Earth's Best Chlorine Free Wipes (Review)

The following review was written by a guest-blogger, Deanne.

We usually buy a popular name-brand baby wipe, that is perfume-free for Eli. He has sensitive skin, so we try to avoid things like perfume and dyes that could irritate him. I’ve been happy with my wipe. It didn’t smell weird, it was nice and thick, it got the job done with just one or two wipes. That was BEFORE I tried the Earth’s Best ChlorineFree Baby Wipes though!

The website says that these wipes are “chlorine free and alcohol free” which is great for Eli’s sensitive skin. They are also free of perfumes. After pulling a wipe out of the pop-up box, I immediately noticed how soft and thick they were. They were plenty wet enough, too, where my previous favorite wipe tended to be a little dry until you got to the bottom of the container. The Earth’s Best wipes also contain an aloe vera and vitamin E formula to help protect baby’s skin. It makes the wipes feel “lotiony”, which I loved.

These wipes clean so well, I consistently only had to use one wipe for dirty diaper clean-up! This means that even though the wipes are a little more expensive than other brands, it is more acceptable, since you end up using less of them per diaper change. They also worked great for washing faces and hands, and since there is no alcohol in them, they won’t cause chapped cheeks! Overall, I absolutely loved these wipes and can’t think of anything bad to say about them.

 Disclosure: Sample(s) were received for the purpose of testing and review, but this did not sway the opinion on the products. These opinions are Deanne's own and may differ from those of your own.

Earth's Best Disposable Diapers

The following review was written by a guest-blogger, Deanne.

After reading the package of the Earth’s Bestdisposable diapers and looking at the Earth’s Best website, I was pretty excited to try the diapers out on my baby. 

While I most often use cloth on my son, we do sometimes use disposables while we are going to be out of the house or for the church nursery on Sundays. Most of the diapers we have tried, either give Eli a rash, or they just don’t absorb enough pee! The Earth’s Best website says that their diapers are “chlorine-free, are made with fewer petro-chemicals, are latex and dye-free and contain natural materials such as wheat and corn”. So that, along with the suggested retail price, made me think that these must be WAY better than the diapers we have been using. 

 

With much anticipation, I opened the package of diapers and pulled one out. I was immediately a little disappointed. It looked just like the “cheapie” store-brand diapers you can get at Wal-mart or Target. I pulled the diaper open and sniffed it. It smelled just like a “cheapie” diaper too! You know that smell…kind of like formaldehyde? Now, I don’t know if there is actually formaldehyde in these diapers or even other brands, all I know is that “cheapie” diapers have that smell. I decided to try them out on Eli anyway. 

 

I put the diaper on, and since I have a somewhat skinny baby, I tried to overlap the tabs. They would NOT stick at all! The side panels of the diaper are nice and stretchy though, so I just didn’t pull them as tight and stuck the tabs down on the “strip” on the diaper instead. They stuck, but not as tight as some other brands I have used. It still fit well enough on my skinny babe, and there were no gaps around his legs. I would say that these diapers fit true to the weight range on the package. Eli is about 16lbs and I used a size 3 diaper on him, which says it fits from 16-28lbs.

 

A few hours later, before Eli’s nap, I changed him and was pleasantly surprised that he wasn’t sopping wet! Normally, if I leave him in a disposable diaper for more than an hour, the diaper is either bulging with pee, or his clothes are already wet. After a few more changes throughout the day, the Earth’s Best diapers continued to prove themselves to be super absorbent. During the week that we used them, we only had 2 leaks, both of which were caused by Eli drinking a huge amount of liquids. He also did not break out in any rashes during our trial run!

So in conclusion, this is my list of pros and cons for Earth’s Best Chlorine Free diapers:

Pros:

• No chlorine
• Fewer petro-chemicals
• Dye and Perfume-Free
• Super absorbent
• Didn’t cause a rash

Cons:

• Tabs do not overlap for skinny babies
• Looks cheap
• Smells cheap
• Has a high price-tag  

 

I would not personally buy these diapers again, as they are just out of my price-range. But, if you are very concerned about chlorine, dye and perfume, and you aren’t concerned about price, these might be a good buy for you! 

 Disclosure: Sample(s) were received for the purpose of testing and review, but this did not sway the opinion on the products. These opinions are Deanne's own and may differ from those of your own.

Welcome to the (Un)Baby Shower!

Welcome to the (Un)Baby Shower! Just what IS an (Un)Baby Shower, you ask? Well, it is very much like a baby shower... but YOU get the presents instead! As you know, we are expecting Squiggle to come this summer. We can't think of a better way to celebrate than to let my readers try all the great things I've been reviewing! Many companies have been gracious enough to hop on board to celebrate with us, so we have three lovely prize packs that you could enter to win!

Yes, you read right... THREE prize packs!

• PRIZE PACK A: 1 Moby Wrap (your choice of colour), 3 Kissaluvs NB AIO & 6 kissaluvs Wipes,  1 Episencial Cheeky Salve, 1 bag Rockin' Green Detergent (45/90) (winner's choice of formula/scent), 1 NoseFrida, 1 Snappi (Purple, size 1), 1 Intelligender kit, 1 Thirsties Duo Wrap & 1 Fab Fitted (winner's choice of colour/size), Baby Bum Drops complete starter set (Baby Bum Drops [full size box], Spray bottle with label & directions, ready for you to fill with wipe solution
  3 soft cotton knit wipes)

• PRIZE PACK B: 1 Balboa Sling (winner picks colour), 1 TotsBots Easy Fit (winner's choice of colour), 1 RumpArounds RAA Diaper (winner picks colour), Lansinoh HPA Lanolin & 1 Lansinoh mOmma Feeding Bottle with NaturalWave Nipple (specifically designed for breastfed babies), 1 bag Rockin' Green Detergent (45/90) (winner picks formula/scent), 1 Rumpkinz OS diaper, $25 Mom's Milk Boutique Gift Certificate, 1 Rock-a-bums Cloth Diaper (red) & 1 wetbag (red), Born Free breastfeeding pillow

• PRIZE PACK C:  1 Changing Diapers Book, 1 Grandma El's Diaper  Rash Remedy & Prevention jar, 1 Hip Baby Cloth Diaper  T-Shirt (in size of winners choice), 1 BG Freetime AIO (Dazzle), $50 GC for Lunapads, LooHoo Dryer Balls Deluxe Starter Pack (3-pk), 1 bag Rockin' Green Detergent (45/90) (winner picks formula/scent), 1 newborn GroVia (Cloud), a bag of wipes cubes, and two (WAHM) cloth wipes

Talk about some great prizes!

You can enter to win as many or as few times as you like, just make certain you complete ALL of the REQUIRED entries. Please be sure to thank the sponsors (or at least follow on FaceBook) for all the lovely prizes they've offered! After all, without them, this giveaway wouldn't be happening!

You might notice that some of the items have not been reviewed on my blog yet. They will be coming in the near future (after Squiggle is born), so please keep an eye out for those, too!

Sit back, kick your feet up, and enjoy the festivities!

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Balboa Sling (Review)

I was given the opportunity to try out the Balboa Sling for review, and happily picked out an adorable print called Lime Poppy. Admittedly, it was difficult to pick out just one print from all these cute prints!

I was planning on using a sling with Squiggle who, obviously, is yet to come... but the Balboa Baby Sling has a weight range of 8lbs - 35lbs, so it held Bobble since he is only 30 lbs. More product usage and safety information can be found HERE, then select the Care & Safety Tab on the far right.)

I had never used a sling carrier before, so I did a lot of reading up on it via the literature provided with the sling, and studied the web page a bunch too. Here's a close-up of the sturdy ring part of the sling that allows you to adjust the strap to fit you:

I had no problem getting Bobble in the sling, nor did I have a problem adjusting the sling. Bobble wasn't much a fan of it, however, but that's because his back wasn't supported all the way up (which he is used to with carriers) and he had NEVER been in a carrier like this one before. I understand his reluctance to enjoy the carrier. It would work much better if he had been accustomed to the sling style carrier before this. It also would be a lot easier if he were smaller and could fit as easily as one of the cute pictures on the box (and website) show!

Still, I was able to get an idea of how the sling would be used, and definitely think it would be more handy with a smaller child! It was a bit difficult for me with my gigantic pregnant belly... I imagine that was part of the discomfort Bobble had when trying to sit in it... he had no place for his leg!

I'm excited to try this out with Squiggle when she gets here (and meets the weight requirements), as I think this will work much better. Still, it felt very secure with my 30 lb toddler in it, and it was nicely padded across the strap so it didn't dig into my shoulder. 

Balboa Baby doesn't just make slings, though! They make a variety of products that are designed to make life simpler for parents and better for babies. These products are both fashionable and functional, and are approved by Dr. Sears.

You can buy your own Balboa Sling online or in a retail store. To locate the store closest to you (or to find an online retailer), check out the Store Locator on the Balboa Baby website.

Disclosure: The product mentioned above was provided to me by Balboa Baby for review. This did not influence my opinion of the product in any way. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.  

TotsBots Easyfit Diaper (Review)

I've tried many diapers from various brands, but one brand I kept hearing a lot of buzz about was TotsBots diapers. People seemed to love them regardless of the build of their baby. Skinny baby, chunky baby, tall baby, short baby.... they loved them! A diaper that pleases that many people has to be worth trying! I was ecstatic when I found out I would have the opportunity to review one of their Easyfit diapers, and picked one in Aplix so I could test it out for childcare as well.

When the package arrived, the first thing I noticed, aside from the absolutely amazingly vivid colour of the Pomegranate diaper, was a big caution sticker on the diaper. To ensure that nobody prepping the diaper accidentally ruins any other items in the wash, TotsBots definitely went out of their way to get your attention for this!





I prepped the diaper with a bunch of bath towels (dark navy blue) to make sure there was no bleeding issue, and anxiously got the diaper out to test. It was sooooooooo soft! All of the diapers come with a very soft liner, too.

It boggled my mind a bit that it was a pocket diaper, but it was an AIO at the same time. Sound a bit confusing? It really isn't... the "insert" is attached on one end and just folds into the pocket. This gives you the opportunity to stuff the pocket for more absorbency if you need it, but you can't lose the original insert since it's all one piece.

The diaper was very trim fitting and held up very nicely for both home and childcare use. One thing I noticed, which was the only negative I heard from other people, was that it seems to be a bit on the smaller side in terms of fit. While it is a one-size diaper and it has rise snaps, Bobble is actually wearing it completely unsnapped in the rise, and the aplix is further out (closer to hipbones) than it is with any of his other one-size diapers. He is normally snapped down a rise on all other OS diapers, and many times the aplix touches with other diapers. He is 30lbs, but these won't fit him much longer. Good thing I have another one on the way!

One thing I can't test, in regards to size, is if that means it fits tiny babies better than other OS diapers in the beginning. I will try this out on Squiggle when she is born and see if we can get a good fit as a newborn since it seems to run smaller, where as I know other brands that won't be able to fit for a while that are OS.



I also ended up getting a TotsBots Easyfit in snaps shortly after getting the Pomegranate. It was in the print "Nature Girl" (got it for Squiggle, but tested it on Bobble to compare snaps vs. aplix fit).  I wasn't able to get as good of a fit on Bobble with the snaps, but it did still hold anything and everything in without any leaks.

You can purchase a TotsBots Easyfit for around $23.95 at many retailers both online and in store. Check out the Find a Retailer tool on the Bummis / TotsBots page and select either online or the local store option to best suit your needs!

Disclosure: The product mentioned above was provided to me by Bummis / TotsBots for review. This did not influence my opinion of the product in any way. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. 

Mom's Milk Boutique Natural Parenting Store

There are many awesome stores online that can help you complete a stash of fluff. One of my go-to stores (and I really only have a couple, actually) is Mom's Milk Boutique. You can find so much more than just cloth diapering items at MMB! From baby carriers to body wash, natural tableware to nursing bras, Mom's Milk Boutique has it all!

I've been continuously amazed at the variety of items they have to offer. I started out ordering my Tiny Bubbles detergent from them when my original go-to store was out of stock and I needed some asap. This turned out to be the start of an amazing customer relationship, as I received my package literally 2 days later. I did not pay for any special shipping or anything, they just shipped my package out THAT FAST! Since then, I've ordered lots of different items, and have always had an amazingly fast turn around.

If you are looking for a special item, say..... a Ju-Ju-Be diaper bag, for example. Say you wanted one but in a special print that Mom's Milk Boutique doesn't have. Not a problem, just let them know and they'll order it in for you, and it's all yours. Amazing customer service to say the least!

Their FaceBook page is always active with customers chatting about products and answering questions others might have on products. You can always get suggestions on there for nearly anything you want! The lovely ladies (sisters Abbie & Bonnie) that started at MMB are always around trying to answer questions as well. If you need, there is a "live chat" feature at the top of their web page to assist you with ordering, though they are quick to help via e-mail or over the phone as well.

They also have a blog you can check out (recipes, ideas, giveaways, etc), a brick and mortar store (which I have never been to, it being in West Frankfort, IL and me living a couple states away), and an awesome layaway program! Speaking of programs, they have a rewards program called Milk Miles. This allows you to get points for purchases made, then redeem them later for store credit! Don't forget to check out the main page with the current coupon code(s) and sales they have going on! Just linger a minute to see the rotating banner to make sure you don't miss an offer!

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and based on my personal experience(s) with Mom's Milk Boutique as a customer.

Snappi Review

A little over a year ago, I tried a Snappi for the first time. I was strictly a pocket-diaper user at that point, but my little guy had a rash, and I had to give him some air-time (as the entry points out). Since then I have gotten to use a Snappi many a time, and it got easier and easier each time.

I love how simple they are to use. When you first get them, you need to slowly stretch the sides out so they are a bit more elastic for you when you need to use them.

They have little tabs that can come down and over the hook parts so you can ensure that nobody gets cut or snagged on one when they aren't in use. This is a FANTASTIC feature, as Bobble likes to just grab things and run with them before I can grab him. He probably would have scratched himself up a million times by now if they didn't have those little protectors!



Through trial and error, I quickly learned the best way for me to use the Snappi is slide a finger between the diaper and Bobble when hooking the Snappi into the material. This allows me to ensure that I can hold the material up enough just in case I go through too many layers so I don't scratch any skin.

Snappis come in two sizes, Size 1 and Size 2. Size 2 is for toddlers. This image from the Snappi Website shows a comparison between the two sizes.

The Snappi has no latex, no silicone, and is CPSIA compliant. They are made from a stretchy, non-toxic material. Snappi Fasteners are inexpensive and help a parent cloth diaper for less by allowing for use of prefolds/flats and a cover instead of a more expensive pocket or AIO diaper.  A cover is essential over the Snappi® fastener to prevent it from catching onto something and coming undone. 

Snappi Fasteners are super easy to use. If you can use the fasteners on an ACE Bandage (or any of those wrap-bandages), you can use a Snappi Fastener. You simply hook into material, stretch, and hook the other end. Voila!

As shown on the SnappiBaby website!

You can follow SnappiBaby on Twitter, FaceBook, or Pinterest to keep up with all the current happenings. To find a Snappi Retailer, use the Snappi Store Locator found on their website.

Disclosure: The product mentioned above was provided to me by SnappiBaby for review. This did not influence my opinion of the product in any way. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.  

Changes

I'm up for a bit of a change that wasn't exactly my choice. For you readers, this means I will have more time to do reviews and posts... at least before Squiggle comes along. For my family, this means more stress and uncertainty.

I'm talking about work. Many of you know that I was the person that worked full time, and my husband went to school and watched Bobble. Yesterday, unexpectedly, my workplace laid everyone off and permanently closed their doors. I don't know what to do, being 34w pregnant, as nobody will hire someone that will just pop after they train them. Also, despite FMLA being awesome in that it holds your job, it doesn't really matter if you haven't worked at the place at least 90 days. I wouldn't qualify.

Yes, I was upset when we were given the news... but after about an hour I was in good spirits again. Don't you sort of have to be? I mean, honestly... nothing is going to change. You can't undo what's been done. I grieved. It sucks. Time to move on. Didn't make celebrating my wedding anniversary over lunch any easier that same day, though. The hubs and I decided to still go out to lunch, but opted for a slightly less expensive route than we were planning considering. Still, Olive Garden was a lovely treat that we normally wouldn't have gotten... and Bobble was at school, so it was just the two of us.

Again, I'm not certain what the future holds for me now, but I'm going to take it a step at a time. At least I get to spend a bit more time working on here, spending time with my family, and relaxing the rest of my pregnancy.

MyPerfectGift iPod Nano (Giveaway)

So what’s on your Dad’s wish list for Father’s Day???

Make sure you get EXACTLY what he wants by letting him create a personal registry on MyPerfectGift.com! MyPerfectGift.com lets you buy the gift your loved ones really want!

Think Dad would like a new iPod Nano?? One lucky reader will receive an iPod Nano (MSRP $149)!!

TO BE ELIGIBLE: Create a registry with at least 3 items on MyPerfectGift.com (or add an item to an existing registry if you already have an account). Use “MOMMY” in the “Referred By” field. All other entries in the Rafflecopter are optional.

Sponsored by MyPerfectGift.com! Hosted by Bay Area Mommy, Katie’s Krazy Savings, & Filipino Cooking Recipes.

Giveaway ends June 14 at 11:59pm EST. Open to US residents only. Must be at least 18 years old to be eligible. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

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Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. This blog is not responsible for prize fulfillment. MyPerfectGift.com will send the prize directly to the winner chosen randomly. See full terms and conditions in the Rafflecopter form. For questions regarding this giveaway, contact Bay Area Mommy.

LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls Review

When I first started cloth diapering, I knew I wasn't supposed to use dryer sheets. In fact, I stopped using those well before even getting pregnant since I found out some of the nasty things they had in them. When I found out, however, that fabric softener wasn't safe for the cloth diapers, I was at a loss. What would I do?

I decided to test some things out with our regular laundry. I wasn't about to use something in our washer that couldn't be used with my fluff, too. Residue, etc etc. If it wasn't good for the diapers, it probably wasn't good for us, right? I ran a load without softener and dried it in the dryer. Not too pleasant feeling, and lots of static. I then ran a load of wash sans fabric softener and hung it out on the line. No static, but boy if I dropped something from the line I swear it was going to shatter like glass. Stiff as can be!

After this, my husband said there was no way we would NOT use fabric softener... but then I heard about LooHoo wool dryer balls (then known as Wooly Rounds). I decided to purchase 8 of them and try them out. I got 8 since all the reading and researching I did said the more you have, the better.

Our next load of laundry tested (after receiving the wool balls) was impressive. The laundry wasn't full of static, and it was soft as can be. My husband grabbed something out of the dryer and said something about how we just have to have fabric softener because of the huge difference in softness.... he thought I had used fabric softener on that load! Well, that was a win in my book!

I've used my dryer balls every time since they arrived. Sure, sometimes there are less than 8 because one sneaks into the laundry basket (and then into Bobble's hands!), but they are always being used.

LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls are HANDMADE in Maine with 100% domestic wool. Each one is approximately the size of a baseball, ~9 inches in circumference and weighs ~ 2oz. They are sold individually or in packs, so you can get as many or as few as you like! Being all-natural, there are no harmful chemicals or toxins, so you don't have to worry about what you are drying them with. They are safe for everything! Another perk? They cut down on the drying time! The more you have in the dryer the better!

Worried about how noisy they would be in the dryer? Don't be! They aren't noisy at all! Yes, you can hear something is in the dryer with your laundry, but it is nowhere near as loud as, say, shoes. I was worried about how loud they would be at first, but my washer makes more noise when it is running than my dryer with the wool dryer balls in it!



Have a wool sensitivity? I don't, but I have read that even people with wool sensitivities are fine using wool dryer balls. How fantastic is that?!

LooHoo Dryer Balls have a life span of approximately 1-2 years. That's a LOT of laundry! We have had our Wooly Rounds Dryer Balls (that's how long ago I got them!) for about 2 years now, and they show signs of wear, but still work great.

You can purchase LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls from various retailers both in store and online. Some natural parenting stores carry them (which is how I first learned about them!), or you can get them directly from LooHoo on their website store!

Disclosure: The product mentioned above was purchased by me. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.

LunaPads Review

I was very excited to be offered LunaPads for review from BePreparedPeriod.com. For those of you who don't know about BePreparedPeriod.com, they are a fantastic website with all sorts of options for you in regards to that time of the month. You can purchase any sort of cycle items you need (including disposables, should you choose to go that route), and you can have the products delivered right to your house! They offer mama cloth, menstrual cups (my favorite!), and more. Take a peek to see how they can help you out!

 

So, as excited as I was to partner up with BePreparedPeriod.com and review LunaPads for them, I was confused as to how I should go about reviewing them. You readers all know I am expecting Squiggle this summer, and many of you are well aware that I will never use disposables on myself again. Still, trying to figure out how to review the LunaPads wasn't a simple task for a pregnant woman... right?

Well, I was wrong. I figured I'd try them out just to see how they fit for comfort, and then later, postpartum, write another review for you to read on how well they handled. What I didn't expect was a lovely side-effect of pregnancy that I never experienced the first time around: leaking.

My lovely little Squiggle has been head-down for a while, and also looooooves moving around a lot. Hands hitting me in the bladder, head pushing against my bladder... and, of course, my muscles are already a wee bit weaker from having Bobble a couple years ago. Still, nothing prepared me for leaking. Seriously, nothing.

A couple droplets here or there. Nothing horrible, right? Surely that's not that big of a deal. Well, when the end of the workday arrives and you find yourself wondering if that smell (the smell of a wet bed) is YOU... it becomes a big deal. How embarrassing! Not enough to ever worry about your pants even getting wet, but enough to let you know it's happening... and maybe even letting coworkers know it's happening too.

HORRIFYING!

So, I figured it was a great time to try out the LunaPads. After all, if they can hold up to a period, surely they can hold up to a bit of urine leakage, right?

I got to thinking: What is it about periods (and items used with them) that women complain about most? Comfort, absorbency, easy of use, and odor control... right?

Many of you may remember my DivaCup review last summer. I'm a cup girl. When I used disposables, I was a tampon girl (you may remember my story from You ARE Loved a couple years or so back, too). I hated pads. They are just sooooo uncomfortable to me! Well, postpartum mommies don't have much of a choice. It's pad or nothing! I grabbed one of the cute LunaPad prints I was sent to try out (I had already prepped them, which was super easy.... one wash!), and snapped it on. They have very simple instructions, too, so I couldn't get confused if I tried!





After the initial "ugh, I'm wearing a pad!" feeling faded away (about 2 minutes), I couldn't feel the LunaPad! I was very thankful for this, because, as previously established, I was NOT a fan of pads! I was surprised at how comfortable they were once I got used to the feeling of having something there. You just snap them around your underwear and you're good to go!






LunaPads come in many different sizes, and have insert options to help customize the absorbency  too.  I tried them with and without an insert, thinking that maybe the cute little ribbon that holds the insert in place might be uncomfortable directly against my skin. Again, didn't notice it. What a relief that was! The inserts are easily put in and taken out, so adding absorbency is a breeze. How nice that it is so easy to customize! I was sent a couple for review, and actually had a few (never used since I got them while I was pregnant) from before, so you will get to see a whole array of prints and sizes in this review! The largest one (with the fold-out absorbent layer [pink]) is the postpartum pad.












While I cannot, yet, attest to how well LunaPads hold up to a cycle, I can say that they are good for what I tried them out for. My underwear were constantly slightly damp (which sucked, by the way) from the pressure of this baby's head, but the LunaPads kept ME dry. Nothing leaked through (though, as I said, I wasn't leaking a lot), and nothing felt like it was damp. What a lovely feeling to feel dry again! If you needed extra absorbency, adding to the pad is a breeze. You just slide the extra layer under the ribbon on either end, and you're set!

Storing used LunaPads was a breeze, too. You can use a small wetbag for storage, and you can just snap the LunaPads together when they are dirty. (See below)

Not only did the LunaPads keep me dry, but the days I would wear them were the only days I came home without being able to notice the smell of urine on myself. Might I add how embarrassing that is, again? Seriously. Sitting at work for 10 hours a day and feeling like others must notice it. After all, if I could smell it, they could, right? Even showering immediately before work didn't help any. I didn't think the LunaPads would really make a difference with smell... after all, it's still just fabric in the end, right? Well, they made a world of difference. No hint of smell at all. NONE AT ALL. If they are that great with urine, I can only but imagine that they will work the same for a cycle and odor.

These far surpassed my expectations for reusable mama cloth, and I will write again when I know how they hold up to my soon-to-be-tested postpartum wear.

If you'd like to check out LunaPads for yourself, head on over to BePreparedPeriod.com and look at their recently expanded mama cloth options! While the adorable prints may not matter in the grand scheme of things, it's nice seeing something cutesy like flowers or elephants. I think it's the same as wearing cute underwear when you know nobody else will see them anyway... it makes you feel better.



Disclosure: The product mentioned above was sent to me by the company in exchange for a review. This did not influence my opinion of the product in any way. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.

Bummis Training Pants Review & Giveaway

Bummis has some new training pants out that you may or may not have seen by now. Bobble was sick for a bit and we had some looser messy diapers for a while (as in a long while), and we were unable to test them right away. Something about trying to teach a little one where to potty when they can't even control what is happening because they don't feel well just didn't seem right! However, he is doing better now and back on the potty learning track!

 

Thanks Mama gave me the opportunity to try these out, so a big thank you to them! If you haven't heard of Thanksmama.com before, they are a family owned & operated natural baby store that offers a huge selection of cloth diapering products, potty training pants, swim diapers, natural baby care products, baby carriers, bibs, toys, nursery furniture and bedding, strollers and much more. If you're looking for innovative products that are good for the baby and also good for the environment, check them out! Thanks Mama understands that many families are on a budget, so they offer the lowest prices, free shipping on orders over $60 (within the USA), 90 day easy returns, and The Buy Safe Guarantee and Price Guarantee. Don't live in the USA? That's okay... Thanks Mama ships worldwide!

You can follow Thanks Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Pinterest or Google +. They host weekly Giveaways, Contests, Sweepstakes, Twitter Parties, talk about modern family fun and challenges, natural parenting and green living.

I received the Bummis Potty Pant in Pistachio Dot. I picked the Medium size (25 - 30 lbs) even though Bobble is 30lbs, because Bobble is built tiny and all sized diapers or training pants seem to be big on him if I go with recommended sizes. I must say, however, that these seem very true to the size! I should have probably gone with a large. Still, these fit him well, they just were more difficult for me to get on him (partially because he doesn't want to hold still. EVER.) and off of him.

Of course, the first time he had them on, he messed them. Seems to go that way with new diapers, too! On the bright side, that gave me the opportunity to see how well they held, and they did a stellar job! All was within the pants! (If you're curious, they washed very well, too... you can't tell they had a mess in them!) They have a nice lined central area from front to back (see picture above) that will absorb small accidents well so you don't have puddles on your floor.

With urine, they held nicely when Bobble peed in them. Assuming you don't leave them on after one pee, you shouldn't have much of an issue. I wouldn't use this for night time, though. Bobble tends to drink a lot at night still, so we would be guaranteed a leak!

These pants stretch nicely, and are easily pulled up or down (well, if you get the correct size, anyway!), so that makes it easy for your little one when they have to go potty! They have a nice, trim fit (even though they have the lined mid-section), and they fit nice and snug against the legs.

You only have two choices of colours, so I picked the one with polka dots on it. I didn't care that there was pink on it and Bobble is a boy (and neither does he!). I liked it better than plain white.

Thanksmama.com is dedicated to bringing the best cloth diapers, training pants and swim diapers on the market at the best value. They have many cloth diaper packages that have volume discounts built in, many come with complementary products and make shopping for cloth diapers in bulk easy. Cloth diapers for parents that are new to cloth are also available; they are great for trying different types and brands of cloth diapers. Thanks Mama has knowledgeable customer service that would be happy to help
with any questions or concerns.

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Disclosure: The product mentioned above was provided to me by ThanksMama.com for review. This did not influence my opinion of the product in any way. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.