The EcoChic

Giveaway Alert!  The Natural Baby Co is giving away one Gro Baby Bio Soaker Intro Package to a lucky reader.  To enter see details at the end of this post.    ECO-ngratulatins Holly S!

One of the newest hybrid cloth diapering systems out there is the Gro Baby System.  Check out there cute new animated short video HERE! 

The original Gro Baby shell consists of a water proof shell and an organic cotton soaker pad that snaps into the shell.  The idea is that you purchase several soaker pads and reuse the shell.  Unlike most pocket diapers the Gro Baby has a unique quick drying layer between the soaker and the shell (it’s sewn into the shell and looks like a large weave mesh).  The soakers attach to the shell with two snaps; one at the front and one at the back.  The original soakers are very thick organic cotton and are very absorbent.  They also come with a booster for nights and naps.  The other unique feature to the Gro Baby Shell is the closure.  It’s a very fine hook closure that works withthe very soft fabric loop (similar to Velcro only much softer and finer).  If you prefer snaps The Natural Baby Co will convert your Gro Baby shell for a small fee.

The features don’t stop there!  The Gro Baby shells will also work with their newest product…the Bio Soakers biodegradable, disposable soaker pads.  These disposable pads easily attach using two adhesive tabs located on the back of the pads.  Each pad is made up of three parts; 1) the lining, 2) the core, and 3) the waterproof outer.  The lining and waterproof outer layers are both compostable.  The core is biodegradeable.  The core is made of a wood pulp fiber and contains about 3 grams of superabsorbent polymers (SAP).  SAP is what makes traditional diapers (and other hygiene products) absorb and retain liquids.  Not only can the Bio Soakers be composted the core is flushable (similar to G Diapers)…just tear it open and flush the insides.  (*As with any flushable product, please use caution!)  Bio Soakers would make a practical travel option that would allow you to have the cuteness of your fluff with the convenience of a disposable. 

The traditional GroBaby cloth diapering system is very compareable to other organic diapers (selling at $24.95 each…same as the BG Organic).  The nice feature to the Gro Baby is that you can reuse the shell.  The soakerpads sell for $16.95 for a set of two.  With just one shell and three soakers you would spend $41.90 and end up with three diaper changes…three BG organics would cost you $74.85…not a bad savings!  The Bio Soakers cost $19.99 for a box of 50 pads…a mere 40 cents for each pad. 

What did I think?  I have a two part response to that question. 

1) Traditional Gro Baby System: I love it!  It’s very easy to use and I wish I had a few more soakers so I could take full advantage of the reusability of the shell.  I love the absorbency of the organic cotton…it just soaks up the pee!  I really like the closure system.  It’s a much softer hook closure than traditional Velcro.  The only negative comment I have about the traditional Gro Baby is the laundry tabs don’t seem to hold very well.  Each time I washed the shell the tabs were stuck on another diaper.  This is easily rectified if you purchase the snap conversion…but I prefer the hook closure for me.  Out of all the diapers I’ve tried the Gro Baby is at the top of my list.  Just look at how cute it is…even in the simple vanilla color! 

2) The Bio Soakers with Gro Baby Shell:  I used the Bio Soakers a few different ways.  When I used the bio soakers as they were intended to be used…with the Gro Baby shell…they worked wonderful.  Unfortunately I only have one shell at the moment.  It never fails that each time I put it on Lil’ B she decides to poo…and poo large…and spill out onto the shell.  This makes it difficult to reuse the shell…hence my frustration begins.  If I had at least 3-6 shells I think I would have enjoyed the bio soakers much more.  Instead…I attempted to use the bio soakers inside other diaper covers…while they still functioned the same way there was one problem that I encountered.  The adhesive that is used on the bio soakers is a very strong adhesive and it didn’t remove easily from my BG cover material.  You can read all about my travel experience here.  I’ve used the bio soakers a few random times around the house with the Gro Baby shell and I’ve never had any problems arise when I use them the right way! 

Here is a tip I received from Kim at The Natural Baby Co regarding the Gro Baby Bio Soakers. 
“We use a eco friendly adhesive which can get sticky when warmed from being by baby’s skin.  My biggest tip is to let your diaper sit for a minute BEFORE peeling off the soaker pad.”

Buy It!  Want to try the Gro Baby system yourself?  You can purchase your own system at The Natural Baby Co.  The introductory package (one shell and 50 bio soakers) sells for $34.95. 

Win It!  I know…you want to win your own Gro Baby system…who doesn’t want free fluff?  I’m giving away one complete introductory package (one shell and 50 bio soakers) to a lucky reader!  Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada.  ECO-ngratulations Holly S!

MANDATORY ENTRY!  Visit The Natural Baby Co and tell me what your favorite Gro Baby shell color is…don’t forget they have some brand new prints available!  Leave me a comment below with your answer.

Bonus Entries:  Leave an individual comment for each item completed with links (if applicable).
1.  Become a Fan of Gro Baby on Facebook.
2.  Become a Fan of The Eco Chic on Facebook.
3.  Follow Gro Baby on Twitter.
4.  Follow The Eco Chic on Twitter.
5.  Add my button to your blog or website!
6.  Subscribe to The Eco Chic on Feedburner…deliver me to your inbox!
7.  Subscribe to The Eco Chic in Google Reader (or other feed reader).
8.  Tweet about this giveaway…be sure to include @TheEcoChic and @GroBaby and a link back here! (Max 5 tweets per giveaway!)
9.  Blog about this giveaway.
10. Make any purchase from The Natural Baby Co (valid for purchases between now and the end of the contest only) and earn 5 extra entries to this giveaway!

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO BE ENTERED TO THIS CONTEST!

Contest ends at midnight (EST) on October 29th, 2009.

Yes, a Gro Baby Introductory Package was provided to me in exchange for this post…I’ve been writing this post for over 3 hrs now so I think that’s a good exchange for my time…don’t you?   

Now the tricky questions that I am trying to find answers to.  While I’ve began doing some research on the topics I can’t learn it all in one evening.  Biodegradable, compostable, and other environmental marketing terminology.  Are they just keen marketing skills or are they really environmentally friendly?  This is where I start to get a little lost in the sea of green!  So to help you out a little here are some definitions:

Biodegradable:  the material breakdown of chemicals by the environment.

Compostable:  according to Wiki it means the same as biodegradable.

Bio-Film (Fecula): a compostable material that is made from all natural corn starch.

SAP:  super absorbent polymers used in disposable diapers to absorb moisture.  Regular disposables contain 10-20 grams of SAP.  SAP was removed from tampon production in the 1980s due to the link between SAP and Toxic Shock Syndrom (TSS).  Most babies in the US are in disposable diapers all day, every day, for three years! 

EN13432 (EU):  European standards for biodegradability and compostability.

ASTM D 6400 (US):  An American standard for composting.  Refers to the use of aerobic composting facilities (similar to wastewater treatment processes) to kill pathogens in human waste. 

Aerobic Composting:  the breakdown of a material by heat-loving organisms at a very high temperature.  Can occur at an industrial composting facility or when using special composting toilets. 

Sources:
http://www.thenaturalbabyco.com/grobaby™-ic-11_16.html
http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/dissin_disposables_why_cloth_diapers_rule/
http://ilex-envirosciences.com/leaflets/EN13432.pdf
http://www.astm.org/Standards/D6400.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobic_digestion#Active_.28aerobic.29 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superabsorbent_polymer
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/organic-parenting/green-eco-diapers-66031101

In honor of the Cloth Diaper Carnival Part Deux I thought I would share my wash routine.  As you probably know by now there is no exact science and no perfect way to wash your cloth diapers.  I would imagine that each of the participants in this carnival will have a slightly different routine. 

For me I try not to stress out too much about my routine.  I have a (few) system that works and I try not to mess it up.  My wash routine begins after each diaper change.  I still haven’t invested in a diaper sprayer so I rinse my diapers briefly in the sink (or toilet if really nasty) so that my diaper pail doesn’t stink up the bathroom.  I then wring them out and place them in my diaper pail.  My diaper pail is actually a plastic tub that sits next to the toilet.  I do this with each and every diaper until wash day.  (Except for when I’m really busy or tired and I just toss it in the pail without rinsing…but I try to rinse them within the day.)  Oh yeah, and don’t forget that if you are using Bum Genius diapers that you need to attach the Velcro to the laundry tabs at this stage.

After about two days I start running out of diapers so the wash cycle begins.  I run one cold water rinse cycle without any detergent to remove the pee and poop.  Next I add the detergent and start a hot/cold wash cycle.  I don’t have too many diapers so they never fill up the drum but I run the load as if it were a full load to allow for plenty of agitation. 

Detergent!  This is one of those tricky areas.  I have been using Arm & Hammer Essentials but I’ve tried a few other detergents that I really like better.  I just tried the Rockin’ Green soap that is formulated specifically for cloth diapers and I’ve tried EcoNuts.  Both worked about the same and I like them for different reasons.  The Rockin’ Green is made from a WAHM in her very own kitchen and it smells FABULOUS!  EcoNuts (full review coming soon) is a seed from a plant that acts as a surfactant.  I highly recommend trying both and judging for yourself.  They all removed most of the stains with no problems.  (Don’t forget to enter the Rockin’ Green giveaway!  See previous post!)

Stains!  That’s right…we all have them…poo stains!  I have the luxury of living in the sunny state of Florida where the sun shines almost every day!  The sun is the BEST way to beat stains and smells!  At the end of the wash cycle I like to take all the inserts and covers and place them outside on our hammock to dry in the sun naturally.  The result is CLEAN, WHITE, ODORLESS cloth diapers!

Lil’ B is almost 8 months old and has been breastfeeding since birth.  She’s only been eating solids for 2 months so I’m sure that I will face more problems along the way.  The most important part to remember is to keep looking for answers.  Someone out there has experienced your problem and someone out there has the answers!  You can always join the Cloth Diapers chat on Twitter, Monday nights at 8pm (EST).  Just be sure to use #clothdiapers to join in on the fun.

What about the environmental impact of washing cloth diapers?  One of the top argument against cloth diapers is the use of water and electricity in caring for cloth diapers.  Yes, you do use water and you do use electricity BUT that shouldn’t deter you from using cloth diapers.  I run 3 extra loads of laundry each week and I try not to dry them in the dryer.  I prefer to line dry my diapers because of the strength of the sun in bleaching them.  You also have to remember that the natural resources used to make disposable diapers is outrageous!  They cut down tons of trees, ship them thousands of miles, using tons of fossil fuels in transportation just to the manufacturers.  Then you have to add up the impact of manufacturing and of course distribution to the stores.  Then you have the impacts on the landfills that are filling up with thousands of disposable diapers EACH DAY!  Like I said, yes there are some environmental impacts of using cloth diapers but I honestly believe that my impact is much less than using disposables!  Search the internet and I’m sure you can find actual data and figures to support this.  Here are just a few that I found doing a quick search:  Cloth Diapers Exposed - The Facts & The Fiction and Environmental Reasons to Use Cloth Diapers. 

CHECK BACK TUESDAY MORNING FOR A LINK TO ALL OF THE OTHER CLOTH DIAPER CARNIVAL BLOGGERS!