Fluffy Mail Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the Fluffy Mail Giveaway Hop, hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network!

If you're a cloth diapering Mom or Dad {or plan to be}, you know that one of the most exciting things about cloth diapers is... Fluffy Mail!  There's just something special about opening up a package of adorable fluff!  I've teamed up with over 30 other bloggers to bring you LOTS of chances to get the best kind of Fluffy Mail - a Giveaway Win!  So be sure to hop around to all the other giveaways at the bottom of this post before the event ends on May 15th!

Krazy for Kloth is offering a brand new bumGenius Elemental (BGE) to one lucky winner, provided by the awesome Jack Be Natural! I will have the full review and comparison of the new style BGE to the old one (which happens to be one of my personal favorites) coming in the next few days, but I didn't want to hold out on a giveaway for all you amazing readers! Make sure you stop back for your daily Twitter entries and read the full review! 

MY REVIEW

My technology issues have finally been resolved and now I can bring you the full review of the new bumGenius Elemental (BGE)! I'll be completely honest when starting this, I have been in love with the "old" Elementals for quite some time now. Although B is skinny for his age, he still has good size legs making for a great fit on the old Elementals. I'll do a comparison of the two in case you're like me and want to see what the major differences are.  

One of the reasons I adore the original BGE is because of the layers and layers of organic cotton. Not only are there two layers of organic cotton sewn into the PUL, but the inside of the diaper is also lined with organic cotton. Not the most fun diaper to prep (if you  happen to be impatient like me ;)), but the more you wash and use it, the more absorbent the diaper becomes. This had become my go-to diaper for naps, or car rides, or extended errands where (unless #2 occurs) you may be going 3-4 hours before changing a diaper.

With the new BGE, perhaps the only difference is the glaringly obvious one. There is no inner layer of organic cotton lining the PUL. You'll still get two layers of organic cotton sewn into the PUL, but underneath that is basically a cover. The PUL is exposed everywhere the organic cotton isn't sewn. (I'll talk about some potential benefits to this later).

New BGE (left) and Old BGE (right)

The fit factor:

The snaps on both versions are your standard bumGenius style of two rows across the band. Because of the natural fibers lining the inside of the diaper in the old BGE, the legs holes naturally "roll in" creating a nice seal at the leg without having to worry about gapping from snaps that don't fit "perfectly".  I can honestly say, I have NEVER had a leak in my old BGE's. Because of all of the layers of organic cotton, this tends to be a bulkier diaper. The stereotypical "fluffy bum" is in full force with the old BGE's and you'll most likely need elastic waist pants, or go up a size ;)

With the new BGE, since the inner lining of organic cotton is removed, the legs do not roll in like the prior version. This diaper fits more like a cover with the elastic being in contact with the leg. If you're familiar with the Flip diaper system, this fits similarly in my opinion, only you don't need to "stuff" it with your stay-dry or organic cotton insert the lining is already sewn in. 

See how the leg holes roll in on the old BGE? The new one fits more like a single-gusset cover

Extra Absorbency?

With the old BGE's I never felt the need for an extra insert for daytime or naptime. I did test it at night, and put in a Thirsties hemp/cotton doubler, and it lasted through the night just fine, but I was pretty nervous about the extra bulk creating gapping at the legs with my squirmy sleeping toddler. Since the inner organic cotton layers have a tendency to move you would have to use a material that safe to be in direct contact with baby's skin. (i.e. not microfiber) and you'd want a relatively thin one to be able to fit it between the inner layer and the sewn in organic cotton. 

When it comes to the new BGE's, I did notice some changes from an absorbency perspective. After waking from a nap (a nice 3 hour one! It was a crazy day...) the diaper didn't leak, but if felt noticably wet on the inside. Almost like when I took the diaper off I was expecting a little pool in the PUL. It's something that I think over time as the diaper becomes more absorbent will become less of an issue, but for night time you would definitely need to add an extra insert-whether it be a doubler or prefold. The nice thing about removing the inner layer is that it makes an AIO diaper a bit more customizable. For daytime, if you'd like a trim-yet absorbent-diaper, this will be a good fit. If you want to be able to use it for longer periods of time, you can easily add as many inserts as you need because the space between the inner PUL and organic cotton is much more forgiving. 

Cleaning:

This has been one of my biggest complaints with the old BGE. Because the layers are sewn in and there are so many of them, if you have a particularly messy diaper, there are plenty of "nooks and crannies" for the mess to become lodged. Spraying off the diaper is also an interesting experience because the cotton folds and sits in certain ways that allow for some nice ricochet moments. Definitely one you'll want to make sure the water pressure on your sprayer is low! Because of the natural fibers, it also tends to hold stains a bit longer/easier so sunning is a must if you are obsessive about pristine inner layers like I am. Unless you live in AZ like me, it can take a while for this baby to dry because of the organic cotton. Also, line drying can leave the cotton feeling a bit rough. Once they're about 75% dry, I usually toss them in the dryer to finish drying and soften the fabric back up. 

The new BGE has some of the same cleaning complaints because they layers are still sewn in, but because the inner is PUL and not organic cotton, the cleaning is a bit quicker. I'd still recommend sunning these diapers because the natural fibers are the same and will have the same predisposition of staining, but they do dry a bit faster with that inner cotton layer removed. 

The Verdict:

My overall opinion, is that while the new BGE is not dramatically different from the original, the changes that were made are significant enough to me to treat it like a completely different diaper. I was truly expecting to be disappointed and hate this new diaper because I have such a great admiration for the first one, but honestly, once I gave it a try, I can see how it would a great addition to a stash. It offers the comfort of natural fibers in a nice trim diaper. It gives flexibility to easily be used during the day, while still offering the ability to customize additional inserts for nighttime. The price on the new BGE is the same as the old one at $24.95, which is at the higher end for an AIO diaper, but it is comprised of organic cotton which is a more expensive material, plus you save on shipping when you order from Jack be Natural because shipping is always free! :)

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**I was provided the above item for review purposes. My opinions are solely my own and may differ from your own. According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Fluffy Mail participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.**

Once you're done entering this awesome giveaway, make sure you "hop" to all the other blogs below and enter as many giveaways as you can!

Mama's got a Brand New Babe Review and Giveaway!

Welcome to the Mama's Got a Brand New Babe giveaway event, hosted by Going Green with the Grizls and Sew Fatty! This event will run from April 24th - May 8th and we will finish off with a Twitter party on May 9th from 9-10 PM EST!

Each blogger located on the linky below has put together an awesome prize suitable for either a new parent or baby worth a minimum of $25. =) Be sure to enter to win of TWO fabulous grand prizes!! Each prize is worth over $ and are made up of the perfect new baby and parent gift including prizes from an amazing list of sponsors including Boba, Gen-Y, Bamboobies, Kissed By the Moon, and Bummis!

Be sure to attend the Twitter party on May 9th from 9-10 EST to participate in the live drawing for the grand prizes. There will also be special prizes specifically for the Twitter party. You must tweet at least once during the party to be eligible to win.


Hashtag: #MamasBabe

Hosts: @GreenGrizls & @SewFatty

Now for my giveaway!! 

I'm so excited to write this post, for two reasons. 1) I get to introduce Bumkins' new and improved One-Size (OS) cloth diaper and 2) It includes a giveaway of not one but TWO brand new cloth diapers!

So let's get started. Local retailer, Zoolikins has generously agreed to sponsor the items for review and giveaway. Last year Bumkins revealed their new line-up of diapers which included changes to their sizing. The new cut fits a smaller baby while still fitting most toddlers. I have seen this diaper on a 7lb newborn (I will be able to personally test this theory come August!) and it fits my 23lb 19month old like a glove! I never cloth diapered B when he was a newborn, so I don't have a newborn "stash". As I start to grow a stash for baby #2, I'm noticing that most newborn AIO diapers have a limited shelf life--about 12-15lbs max and then they're ruled out. At $13-$15 a piece, that seems like a lot of money to invest in for such a short time period.  I like the idea that this diaper can fit a newborn and continue to be used as the baby grows, truly the definition of a OS diaper in my opinion.

A side by side of the new Bumkins sized as small as it can go, next to a Lil Joey newborn diaper

This brand new release of diapers reveals a bunch of "upgrades" to its predecessor. It keeps the same sizing for newborns on up, but they've also improved the PUL. This diaper not only has a waterproof PUL but also a TPU layer. (Without getting off-topic too much, here's a great article by my friend Julie about the difference between PUL and TPU). Anyway, this new waterproofing creates amazing leak protection while still being easily maintained. When you run your finger along the inside and outside of this diaper you can actually feel the difference in the material, it almost feels thicker, more secure than other brands, or other releases of Bumkins. Sticking with the outside appearance, Bumkins finally has SOLID colors! You know I'm a print junkie (to satisfy that, they have released Turtles in the new PUL/TPU) as much as the next person, but solids are great for multiple children-keeping it gender neutral.

So soft and thick!

In addition to improvements to the outside of this diaper, the inside had some "work done" too. The inner fabric for their Snap-In One diaper is a super soft cotton/bamboo blend. I love this because it's soft natural fibers against B's sensitive skin. The insert that this diaper comes with is a nice, soft, super-absorbent minky one, so you get the benefits of synthetics with the softness and absorbency of natural fibers right next to baby's skin. If you prefer all natural fibers, Bumkins also makes a snap in bamboo/cotton insert. This can easily be swapped out for the minky and makes this already trim diaper EVEN trimmer.

The snap in minky next to the snap in bamboo/cotton insert

The natural fiber inner makes the leg gussets roll in to create a seal

The fit of this diaper is smaller than most OS diapers, but not "too small" in my opinion to work for my toddler. Because it is made with a natural fiber inner, the legs roll in to create an awesome seal. Naptime, car seats, and a nasty stomach virus have proven to be no match for this diaper. There also is an extra bit of elastic along the top of the front of the diaper. It's kind of hard to see when it's on, but what it does is help the diaper to create a "seal" of sorts around the waist as well to prevent any leaking up the front. A definite necessity for boys and tummy sleepers.

A close-up of the elastic around the tummy

Everything stays nice and tucked! From the belly to the legs

B was lucky enough to be a tester for these diapers (one of the benefits of living in the same town as Bumkins ;)) and I could not wait for these to be released. The natural fibers, the soft inserts, the trim fit and the snug sizing make this my new favorite diaper.

So, now that your excited and ready to go, here's what's in it for you. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win 2 of the new Bumkins Snap-In One OS diapers. If you can't wait for the giveaway to end, you can always order yours through Zoolikins online! Oh, and one more thing, the new PUL/TPU also comes in their AIO and Stuff-It pocket diaper if you'd like to try other options as well!

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**Disclaimer: I was provided the product for review purposes. The opinions expressed are solely my own and may differ from your own. No other compensation was received**

MommyCon Phoenix Review

I'm sorry for the delay in posting this. MommyCon Phoenix was April 14th, but with all the craziness of the Great Cloth Diaper Change right on it's heels, I didn't have a chance to get this typed up. I'm also going to apologize for the quality of pictures, and overall lack of pictures. I brought my camera to be able to really share the fun with you, but when I went to take my first picture, I realized there was no memory card! (I blame pregnant brain) So I was forced to rely on my "smart"phone which constantly aims to out"smart" me.  Here's a little taste of what you may have missed:

Feeling like the Real Housewives of Phoenix!

With the lovely Krystyna from Sweet Pea Births

Learning about different options for babywearing

All about cloth diapers!

Setting up for soothing infant massage lessons

I know the Phoenix event was labeled a "mini" and to be honest, having not been to another event, I'm not sure what defines a "mini" versus an actual event. I think there was a great variance of information provided as well as a select number of vendors to seek additional information from. As a vendor, I think it was nice to limit booths with similar products/concepts, but as an attendee, I would have liked to have seen more options. Not just from people selling/making certain products, but by other companies and agencies in the area. Especially when dealing with midwives, doctors, doulas, etc. Selecting someone like that is a very personal experience and having a chance to meet with more than one agency would have been great.

Some of the presentations I attended included babywearing, carseat safety, information regarding GMO's, birth choices and healthy pregnancy. I thought it was great having professionals in these areas providing information that I hadn't considered or heard about before. I also think it was great having a babywearing "lounge" where there was an opportunity to try on multiple carriers and learn from babywearing experts how to properly wear your baby. While the presentation on GMO's was informative, I would have liked to have seen a naturopath, herbalist, farmer, or some type of nutritionist present it.  I think there is a lot of information on that particular topic that could be given, and having a professional provide it and supplement with handouts as well as having the the opportunity to followup would have been nice.

Overall, I had a great experience. I think this is a great event if your expecting your first or your fifth child. You are never too "experienced" to learn something new. The speakers were engaging and there were TONS of amazing giveaways. Which, let's be honest, who doesn't love free stuff? :) To me, the information was tailored towards expecting and mothers of infants/toddlers. Perhaps as this event grows having workshops or information for older children (preschool, homeschooling, peaceful parenting/discipline etc) would be a great addition. Also, I left B with Polish Prince for the day, but noticed plenty of little ones roaming around. The play area was a bit small, so I think having little play areas in each of the presentation rooms would be nice so the babies could stay entertained/safe while the parents paid attention to the speaker. Oh, as I type that, these play areas could be "supervised" by local nannies or daycare providers that are open to natural parenting methods (babywearing and cloth diapering etc). Just a thought!

When it comes down to it, if I had the opportunity to go again, I definitely would. If I had the opportunity to go to a "full" event versus a "mini" I would jump. I would love to see the differences between the two. It's a great way to get exposed to what other options are out there for parents and an easy way to gather resources for current and future pregnancies.

Kinderstuff Review and Giveaway!

I've been taking a break on product reviews/giveaways lately to be able to focus a bit on my new business, plan for the Great Cloth Diaper Change, and spend time with my family. But, when I was approached by this company about reviewing their product, I couldn't resist. It was such a great concept that I had to spread the word. 

The company is KinderStuff. It's a kids clothing line with products made of only organic cotton and non-toxic materials. According to their website they:

 "decided to produce KinderStuff to the highest standard in German and American factories and use only the best organic cotton and non-toxic materials. This is how we make sure that everything we produce is 100% sustainable." 

Photo Courtesy of Facebook

Wow, sounds expensive right? Wrong! They deal direct to consumer only and have limited designs and quantities to prevent overproduction and excessive inventories. By eliminating the middleman and bringing the product right to you. You end up saving the money! Nothing on their website is over $23.00.  They only carry sizes up to 24 months at this time, but are planning on expanding their sizes and designs over the next six months. I can't wait to see what else this company comes up with!

So what do you do with these awesome clothes once your child outgrows them? Take them to a consignment shop, sell them at a rummage sale for $1? Nope! You contact KinderStuff, they provide free return shipping of your worn items, and in turn give you a discount towards your next purchase of sustainable clothing! Yes, your used, worn clothes are completely returnable for a future discount. Those clothes are either donated to charity, re-sold as "hand-me downs" or recycled. Now, not only are you saving time and gas by not  having to drive from store to store to try and get "top-dollar" for your used clothes, you're also helping get quality clothing into the hands of others! 

Have I gotten you excited yet? Kinderstuff wanted me to truly test their product rather than just write about it, so I did. They graciously sent me an item of my choosing for B. I picked out this cute sneaker t-shirt called "Tippy Toe" in size 18-24 months. Now, knowing B is a bit small for his age of 18 months, but I figured this shirt would shrink a bit in the wash, so I went with the larger size rather than the 12-18 months. 

Here's what I received in the mail: 

I was immediately blown away by the softness of the fabric and the vibrancy of the colors. I, oddly, couldn't wait to wash it convinced it would fade a bit or get roughed up since we don't use fabric softener. 

We're working on smiling :)

When I took it out of the wash, it looked identical to when it went in! The colors didn't change, the shirt didn't shrink, and the fabric was still super soft! I was impressed! Because B is thinner for his age I have no doubt this shirt will last through the summer and then some! I'm tempted to send it back at the end of B's use to try out their other clothes, but part of me wants to hold on to it for the next baby too! I can't wait to try out their bodysuits for the little one on the way. How cute would they be with a fluffy bum underneath and some baby legwarmers? Something this soft definitely needs to be next to a baby's skin!

 
Now, who's ready for some clothes for their little ones? KinderStuff has generously agreed to sponsor a giveaway where the winner gets to pick a product of their choice! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below and cross those fingers!If you want to increase your chances of getting your hands on one of these beauties, you can purchase them here. AND because KinderStuff is awesome, they're giving you two ways to save! Take 15% off your first purchase by using the promo code "GO-TEDDY324" AND take $5 by using code "GO-TEDDY328"

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**Disclosure: Thank you to KinderStuff for providing the review item. The opinions stated are my own and may differ from yours. No other compensation was received**

Great Cloth Diaper Change 2013

It's that time of year again! The Great Cloth Diaper Change is approaching! What is this? It's a Guinness World Record attempt to change the most cloth diapers at the same time. The event happens at 11:00 am local time and is a great way to meet other families in the area, be a part of history, and score some pretty sweet prizes!  

Since Phoenix is such a large area, there are multiple events going on. I'll be participating and co-hosting the event in Chandler, but there are also events in Scottsdale, Tempe, and Central Phoenix. Below is a list of all of the event sign-ups. Obviously, I'd love to have you in Chandler so I can meet you, but any event is an opportunity to be a part of the record and raise awareness around cloth diapering-which is the most important part after all! 

Those of you not in AZ, please check out the Great Cloth Diaper Change website to find a location near to you participate. Can't wait to see the numbers this year!

GCDC Locations in Arizona: 

Chandler, AZ hosted by Zoolikins with Bump to Rump
Scottsdale, AZ hosted by Zoolikins
Tempe, AZ hosted by GoGo Natural
Phoenix, AZ hosted at Midwives Rising
Phoenix, AZ hosted by Babymoon Inn
Tucson, AZ hosted by Green Baby Elephant and Rockn Babies
Yuma, AZ hosted by Baby Bump & Beyond

Please feel free to comment below with any other events that you know of or where you plan to attend! 

**If you're a family-friendly business that would like to donate prizes for any event, please feel free to contact me at bumptorump@gmail.com**

**If you'd like to volunteer to assist with the Chandler or Scottsdale events, please click here**

MommyCon Mini Phoenix Ticket Giveaway!

I'm so excited to share this latest giveaway with you! MommyCon is coming to Phoenix! There is a MommyCon Mini conference coming to the Mesa Convention Center on April 14, 2013. They've partnered with Krazy for Kloth to offer a FREE ticket to one lucky reader! 

Photo courtesy of MommyCon

Here's what you can expect at the conference:

"MommyCon brings the best in parenting tips, tricks and resources directly to the parent. A full day of mingling, learning and shopping is planned within the convention center. Attendees will not only have the chance to meet other forward thinking parents, but attend seminars and workshops from industry leaders, test out top notch baby and childhood gear and enjoy time with other moms, mothers-to-be and yes, even fathers.

Photo courtesy of MommyCon

MommyCon will feature over a dozen seminars and presentations including; birthing options with midwives and doctors, learn proper baby wearing with instructor Alyssa Ruben, cloth diapering for the modern family, certified lactation consultants will be on hand, as well as panel discussions with birthing professionals, pediatricians and other health care experts. A hands on workshop area will allow babies and moms to engage in infant massage alongside Amber Puzzi, LMT.

The schedule includes:

Yoga – Mom and Baby

Infant Massage Workshop

Introduction to Babywearing & Wrapping

Birth Panel Discussion

Car Seat Safety & The Best Seat for Your Family

Mothering Through Breastfeeding

Cloth Diapering 2.0

And much much more!

Kids of all ages are welcome to attend, and topics will predominately focus on the first three years."

So now that the giveaway is over, if you still need to purchase your tickets, you can purchase your ticket here, and use the code "krazy4mc". This will give you $5 off your ticket price! :) Just make sure to enter the above code in the promo code area.

I look forwards to seeing you at the show! And don't worry, after the show I will do a full write-up of my experience so all you non-local readers can know what to expect when MommyCon comes to your city! :)

Photo courtesy of MommyCon

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