The EcoChic

To Spray or Not To Spray – That is the Question!

For 15 months we chose not to use a diaper sprayer out of pure frugality – I didn’t see the need to spend any money when our ‘system’ for dealing with poop was still working.  Then one fine day a Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer (thanks Diapers, Etc) showed up in my mailbox and I HAD to give it a try.  I immediately assumed my gender neutral position and decided that I could install this simple piece of plumbing equipment, right?  Neither hubs or I are incredibly handy but the diaper sprayer came with all of the pieces and simple, easy to follow instructions to install. 

I stepped into the bathroom and conducted a test – I turned off the water supply from behind the toilet and flushed to see if the tank emptied as the directions said it would.  Then I flushed again, and again – HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!  We’ve feared for months now that we may have had a slight leak in the toilet (house was built in the 80′s and the bathrooms are ANCIENT!) – this confirmed my fear.  We’ve talked for months about completely over hauling both bathrooms to make them a little more modern (and a little less Florida Grandma style) but we are stingy with our money and keep putting it off (OK – we’re lazy)! 

So for weeks this beautiful diaper sprayer sat in a basket above the toilet waiting for the day I would fix our leak.  Oddly enough about a month later we experienced another leaky situation – our kitchen sink sprung a leak that needed to be repaired immediately!  When talking with the repairman (who happens to be a family friend) I asked about the other leaks in the house and how difficult it would be to fix those while we’re at it.  So one fine summer day we finally got all of our leaks repaired – and a new kitchen sink to boot!  He was even kind enough to install my lovely diaper sprayer for me – which according to him “took him seconds to install.” 

The Aftermath:

Now I have a diaper sprayer that still sits peacefully in the bathroom waiting to be used.  It’s installed but it rarely get’s used – at least to the capacity I would have anticipated it being used.  There are two issues that arise really:

1. My daughter RARELY poops at home!  She is at a babysitters house all day and LOVES to poop at her house.  She will honestly hold in her poop all weekend when she is home with us so she can poop at the sitters.  It’s actually not a bad problem to have – afterall no one really enjoys poop do they?

2. FORCE!  The force behind the diaper sprayer is actually incredibly strong.  It seems like everytime I use it I struggle to keep the water IN the toilet – leaving me with a wet messy bathroom to clean up.  This is actually a ”Like” and a “Dislike” – the extra force really helps remove that sticky nasty in-between solid poop. 

I guess I’m a “No Spray” girl - we normally use flushable liners in our diapers, especially if she’s been holding it in for a while.  That way most of the poop can be removed with a simple plop into the toilet.  Then whatever is left gets rinsed off in the sink (and yes, I’ll sanitize the sink when I’m done) before I put the diaper in the dirty pail.  Maybe if we had started with the sprayer in the early days of easy, breastfeeding poop it may have come in handy.

Diapers, Etc:  I realized after doing some homework on Diapers, Etc that they are actually a local company – they are located in Lutz, FL.  They sell a variety of cloth diapers, diapering accessories and an assortment of organic and eco-friendly baby products.   

BUY IT:  Want to buy your own diaper sprayer and judge for yourself, visit Diapers, Etc.  The Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer sells for $43.99 – add a few new cloth diapers to your order to be eligible for free shipping on orders over $75.

WIN IT:  Want to win your very own Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer – compliments of Diapers, Etc.?  To be entered to win you MUST leave me a comment below telling me how you handle the poop in your house – do you spray, dunk, swish, etc?  Be sure to tell me WHY you want to win a diaper sprayer in your comment and leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. 

BONUS POINTS:  Earn one extra bonus point for each of the following – leave a comment for EACH bonus step you complete. 
1. Twitter Love to @TheEcoChic, @DiapersEtc, and @EcoChicParties
2. Check us out of Facebook – and if you ‘Like’ what you see then ‘Like Us’
3. Tweet about this giveaway including a link back to this post. 

RULES:  Winner must be over the age of 18 and a resident of the continental United States.  Giveaway will close on September 15th, 2010.  Winner will be contacted using the email address they register with and must confirm their winnings within 48 hrs of notification.  Prize is provided by Diapers, Etc. 

Disclosure: In case you didn’t realize it already – Diapers, Etc. provided me with a Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer for review.  Your results may vary and you may fall madly in love with your diaper sprayer.  Either way - show a little love to Diapers, Etc because they are nice people. 

Giveaway alert!  One lucky reader will win a sample pack of products from Marcal Small Steps for making small changes to green your life.  Giveaway closed – ECO-ngratulations Stephanie R.

When companies send me products to review I don’t always write them up immediately – I’ve had my Marcal Starter Kit (disclosure) since April and I’m finally inspired to tell you how I feel about their product.  It’s usually better if I hold off and really review the products because I can give you a full and honest description of the products. 

The only thing remaining from our starter kit is a partial pack of napkins.  We don’t use disposable napkins often – we either use reusable cloth napkins or paper towels.  We normally shop at Publix grocery store and buy their own line of green recycled paper products – the only place locally that sells Marcal is SweetBay and we don’t (normally) shop there.  On occasion we will buy our paper products at Wal-Mart or Target but I’ve never seen Marcal there either.  

Compared to the Publix Greenwise products the Marcal products are fairly similar.  Here is my comparison and comments by product: 

Paper Towels - I couldn’t really tell much difference between the paper towels.  They picked up the wet messes just fine.  I’ve never been a picky person over absorbency with paper towels – I don’t normally have large spills to clean up. 

Tissues -I normally avoid the recycled nose tissues because we all know that they are rougher than those soft luxurious Puffs.  I have to say I wasn’t too impressed with the Marcal Small Steps tissues - they were not soft at all and if I had been sick or used them regularly I’m sure my nose would have been raw.  For the everyday tissue – they would probably be fine if you didn’t care too much about the softness.

Toilet Paper -I tried two different TPs; one was a single ply and the other was double ply.  Compared to the Greenwise the double ply was about the same.  The single ply was very thin and the roll emptied pretty quick. 

Napkins - Like I said I don’t normally buy napkins but I don’t really see a difference from brands that I’ve used in the past.  They are great to have around at dinner time if I’m not using the cloth napkins. 

All of the Marcal Small Steps are made of 100% recycled paper.  They don’t use chlorine bleach or dyes to make the paper ‘pretty’ and white.   Their products are all fragrance free too. 

Would I buy Marcal Small Steps? I would buy the paper towels and 2-ply TP ’if’ it were sold where I normally shop and if the price was comparable to what I already buy.  I won’t go out of my way to find a place to purchase it because it’s not really that much different from the brand I already use. 

If you don’t already purchase recycled paper products I would recommend taking ‘Small Steps’ to change your buying habits.  The easiest products to start with are the paper towels and napkins – followed by the TP.  Environmentally speaking – there is absolutely NO reason NOT to purchase recycled products if they are available.  I honestly have no idea why paper companies still manufacture them from virgin materials – i.e. Trees!  At Marcal they manufacture more than a MILE of paper every minute - that’s a LOT of paper – thankfully they are using our waste paper and not trees.    

Does your local store carry Marcal Small Steps?  Have you tried any of the Small Steps products?  What were your thoughts?  To find a store nearest you enter your zip code on their website. 

Want to win a starter kit of Marcal Small Steps products?  Leave a comment below after you visit their website and tell me one thing you learned – this can be about your local store, a specific product, or an interesting environmental fact – it’s up to you. 

Extra chances can be earned by following Marcal on Facebook and Twitter (1 entry each by leaving a separate comment below).   

Contest Rules:Must be over the age of 18 and the contest is open to anyone living in the USA.  Marcal will ship directly to the winner.  Giveaway will close on June 30, 2010 and I will randomly choose one winner.  Winner will have 48 hrs to claim their prize (I will email the winner) before a back up winner is selected.  Good Luck!

Giveaway closed – ECO-ngratulations Stephanie R.

Giveaway alert – One lucky reader will win a Yoreganics sample pack, complete with soap nuts, stain remover, brightens & whitens, and lip balm.  Details on how to enter at bottom of the post.  ECO-ngratulations @Helenlamby!

Regular readers may recall my previous review of soap nuts (EcoNuts) and my new found love of the soapberry tree.  These nuts (actually they are the shells of the berry from the soapberry tree) can be added to your laundry and used in place of traditional detergents.  YES – they really get your clothes clean.  I’ve been using them for months now and I love them.  I like that I don’t have to add nasty chemicals to get my clothes clean and I really love that I can use them on my cloth diapers!

What makes Yoreganics different?  Yoreganics sells more than just the soap nuts (which are also USDA certified organic).  They sell a USDA certified organic stain remover (made from saponified oils of coconut, jojoba and olive oils) and an eco-friendly alternative to bleach – the brightens & whitens.  Yoreganics also sells a USDA certified organic lip balm that is FABULOUS, foaming soap, and a facial cleansing bar.  Since Kimberly at Yoreganics was kind enough to send me some samples I’ve thrown them in my travel bag and use them wherever we go.  My lip balm is the only lip balm that I keep in my purse now – I love the spearmint tingle it leaves on my lips.

You can find Yoreganics online at the following places:
Store: http://www.yoreganics.com/index.htm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yoreganics/316394366308
Twitter: http://twitter.com/yoreganics
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/yoreganics

Here is a sweet video about Yoreganics that explains it all – and I love the music so turn up the speakers and sing along!

Win It- Want to win a sample pack from Yoreganics?  Visit their store and tell me something you learned about the products.  Leave your comment below to be entered to win. 

Bonus Entries – Leave a seperate comment for each entry.
1. Follow @TheEcoChic, @EcoChicParties and @Yoreganics on Twitter – 1 entry for all 3 follows
2. Like The Eco Chic, Eco Chic Parties, and Yoreganics on Facebook – 1 entry for all 3 likes
3. Subscribe to Eco Chic Parties newsletter – 2 entry points!
4. Make a purchase at Yoreganics – BONUS 5 entries!
5. Share this giveaway on Twitter (include link at @TheEcoChic & @Yoreganics in your tweet) – Max 5 entries per day

Giveaway ends on June 30th, 2010 at midnight (ET).  Winner will be chosen using Random.org from the list of valid comments. 

Giveaway closed – ECO-ngratulations @Helenlamby

Disclosure:Yep – Yoreganics sent me a sample of their wonderful product for review.  If you want to know if I really like it – look in my purse and you’ll still see my lip balm, look in my travel bag and you’ll still see my face soap, and look in my laundry and you’ll see my little while bag of soap nuts! 

Giveaway alert! See bottom of post to enter to win a Go Green Trio from Litter Free Lunch. Giveaway ended. ECO-ngratulations mphin278.

If I was a series type of blogger I would start a new series on ‘How can I recycle…?’  But as you all know my regular columns don’t EVER happen regularly!  LOL! 

The question today is “How can I recycle sandwich bags and old plastic storage containers?”

Kids across America have 2 choices at school these days.  1) Eat the cafeteria food (which my son actually enjoys), or 2) pack their lunch.  For kids (or parents) who opt to pack their lunches they can create about 67lbs of garbage each school yearfrom their lunchboxes alone!  Think about all those pre-packaged lunch kits, baggies, juice pouches, napkins, and plastic cutlery that they trash every day!  While some of these items might be recycleable most schools (at least where we are in FL) don’t have established recycling programs in the cafeterias. 

How many fundraisers does your kids school have?  Some days it may feel like millions…and a lot of them are junk you don’t need!  In our house we are trying to be more eco-friendly and trying to eat healthy so we don’t need wrapping paper and cookie dough.  Unfortunately the schools depend on this money to help with the programs that they offer to our kids.  WHAT IF…instead of selling you more junk you don’t need they actually made money off the junk they throw away every day?

Enters TerraCycle…yes, another raving post about my friends at TerraCycle!  What have they come up with now?

Ziploc Home Storage Brigade!

This brigade (or fundraiser/collection event) is only open to schools.  For every baggie or storage container that your school sends to TerraCycle - TerraCycle will pay you $0.02(for every 0.1lb of containers).  Even better is that they will take any brand of baggie and any brand of storage container AND they don’t even have to be clean!  No worrying about who’s going to clean the leftover peanut butter out of the bottom of the baggies…just package them up and ship them to TerraCycle.  TerraCycle will even pay the postage! 

Recap – 67lbs of garbage each year from one kids lunchbox = $1.34.  I know that doesn’t sound like a lot but now multiply that by the number of kids who pack their lunch at your school.  Let’s say that 200 kids pack their lunches.  200 X 1.34 = $268!  That’s free money from your trash!  I wish someone would hand me a check for $268 on trash day!  Think larger…tell the kids to collect their containers and baggies from home….tell them they can bring them to school and RECYCLE them…and it’s a fundraiser!  We already keep box tops – why not keep trash!  TRASH = MONEY FOR YOUR SCHOOL!

Now…let’s see how effective my proposal is to the rest of the PTA Board when I present this to them at the next meeting.  Oh yeah – did I tell you?   Next school year I am CO-PRESIDENT of the PTA!  Watch out school…you are about to be GREEN!  With the help of TerraCycle they are about to find new avenues for fundraising where we don’t have to sell anything.

WANT MORE SOLUTIONS?  Did you know that companies are now selling reusable cloth baggies and napkins for kids lunches? 

I know my son probably has the greenest lunch box in the cafeteria but he rarely has any disposable items.  We now use the Go Green Trio from Litter Free Lunch.  The Go Green Trio includes a reusable snack bag, a reusable sandwich bag, and a cloth napkin.  They are all made with 100% cotton twill and are machine washable.  Each bag comes with a Velcro closure so your kids lunch will stay inside the bag.  We already love their napkins and I’m happy to see Litter Free Lunch now making coordinating bags.  They are easy to throw in my purse or diaper bag when we go out so Lil’ B always has an emergency snack attack! 

WIN A GO GREEN TRIO!  Yes you can win your very own Go Green Trio from Litter Free Lunch.  Visit their website and tell me what your favorite product and color is.  Leave your comment below to be entered.
EXTRA ENTRIES:
1.  Become Twitter Followers of @LitterFreeLunch, @TerraCycle, and myself @TheEcoChic (1 pt for following everyone – leave your comment below with @Username)
2.  Visit our Facebook Fan pages and LIKE us all…if you do indeed like us!  Litter Free Lunch, TerraCycle, and The Eco Chic (1 pt for Liking everyone – leave your comment below)
3.  Visit my newest blog – Eco Chic Partiesand sign up for my Newsletter.  Eco Chic Parties is home to great eco-friendly Twitter Parties on Thursday nights at 9pm ET.  (1 pt for subscribing – must confirm subscription.  Leave a comment)
4.  Tweet about this giveaway and post; be sure to include @TheEcoChic and a link back here!  (1 pt for tweeting per day)

Contest open to residents of the US over the age of 18.  Contest period closes at midnight ET on May 26th, 2010.  GOOD LUCK!

CONTEST CLOSED! ECO-ngratulations Mphin278!

Disclosure: I was provided a Go Green Trio from Litter Free Lunch to review for this post.  That’s all!

Did you realize that I’m now hosting Twitter Parties on Thursday evenings?  You can now follow me at Eco Mom Media for the most up to date eco-friendly and cloth diapering Twitter Parties!  This weeks party is sponsored by Diaper Shops.  Why should you attend this weeks party?  Because Diaper Shops is celebrating the 9th anniversary of Kelly’s Closet by giving away an iPad and a ton of cloth diapers! 

The party is Thursday, April 29th, 2010 at 9pm ET.  Be sure to register HERE and use #DiaperShops hashtag during the party.  Can’t wait to see you on Thursday!

Look at all of those adorable prints!  A CuteyBaby cloth diaper would be perfect on those spring and summer days with just a t-shirt or a dress.  They are so stylish and adorable!  I was super excited when CuteyBaby founder, Ada, and I began talking about partnering to do a review of her brand new cloth diaper.  I have a pretty boring stash with very little prints.  Honestly, this is my ONLY print diaper that I own.  I wasn’t prepared for the WOW factor when the diaper arrived.  Here is what WOW’d me: 

1.  The adorable purple and lime print.
2.  The soft fabric exterior. 
3.  All in one!  No stuffing required!
4.  Removable Velcro tabs. 

Yes, you heard me right…REMOVABLE Velcro tabs.  My primarily BG stash is just over a year old and our Velcro is showing it’s age.  I now open the washer (or dryer) and find the dreaded Velcro chain of diapers.  The Velcro is sticking to everything except the laundry tabs and probably needs to be replaced…but I’m lazy!  (Who am I kidding…I’m a busy working mom of 2!)  When I saw that the CuteyBaby Velcro tabs were removable I immediately wrote Ada and complimented her on the innovative design.  I then told a friend all about it…in total awe!  When it’s time to remove the diaper (or before you wash it) you simply remove the Velcro tabs (and remember where you put them!) so you avoid the wear and tear on your diapers.   

Removable Velcro Tab

So I’ve used our CuteyBabyfor several weeks now and I’m still in wow…but lower case wow.  I have a few issues with the diaper that I’ve brought to the attention of Ada.  (After all…part of reviewing these diapers is to be honest and not only educate you…but help improve the diaper in the future!)  The Velcro strip (in my opinion) is too high up on the front of the diaper.  Since the Velcro is removable the tabs bend outward leaving a bit of the Velcro exposed.  Since it sits so high on the front it rubs on Lil’ Bs belly.  Scratchy Velcro on soft baby belly isn’t pleasant.  Ada is actually looking at moving the strip down 1/4″ on the next production. 

The diaper that I was sent didn’t come with rise adjusting snaps.  Ada explained that the current version comes with snap adjustments that will allow this diaper to fit a newborn.  The version I reviewed (without snaps) is perfect for the larger baby but definitely not a newborn.  In fact, I almost needed at least one snap on ours to fit more snug.  But we’ve only had one leaky incident so I’m not that worried about it.  The current size recommendation is from 10-30lbs.   

As our lives continue to get busier and time is more valuable I appreciate the All-in-Ones a little more each day.  I am actually starting to dread the 30 minute stuff fest that occurs on wash day.  I have a drier full right now that needs stuffing.  Thankfully, I own a few AIO like the CuteyBaby that will make life easier.  

In addition to the CuteyBaby modern cloth diapers, CuteyBaby is expanding their line to include flushable liners and wetbags.  You can purchase CuteyBaby diapers at Amazon.com (I really should work on my affiliate link with them!) and most recently they are being added to Costco Wholesale Warehouses.  Here is a great video from a recent Costco event.      
 

Win It!  Want to win your very own CuteyBaby Modern Cloth Diaper?  Of course you do!  Go visit CuteyBaby online and tell me one thing you learned about CuteyBaby or Ada.  Leave your mandatory comment below with a valid email address to be entered into the drawing.  

Extra entries:  Leave an individual comment for each extra entry, with a maximum of 2 extra entries per day.  Please include a link for all blog posts, tweets, etc.  

1.  Follow @TheEcoChic @EcoMomMedia and @CuteyBaby on Twitter.
2.  Tweet about this giveaway including the @Usernames listed above and a link back here.
3.  Register for the #GetRealDiapers Twitter Party at Eco Mom Media.  Afterall, CuteyBaby is a sponsor and you could win some great diapers!!
4.  Follow my blog, subscribe to my blog, etc.  

Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada.  Deadline for entering is Monday, March 29th (midnight EST).  At the close of the giveaway the winner will be emailed and will win a print of their choice from the current in-stock diapers at CuteyBaby.   

Giveaway closed! 

FTC Disclosure: Yes, we were provided the cute purple and lime diaper for review.  We will proudly wear it and show it off to all of our friends.  Thanks Ada!

Giveaway Alert! One lucky reader will win an EcoSMART Safe Home Value Bundle (Value $24).  Details following this post.   Giveaway closed.  ECO-ngratulations Milk Carton Manna (@Mannabsn).

Living in Florida I have encountered more bugs than I know what to do with.  Our specialty (so to speak) down here is Palmetto bugs.  Now, for anyone who doesn’t live in Florida, a Palmetto bug is a giant cockroach.  We just don’t like the name roach…Palmetto bug sounds so much nicer…but there is NOTHING nice about a Palmetto bug.  I don’t care how clean your home is I don’t know a home in Florida that doesn’t have a few Palmetto bugs residing inside.  Unfortunately they like to come out when 1) you have company over, or 2) at night right before you go to bed.  My skin is crawling just talking about them. 

Being a mom, especially a green mom, I hate spraying chemicals around my home.  My husband will spray a few times a year (usually right after I scream from seeing a really big one) but it still makes me nervous.  Lil’ B is at that age where everything is on the ground and everything goes into the mouth (including dog food and day old crumbs).  When EcoSMART approached me about doing a product review I was honest with them…I told them I don’t normally buy pesticides and I hate to use them.  BUT…I also hate Palmetto bugs. 

I got my bottle of EcoSMART Organic Home Pest Control in the mail and had to try it immediately.  Especially after I had just seen one of those nasty Palmettos in MY PANTRY!  I read over the label and here are some of the important facts that I noticed:

1. SAFE around children & pets 
2. Non-toxic
3. Made from a blend of organic plant oils
4. Exempt from registration under FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act)
5. Made in the USA (Alpharetta, GA actually…not far from my hometown!)
6. 100% FDA safe ingredients (that means you can use it around food!!)

They also list all of the ingredients on the back of the package.  Here is a sample of those ingredients: clove oil, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, thyme oil, water, octadecenoic acid potassium salt, lecithin, 2-phenethyl propionate.  Now chemistry was NOT my strongest subject in college so I’ll save the analysis for the experts.  

So I emptied my pantry (throwing away anything that was older than my baby!) and gave it a try.  Immediately I noticed that because of the plant based oils the EcoSMART product had a very strong smell.  It was a nice clean smell but it was strong.  If you are sensitive to clove/peppermint/thyme/rosemary you may want to leave the room for a few minutes.  I finished cleaning the pantry, reorganized (my best friend was so proud), and returned the food to it’s home. 

That’s was about three weeks ago.  I haven’t seen or heard anything in that area since spraying the EcoSMART.  I also used it in my bedroom where I had recently found a school of ants near my window (leaky old window seal).  The ants died immediately and haven’t returned either. 

After this past week and our most recent guests (a swarm of africanized honey bees) that took up residence on the outside of our home I’m sending my husband outside to spray around all the doors and windows.  PS…call the professionals if you notice a swarm of bees…these were the bad type and could have killed us if we tried to exterminate them ourselves.  Here is a cute picture of our little swarm.  They are now all residing in bee heaven!

Buy it!  If you are looking for safe pesticides and bug repellants try EcoSMART.  You can save 15% off and get free shipping on orders over $45 with coupon code ECOBLOGGER22.  Decide for yourself if EcoSMART is smart for your family. 

Win it!Win a Safe Home Value Bundle (value $24) here.  All you have to do is visit the EcoSMART website and tell me what your favorite product is.  Leave your comment below along with your name and email address. 

Extra entry:  The only extra entry for this contest is for my readers who use Twitter.  Follow me and tweet about this giveaway (max 2 per day entry).  Leave me a comment below with a link to your tweet.

Contest is open to residence of the USA over the age of 18 yrs.  Must have a valid email address to enter.  Contest will end on Friday, March 19th, 2010 (midnight EST). 

Giveaway ended!                  

Are you curious about the products I talk my views and the products I talk about?  Be sure to read my disclosure and privacy policies.

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! Win a Dittany Baby Mei Tai baby carrier in the color of your choosing.  See coupon codes below for all readers.  ECO-ngratulations Natalie A! Check your email for details.

Dittany Baby!  If you’ve been a reader for a while you already know who Dittany Baby is…one of my favorite companies for trendy baby products!  HERE is my interview with Shannon, owner of Dittany Baby, from this summer.  You can see my review and pictures of their fabulous pouch sling and skid pants there also. 

Shannon was kind enough to send Lil’ B and I one of their Mei Tai style baby carriers for the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide.  We received a special Mei Tai in the Stockholm print (see pattern image in pouch sling) and black TODAY and I was so excited I had to share it with you immediately!  I have secretly been dying for a Mei Tai carrier since Lil’ B was first born but needs and wants are different when you have 3 pouch slings (2 Hotslings and 1 Dittany Baby sling) and an Ergo. 

Now that Lil’ B is nearing the one year mark I fear that my baby wearing days are numbered.  We have already begun limiting the use of the pouch slings to short periods of time due to her weight (she’s about 20lbs).  I regularly use the Ergo for our extended trips (Disney, airports, etc) so I was excited to compare it with the Mei Tai.  I wasn’t disappointed either; I think it might replace our pouch sling for those quick trips and maybe even for slightly longer outings.  It feels more secure for the older tot than the pouch slings (especially when yours is as wiggly as mine is).  I should really develop a chart that tells you when and at what age I like the different carriers…each age and occasion is slightly different…I’m glad I have a few to choose from.  And can you really have too many baby carriers?  I think not!  

Quality of Dittany Baby Mei Tai:  GREAT!  I was excited to see the padding along the edges and on the shoulder straps to make this carrier comfortable for baby and wearer.  Workmanship on this carrier is excellent.

Price of Dittany Baby Mei Tai:  Comparable to other Mei Tai’s on the market at $70-$85 (depending on fabric choice).  Cheaper than an Ergo but more pricey than a pouch sling.

Extras:  The Dittany Baby Mei Tai comes with a coordinating carrying pouch (all their carriers come with this pouch) which helps keep it organized in your diaper bag or car.  The Dittany Baby Mei Tai can also be reversible since both sides are finished the same.  This is a great feature for daddy who prefers things a little simplier than I do.

Website:  http://www.dittanybaby.com/
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/dittanybaby
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Dittany-Baby/44349889388?ref=ts

But it!  Add a Dittany Baby Mei Tai (or anything from Dittany Baby) to your shopping list this holiday season and save from 10%-30% off your total purchase.  Use the following coupon codes:   

                            ”10off20” for 10% off of a $20.00 order
                            “20off50” for 20% off of a $50.00 order
                            “35off100” for 35% off of a $100.00 order

Be sure to enter THEECOCHIC@GMAIL.COMinto the comments section for all purchases at Dittany Baby.  They have a “Refer a Friend” promotion right now….you can refer your friends too and earn credits to spend at their store! 

Win It!  Dittany Baby has offered a Mei Tai to one lucky reader in a color of your choosing.  To enter you must visit Dittany Baby and tell me what your favorite fabric pattern is (on any of the carriers).  Leave your comments below to be entered in this giveaway. 

Extra Entries:
-Enter any of my other Eco-Holiday Gift Guide Giveaways (Leave a comment telling me which one’s you’ve entered.)
-Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect
-Subscribe using Feedburner or other reader (Leave your email addy)
-Add my button to your blog or site (Leave a link to your blog)
-Blog about this giveaway and the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide  (Leave a link to your blog)
-Share this giveaway with your friends (Leave me a comment telling me how)

Giveaway open worldwide to anyone over the age of 18 yrs old.  Must leave a comment for each entry with a maximum of 10 entries total for this giveaway.  Giveaway ends December 10, 2009 at midnight (EST).  Entrants must leave their email to be contacted if they are selected.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER!

Giveaway ended! ECO-ngratulations Natalie A!

More from the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide.

*This post was sponsored by Dittany Baby.

Giveaway Alert! Two readers will receive a digital subscription to Mothering Magazine from doudou bebe! Coupon code valid for Cyber Monday only (I know it’s almost over…boo!)  ECO-ngratulations Dionna and Jenny B!

While tweeting this morning about all of my wonderful giveaways in the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide I was approached by doudou bebe and asked to help promote their store.  While I’m not in Canada I do love to share great eco-friendly stores with you all. 

doudou bebe is an online retailer selling a great line of organic bath and body products from Erbaviva that look wonderful.  They also sell pouch slings and Moby wraps for those baby wearing mama’s out there!  doudou bebe offers a great selection of wooden, organic and silk toys that would make a great holiday gift for those eco-babies and tots!  

Website:  http://www.doudoubebe.com/default.asp
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/doudoubebe

Buy It!  Want to get a few last minute Cyber Monday specials? Visit doudou bebe and save 10% with coupon code THX10! Code valid until Midnight TONIGHT!!! (I’ll see what I can do to update if a new code becomes available later!)

Win It!  Two lucky readers will receive a digital subscription to Mothering Magazine compliments of doudou bebe!  To enter visit doudou bebe and tell me what your favorite items are…leave your comment below to be entered. 

Extra Entries:
-Enter any of my other Eco-Holiday Gift Guide Giveaways (Leave a comment telling me which one’s you’ve entered.)
-Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect
-Subscribe using Feedburner or other reader (Leave your email addy)
-Add my button to your blog or site (Leave a link to your blog)
-Blog about this giveaway and the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide  (Leave a link to your blog)
-Share this giveaway with your friends (Leave me a comment telling me how)

Giveaway open worldwide to anyone over the age of 18 yrs old.  Must leave a comment for each entry with a maximum of 10 entries total for this giveaway.  Giveaway ends December 10, 2009 at midnight (EST).  Entrants must leave their email to be contacted if they are selected.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER!

Giveaway ended! Eco-ngratulations Dionna and Jenny B!

More from the Eco-Holiday Gift Guide.

*This post was sponsored by doudou bebe.