Gift-giving can be one of the joys of the Christmas holiday and it’s always fun to discover just the right gift for a friend or family member.
In that spirit, we have put together a gift guide with a few ideas for the people on your list. If you know soon-to-be new parents, parents of young children, or are a parent yourself, be sure to check out our list. There’s something for everyone and for every budget!
We here at New & Green wish you and your families all the best during this holiday season.
EasyFits are one of the perennial favorites among New & Green parents and the highest rated by parent reviews on our website. They offer a great fit, good absorbancy (bamboo and microfibre together make a thirsty combo!), stunning colours made from Oeko-Tex certified dyes, and high quality hook-and-loop closures. They’re also made by Tots Bots, a Scottish company that makes every effort for ethical and sustainable production methods.
The Bamboozle is touted among parents as one of the most absorbent diapers available and is popular especially for naptimes and nighttime. It’s also popular among parents who want natural fibres against their baby’s skin. Bamboo is a sustainable fibre and scrumptiously soft!
The Flip is a popular option merely due to the variety of ways in which you can use it, as well as it’s a simple, no-fuss, well-fitting cover for babies of every shape and size. You get to choose either an organic cotton or microfibre insert or purchase it alone to use as a standard cover for other fitted diapers and prefolds.
The AMP Duo is manufactured in Winnipeg by a conscientious mom-run business. This pocket in particular is popular because of its high quality and its superb fit on both lean and chubby babies. The diaper is available in a small size for newborns up to 15 lbs and a one-size option for larger babies.
BumGenius diapers are one of the most recognized and well-loved diapers on the market today. These one-size pocket diapers come stocked with an adjustable full-size insert as well as a newborn insert that also doubles as a doubler to increase absorbancy for car trips, nap times, and nighttime usage. You can now also choose either a velcro closure or snaps, depending on your preference and what works best for your family. The stretch-to-fit tabs help ensure a great fit every time and the diaper can be used from 8-35 lbs.
Wool covers are hailed as a wonder-cover for babies who struggle with diaper rash, for parents who want to use natural fibres, and for babies who need help sleeping through the night. (The breathability of wool allows moisture to evaporate off the baby’s skin as they sleep, thus not waking them due to the sensation of being wet.) Aristocrats covers are manufactured here in BC and so also satisfy parents wanting to buy local!
This diapering-kit-in-a-box provides parents all the basics needed to get started with cloth diapering. The kit includes 24 organic cotton prefolds, 6 covers, 3 rolls of Bio-Soft liners, 5 reusable stay-dry liners, and 1 large wet bag. That’s enough diapers for at least two full days of diapering!
Prefolds are a very easy and practical way to get started with cloth and are especially popular among parents who are budget-savvy.
These brightly colored pail liners and tote-able wetbags will cheerfully hold several days of dirty diapers. They’re an essential part of setting up your diaper pail system and a must-have item for parents who are just getting started.
Rockin’ Green has revolutionized cloth diaper laundry and makes the chore… dare we say, an utter delight. It gets diapers truly clean while leaving no residue, it’s eco-friendly, and you have your choice of a number of yummy scents that don’t linger on the diapers. For parents who are just getting started, this detergent will help make the new routine downright enjoyable.
These oh-so-cute tankinis are perfect for your pool-side babe. They are designed to be paired with the ever-popular Swimmi swim diaper, and even if you don’t cloth diaper, this is a great way to be both sustainable and chic at the swimming pool all year round.
Nothing fits quite as well as a diaper that is designed specifically with the newborn in mind – both for fit and for comfort. This pack bridges the gap between birth and one-size or small size diapers and parents have raved about difference it makes. The pack includes 1-dozen soft organic cotton prefolds and two perfect-size covers – enough for one day’s worth of diapering. This combo is one of the most cost effective ways of managing the early days when you are changing a lot of diapers!
This package features literally everything you need to cloth diaper your newborn starting from Day 1 and features some of the best products on the market for quality, fit, and chic-cuteness. The pack even includes wipes, storage bags, and detergent! Talk about getting everything you need in one convenient package…
Your baby’s poo in the first few weeks can get a little…. well, sticky, and this bum spray is a great way to keep your baby’s cheeks fresh and well-cleaned!
This box is a great way for parents to try out prefolds without investing in large quantities of diapers. The kit includes three organic cotton prefolds and one wrap cover – just tri-fold the prefold and lay it in the cover and voila! you have a lovely, absorbent diaper ready to go.
These tiny diapers are possibly the most popular diapers among parents who are cloth diapering newborns, as they keep all those newborn messes exactly where they should be. They feature a snap-down front to go around the umbilical stump and snug-but-comfy elastic around the back and legs to ensure a great fit.
Cloth trainers catch the dribbles and little messes that are inevitable while potty training, they help provide feedback to the child who is learning about wet and dry sensations, and they save parents money! Bummis pants in particular are easy for the child to pull up and down and offer a secure, comfortable fit.
The 3G pocket diaper is designed as a diaper but works superbly well as a training pant. By snapping the wings shut, you create an easy-up, easy-down pant for the child, but in case of a messy accident, the wings snap open like a diaper in order to get the training pant off without creating more mess. Also, by having a pocket opening, you can adjust the absorbancy according to your child’s need or leave out the insert completely.
This fabulous diaper salve is hand-made right here in BC! Each batch is lovingly made with the highest quality, organic ingredients. This is a zinc-free diaper salve that uses naturals to gently soothe and heal your little one’s skin. It smells great too! We know toddlers who love it so much that they pack it themselves in the diaper bag…
Irresistible fashion prints in the softest flannel on one side and a sumptuous organic cotton velour on the other make these wipes Hip, Green and Gorgeous. Choose from a dreamy Mermaid, a yummy Two Scoops or a mod Lots of Dots.
These covers in delightful prints have been popular among cloth diapering parents for several years running. They offer a great fit, high quality construction, and cover any fitted or prefold diaper. Very useful and multi-functional.
Snappis are an ingenious little invention that make diaper pins obsolete. They come in a variety of colors and are made from a stretchable non-toxic material, which is T-shaped with grips on each end. These grips hook into the diaper fabric to ensure a snug-fitting diaper with enough natural movement for the baby. Pick up several to give to all your cloth diapering friends!
These zippered, toss-n’-go wet bags make going out with cloth diapers easy. (They’re great for daycare or the swimming pool too!) The small size holds 2-4 dirty diapers and the medium one holds 4-6 dirties. These make great stocking stuffers because even if you already have a stash of wetbags, these repurpose well for carrying cosmetics, as gym bags, for travel, and so much more!
Still don’t know what to get that special someone or just aren’t sure what would be most helpful for those soon-to-be new parents? New & Green has gift certificates available in any denomination!
We want to know what makes a mama, papa and baby happy when comes to the dirty work of cleaning bums. We have some brand new wipes in stock and some new-ish (and reportedly fabulous) locally made bum wash as well and we’re looking for 6 families to test these products for us.
If you’re interested, fill out an application by clicking on the link below. You must be an {avid} facebook user and be available over the next few weeks to participate.
Thanks so much; we really appreciate working with our Parent Review Panelists.
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.
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.
#5Kissaluv 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.
#4Microfleece 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.
#3Fabulous 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.
#2Bio-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.
#1Rockin 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.
#5The 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?!
#4The 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.
#3The 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.
#2The 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.
#1The 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?
If you haven’t been over on our Facebook Page, you won’t know about this yet.
We have selected 6 Parent Reviewers, all with cloth diapering experience, all with different sizes and ages of babies to give this diaper a test drive and report back to us. EasyFits will be landing on doorsteps across the country starting on Tuesday.
Watch our Facebook page for photos and reviews, coming shortly.
In the meantime, enjoy the video and if you have any questions about the EasyFit (8-35lbs) or it’s little sister the TiniFit (5-12lbs), drop us a line at customercare@newandgreen.com
Update August 29th: Reviews
From Jessica, one of our Newborn Reviewers:
We’ve been using the EasyFits for a few times now. Our Miss H is 6 weeks old 10 lb just looks so cute in it! There is never a leak yet and I don’t believe we will get any! The legs fit snugly! I love how easy it is to just toss to the washer without shaking out insert. Oh and how soft it is on her bum!
From Miranda, one of our Toddler Reviewers:
During the day the Easyfits are great. I can go out without worrying about leaks and don’t have to worry about unstuffing them in the middle of wherever I am changing him as they unstuff themselves in the wash. We haven’t had any problems with staining on these diapers, even with runny poops where they have stained others.
From Meaghan, one of our Older Baby Reviewers:
I like how easy it is to get a snug fit with these. With other diapers I have found myself undoing and redoing the velcro a couple of times to ensure a good fit, but this one seems to get it right the first time every time.
Disposable diapers certainly have their time and place. And certainly no one can argue that the increased use of disposables over the course of the last few decades has changed our culture and society in regards to baby-raising.
That said, there are obvious reasons to choose cloth diapers as well and many families are making the switch from disposables to cloth. Here are a few suggestions to make the transition as smooth, easy, and successful as possible.
1. Choose diapers that are as convenient as disposables. The ever-popular bumGenius, the AMP All-in-One diaper, and the new EasyFit All-in-One Diapers are all “baby shaped” like a disposable, offer velcro closures (just like the tabs on a disposable), and are easy and intuitive to deal with once they’re dirty. Many also feature a “stay-dry” layer of fleece or suedecloth to make sure that the fabric next to Baby’s skin stays dry. All in all, these diapers definitely help eliminate frustration and confusion through the transition period!
2. Do what makes it easy for you. Some parents find it easiest to “ease into” the new way of doing things over the course of a few weeks. Others prefer to dive in and make the change all at once. Whichever way you choose, just choose the way that makes it as smooth and stress-free for you as possible.
If you’re of the “easing into it” persuasion, perhaps start with just using cloth two or three times a day at home, then use cloth exclusively during the day, then add in cloth at nighttime, and then use them during all your outings. Easing into it can help overcome the psychological barrier of “this is going to be hard!” even though parents usually find – even over the course of just a few days – how easy cloth diapering really can be.
If you’re of the “diving in” persuasion, just make sure you’ve got plenty of diapers on hand and you’re all set! You’ll get your new rhythm down in no time.
3. Talk to your partner and other caregivers. Sometimes different parents need different amounts of time to transition. If you’re in this situation, agree perhaps that one parent will “make the switch” first and become the “expert” in the family and can then help the other parent get started. Or perhaps agree that for a certain period of time, each parent can reach for which ever type of diaper he or she so chooses – a disposable at one change and cloth the next, let’s say.
In other families, both parents prefer to make the journey together to discover what works best for them. Whichever way works best for you, keep the lines of communication open and have fun doing it. Remember this process is all about doing what is best for you, your baby, and your family – and having fun is ALWAYS good for everyone involved!
Here’s to a happy, easy, successful transition!
Are you a family in the Lower Mainland wanting to make the switch? We have a couple of programs for you! Our most popular pre-switch strategy used is attending a Cloth Diaper 101 Workshop with one of our expert leaders. The second sought after transitioning tool is our Cloth Diaper Tester Program where you can “test the waters” with cloth diapering for a couple of weeks without the finality of commitment.
AMP Duos are a relatively new diaper to the market and very innovative. These are one of the only pocket diapers that we have found that can work on a newborn baby and will fit them well right up until 18lbs. There is a trick we have found that will make the fit perfect on a tiny newborn (watch for an upcoming post to see this in action).
We love this diaper with BabyKicks Hemp as the insert as it provides a lovely, trim fit and the option of laying the insert inside the shell or stuffing it inside. The video discusses why you may choose one method or the other.
Enjoy and do let us know if you have been using this system. We love to get reviews from our families about how their diapers are working for them.
And just a little aside – JoeyBunz Hemp Inserts are truly fabulous and families are beginning to take notice of this. They are absolutely flying off the shelves!
A break from our regular programming to announce our newest arrival!
BabyKicks cloth diapering gear is now available in Canada! We are so excited to bring you their fabulous line of innovative organic diapers and well-loved and proven organic hemp inserts and prefolds.
We are so excited that we would love to give some away! To celebrate, we’d are offering a 3 pack of the innovative and hugely popular Bumboo One Size Pocket Diapers (value of $75) to a randomly selected winner.
To enter:
Head over to New & Green, check out theBabyKicks line and let us know what you love and why you love it. Come on back and leave us a comment here on the N&G blog.
Extra entries:
Blog: About your new found love (ahem – that would be a fabulous BabyKicks product) and leave us the link to your post, OR, grab the video and paste it into your blog to get your friends up and groovin’ with the BabyKicks babies. Here is the URL to paste into your blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSVj1kScwPY
Tweet: Lovin’ the new BabyKicks gear over @newandgreenbaby. Enter to win a 3 pack of Bumboo Pockets http://bit.ly/7SndWC #clothdiapers Pls RT
Facebook: head over to New & Green’s Facebook page and share the video with your friends (it’s already on the wall). Post the link back here.
Fine print: Contest closes March 19th, 2010 at 5pm PST. Open to Canadian Residents only.
And now, back to our regular programming of great tips and tricks for you. See you here soon.
Gift-giving can be one of the joys of the Christmas holiday and it’s always fun to discover just the right gift for a friend or family member.
We want to know what makes a mama, papa and baby happy when comes to the dirty work of cleaning bums. We have some brand new wipes in stock and some new-ish (and reportedly fabulous) locally made bum wash as well and we’re looking for 6 families to test these products for us.
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.
#5 
#4 
#3 
#2 
#1 
#5 
#4 
#3 
#2 
#1 
Disposable diapers certainly have their time and place. And certainly no one can argue that the increased use of disposables over the course of the last few decades has changed our culture and society in regards to baby-raising.
