(Image)

SELAMAT TINGGAL 2010, SELAMAT DATANG 2011!

We would like to wish all of Cloth Diaper Malaysia’s readers a HAPPY  & BLESSED NEW YEAR! May the new year bring joy, success, happiness and health to you and your families. Keep up the good work of giving the best for your families by choosing an eco-friendly, natural and healthy lifestyle!

2010 has been a memorable year for me. Why? It was the year my first baby was born – and he taught me a lot of things about life, he made me think about the choices I had to make, he made me more aware about the importance of health and well-being. Yes, if it weren’t for this little person, I wouldn’t have lead this sort of lifestyle that I have on today!

Let’s review what were my favourite Cloth Diaper things (and more!) that I have used, reviewed and in the end, fallen in love with for the year 2010!

(Image)

1. Value-for-money Malaysian cloth diaper brands - It was a good year for the local Cloth Diaper market. Malaysia should pride herself for producing local brands which were not only wallet-friendly, but also delivered superior quality like the international brands. Not to mention, the growing number of entrepreneurial mothers who custom & make their cloth diapers, and also those who start their own online shops. Let’s see more Malaysian cloth diaper brands in 2011! My favourites: BambooLite diapers, Bouncy Baby diapers.
2. The growing Cloth Diaper community – I have been hanging out with other moms who cloth diapers on the Diapers Asia forums and made many new friends. It’s great to also see many newbies who are interested to switch to cloth diapers! Throughout the year too, the list of Malaysian Cloth Diaper Moms grew, and recently – there was a Facebook Group called “Malaysian Cloth Diapering Parents” was launched, and allowed an even bigger and happening community of conscious parents who are in love with cloth diapering! Keep it up everyone!
3. Organic & natural fabrics - We all know that cloth diapers are made from many different types of fabric. As for me, I have several favourites, for example, I really love pocket diapers which have microsuede inner lining like the ones from Moo Moo Kow and also Bouncy Baby. However, my favourite items are made from natural or organic fibers such as bamboo, hemp and cotton. They are not only safer, healthier and more eco-friendly, they also have such qualities like antibacterial, super soft materials, and good absorbencies. I love the bamboo and organic fabric-made products from Baby-Mel, Itti Bitti & BambooLite; organic cotton All-In-2 diapers from GroVia, the gorgeous Envibum diapers which is also made from cotton, and any brand of hemp inserts!
4. Switching to Cloth Pads – If our babies are benfiting from using cloth products, why not us mums too? If you haven’t already known the dangers of feminine disposable products, please read about it here! I first started using cloth liners to replace my daily disposable panty liners while I was pregnant, and I have never bought any disposable products since then! Currently, I’m a 100% Cloth Pad/Liner user, I use cloth liners daily, I used Cloth Pads during my confinement (post-partum), and recently for every time I have my period. I can thank Mama Patch for introducing me to the wonders of cloth, and the other brands I have tried are Momiji, Saffa and Snexy. I will definitely try out more brands!
5. Prefolds, Flats & Covers, my perfect newborn cloth diapering solution – This was when my cloth diapering journey started. As an excited first time mom, I initially had problems with my cloth diapering experience. Cloth diapering a newborn was indeed a unique experience, and after trial and error sessions, I went back to basics with the prefolds, flats and diaper cover option, and it worked best for me and baby. It was simple, versatile, less hassle and 100% cloth and comfy! I used the basic flat diapers (kain lampin) and Freshbots prefolds, doubled them up with boosters and inserts, and used them along with newborn-sized diaper covers from Thirsties. Please read more about how I cloth diaperes my newborn baby here.

I hope you have enjoyed your journey to a eco-friendly and healthy living too. I also wish that Cloth Diaper Malaysia has managed to share with you some useful and valuable information about cloth diapering and more. I’m very happy for all the friends I have met in the past year, and hope that we will continue to support and share with each other, for better living in 2011 and beyond!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

How much garbage does YOUR baby/child produce per day/year? Do you think it is this much?

(Image from: http://koalatdiapers.com/)

Parents who choose to Cloth Diaper are greatly doing their part on reducing the amount of garbage that they produce each day. Simply enough, because No disposable diapers use = Less garbage/waste/pollution/environmental & societal problems! Cloth diapers are definitely the way to go because it’s natural, safer and gentler for baby and also kinder on the environment. Is your lifestyle ways and how you bring up your child sustainable, considerate and leaves as minimum effects as possible to our surroundings? Think about it!

These news articles appeared in The Star earlier this week, all were about the problems with our landfills, garbage disposal and all other negative things that comes with them. We shouldn’t blame others or the authorities about this problem, blame OURSELVES!

Have you read them? Here they are below:

A HEAP OF LANDFILL WOES (Read full article here)

“KUALA LUMPUR: The landfill problem has affected almost everyone in the country. Besides causing social and environmental problems, landfills are also economically detrimental. Local councils are spending between 30% and 80% of their assessment collection for waste treatment. And, these councils do nothing more than make the garbage pile up into a seemingly endless problem.

The bad management of most landfills has resulted in several “time bombs”. One “exploded” in September when leachate from a landfill in Semenyih contaminated Sungai Kembong and Sungai Beranang, the intake points of the Sungai Semenyih water treatment plant. The plant was forced to close down due to high levels of ammonia, causing a 14-hour water supply disruption, which resulted in about a million consumers in Petaling, Hulu Langat, Sepang, Kuala Langat and Putrajaya being affected by it.

Such problems were bound to happen. There are only eight landfills were constructed according to specifications while the rest are polluting the environment and ruining public health in varying degrees.”

1 day, 1week or 1 year of disposable products use will contribute to the landfills in the end.

(Image from: http://www.kidsforearthasia.com/)

DUMPS COULD BECOME STINKING TIME-BOMBS (Read full article here)

“KUALA LUMPUR: It is a long-standing, stinking problem that will not go away. We have yet to find a safe way to dispose of the 19,000 tonnes or so of garbage that Malaysians produce each day. All our trash now goes to 176 garbage tips all over the country – but only eight are sanitary landfills with pollution control features. The others are more or less just open dumpsites which stink, pose health hazards, leak polluting liquids into groundwater and rivers, as well as emit combustible gases.

Yet another worry are the 114 closed landfills, almost all of them just open dumps. With no bottom linings to prevent noxious leachate from seeping out or piping system to vent gases, these are ticking time bombs. With 16 landfills sitting near water intake points or the sea, another potential disaster lurks. We desperately need to clean up the mess.

“Mummy, how can I help make the environment better for all of us?”

GARBAGE DISPOSAL A LOAD FOR THE AUTHORITIES (Read full article here)

“KUALA LUMPUR: Residents here produce 2,100 tonnes of garbage per day, 63,000 tonnes per month and 756,000 tonnes per year. Many do not know the amount of work and money that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Housing and Local Government Ministry puts into disposing the garbage.

Solid Waste Management Depart-ment director-general Datuk Dr Nadzri Yahya said RM35 per tonne is paid to the Taman Beringin garbage transfer station and RM28.80 per tonne at the Bukit Tagar landfill. “Collection and public cleansing by Alam Flora costs RM9.4mil for domestic and commercial wastes and the collection alone works up to RM5.3mil a month,” he added.

The task of maintaining a landfill is not easy. At the end of each day, the waste has to be covered by soil while the gas produced has to be collected to produce electricity or flares. The department is mulling other types of waste treatment facilities like the thermal treatment plant, which uses heat to treat waste. “Sixteen of the 292 landfields in the country had been closed because they were full.”

Is your home ”clean”? I bet you use detergents, air fresheners, toilet cleaners, surface cleaners, and all sorts of cleaning products in your home for cleaning purposes? We all do so. Having a clean environment which is safe and wholesome must be a top priority for any family’s home.

However, research shows that clean houses will produce families with lowered immunity. There can be several  reasons for this, one is that many household cleaning products may contain toxic chemicals that can be inhaled by our lungs and absorbed by the skin. These intoxicants might be in small amounts, but if you add all of them together (including the beauty and hygiene cosmetics that you use daily) they might have a negative effect on us, especially on our babies and children. Cleaning products may cause illnesses such as asthma, cancer and reproductive issues. On another note, I was also shocked to read about the study that found up to 300 toxic chemicals in newborn babies cord blood samples!

We already live in polluted cities, why should we allow ourselves to live at home in a “polluted” environment?

There are things that you can do to provide a safer, non-toxic home for you and your family – BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF CHEMICAL PRODUCTS YOU USE AT HOME.

Ways to Reduce & Avoid Harmful Chemical Exposure:

1. Make your own Cleaning Products: For cleaning purposes, you can use natural things that can be easily found in your kitchen! You can use ingredients like baking soda, olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar and salt to make your own natural cleaning solutions. They’re not only safe, but very cheap too! You may visit Non Toxic Home Cleaning for many homemade recipes.
2. Buy Non-Toxic/Natural Products: There are many brands you can choose from which uses natural ingredients which are not only eco-friendly, but also safe for your family. They clean as effectively yet are not harmful. One example is Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com)

Did You Know These Facts About Seventh Generation?

 *Cloth Diaper Malaysia will be organizing a Giveaway, sponsored by Lifestyle Green Solutions ,where you can win Seventh Generation products! Stay tuned for this! * 

•  Seventh Generation has been America’s most trusted brand of household cleaning and personal care products for more than 20 years.
• They have a wide range of green and safe cleaning products for your home which are made from non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients like pure vegetable oils, natural minerals, and harmless hydrogen peroxide. These products don’t expose us to dangerous chemicals nor do they pollute the air we breathe.
• Seventh Generation brand-name products include: non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled paper towels, bathroom and facial tissues, and napkins; non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaning, dish and laundry products; plastic trash bags made from recycled plastic; chlorine-free baby diapers, training pants, and baby wipes; and chlorine-free feminine care products, including organic cotton tampons.
• A great thing about them is that they disclose all ingredients on their product labels, and will provide as much information as possible to their customers.
• They have been named the best company on Earth in 2010 by Better World Shopping Guide.
• Many of their products such as Natural Fabric Softener, Toilet Cleaner, Chlorine-Free Diapers and Pads, etc have good ratings on the website Good Guide.

Official Website: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/

Visit Lifestyle Green Solutions website to buy Seventh Generation products in Malaysia: http://lifestylegreensolutions.com/brand.php?brandid=9&brand=Seventh-Generation

Read up more about Seventh Generation products on Lifestyle Green Solutions in my written article: http://clothdiapermalaysia.com/2010/07/lifestyle-green-solutions-featured-shop-of-july-seventh-generation/

DISCUSSION: What are your concerns or thoughts about using eco-friendly/natural cleaning products for your home?

I posed the question of whether Are Baby Products Safe? So I did more research into the subject, and I was surprised that many “baby care products and cosmetics” contained many harmful ingredients – toxic, hormone disrupting, allergy causing, cancer causing chemicals! What are such things doing in products intended for BABIES?? Worst of all, many of these products are advertised and labeled as “safe”, “gentle for baby’s  skin”, and so on.

I’ve read somewhere that baby’s skin is so tender and delicate that it can absorb 6 times more than adult’s skin. Imagine if we use products like baby shampoo, lotion, creams, etc on a daily basis, how much of these toxic chemicals will be absorbed or in time, accumulate in their little bodies?

It’s no wonder that it’s uncommon to hear about so many health problems, especially infertility and cancer these days. Even more disturbing, more and more people are falling sick at younger ages too – adults in their 20s or 30s getting cancers…

6 TOXIC & HARMFUL INGREDIENTS IN BABY CARE PRODUCTS/COSMETICS:

• Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate: Irritants that can effect eye development for infants and children. Tests show that it can accumulate in the heart, liver, lungs and brain. Animals exposed to this chemical experienced eye damage, depression, breathing difficulties, diarrhea, skin irritations and even death!
  
• Mineral Oil: Made from petroleum, and it effects absorption of vitamin E and K, and also disrupts skin’s ability to breathe and release toxins because it coats the skin. Found to be carcinogenic (causes cancer). Baby oils are actually mineral oil!
  
• Propylene Glycol: Can easily penetrate the skin (factory workers have to wear protective equipment when handling this chemical) and affect kidney and liver health. It is actually the same chemical used in factories to break down protein and cellular structure!
  
• “Fragrance”: Made from petroleum, and if they are labeled as “Fragrance” on the label, they can actually be made of mostly 4000 chemical ingredients! Tests have shown that they contain allergens, hormone disrupters and toxins which can cause irritation, brain damage and behavioural problems.
  
• DEA, TEA & MEA: Labeled as Cocoamide DEA/MEA, Lauramide DEA, etc, they are hormone disruptors which can form cancer causing nitrates and nitrosamines. They are very easily absorbed into skin. The 2 most associated cancers with this chemical are kidney and liver cancers.
  
• Talc: Causes harmful effects when inhaled and absorbed, irritating the respiratory system and may also be carcnogenic. If used at genital area, it might cause ovarian cancer. (Yikes, how many of us use talcum powder on their babies?!)

Here are more news about toxic ingredients in baby products:

1. When tested, Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, along with many other popular brands contained toxic chemicals Formaldehyde and 1,4-Dioxane. They are by-products of processing, and thus not labeled in the ingredients list. Both are linked to cancer and skin allergies. EU has banned 1,4 Dioxane in cosmetics, while Japan & Sweden banned Formaldehyde. The question is, why is a well-known “baby care expert” brand like Johnson’s have such harmful chemicals in their products specially designed for BABIES??
2. According to the Cosmetics Ingredients Review in 2003, 100% of the baby lotions studied contained ingredients which had insufficient research backing their safety and 59% of products contained ingredients that were allergens.

So mothers, next time you go shopping for baby toilettries, MAKE SURE YOU READ THE LABELS! Identify the ingredients above, and do not buy products which contain them. Try as much as possible to provide safe products for you babies and children, it is the best for their future health!

Here are some links if you would like to read more about the subject:

Guide to Less Toxic Baby Care

10 Most Dangerous Ingredients in Personal & Beauty Products

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!

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!

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!

About Momiji Natural Cloth Pads (info taken from My Precious):

• Washable and reusable menstrual pad
• Surface material: 100% cotton flannel; Inner core: 100% cotton fabric
• High absorbent power and has special leak-proof lining
• Can be folded compactly using the button fasteners

I received one Medium sized MOMIJI Natural pad in “Purple Flowers” pattern for reviewing. It is meant to be used for normal flow periods. Here it is:

I prewashed once as instructed in the label, and used it for 2 months (during menses).

What I Like:

• Very straight-forward and easy to use design
• The 2 snap button adjustment allows me to fit them with my, ahem, different types of panties (midi? bikini? low waist? high waist? G-string maybe??! )
• Easy to care for – Durable enough for machine washing (some Cloth Pads are better off hand washed), but just ensure no softener is used!
• The inner cotton fabric gets fluffier and thicker after each wash – The absorbency gets better too this way

What I Don’t Quite Like:

• The fasteners were not the usual plastic resin snaps I’m used to. They are lead free buttons (some sort of metal material) – My first thought was, “Won’t these rust or something?!” But of course they wouldn’t rust..
• The surface material could have been softer, I find it to be a little coarse/rough
• In terms of thickness and texture, I felt like I was wearing a regular disposable pad (Compared to fleece material pads, which tends to be slimmer in design).

This is another brand of Cloth Pads that I have added to my collection It’s great now that I can fully use Cloth Pads and Liners daily, no more disposables! In the long run, using these will definitely save a lot on my expenses, and I absolutely love the health benefits that comes along with using Cloth Pads!

MOMIJI Natural cloth pads are available in sizes Small, Medium, Large and Night. They come in a variety of prints too. Also, the MOMIJI One Zipper Purse is suitable to be used to carry your pads on the go.

If you are interested to get these, they are available at http://syadreamzsew.blogspot.com/

Read up more about Cloth Pads/Liners here too: Cloth Pads/Liners Articles. Cloth Diaper Malaysia loves to review products! If you want me to review your product, please Contact Me

Kali ini saya ingin kongsi bersama informasi mengenai Ruam Lampin (diaper rash) dan kaitannya dengan menggunakan Cloth Diapers.

Acap kali kita terbaca informasi yang mengatakan:

“Penggunaan Cloth Diapers boleh mengurangkan/mencegah ruam lampin”

Benarkah kenyataan tersebut?

Selama saya menggunakan Cloth Diapers, saya ketahui bahawa mungkin kenyataan ini kurang tepat. Bayi saya tidak terlepas juga dari mendapat ruam lampin atau “diaper rash”.

Apakah itu Ruam Lampin?

• Ruam lampin, atau nama medikalnya “Diaper Dermatitis” merujuk kepada ruam pada bahagian kulit bayi yang dipakaikan lampin (diaper area).
• Ia disebabkan oleh faktor-faktor seperti jangkitan kulit atau bahan yang boleh menyebabkan iritasi.
• Ia menyebabkan permukaan kulit bayi menjadi merah, menggelupas, berbintik-bintik, gatal atau luka.

Mengapa Ruam Lampin Terjadi?

1. Punca utama adalah pendedahan kulit bayi kepada kelembapan secara berpanjangan (prolonged wetness).
2. Perubahan pH kulit kepada lebih berasid yang disebabkan oleh air kencing dan poo bayi.
3. Pemakanan bayi: Bayi yang menyusu badan kurang mendapat ruam lampin (kerana poo kurang berasid) berbanding bayi yang sudah boleh makan.
4. Alergi makanan.
5. Diarrhea.
6. Perubahan diet ibu yang menyusukan.
7. Luka pada kulit.
8. Jangkitan kulat.
9. Pergeselan berterusan kulit bayi dengan lampin.
10. Kulit jenis sensitif.
11. Pendedahan kepada bahan iritan.

**E-mail me this password for 1 EXTRA ENTRY for the Baby-mel/Knickernappies Cloth Diaper Giveaway: “MADE IN USA”**

Katanya pakai Cloth Diapers boleh mengurangkan Ruam Lampin??!

Kenyataan ini bukan lah 100% tepat.

• Sebab utama ruam lampin terjadi adalah kelembapan, dan tiada kaitan dengan jenis lampin yang dipakaikan.
• Sekurang-kurangnya 50% bayi akan mendapat ruam lampin selama jangka masa mereka memakai lampin.
• Tiada perbezaan yang ketara jika kita menggunakan Cloth Diapers atau lampin pakai buang.
• Amat penting agar lampin kerap ditukar, tidak kira jika menggunakan Cloth Diapers atau lampin pakai buang.
• Bayi baru lahir perlu ditukarkan lampin baru setiap jam, manakala bayi yang lebih besar, setiap 3-4 jam.

Namun begitu, antara sebab berlakunya ruam lampin yang mungkin berkaitan dengan JENIS lampin yang kita pakaikan pada bayi kita (Cloth Diapers ataupun lampin pakai buang) adalah:

• Pergeselan berterusan kulit bayi dengan lampin
• Kulit bayi yang sensitif
• Pendedahan kepada bahan iritan.

Umum diketahui bahawa bahan-bahan yang digunakan untuk membuat lampin pakai buang (disposable diapers) terdiri daripada bahan kimia dan sintetik – boleh baca lebih lanjut di posting “Apa yang ada dalam produk pakai buang?” Oleh itu pada pandangan saya, ruam lampin boleh lah dikurangkan sedikit dengan penggunaan Cloth Diapers. Sekurang-kurangnya “kulit bayi yang sensitif tidak akan bergesel secara berterusan dengan bahan iritan dan kimia yang ada di dalam lampin pakai buang!” (Pandainya saya karang ayat baru dari ketiga-tiga di atas, hehe)

Tapi perlu diingatkan, pakai Cloth Diapers pun boleh juga mengakibatkan ruam lampin! Saya akan kongsi pula maklumat ini di masa hadapan

SOALAN: Adakah anda setuju atau tidak dengan pandangan saya di atas?

]]> http://clothdiapermalaysia.com/2010/05/ruam-lampin-diaper-rash-cloth-diapers/feed/ 8