If you have read my blog for more than a second, you’re probably aware that I am anti-disposable diapers (unless they are biodegradable). So, I am being perfectly honest about my bias right up front. Nevertheless, I know many people who have or do use Pampers diapers on their children. Maybe this will convince them to change their diapering ways:

Parents are reporting chemical burns and rashes on their baby’s bottoms from the new Pampers Dry-Max diapers. Pampers refuses to recall the diapers, citing parents’ improper care for the babies’ burns and rashes.

From the Pampers website:

Q: What is Pampers with Dry Max?

Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers with Dry Max is our new high performance diapers and is the biggest innovation to Pampers in 25 years. Our Pampers team is especially excited about the new product as the development of the Dry Max technology is the result of more than a decade of research and testing involving more than 20,000 babies, including many “tests” in our own homes. These hard working Pampers with Dry Max diapers are thinner than before, and Pampers’ driest ever as they help lock in wetness.

Q: What are the materials in Pampers with Dry Max?

The new Pampers with Dry Max is made of the same types of materials that have been used in diapers for many years. The absorbent core is primarily composed of an acquisition layer containing pulp-based fibers and a storage core containing a super absorbent gelling material (a common polyacrylate). This super absorbent gel, which is used in most disposable diapers, are the small beads that turn into a gel-like material in order to hold the large amount of liquid. This has been shown to be non-irritating, safe for skin and even safe if ingested. The absorbent core also includes a touch of fragrance inside, to help mask the smell of urine and BM.

The rest of the diaper is primarily composed of Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE), soft synthetic materials commonly used in applications ranging from clothing to housewares to food packaging, as well as Lycra, a latex-free elastic. Combining these materials helps to create diapers that comfortably fit and work. In addition, the diaper contains lotion, a cosmetic ingredient to help maintain the baby’s skin health.

And my personal favorite …

Q: How can a disposable diaper be better for the environment? How are your Dry Max diapers better for the environment?

At Pampers, we’re committed to continually improving our products to reduce our impact on the environment. To reduce environmental impact through the past 20 years, we’ve decreased our product weight by one-third and packaging weights by two-thirds. Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers with Dry Max is one step in our journey in creating more sustainable products. Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max provides trusted Pampers protection, while containing 10 percent less material weight than before, which means fewer resources are used. If every Pampers mom switched to Pampers with Dry Max, together they could throw away the weight of a billion less diapers every three years (compared to using previous Swaddlers/Cruisers, based on 08/09 volume for Swaddlers/Cruisers).

I want to personally address a few of Pampers’ statements:

The absorbent core also includes a touch of fragrance inside, to help mask the smell of urine and BM.

Not all babies can tolerate “a touch of fragrance” and this shouldn’t be allowed in ANY diaper, in my opinion. Both my children have sensitive skin and the youngest breaks out in rashes just from being close to someone with perfume on! I am sure you know someone like that, too. Babies have such sensitive systems, anyway – why should the companies that parents trust to manufacture products for their little ones be allowed to use unnatural dyes and fragrances in their products?

The rest of the diaper is primarily composed of Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE), soft synthetic materials commonly used in applications ranging from clothing to housewares to food packaging … In addition, the diaper contains lotion, a cosmetic ingredient to help maintain the baby’s skin health.

In case you are wondering, Polypropylene and Polyethylene are essentially plastics. They failed to mention that these materials are also used for auto parts and industrial fibers. But at least they put lotion on top of that plastic, right?

Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max provides trusted Pampers protection, while containing 10 percent less material weight than before, which means fewer resources are used. If every Pampers mom switched to Pampers with Dry Max, together they could throw away the weight of a billion less diapers every three years

While I can certainly appreciate that they are doing a little (and I do mean little) something to reduce the impact, they aren’t doing enough! With all the knowledge that there is out there about what is happening to our environment, why even make a diaper that isn’t biodegradable? They claim that their diapers are better for the environment – better than what? And while the plastic products inside these diapers are recyclable, they sit in landfills taking centuries to degrade.

I do not use Pampers diapers, and I never will. I have not experienced the issues that other parents are reporting. But I am disappointed that Pampers is placing all the onus on the parents and refusing to take a second glance at how they could improve their diapers. Pampers and other diaper companies just aren’t doing enough, in my opinion, to make diapers that are better for both babies and the environment.

If you use Pampers diapers with Dry-Max, and your baby has experienced any burns or rashes OR if you are just disgusted at the lack of healthy innovation, you can do one of several things:

1. Join the Facebook Group to bring back the old diaper technology here
2. Learn more about boycotting Pampers here
3. Contact Pampers directly via website email or phone (1-800-726-7377)
4. Report Pampers to the USCPSC here

Do your own research, form your own opinion. Take action. It is time for our children’s bottoms and their future world to both be protected. There is just no excuse!

I’ve had the great pleasure of become online friends with Cathy from Let’s Be Green Together via Twitter. She is sweet, funny, and a great “greenie”. It only made sense when I was searching for guest bloggers that I ask her to write a post of the easiest ways you can go green. Luckily she obliged. Check out her site, too!

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When my friend on Twitter, the Hurried Homemaker, asked me to write a guest post, I said “YES” without hesitation. I am so excited to be here and share my top 5 ways my family lives a “green” lifestyle and how you could, too. First, I will say that I live green because it is better for my family. Sound selfish? Well, then I am selfish. I am not green because I love the planet and hug trees, but because I want the most healthy and non-toxic home for my family. The planet just gets to benefit, too. It’s so lucky, isn’t it?

Okay, let’s get started on what I would consider the easiest ways to green your family’s routine and even save money while doing so.

• Ditch the plastic water bottles! Do you know it can take around 1000 years for plastic to break down in a landfill? They are simply bad for the planet, but they are also expensive. Think of the money you could save if you stop buying plastic water bottles and buy a really cool reusable one? Everyone in my family has their own unique bottle (actually more than one at this point) and we take them with us everywhere we go.

• No Paper Products in the Kitchen! Okay, don’t get all crazy on me. I know you are thinking, “She said these were easy ways to be greener.” This is easy, I promise. It just sounds like it might make you hyperventilate, but it really isn’t that bad! We did it cold turkey. My husband broke out in a cold sweat when I made the announcement, but he survived, and we don’t miss the paper towels or paper napkins at all. Here’s what I did: I scoured for clearance deals on cloth napkins whenever I was out shopping and have now built a fun collection, enough to host a birthday party! For paper towels, I went through some old clothes that weren’t in good enough shape to donate, but that I couldn’t bear to just throw away, either. I tore them into various sizes and put them in an old container under my sink and another in my bathroom. Whenever we need one for a clean-up or to wash dishes, we just grab one, use it, and toss it in the laundry! We have saved so much money by not buying paper towels or paper napkins anymore. If you buy these items, do the math for about a month, and see how great the savings would be.

• Buy a Reusable Coffee Mug! Obviously, this one only applies to you if you are a coffee drinker like my husband and I are. We were going to the drive thru at our local coffee shop many times a week, throwing those awful cups in the trash and spending a lot of money! Then we made the change. I only buy organic and fairly traded coffee and we brew it at home. Honestly, I think it tastes better than what we used to buy. If we leave the house with coffee, we fill our travel mug and head out on our way. It’s just a way of life for us. Even if you don’t want to make your own coffee at home, at least purchase a travel mug and bring it with you to your local coffee shop. Sometimes they actually offer a discount for bringing your own mug. Just ask…. they may surprise you!

• Recycle! Recycling is possibly the simplest green thing that you can do and this one doesn’t cost any money at all. As a matter of fact, it will save you, especially if you pay-per-bag for your trash disposal. More in the recycle bin means less in the garbage. Even in the smallest of spaces, you can recycle. We live in a duplex and have a small area of our kitchen designated for our recycling. Cardboard, glass, aluminum cans, and some plastic are much of what we recycle.

• Shop and Donate at Your Local Thrift Store! I’ll be honest. I used to think only poor people shopped at thrift stores and they smell bad and everything is gross and dirty. Hey, I am confessing, don’t judge me. Now I realize people of many different income levels shop at thrift stores. They do, in fact, smell a bit different to me, but I am used to it. I love finding great deals and my husband even enjoys shopping for new work clothes and his favorite is the electronics corner. I have found clothing that’s barely worn, looks like new, and some that even still had the tags on them. Big score for me! Another important thing for me is to donate, too. I love that my store has a drive-up at their back entrance. I don’t even need to go inside. They come out with a cart to collect my stuff, offer me a receipt for tax purposes (yes, it’s deductible), and take my stuff inside and I drive away feeling pretty great!

I am so happy to have been invited into Hurried Homemaker’s home here on the web and to share with you, her readers, some of my favorite ways to go green without spending a lot of money. If this list seems a bit overwhelming, take it one at a time. Commit to one change each month. A gradual change might make it an easier transition for you and your entire family. On the other side, if you are ready, willing, and able to jump ALL in, then go for it!

Thanks for having me! Stop by my place anytime!

I ran across this site on Twitter not too long ago and instantly fell in love. It was a combination of everything I desire in baby gear – modern, unique, cool, many eco-friendly options. It was like Esther (founder of BuyModernBaby.com) was inside my mind, putting up every last baby item that makes me go “ooooooh!” Her blog is full of fabulous picks and so I asked her to put something together for y’all. Enjoy!

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I had the hardest time finding the perfect crib bedding set when I was first expecting. My modern aesthetic was scarcely represented in the marketplace and I went to store after store trying to describe the type of thing I was looking for to salespeople who looked at me as if I were coming from another planet. No ruffles at all? It can’t be pink or blue? No vehicles or characters whatsoever? Thankfully I found what I was looking for online and was able to complete the vision for my nursery without compromise.

As is the case with many new mothers, once I saw my perfect, pure and precious little boy, I became increasingly committed to green, organic and eco-friendly choices. I want to protect him from harmful chemicals and additives to help keep him, and the world he lives in, healthy and safe. With this perspective, if I had to do things all over again, I would have looked for an organic mattress and organic crib bedding as well. You can imagine how much harder that might have been… to find something that looked great AND was organic!

Well, the choices for modern and organic bedding have multiplied over the past few years. If you’re looking for great looking bedding that you can feel good about, here’s what I recommend:

1) Amenity Home

Amenity Home has a beautiful line of nursery linens. Get the crib package, which includes sheet, bumper insert and cover and a large blanket with your choice of design for $356. Extra sheets are $40 and the crib skirt is $60.

2) Argington

Argington has three sets of organic crib bedding available. Choose the Dinosaur Set, Fish and Pebbles Set or Hearts and Flowers Set. These retail for $185 and include a comforter, bumper, sheet and crib skirt.

3) Serena and Lily

Serena and Lily currently have three organic collections– Hazel, Maggie and Rye. The sets include a sheet, bumper and skirt for $389.

4) Cotton Monkey

Cotton Monkey have nine collections of organic cotton bedding so make sure to check their website to see them all. They sell all the pieces separately, which is perfect for those who do not want to use a bumper. Sheets are $49, blankets are $72, crib skirts retail for $194 and the bumpers with a cover are $299.

5) Q Collection Junior

Q Collection Junior’s Crib sets are called Celestial Parade and retail for $395. The set is available in Roxy (pink) or Sky (blue) and includes a reversible bumper, reversible crib skirt, and two solid sheets. They also sell coordinating patterned sheets.

6) Dwell Studios

Dwell Studios has two sets of organic crib bedding in a natural color. My favorite is Poppy Blossom and the other is Circles. Both retail for $450.

7) Egg by Susan Lazar

There are four bedding sets from Egg by Susan Lazar. These sets include sheet, bumper, comforter and crib skirt and retail for $395. Choose Chick (also available in pink), Abstract, or Animal Parade.

As you already know, going green is something that is important to me. So, when I found out that I could go green with my blog, I was psyched! A young company in Germany, kaufDA, is helping the environment by planting a tree for every blog/website that signs up.

The goal: 1,000,000 trees

Did you know that even though we are saving paper by posting via internet there are still CO2 emissions? That’s right! Check out the fancy chart the kaufDA folks created:

Along with the Arbor Day Foundation, kaufDA will plant a tree for you (and me) to neutralize the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog/website. The trees will be planted in this spring (2010) in the Plumas National Forest to replace those that were lost in fires.

Want to participate? (And we strongly suggest that you do – hint, hint.) Click here to read about how easy it is!

While I think it is important for Mom to have an organic skincare regiment (see why), it is even moreso for your babe. It is crucial that your little one’s precious skin steer clear of harmful chemicals as long as possible!

You breastfeed because you think it is better for your baby. You pick them up when they’re going to fall. You teach them “hot” and “danger” to prevent injury. You hold their hand when you cross the street.

You do all these things to protect your precious little babe – so why not include organic skincare too?

I gave Little Twig a try after our other “natural” baby wash was still causing eczema. After just one week of using the Extra Mild Unscented Baby Wash and Extra Mild Unscented Bodymilk her eczema was almost completely gone! Now, after regular use, flare-ups are almost non-existant. It is so gentle that even if it accidently gets in her eyes, she barely flinches – a simple rinse with water and good as new.

The Mini Gift Set comes with an adorable wash cloth embroidered with a bumble bee. It comes packaged nicely and would make a great baby shower gift!

The lovelies at Little Twig even list the ingredients of each and every product right there on the site; and they have this page to tell you more about what’s in their products. And these folks are fabulous greenies! Read about how they help your family and the future of our plantet here.

Hurried Homemaker was not compensated for this post. We were sent products to try for review, but this in no way affects our opinon of this company/product.

Millions of chemicals seep into our bodies over the course of our lifetime … chemicals that can cause all sorts of harm. As you are probably aware, I am still breastfeeding my youngster and it only makes sense that what I put on and in my body goes to her as well. So, I was thrilled when Jim Kueny from ONEgroup/Miessence contacted me to try some of their products. I had heard about Miessence, but had never tried anything made by them. I will try to break the info in this post down to the essentials along with an overview of my thoughts on the products I tried.

There are many chemicals in the everyday products you use that can cause harm. This was included in the MiTme Newsletter (the ONEgroup/Miessence newsletter):

ABOUT ONEgroup (from their website):
Organic and Natural Enterprise Group (or ONEgroup) is an Australian based company who creates and manufactures the world’s first Certified Organic skincare, haircare, personal care, health care and cosmetic products. ONEgroup’s range of products stand in a class of their own by being independently certified to international food grade standards by some of the world’s most respected organic certifying organisations, namely, Australian Certified Organic (ACO), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and IFOAM (Europe).

I tested 3 of their skincare products:
AROMA FREE ROLL-ON DEODORANT
• No Aluminum (aluminum is a toxin linked to Alzheimer’s disease)
• Based on bi-carb soda (bicaronate of soda neutralizes bacteria that causes odors)
• Natural antibacterial ingredients
• Doesn’t block pores
• Effective long lasting deodorant that actually works!
• Certified organic
• 3 varieties to choose from:
Ancient Spice – a blend of fresh citrus and spices.
Tahitian Breeze – a blend of intense floral and citrus
Aroma Free- no essential oils added

Honestly, at first I didn’t really love this product. I was used to using a deodorant that was scented. It also seemed as though my old deodorant was lasting all day because it took a good scrub to wash off in the shower. I used the Miessence aroma free roll-on deodorant for a few days and discovered a slight sting after shaving. I emailed Jim about it. He emailed the formulator asking about it and she responded! Wow! Turns out the slight sting after shaving is due to the bicarb and the fact that my old deodorant had some sort of numbing agent in it.

I decided to keep using the deodorant to give it another shot. Now it is all I wear. I feel clean and fresh when I apply and still at the end of the day. On days where I am super-active, I apply a second time to insure freshness. This was
something I’ve always done anyway, so nothing new there. The only difference? I smell like me (remember I use the aroma free) and I’m not applying any harmful chemicals to my underarms. I feel good knowing that, especially since I know that nothing from my deodorant is getting into the ducts that make and supply milk to my little one.

TRANSLUCENT FOUNDATION
• Evens out the complexion
• Translucent natural coverage
• Contains zinc oxide (known for its superior sun protection capabilities and preventing skin damage, the safest and most effective ingredient that protects the skin against UVA rays)
• Keeps skin hydrated and protected from pollution
• Natural mineral colours in four different shades
• Certified organic ingredients

I am a makeup snob, I’m not going to lie. I was hesitant to try this foundation for several reasons: (1) I don’t wear liquid foundation; (2) my face can be sensitive to new products; and (3) I don’t wear makeup on a regular basis. But I decided to try it anyway. It went on smooth and even. It blended with my complexion beautifully. It was so lightweight that by the end of the day I had forgotten I was wearing it. My sensitive skin looked like I had simply worn moisturizer all day – no break outs, no oiliness.

SKIN CONDITIONER
• Nutrient rich active ingredients makes this a vital step!
• Replaces the use of a toner with an alcohol-free herbal infusion
• Dual purpose – feeds the skin, and provides hydration base for moisturiser to seal in
• Moisturiser will last longer
• Balancing – nourishes and tones
• Rejuvenating – energises and stimulates
• Soothing – calms redness and soothes
• Purifying – balances secretions and purifies
• Pat onto skin and leave to absorb for a few seconds before applying moisturizer
• Certified Organic

Again, I was a bit hesitant to try something new in my facial skincare routine, but I did it anyway (just for you wonderful readers). And am I glad I did! I wish I had gotten more of this stuff. There are days where my skin is dry and I feel like I am applying moisturizer all day long. And because it is dry, it is sometimes spotted with redness. And to top it off, my pores are large (great for looking young, terrible for soaking in everything that goes on my face). The skin conditioner did just that – conditioned my skin. The redness faded and the moisturizer stayed put. Especially on days when I wore no makeup, this kept me feeling confident that my skin still looked great. Bonus points for making me feel like the beginnings of aging are paused every time I wear it!

Miessence makes a huge line of skincare and makeup products. If the rest of their products are anything like these three, I would recommend them all.

Hurried Homemaker was not compensated for this review. We did receive samples of the products mentioned in order to provide a proper review, but the opinions expressed are our honest thoughts.