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!

How time flies, we are already in the month of July 2010! Also, another new month signifies another Featured Shop on Cloth Diaper Malaysia. This month, we are featuring LIFESTYLE GREEN SOLUTIONS: “Get Your Green Lifestyle. Keep Your Home Green.”

ABOUT LIFESTYLE GREEN SOLUTIONS:

Lifestyle Green Solutions believes that everyone in his own little way can make a change for a greener lifestyle. Thus, the online eco-portal (http://www.lifestylegreensolutions.com) was started, selling natural & organic certified products for the convenience of busy consumers(like Moms ).

They offer their conscious customers safe alternatives to chemicals with their large range of eco-friendly products coming from Malaysia, Australia, USA & European Countries:

• Babies Care (Diapers, Wipes, Nappy cleansers & Special Needs, Body cleanser) 
• Laundry (Detergent, Bleach & Softeners)
• Women Care (Body Care, Face Care, Eye Care, Hands Care, Lip Care)
• Body Care (Bath&Shower, Soap)
• Hair Care
• Beauty
• Cleaning
• Gardening

What I would like to highlight to all the Mothers and Parents out there, is that  Lifestyle Green Solutions offers a product selection specifically for: BABIES ! To make sure that no harmful synthetic chemicals are put onto our delicate baby’s skin, they offer NEW Chlorine Free Diapers and Baby Wipes from the USA brand, “Seventh Generation”, and also a wide selection of babies care products.

My Comment: I feel that these Diapers and Baby Wipes will be convenient for use during traveling, when you are out of the house, or simply as a back up for your Cloth Diapers (if you use them alongside disposable diapers, or if they are still drying under the sun ) It’s also a more environmentally conscious and natural product for your baby! They are certainly a great alternative to the other brands of disposable diapers and baby wipes out there. I look forward to try out the products to see how they will work for our family. Let’s read on below to know more about Seventh Generation Babies Products…

*****

SEVENTH GENERATION BABIES PRODUCTS

*Some Facts About Chlorine*

If chlorine is used during processing of disposable products, dangerous chlorinated toxins are released into the environment through the pulp production process. Seventh Generation diapers & baby wipes has not been processed with chemicals containing chlorine. It’s safer on the environment, and also there will be less chemical exposure on your baby’s skin!

CHLORINE FREE BABY DIAPERS

What’s So Special?

1. Wood pulp processed without chemicals containing chlorine
2. Hypoallergenic
3. Fragrance and latex free
4. Premium fit and absorbency
5. Soft, cloth-like comfort keeps baby safe and dry

Features and Benefits:

• In addition to keeping your baby dry, the super absorbent polymer is non-toxic and hypoallergenic.
• Features stretchy leg gathers and resealable closure tabs.
• Chlorine-free materials and absorbent polymers help keep your baby dry in between changes and through the night.
• Effective at keeping baby dry and reducing the risk of diaper rash; studies show that the absorbent polymer is non-irritating to baby’s sensitive skin.
• 3 sizes: Newborn – Up to 4.5 Kg (10 lbs); Stage 1 – 3.6 to 6.4 Kg (8-14 lbs); and Stage 2 – 5.4 to 8.2 Kg (12-18 lbs).
• Get them here: Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Diapers at Lifestyle Green Solutions.

*****

CHLORINE FREE BABY WIPES

What’s So Special?

1. Hypoallergenic
2. Whitened without chemicals containing chlorine
3. Unscented
4. Alcohol free
5. One-at-a-time dispensing
6. Soft and gentle for baby’s delicate skin.

Features and Benefits:

• Free of dyes and fragrances, the baby wipes contain a natural cleansing agent that is gentle on baby’s tender skin.
• The baby wipes are made with soft cloth that has not been processed with chemicals containing chlorine.
• Available in: Wipes Tub (70 Count); Wipes resealable refill pack (70 Count); Wipes Travel Pack (36 Count).

• Get them here: Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Baby Wipes at Lifestyle Green Solutions.

*****

NATURAL POWDERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT – Free & Clear

Features and Benefits:

• Weight: 1.4 Kg (48 oz) – For 18 to 36 loads.
• Truly free and clear of fragrances, dyes & masking agents.
  
• Free of phosphates, optical brighteners & no chlorine bleach.
• Suitable for all type of laundry including baby clothes (it is hypo-allergenic).
• Tough on stains and keeps whites and colors bright.
• Gentle on your fabrics and the earth (biodegradable).
• Not tested on animals.
• Get them here: Seventh Generation Laundry Products at Lifestyle Green Solutions.

*****

Lifestyle Green Solutions is not only a place to shop for Natural and Organic certified products, it is also an online store where all the products are discounted! Don’t believe me? Visit their website and take your time to have a look at their current promotions:

- BABIES  CARE  PROMOTIONS -

- WOMEN CARE PROMOTIONS -

Not only that, http://www.lifestylegreensolutions also offers a Fidelity Points system with real advantages. Each time you buy a product, its price is converted into Fidelity Points. When the logo FPX2, FPX3 or 4 appears, it simply means that the points obtained after purchasing are multiplied by two, three or four. When you reach 700 points, you are able to convert them into 5% discount off the TOTAL OF YOUR NEXT ORDER! The more points you gain, more discounts you will get!

BE SEDUCED WITH LIFESTYLE GREEN SOLUTION’S LARGE RANGE OF QUALITY ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS!

Ini lah dia produk baru dari Huggies, lampin pakai buang bercorak Jeans!!!

Perlu kah ada produk baru macam ini??! Apakah gunanya menambahkan lagi pewarna (lebih bahan kimia pada punggung bayi!) untuk mengecap lampin pakai buang sebegini sekali? Adakah ianya untuk menambahkan “kecomelan” atau pun “meng-vogue-kan” lagi paras rupa “disposable diapers” yang coraknya memang membosankan dan sungguh tidak menarik itu? Dan untuk apa kita pakaikannya pada bayi untuk tampak lebih bergaya – dan selepas 2, 3 jam kita campak sahaja dalam tong sampah? Sudah lah lampin Huggies Jeans ini juga lebih mahal dari jenis lampin pakai buang yang biasa. Bukankah ianya suatu pembaziran yang amat besar…?

Anda MESTI tonton iklan untuk Huggies Jeans di bawah ini… Diakui, iklan dan modelnya comel sekali, tapi sungguh propaganda!

Oh tidak perlu gimik sebegitu! Adakah memakai lampin pakai buang ini boleh membuatkan bayi kita bergaya seperti dalam iklan tersebut? (Ewah ewah tapi si Comel dalam iklan itu, berjalan penuh keyakinan dengan lampin dia.. :p)

Kami ibu-ibu cerdik lebih gembira menggunakan CLOTH DIAPERS. Selain menjimatkan wang dan mengurangkan kuantiti sampah-sarap dalam komuniti – ianya juga pilihan yang lebih selamat, selesa dan semulajadi untuk anak-anak kita berbanding lampin pakai buang! Juga………. punggung bayi yang memakai Cloth Diapers 100x LEBIH COMEL berbanding yang memakai “disposable diapers” seperti ini! Cloth Diapers pula beraneka corak, warna dan reka bentuk – setiap kali menukar Cloth Diapers pasti ada keceriaan dan fesyen yang baru untuk si Comel! Hari-hari boleh pakai pattern lain-lain pulak tu, oh seronoknya!

Setuju atau tidak…??

I received an e-mail from Cloth Diaper Malaysia reader all the way from Canada, Isha. She has a particular situation involving diapering while traveling. Below is what she wrote to me:

“I will be traveling to Singapore and KL. I would absolutely LOVE to continue to use my cloth while on holiday but, unfortunately, traveling arrangements, a rigorous visiting schedule and frequent changes in accommodation make this an impossible endeavor. So, I have been researching eco-friendly disposable alternatives and only came across one brand called Moltex Oko available in Singapore.  I thought I would drop you a line to see if you have any other suggestions/recommendations that I might have missed?”

Cloth diapering while traveling can be a challenge. You are not in the comforts of your own home, so you might be concerned with things such as:

• How many cloth diapers should I bring? Which type?
• Should I bring along all my other cloth diaper accessories?
• How and where to launder my cloth diapers?
• Will I have the time to wash and care for my cloth diapers?

So what are the options to diaper my baby while I’m traveling away from home?

ECO-FRIENDLY DISPOSABLE DIAPERS

There are many ways to make Cloth Diapering during your travels possible. Isha mentioned one of them: To use eco-friendly (disposable) alternatives. It is not entirely “wrong” to use disposables, let us remind ourselves that disposable diapers are meant to be used for its convenience. So while travelling, it could be the most logical thing to do.

However even if you use disposables, you can still make a difference to mother earth by choosing the types which are eco-friendlier (I specifically mention eco-friendli-”er” because you are still creating some amount of waste because you throw them away after each use. However, the difference is the type of waste you’re creating, they might be less harmful for the environment).

Isha highlighted the eco-friendly disposable diaper brand, Moltex Oko. It can be purchased in Malaysia through the  blogshop Baby Kiddies. Apparently it’s the only brand available over here though.

So what I would like to offer to Isha is another solution: Hybrid Diapers.

WHAT ARE HYBRID DIAPERS?

• “Best of both worlds”: Diapers which combine the convenience of disposable diapers along with the reusabililty of Cloth Diapers.
• Consists of: Reusable diaper cover and use of disposable insert/inner (thrown away after it is used). Hybrid diapers also comes with washable inserts, so you can fully use cloth when you’re at home.
• Advantages: Less plastic waste is generated because only the insert is thrown away; more convenient to use compared to cloth diapers especially when travelling or going out (no need to store wet/dirty cloth diapers to bring home); Inserts are usually eco-friendly/biodegradable; Also means babies are less exposed to chemicals, and it is less harmful to the environment; Flexible 2 in 1 system -Fully cloth diaper at home, and while travelling use disposable inserts!

WHAT ARE SOME BRANDS OF HYBRID DIAPERS AVAILABLE?

Here are some brands of hybrid cloth diapers that you may find in Malaysia:

1. MyEcoNappy – Proudly a Malaysian designed hybrid diaper!  You may find these in retail outlets such as Babyland, Planete Enfante Mamours, World of Cartoons & Bebe Homes
2. Mothercare Smart Nappy system – available in Mothercare retail outlets in Malaysia
3. Gro Baby – Available at My Baby Pit Stop, My Cheeky Boo, BabyMyLuv, Mia Bambina online stores.
4. Flip – Available at Babyz N Mom online store.
5. gDiapers – I personally feel these has a great design. Unfortunately, no Malaysian retailers carry these yet.

Personally, I feel Hybrid Diapers are such a great innovation! You can get a set and use the reusable, washable inserts for home, and when you are out or travelling, there is an option to go (semi) disposable! Super!!

Question: Any Hybrid Cloth Diaper users out there? How do you like your Hybrids?

What do you need to Cloth Diaper outside home? Read about It’s Easy to Cloth Diaper on the Go

Baby diapers = Money

Continuing from our previous post- Diaper Guide:  Disposable Diapers (The Advantages), let’s look at why disposable diapers don’t actually portray as much sunshine and happiness as their colourful packaging:

The Not-So-Glorious Disadvantages of Disposable Diapers (CONS)

Here are some issues that any parent should consider before choosing to use disposables. Feel free to click on the links on the points below (*coming soon*) to read more about the subject too:

1. Very expensive: When compared with Cloth Diapers, they are indeed more costly.
2. Use of chemicals: The technology of making disposable diapers involves many chemicals that might pose health effects in the long-term.
3. Interferes with potty/toilet training: They work so well, older babies can’t tell the difference whether their diaper is wet or otherwise. This will hinder potty training.
4. Causes skin irritations/allergies: Babies skin is very sensitive, and exposure to disposables can make diaper rash and other allergies more likely to occur.
5. Physical hazards: Babies are curious creatures and might choke/eat disposable parts! Other incidences include melting diapers and stained ink on babies.  
6. Might cause infertility: They can cause problems in the male reproductive system later on in life.
7. Might cause hip problems: They don’t provide good support for baby’s crawling and hip development.
8. Not environmentally sustainable to produce: Many resources (plastics, pulp, petrol, chemicals, etc) are used up to produce disposable diapers.
9. Not environment-friendly: They take a long time to degrade (or at all) and fill up/pollute landfills with human wastes unnecessarily.

By the way, did you know that even if you use disposable diapers, the baby waste should still be emptied into the toilet before throwing in the bin so that the human waste can be properly treated? This is another cause for environmental concern because untreated baby waste that gets thrown in the rubbish can also pollute our soils, water supply, rivers and seas!

So did anyone else know that disposable diapers can be so harmful, not only to our pockets, but to our babies and also the environment? Drop a comment below :)

Source: Are Disposable Diapers Dangerous?

The stuff modern mothers can't live without.

So here’s the deal. Our precious and adorable babies are so cute and all, but they also have the not-so-cute side: They pee and poop like, all the time right? So as a parent, what are the choices that we have for diapering our babies? There are currently two:

1. Disposable Diapers

OR

2. Cloth Diapers

Yikes, so what diaper works best? Diaper choice can be a daunting thing to consider, and I leave it up to you to evaluate the pros and cons from this post.

While I was preparing all the new things for my first baby, I got so worried about the costs of diapering my new baby. Apart from the other many baby essentials, furniture and needs, I was most concerned about its costs (apart from baby milk and formulas, which can also be costly – but problem solved for FREE: BREASTFEEDING!)

It’s crazy, a pack of diapers costs like, how much RM25-RM40? And it struck me too, that newborns use up to 10 diapers per day! They use diapers like scrap papers, peeing and pooping in them every 2 hours or so. And also, our child is going to be in diapers for 3 years, or until he/she is properly toilet trained. So diaper issues ARE a big deal for any parent.

DISPOSABLE DIAPERS

I’m not going to explain to you about disposable diapers, because I think MANY of us are so used to them and know them pretty well too. In fact, many of our friends or family members are commonly using disposables, because it is generally regarded as the most convenient and easy solution. Just walk around any supermarket aisle, switch on the television and browse through the newspapers and you WILL encounter the many, many different brands of disposable diapers. Even use of disposables too, can be overwhelming: Which brand? What size? What’s the quality? And most importantly “PARDON ME, HOW MUCH DO THEY COST AGAIN??!”

The structure of disposable diapers

What Are Disposable Diapers Made Of?

They are made from superabsorbent polymers, resealable tapes and elasticised waist bands. They have a layered construction and has such technology to lock in moisture and wetness from the baby’s buttocks. Nowadays disposable diapers have also came a long way with innovations like Velcro seal, anti-bacterial, fragrance-added to mask smells and wetness indicators.

The Glorious Advantages of Disposable Diapers (PROS)

Of course these advantages below differ from brand to brand. but in general:

1. They’re easy to use: Just put it on your baby, and when baby pees/poops – throw away! No cleaning, nothing else to worry about. Simple enough right?
2. They’re convenient: Ideal for travelling and outings for the same reasons above.
3. They are very absorbent: Babies usually feel “dry” even after they pee because of the layer of dry liners and other stuff they have in them.
4. They hold pee and poop well inside: Which means less leaks, especially when baby sleeps.
5. Many choices: All sizes, brands and price range suitable for any baby, and to choose from.
6. They’re for “modern”moms: Everyone who is a modern/urban/cool/hip/career mom use disposables right? “I don’t want to be perceived as old-fashioned ok…”

There! Now why wouldn’t ANY mother choose anything else, right? But apparently the world of disposable diapers might not be so happy and bright. Why…?

We’ll go into this in our next post: Diaper Guide: Disposable Diapers (The DISadvantages)
*Question: What brand of disposable diapers do you use? Are you happy with them?