If you’re looking for ways to improve the eco-friendliness of your diapering routine, consider the bamboo baby wipes and diaper rash ointment by locally operated Bum Boosa. Today, Jules and Evadne share a joint review of these products. Read on for their reviews, as well as to learn how to be one of three winners to receive a Bum Boosa gift basket (entry closes at midnight, October 23):

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From Jules:

“Bum Boosa natural baby wipes are terrific for eco-minded parents; they're 100% biodegradable, flushable, and are made from bamboo, a sustainable natural resource. The wipes are super soft; softer than the brand name wipes I was using prior to Bum Boosa. And I love the silky texture of the diaper rash ointment, which is composed of finely ground bamboo powder, zinc oxide, vitamin E (oil that we use in our home for its healing properties), and other essential oils. The cream is really thick and I have been using it more as a protective agent on my babies. (Admittedly, I also recently used a little bit as hand cream and it worked great!)

In addition to providing environmentally conscious products, Bum Boosa plants a tree for every wipes package purchase. We should all strive to do our part so well!”

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From Evadne:

“Although I have noticed the rise in bamboo products on the market (everything from sunglasses to furniture to kitchen utensils), I must confess that I never knew what the big deal was. Then I tried Bum Boosa baby wipes.

Bum Boosa baby wipes are made with 100% bamboo pulp, organic aloe vera, and pure essential oils of lavender and sweet orange. The pleasant-smelling oils provide antiseptic and anti-inflammatory benefits, and the bamboo fibers make the wipes especially soft and moist (though I found them a tad on the thin side and also wish they were sized bigger). I’m impressed by how gentle these wipes are on my little ones' bottoms and how gentle they are on the earth.

Not only are Bum Boosa baby wipes biodegradeable (read: flushable!) but, because they use bamboo instead of the industry standard of tree pulp, cotton, or synthetic material, they save trees and water in their production. In fact, bamboo seems uniquely designed for production and harvesting. The plant is regenerative (doesn't need to be replanted), sustainable (grows at least a yard a day), has naturally occurring anti-microbial properties (so crops don't need fertilizer, chemicals, insecticides, or fungicides), and can flourish on rainwater alone (no irrigation required). Bamboo even has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that inspired Bum Boosa to launch their latest product - a diaper rash ointment made with bamboo powder (love the fine texture and the smell)!

Last but not least, with each purchase of bamboo wipes, Bum Boosa ensures that a tree is planted through its partnership with Trees for the Future. Isn't it heartening to know that you can still do some good for the environment, even if you have two little ones in diapers (like me)? I guess that is a pretty big deal.”

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winners Felicia, Amanda, & Sierra!
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Now, want to be one of three winners to receive a Bum Boosa gift basket? Here's how:

Visit the Bum Boosa store locator page, then email contests@bostonmamas.com (with ‘Bum Boosa’ in the subject), and name a store where you can purchase Bum Boosa products (other than their online shop).

One entry permitted per person; US residents welcome to enter.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, Friday, October 24, 2009.

*Three lucky winners (drawn via Random.org) will receive a Bum Boosa gift basket including three packages of 80 count wipes, one 2 oz container of diaper rash ointment, and one 10 ml bottle of pure grade lavender essential oil ($39.99 value each).

Today, guest contributor Robin shares a review of cloth diapering covers and doublers from Bumkins. Read on for Robin’s review, as well as to learn how to be one of three winners to receive a diaper cover from Bumkins (entry closes October 15):

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From Robin:

“I have cloth diapered for over three years now -- first with my son and now with my one-year-old daughter -- but the thrill of trying out different cloth diapering products never seems to fade. I recently tested out the diaper covers and doublers from Bumkins and loved the products.

I should say that I use my cloth diapers pretty hard so I need products that can stand up to an active, messy one-year-old and a fair amount of laundering. The Bumkins diaper cover fits our needs so well. They are well made, keep my daughter dry and comfortable, and launder beautifully. The extra geeky perks: the cover is a trim enough fit so as not to overwhelm, while still being roomy enough to fit over each brand of fitted diaper (and of course my prefolds) I tried under it, the patterns are cute (including plenty of stylish neutrals if you want to use the covers across kids), and the encased elastic on the legs is a really nice detail. These covers are PVC, phthalate, and vinyl free.

As well as being active and a lover of messes, my daughter also fits the "heavy wetter" description to a tee so I’m always on the lookout for affordable and functional doublers/soakers. Bumkins bamboo boosters are a wonderful addition to my cloth diaper stash and I grab for them all the time. I love bamboo because it is a great choice for our environment and it also washes and dries up really nicely for cloth diapering. These "boosters" have great absorbency without adding a ton of bulk and they have stayed soft with my normal cloth diaper washing routine. I plan on picking up a few more packs so I can pair them up with everything I have.

In short, I really love having these Bumkins products in our cloth diapering rotation. We do a lot of laundry in our house (what parent of little ones doesn't?), but these covers and doublers have saved my daughter's outfits from leaks and accidents on more than one occasion.”

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winners Zanna, Bianca, and Tanya!
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Now, want to be one of three winners to receive a diaper cover from Bumkins? Here’s how:

Visit the Bumkins shop, then email contests@bostonmamas.com (with ‘Bumkins’ in the subject), and name another Bumkins product you’d love to try.

One entry permitted per person; US residents welcome to enter.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, Thursday, October 15, 2009.

*Three lucky winners (selected via Random.org) will receive a Bumkins diaper cover of their choice of size/print (subject to stock availability).

We love local mamapreneurs, and thus were thrilled to receive this tip from Aimee of Arlington: “I just checked out the new Twinkle Star baby boutique in Ball Square, Somerville. It’s a cute shop and great play space for kids. I also met with Salina of Diaper Lab (she rents space at Twinkle Star) for cloth diaper ideas for my new little guy. She has a supply and sample of every cloth diaper available - what a great resource!”
Click here for a coupon for $5 off purchases of $75+ at Twinkle Star Boutique.

Twinkle Star Boutique & Diaper Lab, 703 Broadway, Somerville; Tel: 617-776-2340

When it comes to cloth diaper services, there’s a real supply and demand problem in the Boston area. But now there’s good news for parents who live south of the city. Sweet Pea Diaper Service is live as of this month and will swap out your soiled diapers for fresh ones for $21 - 26 per week depending on your diaper plan. Serving families in Norfolk and Bristol counties (plus parts of Rhode Island), we’re thrilled to welcome this new business as it meets both local and global needs.

Want to win a Sweet Pea Diaper Service starter plan*? Here’s how:

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UPDATE (5/22/09): Sadly, Sweet Pea Diaper Service has gone out of business.

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Visit the Sweet Pea Diaper Service site, then email contests@bostonmamas.com (with ‘Sweet Pea’ in the subject), and name one of Sweet Pea's listed benefits of cloth diapers.

One entry permitted per person; local entrants welcome to enter. **Whether you are entering to win for yourself, or for a friend/family member, the registrant of the service must reside in Norfolk or Bristol county.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, Friday, July 4, 2008.

*Winner will receive one month of service (70 diapers per week) + the start-up fee waived ($119 value)!

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Jennifer R.!
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It’s the perfect pairing in a way; a mom who couldn’t possibly have prepared for what lay ahead and a mom on a mission to help parents be prepared on a daily basis. The former is Jordana Holovach, a mom who, in the face of her son Jacob’s struggle with Canavan disease (a degenerative birth disorder with severe physical and perceptual consequences), founded Jacob’s Cure to raise awareness and funds for clinical research. The latter is Stacie Mindich-Jordan, the mom behind BabyDish’s BabyBeReady Diaper Bag Survival Kit, a baby essentials tote that helps take some of the guesswork out of on the go infant care.
Inspired by Holovach’s passionate fight and Jacob’s bright smile (he is beating the odds at age 10), Mindich-Jordan created the Jacob's Cure Smiley Bag (shown), a limited edition addition to her line of waterproof, compact diaper bags that can be purchased empty ($45-$50) or fully loaded with gear stowed neatly in the two inner zipped sections ($99; includes onesie, sun hat, bib, burp cloth, diapers, changing pad, travel wipes, rattle, bottle, and pacifier). Not only will you have peace of mind in being prepared, but you’ll feel good knowing that 40% of the proceeds from this bag go directly to Jacob’s Cure.

For chic diapering on the go, reader Sophie from New York, NY wrote in with high praise for the Rio Grande Toddler Change Pad from Pineapple Cove (shown; $50 at the amazing art and design collective Trunkt). Featuring an oversized zipper pocket to securely hold diapers and wipes, and thick padding to comfortably cushion your baby, the interior is waterproof and the pad folds from 34 x 13” to 7.5 x 13” and secures with a Velcro closure. Click here to see Trunkt’s full collection of change pads and diaper wallets from Pineapple Cove.

The last couple of weeks with our new resident Pee Master have been marvelous. And Laurel recently surprised us by making a couple of unexpected solid deliveries into the toilet.

It’s only a couple of data points, but we’re wondering whether our “play it cool” approach is contributing to the ease of this new development. Despite Laurel’s clear preference to use a diaper for pooping, we decided to simply continue to offer a choice of diaper or potty when she needs to poop, assuming she’d come around at some point (plus, it’s all about having choice with her). This process has worked really well; it seems to provide some practice thinking about bodily control, and has helped avoid soiled underpants, potty regression, and constipation (from not wanting to let go in the potty).
We’ve also extended the play it cool approach to the recent instances where Laurel unexpectedly started pushing after a pee. While quietly elated at the prospect of retiring our Diaper Champ, I just continued to read books with her so she would stay relaxed and keep trying. When she finished, I said “Good for you!” (our typical potty verbiage) and she was excited to check out her work and then say goodbye to it. I was too.

What a difference a week makes.

Whether it was my shift in attitude, the time/learning factor, or an interaction between the two, Week 2 of potty training was a complete reversal from the previous week’s soggy adventures. With one or no accidents per day, a subsequent decrease in laundry, and longer stretches between potty visits, it finally feels as if the axis around which our life is spinning is moving from the bathroom.

We’re not out of the woods yet, but while it’s fresh on my mind (and since I have received some inquiries about the methods behind our madness) the following is our collection of potty training tips to date. Readers, if you have additional tips, post a comment!

Step 1 – Set Up Camp:

1. In the bathroom: potty chair or attachment seat/step stool (we use the Bjorn system), diapering supplies (for pre-nap/bedtime change following potty attempt), books and/or toys, basket with changes of pants, thick cotton underpants, and socks.

2. In the laundry room: bucket, rubber gloves, and Borax (or baking soda) for handling soiled underwear.

3. In the car: Kiddopotamus Piddle Pad

Step 2 – Readiness:

Rushing potty training isn’t good for anyone. Check for signs of toilet training readiness before proceeding.

Step 3 – Doing It:

1. Stay close to home initially; there will be lots of accidents. By the end of the second week we were more confident in being out for a couple of hours, but we also made sure we went places where we could easily access bathrooms. We didn’t have a portable potty seat; instead I laid down a paper seat liner or tissues, squatted, and held Laurel around the waist and let her plant her feet on my legs. And we double washed our hands after using public restrooms!

2. Use thick cotton underpants (e.g., Gerber training pants; we got ours at Babies R Us), which are less confusing than pull ups. Cotton training pants still get soaked through during an accident, but they at least absorb a little more than regular underpants and your child will know they are wet. We bought 6 pairs of regular cotton and 2 pairs of cotton with the vinyl cover; the latter provided extra protection but were bulky and Laurel didn't care for them. In the first week we did laundry daily; by Week 2 we were down to our regular laundry pattern.

3. Think about verbiage. Most people refer to the training pants as “big kid pants,” which worked fine for us, but we also read that if there’s a new baby in the house you may want to refer to training pants as “special pants” given that preschoolers may resist referrals to becoming a big kid when they see all the attention the baby gets.

4. Dress your child in loose fitting pull up pants (i.e., no overalls or dresses, where they can’t see what they’re doing). If you feel that you’re on the brink of an accident pull down your child's pants for him/her; otherwise, encourage your child to manage their pants independently.

5. Every 30 or so minutes, say “It’s time to go to the potty” not “Do you have to go to the potty?” At the beginning the child won’t know that they have to go; they need to learn the sensation of pressure and release and develop control. So at the beginning, the idea is to just visit the potty frequently and hopefully time it so they actually pee while on the potty. We found it good to head to the potty 15-30 minutes after Laurel had something to drink, depending on quantity of intake. As they gain more control, the timing will stretch out considerably.

6. Before you head to the potty assure your child that they can come back to their activity right after the potty visit. Kids are very concerned about losing their spot doing an activity. Laurel never pees so fast as when there is a painting project waiting on the other end of a potty visit!

7. Once you are done on the potty, encourage your child’s efforts (e.g., “Good for you!”). Some people like to build in incentives (e.g., a chart with different stickers for a pee or poop) but we followed our preschool’s protocol of not giving incentives other than kind words. And we did so whether or not Laurel made something in the toilet to encourage her to keep trying.

8. Wash hands after you are done! Encourage good hygiene!

9. Use a diaper at nap and bedtime; this will help them feel free to “let go” with BM’s and avoid constipation.

10. When there is an accident, gently point it out to your child (if they haven’t already identified it), then change them and point out how nice it feels to be dry. You’ll need to do this repeatedly at the beginning and then they’ll learn. Sometimes they’ll say they have to go to the potty when the accident already has happened.

11. Be patient with your child and yourself. And if you get to a point where you both are frustrated and your child is actively resisting the process, back off for a few weeks, and try again when everyone is calmer. They’ll definitely get the hang of it eventually.

**It usually takes children longer to let go of BM's in the potty (we had one unexpected BM in the potty last week; otherwise Laurel saves them for the diaper); we'll report back with any wisdom we gather on that front when we get there!

Coping with soiled diapers and clothing is the bread and butter of early parenting, and eco-minded parents will be happy to have Diaper Baggies in their arsenal. These disposable zip lock bags are made of recycled plastic, take up virtually no space in the diaper bag (especially compared to wads of leftover grocery bags), and offer an environmentally conscious, odor-trapping means of discarding dirty disposable diapers, or transporting soiled cloth diapers or infant clothing.

Available at HappiBaby.com, each package includes 40 Diaper Baggies ($5.49, 8 x 8", they’re currently offering a buy 2 get 1 free special); giraffe and flower designs are available and additional designs are in production.