Seeing my boy’s cute butt snug in a cloth diaper is reason enough for me to continue cloth diapering

Isn’t using cloth diapers troublesome and inconvenient? Don’t cloth diapers take up a lot of time to handle and aren’t they a chore to wash? What about the POOP???! Eeew… What the heck should I do with the POOP!!??

These might be some questions running through many mother’s heads when they first heard about cloth diapering. Today, we are so used to everyone around us using disposable diapers. It is not so common to know mothers who cloth diaper. Also, many of us even started off with disposable diapers before learning about cloth diapers. The transition from the convenience of disposable products to the more “challenging” reusable cloth diapers might put off mothers to use them, or some even give up after some time. However, I’m here to assure you that with more awareness about how easy it is to use cloth diapers these days (plus they’re cuter too!), how they are affordable and money saving in the long run, how much better they are for your baby’s health and also to the environment, more mothers are choosing to use cloth diaper entirely. Hooray to that!

However, (as much as I would like to say cloth diapering is easy-peasy) using cloth diapers in the very beginning might not be so easy, and they might require some modifications to your daily routine or lifestyle, and some preparations or things to look forward to. Here are some things that you have to take into account, based on my personal experience.

[source]

CLOTH DIAPERING IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE…

(at least not until you know how to deal with the problems )

1. More laundry: Since cloth diapers are reusable, you will need to be prepared to wash them at least every 2 days. Washing cloth diapers is simple though, just wash them in the washing machine with the rest of baby’s laundry (make sure you use the right detergent!) Yes, you might have to handle more teeny weeny baby things to hang dry, sort and fold later on, but it’s thereapeutic for me to do so . To learn about how I wash my cloth diapers, go here.
2. More encounters with baby’s “organic matter”: If you were used to simply scrunching up a soiled disposable diaper and dumping them in the dustbin, the thought that you have to deal with your baby’s pee and poop if you use cloth diapers might be scary. However, if you line cloth diapers with nappy liners (either disposables/reusable), they make it much much easier for washing up later. And trust me, sometimes it’s important to monitor what sort of stuff comes out of your baby as a health check
3. Cloth Diapers need extra loving care: You’ve invested in your cloth diaper stash and they’re not (exactly) so cheap. What do you have to do next? Just like how you buy yourselves expensive shoes and handbags, they require special care too, especially if you’re planning to use them for a long time. With cloth diapering, not only do you need to prep wash them before using, you also need to ensure they are properly washed (and with the right detergent), and once in a while you might need to strip wash them too. Check out more cloth diaper care tips here.
4. Your cloth diapers might leak: “Oh no…..! I thought these diapers are supposed to keep messes in and there’ll be no leakage!! But why is my bed/sofa/lap wet now??!!” Relax… You might encounter this problem occasionally, and it’s perfectly normal. There are various reasons why they might leak, and for a complete post on this go here. Oh, but for your information, if you use  cloth diapers (especially on newborns with expolosive, runny poop), poop blow outs RARELY happen!
5. Difficulties in converting other caregivers to use them: In the beginning, the husband, grandparents, babysitters or daycare people might not encourage or approve too much of using cloth diapers. So what? It’s YOUR baby, and you know you’re doing so for the best, so don’t let others influence your decision. Be firm, patient, and lead by example, and soon they’ll understand why cloth diapers are really better than disposables!

These are some problems that you might encounter when you (begin to) cloth diaper. However, with a little practice and patience, your cloth diapering journey will be much smoother along the way. Don’t believe me? I had problems too myself when I started (My 10 Problems in Cloth Diapering a Newborn), and look at me now – a happy Cloth Diaper Mom (with a happy Cloth Diapered Baby too ) Good luck in your cloth diapering adventure!

NEED YOUR FEEDBACK: What were your problems when you started cloth diapering? Do you still have the same problems today?

Seventh Generation diapers & baby wipes has not been processed with chemicals containing chlorine. [source]

I had previously featured the online eco-portal selling green products for your home and family: Lifestyle Green Solutions. Here is a special review post with some baby care products that you can find at their store – Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Diapers & Baby Wipes.

WHY USE CHLORINE FREE PRODUCTS?

• Standard disposable diapers use chlorine, a very harsh chemical as a bleaching agent (to make products white in colour).
• In both the production and in the disposal of these diapers, the chlorine can enter the environment creating harmful toxins called Dioxins.
• Dioxin is a toxic carcinogen that could cause serious health problems like poisoning, skin lesions, liver damage, damage to the reproductive system, impairment of immune system and cancer.
• Land and rivers can also become polluted by these residues too.
• Chlorine may also be an irritant to your baby’s delicate skin.

REVIEW: SEVENTH GENERATION CHLORINE-FREE DIAPERS

I recieved 1 pack of Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Diapers (Stage 2: 5.4 to 8.2 Kg). One pack contained 40 diapers.

The product description mentions: It’s wood pulp processed without chemicals containing chlorine; hypoallergenic; fragrance and latex free; premium fit and absorbency; has soft, cloth-like comfort keeps baby safe and dry (source: Lifestyle Green Solutions).

First Impressions:

• One thing I noticed about Seventh Generation is how well they package their products. I really liked that they disclose their ingredients, and also provide some other useful informations.
• Once unpacked, I was greeted with BROWN COLOURED DIAPERS! This was a strange thing for me and I tend to associate it to being a “greener” and “natural” product compared to the usual white disposable diapers. However I discovered that the brown colour is not natural, and that they “use brown pigments to help distinguish Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Diapers from others in the marketplace that are bleached with chlorine-containing substances” (source: Seventh Generation).

The “brown” colour of the diapers compared to the normal, white-coloured chlorine bleached disposable diaper.

Usage: The diapers were entirely used during my recent travels abroad.

What I Like:

• A really unexpected thing was that these diapers DIDN’T smell bad/stink after it was used, apart from the natural baby urine/poop smell. I’ve used another brand of disposable diapers, and it stinks really bad – like something chemical or unnatural (it’s definitely not a “100% baby’s organic produce” smell). Perhaps the chemicals magnify and distort the smell of a dirty diaper, turning it from something slightly unpleasant to something completely unbearable. This is really something to think about, what are in those usual disposable diapers??
• The fact that it is Chlorine-Free, which also means NO DIOXINS (the toxin produced in bleaching process). It’s definitely much safer to be used on baby compared to other chlorine bleached diapers which will have dioxin residues in them.
  
• Fitting wise, it is trim and fits well on my then 5 month old baby. However, I feel the cutting is quite small. It’s very lightweight and can be quite suitable to pack for traveling.
• The elastics are gentle and didn’t really leave any marks on baby’s thighs. The tabs too were soft and stretchy.
• Performance wise, they work like any other disposable diaper. It has good absorbtion, and after wearing them through the night (10 hours), there are no wet spots on baby’s mattress.
• Also, with me trying to be as environment friendly as possible, it is good to know that these diapers have a lower impact on environment compared to other disposable diapers.

To Be Considered…

• They are still disposables. Which means its a one time use product. I would only use them for emergencies, or the times when I feel cloth diapers might be too inconvenient (Eg: long distance traveling).
  
• Unfortunately they are not biodegradable due to the synthetic materials (absorbent pads, adhesives). However, the process of making them has significantly less of an impact on the earth than ordinary disposables (source: Seventh Generation).
• Poop blowouts (especially with runny newborn poop), through the back and sides tend to happen. However, please note that this is really a common thing, even if you are using any other brand of disposable diapers.
• The price is slightly higher compared to other brands of disposable diapers you find in the market.

REVIEW: SEVENTH GENERATION CHLORINE-FREE BABY WIPES

Also, I had received another product from Seventh Generation: 1 pack Chlorine Free Baby Wipes (Tub, 70 pcs) & 1 pack Chlorine Free Baby Wipes (Travel Pack, 36 pieces) for reviewing.

The product description mentions: It’s hypoallergenic,whitened without chemicals containing chlorine, unscented, alcohol free, one-at-a-time dispensing and soft and gentle for baby’s delicate skin.

Usage: The Tub pack Baby Wipes is permanently based at my baby’s changing table, used intermittently with cloth wipes for diaper changes. While the Travel Pack Baby Wipes are, well, used for travels and while we were out and about.

What I Like:

• These wipes somehow tend to be “just right”. It’s neither too wet nor too dry. (I really hate those wet wipes which are too wet. By the way, ever thought about what chemicals are used to “soak” such products?) The wipes are also quite pliable and generously sized.
• The best part is that is unscented and also alcohol-free (less chemicals), which is a must-have criteria if I were to purchase any brand of baby wipes.
• The tub is practical and sturdy, and if the wipes are finished, the eonomically priced Refill pack can be bought and the tub can be reused! I can also reuse the tub to store my cloth wipes.
• I find it very suitable to be used for adults too. For traveling, it’s also good yet gentle to remove my make up or to freshen up. If it’s kind on baby, it must be good for me too!
• Just like the Seventh Generation diapers above, I love for a fact that the product is gentler to your baby and also the environment compared to other disposable brands.

[source]

To Be Considered…

• The texture somehow is not as soft as the other brands of baby wipes I’ve used before, probably because it is less wet. However, due to this it is quite “grabby” and able to pick up messes better. You might still have to use several wipes for a really messy diaper change though.
• I had issues with the Travel Pack whereby it turned musky (the smell) after a week or so. I am guessing this is due to the closure system of the packaging. Probably because the wipes are moistened with natural ingredients which tends to spoil more rapidly? -I think it was because I didn’t properly reseal the package.
• Like the Chlorine Free Diapers, the prices of these are slightly more expensive than other baby wipes brands.

CONCLUSION ABOUT SEVENTH GENERATION CHLORINE FREE PRODUCTS:

Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free products made me more aware about the use of chemicals in disposable products. A really obvious fact was that the Chlorine Free diapers did not smell bad when it’s soiled. It’s a blessing to my husband who always complained that disposable diapers smells horrible! Seriously, it’s scary to think what sort of chemicals is contained in the other disposable products out there.

Personally, I would only use these diapers as back up and for traveling because I’m happier with cloth diapers. However, the baby wipes can be very conveinent, especially for traveling, and I wouldn’t mind having one tub of baby wipes at home to use (This is especially good to encourage husbands to help with diaper changes ).

My recommendation is, if you need to use disposable products, why not choose Seventh Generation brand? It is an environmentally safer brand of products, AND they could also be safer to use for your baby if compared to ther other brands out there. Sure, you might have to pay a little bit more (not too much, just a few Ringgit more than usual), but wouldn’t the small amount of money justify you wanting to limit the exposure of harmful chemicals to your children? I would get this brand (especially the Baby Wipes) in the future particularly for this very reason.

Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Baby Diapers and Baby Wipes are available from the eco-friendly online store Lifestyle Green Solutions.

NEED YOUR FEEDBACK! Would you use such environmental-friendlier or chemically safer disposable products for your baby and family? Why or why not? Please leave a comment, I would really love to know your point of view. Thanks!

Hey, were you the one messing up this website? Hmmm……. [source]

If any of you tried to visit during last Friday until Monday, most probably you received a warning message on your browsers or in Google saying that this website might harm your computer, or something like that. Yes, Cloth Diaper Malaysia was infected with Malware!!! *GASP* I never thought something like that would happen to MY website.. It’s like, just a baby diaper website right? It’s not like it’s such an important or popular website in the world of politics or whatsoever? These hackers really have nothing better to do. I (actually it’s my dependable website supervisor @ husband ) wasted a LOT of time and effort manually removing the malware. It really was quite an experience – and for blog owners out there here’s a tip: ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR BLOGS!

Phew, luckily the website is ok now, alhamdulillah! I’ll really cry if I lost all the info and hard work I’d put in this website. I’m really very sorry about any inconveniences caused to any of you!

The good news now is that we’re back, alive and kicking! In the meantime, here are several updates on Cloth Diaper Malaysia:

• If you missed out on participating our BambooLite Giveaway, the dateline has now been extended to 5th September (this Sunday)! And stay tuned for more giveaways in the future!
• Talking about Giveaways, I’ve added a “GIVEAWAY” page located at the top of this website. Feel free to browse for other exciting Giveaways happening around the web, and also add in your own Giveaways/Contests there too. It’s free, and you can insert it into the page on your own. Please help me add more Giveaways that you know about
• I have found copies of my own hard written articles being used on other blogs and websites WITHOUT any credit or link backs. I’m very hounoured that you feel my articles are worth publishing elsewhere, however I do not appreciate it if you do not credit me or this website in the process! For more info about Copyrights, along with other important things you may want to know about, please refer to the newly created “T&C” page located at the top of this website.

Also, here are new additions to our Listings!

Malaysian Cloth Diaper Moms:*new* It Ain’t That Hard

Malaysian Cloth Diaper Shops:

1. Anak Mak Sayang Online – *new* Carries AMS, Babyland, Sunny Baby & Sweet Baby Doll brand cloth diapers.
2. KissMama – *new* Carries BumGenius, Coolababy, Happy Heinys & Sunny Baby brand cloth diapers.
3. Ummi2Shoppe – *new* Carries Babyland, Coolababy & Dyana MP brand cloth diapers.
5. Keen On Cloth – *new* Custom-made Cloth Diapers, great for baby, great for the environment!
6. Little Mummy Daddy – *new* Carries Babyland, Coolababy, Sunny Minky, QQ baby Plain, QQ baby Printed & Dayana MP brand cloth diapers.
7. Mama Sewbulous Shoppe – *new* Get some lovely custom-made Cloth Diapers, Cloth Pads & others from this very creative WAHM!
8. Ourkizuna’s – *new* Carries Babyland, Coolababy & Rainbow Baby brand cloth diapers.
9. Zinnera Collection – *new* Carries Babyland, Sunny Baby Minky & Yoyoo brand cloth diapers.

When I was busy preparing for the arrival of my first baby I made a list of baby things to buy. A huge chunk of this list includes: Baby Toiletries (syampoo, baby bath, lotion, nappy cream, talcum powder, baby wipes and several others). Being a first time parent, the first baby products brand that comes into my head was Johnson’s Baby. I guess I’ve been brainwashed into relating baby products to this company (due to the advertising on tv, magazines, internet; endorsements in contests, baby expos; “informational articles” in the newspapers; etc). Their promotional methods really do work alright, because I bet many new mothers like me would most likely choose this brand for their babies.

Also, there are many other brands you commonly find in supermarkets or department stores like Pigeon, Pureen, Anakku, etc etc. Most often they are competitively priced, offered discounts, comes in packages, and reasonably priced so that many parents could afford to buy them.

So I bought products from these brands, and received gifts from friends and families too. I’ve even bought baby care products based on price, because I feel that all the brands are similiar anyway – why not buy the ones on Sale or with the cheapest price?

The cosmetics industry is a BIG business, especially baby products. A lot of money is invested for the research & development, promotions and logistics of these products. It is any company’s goal to get as many customers as possible, which will also means gain much profits as possible. I’m wondering, how can these companies produce such a vast amount of products and sell them at such a “cheap” enough price. My question is: WHAT ARE IN THESE PRODUCTS? What exactly are the things that we put on our body and skin each day, and expecially on our pure baby’s and children’s skin?

If you’ve guessed correctly, yes, it’s CHEMICALS. They are cheap, easily manufactured and won’t run out unlike other natural materials. Use of chemicals in baby care products is inevitable. Just look on the ingredients list on the baby products that you have at home and count how many “unknown ingredients” there is in just one product.

For more understanding regarding this matter, I strongly urge that you watch this video below. It is titled “Story of Cosmetics: The Ugly Truth of Toxics In, Toxics Out”, produced by the people from “The Story of Stuff Project”. The video is fun to watch, and packed full of things you might not know about the cosmetics industry. Such info is valuable and would provide information that will make us a more informed and aware consumer. Insyaallah, it will make us think before we buy products for family and ourselves in the future.

I hope you can share this to all your other friends and family too. Post about it in your blog, forward this blog post to your friends, share it on Facebook or Twitter, anything!

I hope to write more about this matter in the future too. And I really hope it can make more mothers more informed and knowledgable on the subject.

QUESTION: What do you think about this issue ladies? And is there anything you are doing about it? Please share in the comments, I would really like to know

Read more: http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Hot Mama Nursing Pads are luxuriously made of 3 layers: Organic bamboo velour, Organic hemp & 100% Merino wool. These are some of the many fun prints you can choose from.

As promised (after the previous review of Cuddly Buddies), here is my next review for Angel Mel Collections’ new product range: the Hot Mama Nursing Pads.

Before that, here’s a little bit about my Breastfeeding Journey so far:

1. I am exclusively breastfeeding my baby for 6 months plus now.
2. I pump early in the morning and right before going to bed to reduce engorgement, and also to have some expressed breast milk stock as back up to use when I’m not with baby.
3. I experience overactive let-down reflex (forceful spraying of milk during breasfeeding), and occasional leaks when I miss a breastfeeding session.
4. I have been a user of reusable/washable breast pads because I think disposable ones are uncomfortable.

WHY USE REUSABLE NURSING PADS?

These are some reasons why I think disposable nursing/breast pads are a waste, and maybe bad for your health too. These are also why I use them 100% now!

• Do you realize how expensive a box of disposable nursing pads are in the market? After calculation, they are around RM1 for just one piece!
  
• It is quite a waste for your money, and also for the environment, since you are only using nursing pads for a few hours before throwing them away.
• The plastic waterproof backing on the disposable nursing pads are NOT breathable! Just like using disposable pads, they give a feeling of sweatiness and stickiness after some time, ideal grounds for infections and irritations. Having natural materials against your skin, especially so your BREASTS, is healthier and more comfortable too.
  
• What are in those disposables? Again, nobody knows for sure. Apart from the synthetic materials like plastics and adhesives, what sort of “absorbent material” do they use inside to suck up the moisture? I’ve cut up a disposable breast pad before and found out that they were SYNTHETIC GELS (maybe Sodium Polyacrylate and Tribulytin (TBT)! Eew…
• If you want to read up more about why I think disposable care products are sucky in general, read about “Are Sanitary Pads/Tampons/Diapers Dangerous?”

These are the absorbent gels commonly used in disposable products. [source]

ABOUT HOT MAMA NURSING PADS:

• Made from: Organic bamboo velour (top layer), Organic hemp (inner core), 100% Merino wool (back layer) & 100% Flannel in designer prints (outer part).
• Natural & organic fabrics used are chemical free, anti-bacterial, breathable, helps minimize skin sores and irritations.
• Comes in a wide variety of fun and stylish prints! (as seen in first picture above)

I received 1 pair Hot Mama Nursing Pads in Yellow Flowers (shown below) for reviewing.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

1. Obviously, the prints were the first thing that caught my eye. When I saw the other patterns available, I was already thinking whichI want next
2. Noticed that the nursing pads were not smooth in shape on the outside. It has a slightly pointed tip (like a mini version of Madonna’s outfit in the 80s, hehe)

USAGE

I used them during the day (around 4-5 hours), and all through the night (~10 hours). I  accidentally placed them in the washing machine for prewash, and after it come out, the fabric at the seams seems to frill a little bit. Oops!

WHAT I LIKE:

1. As I expected from an Angel Mel Collections product, the choice of designer prints are simply irresistable! It really makes you feel pretty and sexy (and only you’ll know it )
2. The previous type of nursing pads I have used were cellulose material (a bit rigid and unsoft), so to have soft bamboo velour against my skin is a very pleasant change. It definitely feels more comfortable.
3. It has pretty good absorbency probably due to Hemp material, and I don’t feel like I have to change the pads after each feeding session (even though I have overactive let-down problem).
4. It can last around 5 hours (or more, depending on milk supply) before it feels “wet”, so it’s quite suitable for outings too – for missed feeding sessions/engorgement/nursing in public.

TO BE CONSIDERED…

1. Personally, I prefer my nursing pads to be contoured so it would be smooth on the outside. Tnurse ihe pointed tip of these pads might make it visible over your bra and any tight clothing.
2. I considered them a little bulky due to the many layers. This makes drying time slightly longer compared to my other brands of reusable nursing pads.
3. I would prefer the nursing pads to be wider/large in size so it would sit nicely in the bra and wouldn’t shift around too much. This would also make it more comfortable, to have more bamboo velour  fabric against the , and for better coverage too
4. They’re a little too delicate to be washed in the washing machine, so you have to spend some time to hand wash them.
5. For those used to disposable nursing pads, these are NOT waterproof, so you might experience leaks if you wear them for extended hours (Mine was wet after I used it through the night – I had engorgement).

[source]

CONCLUSION:

I am a firm believer that reusable products are better than disposables. For those new to reusable nursing pads, yes, they are an investment in the beginning (just like cloth diapers), but you can really save a lot of money in the long run. And consider the health benefits too! Since they’re reusable, they might add up to your laundry, but have a good stash in hand so you can rotate their usage and have some spares too.

Angel Mel Collections’ Hot Mama Nursing Pads are really pretty compared to your usual nursing pads, but I suggest you have one or two of these to wear outside, or even at home to make you feel not only cheerful and pretty, but also for its function – comfort, health benefits and absorbency

Hot Mama Nursing Pads are available from the Baby, Mom & Organic products online store Baby-Mel.com. It can also be obtained with 20% introductory discount from their booth at the 6th Parenthood Expo, from 20-22 August 2010 happening at Midvalley!

Stay tuned for another new Angel Mel Collections product review from me in the next few days!

CUDDLY BUDDIES are certified organic Bamboo fabric on one side (the cream coloured side), and either printed fluffy Minky or cotton flannel fabric on the other.

Angel Mel Collections is an exclusive line of organic products brought to you by Baby-Mel.com. All their products were designed with love and attention to detail. Previously, I had reviewed their Organic Baby Bamboo Wipes too. In conjunction with the launch of their new products, and also for the Parenthood Expo in Mid Valley, I will review several products from their new range. Stay tuned for more.

This time around, I’m reviewing Cuddly Buddies. Isn’t that such a cute name?

WHAT ARE CUDDLY BUDDIES??

• Cuddly Buddies are marketed as a multi-purpose baby product: as an over the shoulder cuddly Burp Towel, and also as a lovely Baby Bib (it has snaps at the back to attach around baby’s neck).
• It is made of 1 layer super-soft Certified Organic bamboo velour on one side, and either fluffy Minky fabric OR 100% cotton flannel fabric on the other: Minky & Bamboo or Flannel & Bamboo combo.
• Both the Minky and cotton flannel fabrics have fun and cheerful prints on them to choose from (the cotton flannel fabrics are imported designer prints).
• Handmade and Made in Malaysia. (In support of local products )

I received one Angel Mel Collections Cuddly Buddies (Minky & Bamboo) for reviewing.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

• Who isn’t a fan of Minky fabric right? Just like how I love Minky cloth diapers, I will love other Minky fabric baby products too. This product is just divine because it offers a really pretty Minky fabric print too!
• It’s pretty wide in length, and because of this I figured it can be used for many other purposes too.

HOW I USED THEM:

As mentioned above, I have managed to discover many ways to use Cuddly Buddies for my baby! Below are some pictures of Cuddly Buddies in action:

This was Cuddly Buddies’ first intended purpose: As a luxuriously fluffy Burp Towel. Especially handy if other people wants to cuddle with your baby, but you’re unsure about the “cleanliness” of their clothings – lay the Cuddly Buddies on them first before passing your baby to them! Problem solved

Second intended purpose: Attach the Cuddly Buddies around baby’s neck with the snaps and it becomes a funky Baby Bib. I just love that it’s large enough for this purpose (good for messy meals), and my baby looks like he’s wearing a really cool bolero outfit doesn’t he?

Creative purpose #3: A stroller head liner. I created a comfy head cocoon for my baby using it. Since it’s super soft to lay on, he looks so comfy during his stroller naps!

Creative purpose #4: Since I babywear my baby, and he LOVES to bite/nibble on the baby carrier (however much I tried to stop him), I used Cuddly Buddies to line the front side of my SSC (soft structured carrier). He can nibble on it all he wants now because I know it’s clean!

Creative purpose #5: Again as a babywearing accessory, I used it on my chest so he can lay on it instead of my (sometimes) sweaty/stinky body :p

And for Purpose #6: As a “smelly blanket“ to roll around, cuddle, play, nibble, chew on or play peek-a-boo with! He really loves the colourful patterns on them.

Purpose #7: I also managed to use Cuddly Buddies as an emergency lay-on mat, just lay his head on any unfamiliar or not-so-hygienic-surface, and you’ve got your a clean and comfy enough place to lie on. (Sorry, didn’t manage to take a picture of this)

WHAT I LIKE:

1. As you can very well observe from the pictures, I love Cuddly Buddies because it’s so useful in many ways! Can anyone help me add in other uses for it too?
2. I absolutely love the Minky and Bamboo fabric combination – super soft on BOTH sides!
3. Adore the print of this one very much, and I bet there are other drool-worthy choices too.

TO BE CONSIDERED…

1. Due to the premium materials used (Certified organic bamboo, designer prints), the price for Cuddly Buddies, especially for the Minky & Bamboo fabric combo can be quite high for some parents.

Cuddly Buddies is available from the Baby, Mom & Organic products online store Baby-Mel.com. It can also be obtained with 15% introductory discount from their booth at the 6th Parenthood Expo, from 20-22 August 2010 happening at Midvalley!

Stay tuned for more Angel Mel Collections reviews from me in the coming days

Damya Online Shoppe: For Wholesale & Retail Cloth Diapers

Salam semua, diharapkan Ramadan anda ceria dan lancar di samping keluarga tersayang!

Sesekali, saya gemar membuat review mengenai blogshop-blogshop di luar sana, terutama yang menjual produk Cloth Diapers. Saya merasa amat gembira dapat berkenalan dengan para ibu yang sungguh bersifat keusahawanan dan berupaya menguruskan bisnes secara online, di samping bergelar ibu dan isteri. Tahniah diucapkan kepada anda semua!

Review Blogshop kali ini mempersembahkan Damya Online Shoppe – Menjual Cloth Diapers Pada Harga Yang Mampu Dimiliki.

Rainbow Baby Cloth Diapers: Harga Promosi RM25/pc

Sedikit mengenai Damya Online Shoppe & Pemiliknya:

• Dimiliki oleh Puan Shida, dan mula beroperasi secara online semenjak Mei 2010. Sebelumnya, jualan banyak dibuat secara langsung di sekitar Kedah dan Perlis.
• Misi mereka adalah untuk Menyokong sepenuhnya natural parenting dan produk yang mesra alam, di samping menyediakan perkhidmatan online menjual Cloth Diaper pada harga yang mampu dimiliki semua ibu bapa.
• Puan Shida mempunyai seorang puteri bernama Damya, yang kini berumur 5 bulan. Beliau menggunakan Cloth Diapers semnjak Damya berumur 2 bulan.
  
• Jenama Cloth Diaper pertama digunakan adalah Lunatots. Buat masa kini, jenama kegemaran beliau adalah Coolababy Bamboo Charcoal & Baby Minky.

Coolababy Bamboo Charcoal: Harga Promosi RM30/pc

APAKAH PRODUK YANG ADA DIJUAL?

Damya Online Shoppe menyediakan pelbagai jenama Cloth Diapers yang berpatutan harganya seperti: Sunny Baby Minky, Coolababy, Coolababy Bamboo Charcoal, CutieMom, Babyland & Rainbow Baby.

Buat masa kini juga, blogshop ini juga menawarkan Promosi Sempena Ramadan & Aidilfitri:

**GIVEAWAY ENDED. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR ENTRIES!! **

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY & YOU ARE GETTING THE GOODIES!!

(Don’t you just love us?

Just to refresh your minds, BambooLite was our Featured Shop of June. BambooLite specializes in products made from bamboo fabric, and their current product line includes Cloth Diapers, Diapering Essentials and Organic Essentials. This time around, BambooLite are generously sponsoring some very cool prizes from their BambooLite CM-True-Fit range to give away here on Cloth Diaper Malaysia!

WHAT ARE THE PRIZES??!!
1st  PRIZE – 1 piece CM-TrueFit PUL Extra + 1 piece Hybrid Insert (worth Rm80)
2nd PRIZE – 1 piece CM-TrueFit PUL Extra (worth RM66)
3rd PRIZE – 1 piece CM-TrueFit PUL Lite (worth RM54)
BONUS PRIZE – 1 piece Foldover Insert (worth RM26)

*More bonus prizes may be added depending on the participation!*

GIVEAWAY DURATION: 15th August – 31st August 2010 (2 weeks).

***DATELINE EXTENDED TO 5TH SEPTEMBER 2010 (SUNDAY)!!!***

*Sneak peak: There will be ANOTHER BambooLite contest right after this one. Stay tuned!*

HOW ARE WINNERS SELECTED?!

I know this a lot of work (Example: If you did 5 things, you need to leave 5 separate comments for each)… I really appreciate your effort & time, and it will help make this Giveaway handling easier & more organized for us. Plus, the prizes are really worth it! Thank you very much for your understanding

HOW TO ENTER?

1. Make sure you are already our E-Mail Subscriber and/or a Fan of us on Facebook to be able to qualify for the Giveaway (refer above comments in RED about how you can do so).
   
2. Send an email with title “BambooLite Giveaway” to with a C.C. a copy of the e-mail to giveaway@bamboolite.com, stating that you have done No. 1 above. Content of the email should be this:

• Name:
• Facebook name (to verify that you are our Fan on Facebook):
• Blog/website address (only if you have any additional entries below):

*Note: Please DO NOT e-mail us what you have done for any of your entries. Please read carefully below about how to submit your individual entries. Any incomplete/invalid entries will not be accepted! Thanks!

FOR ENTRIES (Please leave ONE [1] COMMENT in our Comment Box below for EACH thing you did):

1) 1 Entry: Become a Fan of BambooLite on Facebook. Leave one (1) comment below to say you have done so, and also include your Facebook Name.

2) 1 Entry: Write about this Giveaway, with title: “BambooLite Diapers Giveaway on Cloth Diaper Malaysia!” on your blog/website. Link your blog post to this page (link), and also BambooLite’s website (http://www.bamboolite.com). Leave one (1) comment below with your blog post’s URL link.

OR

3) *UPDATED* 1 Entry: Write about this Giveaway, with title: “BambooLite Diapers Giveaway on Cloth Diaper Malaysia!” as a Facebook Note (NOT on your Facebook Wall please…) on your account. Link your Facebook Note to this blog post (link), and also BambooLite’s website (http://www.bamboolite.com). Leave one (1) comment below with your Facebook Note’s URL link.

4) 1 Entry: Visit BambooLite and list any 2 features of BambooLite CM-TrueFit diaper, in your blog post/Facebook Note above. Leave one (1) comment below stating you have done so.*

5) 1 Entry: Visit BambooLite and tell us 2 shops where you can purchase BambooLite diapers, in your blog post/Facebook Note above. Leave one (1) comment below stating you have done so.*

6) 1 Entry: Visit BambooLite and tell us which is your favorite color of BambooLite CM-TrueFit diaper, in your blog post/Facebook Note above. Leave one (1) comment below stating you have done so.

7) 1 Entry: Let us know what new product you would like to see from BambooLite, in your blog post/Facebook Note above. Leave one (1) comment below stating you have done so.

2 Entries: If you have bought a BambooLite CM-TrueFit diaper, tell us briefly about your experience using the diaper in your blog post/Facebook Note above. Leave TWO (2) comments below stating you have done so.

*TIP: You can also find the answers to these questions on this page of ours: BambooLite: Featured Shop of June.

This Giveaway is sponsored by BambooLite. Please drop by their website for more information about their products. Good luck to everyone! For any questions about this Giveaway, please e-mail me at . GOOD LUCK!

No, we didn’t pack our baby like this… (Sorry to say)

I’m sorry I haven’t written in a while, this was because I was on the road (and air!) traveling, and I’m still out of the country for now. I am currently in Bucharest, Romania with my husband and baby, and we’ll be here for 2 months, InsyaAllah. I would like to take this opportunity to also wish “SELAMAT BERPUASA” to all Muslims back in Malaysia. (By the way, it’s crazy period for puasa month here since it’s summer time – Subuh at 4.00 am and Maghrib at 8.30pm!!!!)

OK enough chit-chatting. I’d just like to briefly share my diapering experiences and updates while we were away from Malaysia all this while below. This was our FIRST time traveling overseas with our baby - on air, land, and on sea! Alhamdulillah our little boy was such an angel throughout, xoxoxoxoxxx

• I had to go disposables during air travels and while on the road. Since I didn’t have access to washing machine or laundering services, 4 days were spent with those dreadful disposable diapers. However, it was also a great chance for me to utilize Seventh Generation’s Chlorine-Free Diapers! (review will be out soon)

(Left): Diaper changing in hotel lobby before Checking In the hotel.

(Right): Changing on the grass in the park! hehe.

• No luxuries of Diaper Changing facilities. Back in Malaysia, if we were out somewhere i could always count on going to public washroom to use the changing table, or using the specific Mom & Baby rooms in shopping malls to change my baby’s diaper. It wasn’t the case this time! Thank God for a good changing mat, I had to change my baby ANYWHERE I can lay my baby on. Hehe. Talk about being practical
• I discovered the importance of Wetbags. How can anyone go around diaper changes without them? I have 3 in different sizes which I not only use for storing soiled/dirty diapers on the road, but to stuff toilettries, baby medicine, clean clothes and everything else. I also hanged one on the door to store dirty cloth diapers before washing at my in-laws’ place
• I am loving my All-In-Twos (AI2s)! For my 2 month stay at my in-laws, I brought all my AI2s along with me (GroBaby/GroVia and Itti Bitti D’Lish SIO). I love that it saves me a lot of space in my luggage!

  

• My baby just started his solid feedings! This is truly an exciting moment for me, but scary too because I will have to anticipate changes in his poo-poo soon (because he was in the easy-to-manage-and-wash-runny-breastfed-poop period) – Eek!
• I am now out of Nappy Liners! I packed only a small amount with me because I thought I’ll just buy more here. However, I’ve been searching EVERYWHERE for nappy liners and they don’t sell them in shops! Now I’m stuck with only 3 pairs of fleece liners Oh man, they’re VERY important to me!
• Thank God I brought my own Cloth Diaper-friendly detergent and also laundry nets. I have peace of mind while doing laundry, knowing that my Cloth Diapers will be “safe”. Ngeh heh heh.

QUESTION: What were your experiences traveling and (cloth) diapering? Share below!

Welcome to the month of August! It’s also my birthday this month *wink wink* Probably I should get myself some new Cloth Diapers as presents. (Something very wrong when a woman wants Cloth Diapers instead of handbags and shoes for herself… haha!)

So another new month signifies another Featured Shop on Cloth Diaper Malaysia. This month, we are featuring MY BABY PIT STOP: Cloth Diapering & Breastfeeding Store.

ABOUT MY BABY PIT STOP:

My Baby Pit Stop is a special baby store dedicated to Breastfeeding, Cloth Diapering and Natural Parenting in Penang. The online store specializes in Cloth Diapers and Breastfeeding support products for Mom and baby. The owner Angie, is a full-time working mother who encourages money-saving while making the environmentally friendly choice to cloth diaper your baby.

I had great fun having a chit-chat session with Angie herself. I’m sharing it with my readers below

Choose from the many pastel colours of BumGenius 4.0 from My Baby Pit Stop

Cloth Diaper Malaysia: It’s a pleasure to have you on Cloth Diaper Malaysia, Angie! Firstly, may we know the reasons of starting My Baby Pit Stop online store? What was your aim?

Angie: I started to know about Cloth Diapers a few years ago when I was diapering my eldest daughter. It was a great pleasure to have known friends who introduced me to them. Since the birth of my child, I didn’t like to use disposable diapers and I will only use them when needed which was before we came across Cloth Diapers. My parents used lampins on us when we were babies because they were against disposable diapers.

My Baby Pit Stop started in early 2007, 6 months after the birth of our eldest daughter. The main reason for starting the store is to share about Cloth Diapers with our friends and family. There were not many stores that were selling them at that time Good things need to be shared with more people, and I aim to encourage parents to change their mindset about using Cloth Diapers.

I am a “green mommy”, or at least I try to be a “green” person. Whenever possible, I do not use tissue papers but use a wipe or hanky instead. I also do not receive plastic bags when I buy things outside. Even if I forget to bring my reusable shopping bag, I will simply carry my things in my hands.

For me, as long as we, as parents are doing our part to reduce the usage of disposable diapers, even 1 a day at a time I am very happy.

This is my favourite Autumnz diaper: Minky Snap Button (Moo Moo Cow). Very affordable!

CDM: You are a full-time working mother, and you manage an online store – you must be SUPER busy! How do you manage your time working, being a mother and wife?

Angie: Just like any modern woman today, we are filled with many different roles in our lives, being a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister and the list goes on… I have to say that women are born with the skills to multitask and to be able to handle many things and ‘roles’ at one time.

For my family, I will say that it is very important things like having a strong family foundation, and having the necessary fundamental requirements available and the rest will be smooth sailing.

I don’t want to bore you with the boring time management stuff but I do things in an orderly manner and that’s how we can make good use of the 24 hours in our daily lives.

I can also get my favourite brand of All-In-Twos (AI2s), GroVias from My Baby Pit Stop!

CDM: What sets My Baby Pit Stop apart from the other baby stores out there (or, why should mothers shop at your store)?

Angie: Since I, myself am a mother of two, My Baby Pit Stop knows exactly what is needed for mothers. We have a wide range of products from cloth diapering, natural parenting, breastfeeding, toys and clothings. One of the distinct advantage that we have is that we provide very fast shipping services and delivery – You are assured to receive your ordered items on the very next day in most cases! We also provide good customer service, and the best prices in the market!! We believe that if we keep our customers happy with getting the best products for their children, and also keep them updated with information from My Baby Pit Stop, they will be a satisfied returning customer for us! We have received many compliments from mommies & daddies about the excellent services that we have provided. I would like to thank all of them for their continuous support to My Baby Pit Stop.

The Flip System is another innovative brand of All-In-Two (AI2) diapers.

CDM: Can you let us know more about the Cloth Diapers that you sell on My Baby Pit Stop? Which are your favourite brands?

Angie: Honestly, I love all the Cloth Diapers that I carry in our store! I have used them, tested them on my kids or relatives’ kids before deciding to sell any of them. Due to limited time constraints, we cannot carry every everything under the sun hence, we select only the best of the best to be in our online product offering. I have to admit that many of the items we carry in the store are currently personally used by our families

My favorite and most practical Cloth Diaper brand is Bum Genius and Blueberry, they are the best Pocket Diaper brands ever made! GroVia (previously known as Grobaby) and Flip are great brands of All-In-Two (AI2) diapers, and perfect for mommies who want to save money in the long term. Not to forget, I also carry Happy Heinys and Knickernappies which are very suitable for larger build babies. I would strongly recommend the “Best Sellers packages” to many first time cloth diapering Mommies, and I would say that they agree with me very much on the quality and performance of those brands. Oh, and I also feel that Autumnz is a wonderful yet very affordable brand of cloth diapers to try out.

Gorgeous Blueberry Minky cloth diapers!

CDM: What is your advice to someone who is new to Cloth Diapering but unsure about which brand of Cloth Diaper to try?

Angie: For mommies who are trying the Cloth Diapers for the first time, it’s best to test out a few brands as each brand has different makes, cuttings and most importantly – every child’s body is different. I have encountered first time cloth diapering mommies who made mistakes by buying many diapers from the same brand only to discover it is not suitable for their child. Also, depending on your family’s budget, invest equally in several types of Cloth Diapers so that you can experience many of them before deciding what’s best.

Happy Heinys brand is a very popular brand of One-size cloth diapers!

CDM: Finally what are your final words?

Angie: You are what you think. It’s important to really put a thought on what you should or shouldn’t be doing. We must be responsible with our actions. This is not only related to our spending patterns (what we buy), but this also relates to our daily actions and reactions. Happy Cloth Diapering to all!

Thank you very much for sharing all this with us Angie!

My Baby Pit Stop online store is open 24/7 and I bet Angie and her helpful assistants will be happy to serve you as best as possible about your cloth diapering choices. Visit MY BABY PIT STOP today!

***NEWSFLASH!!***

***My Baby Pit Stop is currently the first store to sell the all new BUMGENIUS 4.0 in Malaysia! They come in both velcro and snaps, can accomodate larger babies, and offers an replaceable elastics to keep baby fresh. Check them out here at this link: http://mybabypitstop.com/categories/One-Size-Diaper/Bum-Genius/***