Today is the third installment in our series looking at the fabrics commonly used in cloth diapering. You can see other posts in this series by clicking here.

Bamboo is one of the most popular fabrics for cloth diapers and definitely one of the most chic. It’s luxuriously soft, eco-friendly, and very absorbent. In fact, tests have shown that rayon from bamboo absorbs moisture on contact 70% more quickly than cotton and dries 20% faster. And for softness, it’s known for mimicking silk, cashmere, or french terry fleece.

It’s also with good reason that bamboo has such an eco-friendly rap:

Bamboo retains water, thus requiring very little irrigation.

It puts down deep roots, thereby supporting riverbanks and hillsides and avoiding erosion.

It is naturally anti-microbial, thus needing no pesticides or fertilizers.

It absorbs five times more carbon dioxide and releases 35% more oxygen into the environment than a stand of trees covering the same acreage.

It’s a very sustainable crop, as it doesn’t need replanting for years at a time and it grows very quickly. Once a mother clump of bamboo has taken root – generally about three years – it only takes one growing season of 3-4 months for the shoots to be ready for harvest. In fact, if the growing conditions are just right, bamboo can even grow more than a metre in one day!

When it comes to making bamboo into a textile, there’s a vast difference between conventional and sustainable practices, however. The fibres in a bamboo stalk are very short and cannot be knit directly into a yarn as with most other textiles, so they must be softened, pulped, and stretched like taffy to create the fibres. In the conventional process of turning bamboo cellulose into the silky-soft rayon we know and love, several caustic chemicals are used to soften and break down the fibres, which has a severe environmental impact and destroys the antimicrobial properties of the bamboo itself.

However, sustainable companies, such as the ones whose products we carry here at New & Green, are committed to creating their rayon in environmentally responsible ways. For example, Tots Bots, the makers of the Stretch Bamboozle and the Easy Fit, make sure their processing is done within the strict international environmental standards of ISO 9000 & 14000. The finished product also falls under the coveted European Oeko-Tex standard. And as an added bonus, viscose rayon made from bamboo is more biodegradable than other similar fabrics, including organic cotton.

In the end, organic, sustainably produced bamboo diapers are one of the best choices you can make. Make sure you check out the Bamboozle, the Easy Fit, the BabyKicks 3G, and the AMP bamboo flats!

Photo credit

It’s time once again for one of Vancouver’s premiere “mom to be” events – the Bellies to Babies Celebration! Don’t miss this spring’s show THIS SUNDAY, April 10. All the fabulous details can be found at the event website – www.belliestobabiescelebration.com.

The Bellies to Babies Celebration is a one of a kind event, offering a unique opportunity for new and expectant parents and grandparents to explore and shop for trendy baby fashions, décor and so much more! Community resources and support services will be on hand to answer questions for new and expecting parents.

New & Green will be on hand to answer questions, show off our favourite diapers, and let you in on the latest and greatest in the cloth diapering world. Make sure to come find us at Booth #42.

And best of all, in amongst all the other fabulous exhibitors and demonstrators, we’ll be on the mainstage at 1:00 with “Cloth Diapering 101″ – a FREE mini-workshop, just like our popular Cloth Diapering 101 workshops.

Because this is such an popular event, pre-registration is recommended, so check out the various ways to register today. And there’s no set admission fee – admission is by donation to The Greater Vancouver Food Bank “Basics for Babies” Program. In lieu of admission, donations of monies and baby supplies will be accepted.

Mark your calendars now and we look forward to seeing you there!

PS – We have an awesome draw happening at our Booth.  Come by and enter to win.  You will love it!  And did we mention the prize is worth more than $375?!

Today is the second installment in our series looking at the fabrics commonly used in cloth diapering. You can see other posts in this series by clicking here.

Organic Cotton

Cotton is one of the world’s most in-demand crops: more than 3% of the world’s agricultural land is covered in cotton. That’s larger than the entire country of Germany and approximately the size of all of Central America combined. Yet, organic cotton makes up less than 1% of that total.

In order for cotton to be considered “organic,” it must be grown with non-genetically modified seed and can use no agrochemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, or fertilizers. Considering conventional cotton uses approximately 25% of the world’s insecticides and about 10% of the world’s pesticides, this is a major departure from conventional farming methods. For every T-shirt or diaper manufactured with conventional cotton, between 1/4 – 1/2 lb. of chemicals have been used. This has obvious ramifications for those with sensitive skin or those just wanting to limit their exposure to chemicals and other toxic materials.

Cotton – regardless of growing method – is a beautiful plant. It grows as a medium size bush, blossoms with delicate flowers, and then produces a ball of cotton as the blossom matures.

Cotton is an especially difficult plant to grow, and even more so when the farmer has chosen to grow organically. Insects are commonly drawn to cotton plants (thus the heavy usage of insecticides in the conventional methods) and an organic farmer must be both creative, persistent, and innovative in their methods in order to have a successful crop. Often “trap crops” are used, as well as soil amendments such as compost are used to encourage biodiversity among the plants, which allow other bugs to “take care of” the unwanted guest pests. Cotton also depletes soil of minerals and nutrients more than it filters back in to the soil, so in an organic system it’s an especially important crop to rotate every few years in order to maintain a sustainable operation and profitable harvests.

There are various standards for declaring cotton fabrics to be truly “certified organic,” and among the most stringent of those certifications is the European Oeko-Tex 100. Oeko-Tex is unique because it not only tests the cotton in its raw state, but it also tests the product in its final state for more than 100 toxic substances, as dyes and fabric additives can leave toxic residues on the fabric, including heavy metals, phthalates, and phenols. But good news! – nearly all of the cotton diapers offered at New & Green are organic and many of those are Oeko-Tex 100 certified, including Bummis prefolds and the Flip organic cotton insert.

What questions do you have about organic cotton or what have you discovered in your research about cloth diapering? This post is just the beginning – we’d love to hear from you!

Want to know more? Be sure to check out:

Ekopedia

Organic Trade Association

Sustainable Cotton Project

AboutOrganicCotton.org

Eartheasy: Solutions for Sustainable Living
Storchenwiege
How Eco is Organic Cotton? The Facts on 7 Questions | Gaiam Life

Cotton plant photo credit

Cotton blossom photo credit

A day in the life of an expectant parent – An introduction to Baby Planners

Let us introduce you to Sarah.

Sarah is a thirty-something professional in our city – she loves Vancouver (though hails from Toronto), she drinks decaf lattes, and she hits up the shops on 4th Ave. whenever she can for some retail therapy. And now, she’s expecting her first baby. You can imagine her excitement!

The next year will be monumental for Sarah and her husband, John – full of emotion, joy, and….. decisions. She hasn’t taken care of a baby since she was 16 and babysitting, though she feels confident that it can’t be too hard. Through the months, the questions pile up.

A friend suggests getting a midwife, but she wonders which clinic to call and what questions to ask.

Space is at a premium in their 900-square-foot apartment, so how will the crib, dresser, and change table all fit and still leave room for the big rocker she’s always wanted?

When she overhears moms talking about cloth diapers, she realizes it hasn’t even crossed her mind to think about diapering.

To top it all off, when she and John go to create their baby registry, they find themselves standing in the baby aisle at a large department store staring at the multitude of choices in front of them. Feeding gear, bibs, breast pumps… baffled and overwhelmed, they leave the store discouraged with nothing on their registry.

Sarah thinks, “There has to be a better way.”

There is definitely an easier way!

Sarah and John are the perfect example of what new parents often feel when they enter into the big world of the baby industry. Not everyone has family nearby for support, or experienced friends with babies, or the time and effort to prepare for the baby. And everyone from friends to store clerks has different opinions.

Let us introduce you to our friends at Oh Baby Baby Planners whose job it is to help minimize or eliminate the feelings of stress or uncertainty for soon to be parents.

Here are five reasons why a baby planner could benefit Sarah and John (and you too!):

1. Save time.
Let’s face it. Sarah and John want to take advantage of the precious months they have together just as a couple – not wasting their weekends driving all over town test driving strollers or surfing the net for reviews on breast pumps. Baby Planners provide product and service recommendations, personal shopping services, even provide delivery, assembly and “training” in how to use all your new gear.

2. Save money.
Baby Planners will help you get it right the first time by choosing the right gear and services to suit your budget and lifestyle! They also help you find the best deals and discounts whether through our great relationships with local retailers, or through our savvy online shopping skills.

3. De-stress.
Preparing for a new baby is so exciting – but for most parents, it’s also a very stressful time. You are faced with a multitude of problems and choices you have likely never considered before. If only Sarah knew that a very reputable midwife just opened a few doors down from her office. Baby Planners can help you narrow your choices for you so your decision making process is relaxing and fun!

4. Find your parenting groove.
Baby Planners are on top of all of the current parenting trends, styles, and techniques. They’ll present options to you in a non-condescending and non-judgmental way. They can recommend techniques, books, and resources that suit your baby and your style. For example, recommending John and Sarah to attend a New & Green Cloth Diaper workshop is a great way to introduce them to cloth diapering.

5. Personal Concierge, anyone?
Baby Planners are here to help you manage all the details that need to get done before your baby arrives. Maybe you are on bed rest, or working overtime, or new to the city, or left things a little late – they are your go-to girls for everything Baby. No question is silly and no task is too small. They are here to support you through your journey into parenthood.

Note from New & Green: Oh Baby Baby Planners offer services for adoptive parents too! If you are needing cloth diapers and other baby supplies in a hurry or you’ve already had your baby and want help thinking through the options, a baby planner may be just the way to go.

This post was contributed by Camille Paulhus of Oh Baby Baby Planners.

Photo Credit

March 4th is the day to like us. 

Head over to facebook, hit the like button and grab the sale code.

You’ll save some money now on our top selling cloth diapering item (aside from the diapers themselves) and pocket some future savings, because we like you and we want you to come back and say hi!

See you over on facebook.

Welcome to a new series here on the New & Green blog highlighting the fabrics that are used in the wonderful array of cloth diapers that exist on the market today. Many parents at our Cloth Diapering 101 workshops want to know the benefits of using natural fibres and are curious about synthetic fibres, since they make cloth diapering so easy! Thus this series was born – through the year we will highlight several of the fabrics commonly used in the diapers that don your babies’ bums.

HEMP

Hemp is one of the world’s oldest plants and one of the ones that has been most used through history. It is earth-friendly, versatile, and renewable.

Though it’s a sibling to marijuana, which is grown for the use of its blossoms and leaves, hemp is grown mostly for its seeds and its fibrous stalk, which breaks down easily with very few chemicals during processing. It is known as a very eco-friendly plant, as it grows quickly, requires little water, improves soil nutrients rather than depleting them, is an excellent anti-erosion crop, and is naturally pest-resistant, which eliminates the need for pesticides. It’s also very easily grown without the use of herbicides or fertilizers.

All in all, it is a very “green” crop and can be easily made into thousands of different kinds of products with fewer chemicals than its counterparts. (e.g., in paper making, hemp requires fewer chemicals than wood; in the production of fabrics and other textiles, hemp requires fewer chemicals than conventional cotton; etc…) The end product when made into a fabric is naturally anti-microbial and very durable.

There is a serious downside to hemp, however. While it is now legal to grow hemp in Canada, there are no textile mills able to deal with raw hemp. In the US, not only are there no hemp textile mills, but it’s still illegal to grow the crop. Thus, it’s still necessary and more cost-effective for diaper manufacturers to import finished hemp fabric from other nations, usually China. This certainly increases the “eco-footprint” for any hemp diaper.

There’s also the factor of softness. Hemp is a very sturdy, durable, absorbent material and until recently, most hemp diapers were more practical than swoon-worthy. However, both Annie Marie Padorie of AMP Diapers and BabyKicks have been among the first to use luxuriously soft combed hemp fleece in their diapers – we invite you to pick one up and feel the difference! They’re almost down-right cuddle-worthy…

Mamas (and papas) – what has been your experience with hemp diapers?

Photo credit

Birth Fest is an annual festival of all things related to belly, baby and family.  I went for the first time 4 years ago with my firstborn tucked into a sling and walked around thinking to myself, “Wow, this is a whole new world!  There are so many things out there to access in the way of support and great products that I had no idea about”.  Fast forward a couple years, New & Green was born and I found myslef on the other side of the “table” still with a baby on my back (just much bigger) and talking to lots of pregnant and new families about how to cloth diaper.  The next year, New & Green was on the organizing committee.  This is our third year being a part of the Birth Lounge Collective and the 5th annivesary of this great event.

What I love most about this event is that it is like a giant party where you meet new friends, catch up with old ones and really feel the love.  It feels a bit silly to say it, but really, it’s true.  Folks that get into the world of supporting new families do it because they love it right down to their core, and it shows.

So if you are in town on February 26th, come on down to Birth Fest at Britannia Community Centre on Commerical, say hi to us and check out the amazing folks that can support you on your parenting journey.

See you there on February 26th between 11-4.

~Karen

Eco-friendly materials are definitely the name of the game in 2011. Organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp all satisfy parents who are looking for more sustainable materials, and the BabyKicks One-Size Organic fitted diaper, the Stretch Bamboozle Bamboo fitted diaper, and the AMP Hemp fitted diaper are rising to the top as Parent Favourites.

Trend #2: Newborn to One-Size Diapers

One-size diapers are fabulous for increasing your savings from infanthood to toddlerhood, but they don’t always fit so well in the first few weeks of life. Thus, parents are choosing to pair newborn nappies (the cutest diapers – bar none!) with one-size diapers to get the best use out of both.

For N&G parents, the TiniFit, Kissaluvs Size 0, and the new Organic Cotton Newborn Pack are definitely get the top raves for newborn sizing.  BabyKicks 3G, the Tots Bots Easy-Fit, and the Canadian-Made AMP One-Size Duos are rising to the top in popularity for the infant-to-potty-training variety.

Trend #3: Back-to-basics Prefolds and Covers

We’ve written many posts on the beauty and simplicity of using prefolds, as well as have a prefold photo tutorial on our main site, and thus it’s no surprise to us that a large number of parents are choosing the simple, money-wise option of using prefolds and covers to cloth their babes. You can get these classic diapers in a box set or a la carte. Hemp prefolds are also available individually.

Trend #4: Style

This trend isn’t coming directly from parents, per se, but parents who are wanting to show off their babies’ bums have definitely fueled the fire on this one. Look no further than the limited edition artist prints on the Bum Genius 4.0′s and Elemental one-size AIO’s, as well as all the luscious new Super Whisper Wrap Covers from Bummis. Of course, the EasyFit always gets an honourable mention in the “cute” division, too!

So, there you have it. So far 2011 is shaping up to be eco-friendly, stylish, and money-smart, just like all of you.

We’d love to know – what trend will top your priority list this year?

We love to hear what you think about the products that we stock here at N&G.  While we spend oodles of time researching and reviewing, it really comes down to your varied, real-life expereinces.  Different families, different babies – it is what makes the cloth diapering world go ’round.

Last year on Facebook, we started hosting Parent Review Panels.  And it’s been fun!

This is how it works.  We select a product from N&G that we’d like to get real-time, real-world feedback on.  We head over to our Facebook page (Have you clicked the like button?) and we put out the call.  Sometimes we are looking for families with babies of specific ages and weights, sometimes we are looking for families using specific diaper covers and sometimes its just open to whomever wishes to participate.  After the call goes out, we collect the responses and select our Parent Review Panel.

The parents on the panel receive a product from us, use it and then tell us all about it and show us how it works for them.  There’s a few more detials, but we’ll let you find that out when you apply to be a Parent Reviewer.

Have a look at some photos of past review panels and keep your eyes (or better yet your Facebook News Feed) peeled for the next call for a Parent Review Panel.

The EasyFit Parent Review Panel Photo Summary.

The Stretch Bamboozle Parent Review Panel Photo Summary.

We’ve officially left January, but we still have some 2010 roundups for you.  We took a look back to see what accessories hit the top five to make life easier for cloth diapering families in 2010.

#5 Kissaluv Organic Hemp Wipes.  These wipes are thin, yet absorbent.  Big enough to clean up a big job and thick enough to avoid any risk of hand-poo contact.  They also work well as mini doublers in the early days.  One feature that is repeatedly praised is the smooth side/loopy side so you can choose what surface works best for the job at hand.

#4 Microfleece Stay Dry Liners.  Doing double duty to keep zinc based creams from staining your diapers and keeping bums dry, this seems to be a must have for most cloth diapering families.

#3 Fabulous Wet Bags.  These gems came on the scene this year and have been a fabulous addition.  With a zipper and loop and made from the durable, yet light and flexible Super Brite PUL, these make managing the dirties easy when you’re out and about.  You can find one in our swimming bag and attached to our stroller handle.

#2 Bio-Soft Liners.  Now these go out of our shipping centre in droves.  Making poop management easier is what we like to do and these are our go to solution.  Just ask any parent with a baby that is 6m+.  One tip – if you are into medium or 15lb+ diapers or a diaper with a stay dry inner layer, go for the larges, you’ll find them the most functional.

#1 Rockin Green Cloth Diaper Detergent.  With formulations to match your water quality and funky names and awesome scents, doing laundry just got easier and cool.  Yes, I said cool.  This has made the lives of many many families sweeter in the smell department.

What was your “must have” cloth diaper accessory for 2010?

We are well into 2011 (can you believe that February is knocking already?), but wanted to give you a quick look back at our most popular diapers of 2010.

#5 The XS Fuzzi Bunz.  This diaper makes it into our Newborn Rental Kit because its tiny and it works well.  Parents love the trim fit and the ability to use it from day one.  It fits babies from 4-12lbs.  How could it be anything but cute?!

#4 The Organic Cotton Prefold.  This is a tried and true solution.  Many parents that are looking to balance the baby budget start off their days using organic cotton prefolds and sealing the deal with the Bummis Kit.  It’s a no brainer way to start out and it saves loads of money in those 12 changes a day months.

#3 The bumGenius 4.0 in Snaps.  Parents have heard of this diaper.  Its a well known and well loved brand that can take you from almost birth to training pants or underwear.  The stay dry lining and impressive absorbency along with ease of use make this one a popular choice.  It’s often one that parents transition to when they outgrow those little organic cotton prefolds.  The release of the snap version was very very well received, indeed.

#2 The EasyFit.  An awesome diaper on all accounts.  Easy to use, easy to wash, easy to dry.  This is a great choice for families who are wanting an option that is easy for all involved: Mom, Dad, Grandma and Daycare.  And it’s little sister, the TiniFit is a spitting image of the EasyFit, though much, much cuter.

#1 The BabyKicks 3g.  This diaper has taken Canada by storm.  It’s unique features are really hitting with Canadian parents.  An all natural diaper (organic cotton, hemp and bamboo) that is equally impressive in it’s trimness and absorbency and has this neat feature of breathable gussets.  That means that it’s been able to be bumped to the ranks of “Awesome night diaper” amongst many cloth diapering families.  And did you know it can be used “pull-up” style when you get to the potty learning days?

And that’s it folks.  Let’s see what 2011 brings.

What was your top diaper for 2010?

Introducing our newest Cloth Diaper 101 location in North Vancouver, the Notable Kids Kindermusik Studio on Lonsdale, just off Hwy 1.  The owner of Notable Kids, Carolyn, has been a part of my life for the last four years.  I started taking our first daughter Ella there when she was still a wee babe, not yet crawling (and still doing those explosive breastmilk poops!).  I remember our fair share of signing and laughs and diaper changes in the early days.  We continued along and learned lots together and we now go to Family Time – Ella, Clare and I and I get a workout bouncing two kids on my lap!

Beyond the musical influence this program has had on my kids, I really value the inclusive participation and respect for both children and adults in the classes.  Carolyn has always recognized and respected each child’s sensory thresholds and physical development, offering ways to adapt the moves or participation to suit your child.  Nursing, diaper changes and running off steam was always just a part of class, never viewed as an interruption.  It has been a place where I can create joy with my children.

I’m sure all moms (and dads too) can see value in this, but there is more for me.  As a mom who works a lot from home, there is the tempation to try and “do it all” at home – play with the kids, cook for the kids, keep the home, do the laundry, answer email, answer phone calls and the list goes on.  My time at Kindermusik is protected and very special.  It is focus time.  No distractions.  Pure play.  I wish I could do that more at home but I think I need to develop a tad more discipline.

The Studio is a new home for Notable Kids and we are honoured to be sharing space to provide Cloth Diaper Workshops there.

Carolyn is an amazing mom, teacher and fellow business woman.  I recommend you all check out her services and jump on her free class offer.  You’ll have a musical time!

Our first workshop is on February 22nd.  Join us if you want to learn more about Cloth Diapering.  Of if you have a fence sitting friend, send them along, and we’ll show them that cloth diapers are a doable option.

PS – that cutie with the blond ponies and blue eyes on the front page of the Notable Kids site, that is my sweetie Ella (quite a while ago, now).

Here is a quick reference for selecting Rockin Green in select BC locations.

The following data originates from Canadian Water Quality Association.  It is a great resource but does not include all cities & towns. While we believe this information to be valid, if you are unsure or do not see your city/town on this list, please contact your municipality to determine your water quality. See our Toolbox for detailed information regarding this procedure.

Let us know if you have any questions.

While we talk a LOT about considerations for your cloth diapers and how to prepare them before your new baby arrives, we want to take the chance to talk a little about the rest of family life with a new baby.  Especially life for your first little one(s).

Introducing our guest writer, Sarah, who will chat with you about preparing your children for the arrival of a new baby.

Your other children will benefit from some preparation before baby comes along.  Life as you know it will never be the same, but the transition can be smoother by doing a few things with the brother or sister to be.  Here are our top tips:

• Changes such as moving to a big bed, moving bedrooms, or new childcare arrangements would be better done well before the new baby is born. You can expect some regression of already mastered skills, like potty training.
• Spend special time with your other child and remind visitors to pay attention to the sibling and not just the new baby. Include sibling in pictures and other activities.
• Ask for your child’s help and involve your child in baby’s care. Even very young children can help by getting a diaper for you, picking out clothes, or patting burps out of the babe.
• Try to let go of guilt. There is no way to give both children equal attention.  Do the best you can and create a support network.
• Remember that one of your gifts to all of your children is the sibling relationship they will have with one another.
• Consider allowing your child to participate in the birth of your new baby, if they are comfortable doing so.  Please be sure to have a special support person on call for your child, as they can be as unpredictable with their feelings and needs as the birth experience itself.

Sarah Farhangi is the mother of three beautiful children.  She teaches sibling preparation classes with her DoulaMamas partner, Bonnie Jarvis.  Both ladies have a wealth of experience as early childhood educators, mothers of siblings and birth doulas.

For more info about sibling preparation classes, please visit DoulaMamas.