasn’t until a few months ago that I realized how many different options that are available.  All you have to do is decide what features are most important to you.  I recently found Ladybug Diapersand they are one of the few companies who have begun selling Bamboo cloth diapers.  Below is a conversation I had with the owner Annita about her online store and the products she carries.

The Eco Chic:  Ladybug Diapers specializes in Bamboo cloth diapers.  What are some of the benefits of bamboo over other modern cloth diapers?   

Ladybug Diapers:  It is naturally hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and completely pesticide free (Bamboo has no natural enemies/predators).  It is also one of the few sustainable fabrics that are being used for diapers. 

The Eco Chic:  Is there any special washing directions for bamboo?   

Ladybug Diapers:  No there is not.  It is just as easy to care for as other reusable diapers.  The only difference is it takes about 10-20 minutes longer to dry. 

The Eco Chic:  How would you recommend choosing a wet bag? 

Ladybug Diapers:  Personally, go a bit larger than you think you will need.  The ‘extra’ space usually becomes necessary.  For out and about, choose a medium size.  For all day in the car, trips, etc, choose the hanging wet/dry bag.  It is basically a compact diaper pail with the bonus of keeping dry items in the outer pocket.

 The Eco Chic:  Can you wash wet bags?  Do you have to worry about the smell? 

Ladybug Diapers:  Yes, wet bags can be washed as often as needed.  Just use the same regimen as you use for diapers and covers.  The PUL fabric requires little special care and it is quite safe to dry your wet bag.  There is little to no smell when cared for and used properly.  To minimize any odor from your wet bag when in use, you can apply a bit of Tea Tree Oil to a cloth wipe and just drop in your wet bag with the diapers. 

The Eco Chic:  I see you carry different brands of leg warmers; are there any differences between the brands besides the designs? 

Ladybug Diapers:  Yes.  There are quite a few differences.  From the materials used, to the sizes and fit and of course the patterns.  Our first leg warmers were Agoo Leg Huggers.  They are made with Bamboo material are ultra soft and just perfect for little girls.  We have not forgotten the boys though!  Our Fall line of Agoo Leg Huggers will feature several designs just for your little man as well several new unisex designs.  Once we discovered Agoo, we were addicted.  Agoo and Toodlebugz offer Bamboo leg warmers.  Huggalugsoffers Organic Cotton leg huggers and Melontree Baby offers our most eclectic line of leg warmers.

The Eco Chic:  What are your personal favorite diaper, wet bag, and legwarmer?  

Ladybug Diapers:  I am partial to the Bamboo Prefolds.  We carry AIO’s, Fitted and soon will offer Contours which have all worked very well for me, but I just love the trimness of the Bamboo Prefold with a cover.

Discovering the Planet Wise line of wet bags was a super find that I owe to my web designer.  She discovered them, recommended them, we tried them out and have never considered looking for another wet bag.  They are awesome.  Not only do they come in so many exclusive patterns, they are the only wet bag I have found to offer a ‘wet/dry bag’ combo.  It has been my lifesaver on more than one occasion.  I can not limit myself to one favorite.  I have two.  One for normal out and about use, and my must have hanging wet/dry bag which I use like a diaper pail.  The hanging bag is totally awesome for long trips and hanging on the bedroom door for those night time diaper changes.

My favorite leg warmer?  All of them!  We carry different brands of leg warmers for the quality, characteristics, uniqueness and marketability of each product.  If you notice between the brands there is quite a variation in design as well as size.  Leg warmers have mostly been marketed to girls.  We want to change that.  Little boys’ knees get just as much carpet burn learning to crawl as girls do (and don’t forget rocks and concrete sidewalks).  When toddling along, those leg warmers help keep many skinned knees at bay.  I can personally testify that leg warmers alone are responsible for saving 5 skinned knees in ONE afternoon (on the same child!).  My daughter is my guide for the leg warmers and she is always going for the animals, bugs and butterflies.

I had the pleasure of trying one of the Planet Wise wet/dry bags this past week.  I didn’t really understand why I would need one, were they really that necessary?  I am now a changed woman!  We took the wet bag with us on a mini-beach vacation this past weekend and I took it everywhere.  It was stylish enough that I could use it alone as a diaper bag.  However, it was small enough (I tried the Med wet/dry bag) to fit inside my diaper bag if I was going out for a long time.  The wet bags have one wet pocket and one dry pocket.  It was a perfect addition to the beach for both diapers and wet bathing suits.  I’ve started to use it around the house too.  It snaps perfectly to the changing table for a temporary storage of diapers before I place them in the bathroom.  Now I guess it’s time for me to buy a larger one, it might just replace my bucket in the bathroom that I load up with diapers waiting to be washed. 

Giveaway!!  Ladybug Diapers is giving one lucky reader a pair of Agoo Bamboo Leg Huggers!  Contest open to residents in the US only.  Registration ends July 15th at midnight (EST) Not just for girls…they also have great huggers for the boys!

To enter the giveaway you must follow these simple directions:
1.  Click HERE to enter our EAZY ENTRY form.  All informatiton will be kept private.  You will need to visit Ladybug Diapers to answer a question about Ladybug Diapers on the entry form.

For extra chances to win:
(Leave me a separate comment for each extra entry below)

1 Extra Entry: Follow both @theecochic and @ladybugdiapers on Twitter

1 Extra Entry:  Play #FollowFriday on Twitter and include both @theecochic and @ladybug diapers in your post.  Don’t forget the #FollowFriday hashtag.  Obviously this is only good TODAY!

Up to 2 Extra Entries per day:  Tweet the following exactly as written: “Cool cloth diaper, wet bag, leg hugger post and contest @theecochic + @ladybugdiapers! www.theecochic.com“  You may only earn 2 extra entries per day by Tweeting this!

1 Extra Entry:  Become a Fan of The Eco Chic on Facebook AND Share/Comment the page with your friends.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND EXTRA ENTRIES HERE!!!  
 

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