Best Green Gifts for Babies

With Christmas right around the corner, here are the best green gifts for babies. Gifts that are eco-friendly and safe for the planet are the best presents for babies since they’re absolutely pure, safe and in fact, good for baby too. So, go ahead and note these gift ideas down since they’re not only good Christmas but also for birthdays and other special occasions through the year:

Cloth Diapers Make the Best Green Gift for Babies

Yes, right at the top of our list are cloth diapers. While bumGenius, Flip and Econobum are all great gift ideas simply because they’re cloth and are safe and comfy for babies, if you really want all organic, you can choose bumGenius Elemental and pair it with Hemp Babies Doublers and you have the best green and eco-friendly gift for your bundle of joy.

Eco-Friendly Wooden Toys are Great Green Gifts

You don’t want your little darling to be playing with toys that are filled with lead or dubious quality paint, right? So, choose safe and organic wooden toys such as those from Plan Toys or Melissa and Doug. Wooden toys are great for another reason – durability. No matter how much your baby bangs and throws them around, you can be sure they wouldn’t chip or break or worse, hurt your little one.

Organic Clothes are Safe and Good Green Gift Ideas

Finally, if you want only the softest and purest clothes next to baby’s sensitive skin, make sure you choose organic. Organic cotton is free of all pesticides and is softer than regular cotton. Bamboo is another wonderful option when choosing organic clothing. Not only are organic clothes softer and gentler for babies, they are also safer since they don’t give off any toxic fumes. Choosing organic gifts for babies may seem a tad more expensive but when you actually do the math, they turn out to be a lot cheaper. Greater comfort, increased safety and a happier baby. What more does a parent want? So, go ahead, choose green gifts for all the babies on your list this holiday season and spread happiness and safety all around.

Go Green!

Going ‘green’ is a matter of personal choice, and that choice can impact the world. All of us intend to leave legacies for our children, of the material kind but what about the environment they live in?


 Preservation of a healthy, happy atmosphere in the lives of our children is as important as leaving homes and possessions for them. 


Every small step you take to go green at home and at work, helps preserve the universe your kids will grow in!

Hard Facts about Disposable Diapers:

-          200,000 trees each year are lost to the manufacture of disposable diapers for babies in the U.S. alone.

-          It takes 3.4 billion gallons of fuel oil every year to make diapers.

-          Disposable diapers take about 500 years to decompose.

-          Decomposing diapers release methane into the air. High concentrations of the gas can be explosive and flammable. Methane is also dangerous to breathe in because it replaces oxygen.

-          Disposable diapers often contain dyes and dioxin, which is formed as a by-product of the chlorine bleaching process.

Yes your most basic requirement as a parent is causing this kind of damage to the same world your children will become parents in!

Go Green at Home

-          Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out. CFL’s last longer, consume less electricity and don’t create any heat.

-          Wash vegetables in a bucket of water, use the waste water to water your home plants.

-          Pack lunches and sandwiches in baking sheets of butter paper instead of plastic wrap.

-          Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently.

-          Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible; they contribute considerably to hazardous waste.

Choose Cloth Diapers to Go Green 

-          Cloth diapers are reusable

-          Cloth diapers are made with natural materials

-          Cloth diapers do not contain chemicals and derivatives

-          Cloth diapers are bio-degradable

-          Quality cotton diapers will hold up for hundreds of washes, and can be saved for the next child.

-          Although energy is required for washing the diapers, it is a fraction of the energy used for disposables.

-          Cloth diapers are also recyclable, making excellent cotton rags once they are not needed as diapers.

It is all about that one informed choice!

It’s Elemental My Dear Mommy!

If it is organic, natural options that you are looking for on your baby’s bottom, then the bumGenius Elemental One Size Diaper is exactly what you need!! The award winning one-size bumGenius design with luxuriously soft, 100% organic cotton inside, gives your baby the natural comfort of dry bums and the freedom to just ‘be’! The bumGenius Organic One-Size Cloth Diapers offer a unique functionality with tabs that stretch for a perfect fit. So you don’t have to worry about tight, loose, sizes... nothing! These incredible stretchy tabs combined with snap fasteners making cloth diapering easy for you and very comfortable for your baby. The organic cotton soaker is super soft and highly absorbent, which makes for added peace and comfort for both baby and mommy, during the day and especially at night!

The new bumGenius Elemental "no-stuff" system available only in the bumGenius Organic One-Size Cloth Diaper is an ideal solution for families with a child in day-care or a busy mommy! It really is as easy to use as a disposable diaper. Using the snaps on the front of the diaper you can easily adjust the size if you need to, put the diaper on your baby, when baby is done, wash, dry and re-use. It is truly that easy and the best part is that is not only good for your baby, it is good for the environment they are going to inherit as well. With a diaper like the Elemental, there are no extra steps, there is no for extra stuffing and there is cover required. So you are done in one go, simple, easy, extremely comfy!

The idea behind the design of the bumGenius one size diapers is that they fit most babies from 8-35+ pounds (or 3-16 kgs), which means there is less shopping, less clutter, less material for you to manage on a daily/monthly basis.  You don’t have to sort diapers by size or carry multiple diapers when you travel or have a day out, you just need your pack of bumGenius Elementals.  What makes these one-size-fits-all is the unique three snap-downs on the front of the diaper which allow you to easily adjust the size between small, medium, and large as your baby grows.  These are diapers, you can keep for next baby too, and the utility is obvious! 

Unique features of the bumGenius Elemental Diaper:

• An absorbent layer integrated into the waterproof outer layer.

• One step cloth diaper - no add-ons.

• Snap closures to ensure a trim, bumGenius fit.

•Ultra-absorbent, certified organic cotton inner.

• Soft leg elastic contains the mess!

Winter Preparation Tips for Moms of New Babies

Winter is a time we worry most about babies, whether they are warm enough or are they too warm? Have they had enough fluids and have they been filling up only on bready starchy foods too? And one of the biggest concerns when you wake at 3 am with a slightly cranking baby and wonder “How long has this little munchkin been wet?”! Though no one can make seasonal troubles go away or completely rid you of all your concerns, what we can do is give you some tips on how to prepare for winter when you have a small baby.

1.       Don’t over/under dress baby

 Ideally babies need two layers more than Moms and Dads but every baby is different, winter babies and babies from colder regions tend to need fewer layers than babies who experience winter seasonally. Layering is the best way to ensure comfort for baby. That way you can add or remove layers whether you are indoors or outdoors. Overdressing baby can lead to overheating and complication thereafter while under-dressing can expose baby to the cold and cause a drop in immunity. 

2.       Stock Up: 

stock up on innerwear for layering. Make sure you have an ample supply of thermal innerwear, stockings and leggings and other warmsies! The weather makes laundry take longer to dry and with food spillage, playtime and other messy moments, it is better to be prepared in time for the real cold.

3.       Kill Germs: 

Wash your hands often, despite the weather! Wash up after changing baby’s diaper, using the bathroom or handling dirty clothes and tissues, and wash well before holding or feeding your baby. It is advisable to keep a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer nearby or in handy areas. In this weather it is better to pay attention to the cleanliness of common household surfaces and toys as well, especially if other family members have been sick. You can use disinfectant to wipe door handles, phones and TV remotes. Clean baby toys in light soapy water and rinse well. 

4.       Pamper baby’s skin: 

Your baby’s skin is her first line of defense against disease. But winter air can be harsh on delicate baby skin, especially if your baby is already prone to eczema and other dryness conditions. Older babies may develop patches on their knees and elbows, even if they don’t scratch, from crawling across the floor. So be extra generous when applying lotion, oil or baby moisturizer. The best time to apply them is immediately after a bath, while the skin is still damp. 

5

.           Head outdoors: 

Moving away from old school thinking, mothers are now being encouraged to head outdoors as long as there are no icy/stormy conditions. The cool, moist air in winters is great to build the immunity of babies and it helps keep the breathing passage  clear and open, in fact is baby is suffering from the sniffles, cold air will give them immediate relief. So bundle up and head out for a day in the sun, which will also help your baby and you get adequate Vitamin D for the cold days ahead!

STAY DRY: 

And most important of all, keep baby DRY. Choose not only convenient but comfortable and compassionate products when it comes to baby’s ‘toilet’ needs. They need the comfort and freedom to move around and explore and they need to remain dry on the skin. This is a good season to explore SmartBaby cloth diapers. The feel and comfort of cloth is unmatchable of course but it is the super absorbency and unique design of SmartBaby cloth diapers that make them a popular choice with mothers. What you need in winter is a diaper that is re-usable (think of the environment for a second), comfortable, one size fits all (yes they are!!), are easy to clean and have stay dry comfort … bumGenius, FLIP and Econobum all do!

Flipping over FLIP: Learn About this All-in-One Diapering Solution

The Flip™ Diaper System is a flexible, hybrid cloth diapering system that provides options for every occasion. The one-size cover and three choices in absorbent inserts make diapering your baby less expensive, easy and perfect for where-ever, when-ever. 

What is FLIP

This system is fully supported with 100% reusable inserts, which is the real advantage. The One-Size Stay-Dry Insert is perfect for overnights or to keep little bums dry anytime. The 100% Organic Insert is perfect for families who prefer to live more ‘natural’. Whether you are at work, at home or travelling with your baby, the Flip system will be here for you with exactly what you need.

How is the FLIP Used 

A Flip diaper cover used with a Stay-Dry Insert is perfect for overnight & anytime use. Made of 3 ultra-absorbent layers of microfiber and a smooth stay-dry suede cloth that wicks moisture from your baby’s bum the Flip Stay-Dry Inserts work to keep your baby drier, longer. 

And because the insert fits into two flaps at each end of the diaper instead of stuffing inside like a pocket diaper, you can re-use the cover multiple times (which means… less laundry!). The stay-dry insert is a fabulous option when life demands something that will stay ‘dry, especially when you are travelling, at day care, and on-the-go times. 

FLIP Qualities 

They are easy to use, dye free, fragrance free and the only insert that is comfortable and dependable. Without a pocket to stuff, diaper changes are quicker with Flip; just tuck the insert or pre-fold of your choice under the front and back flaps and the diaper is ready to put on your baby! With fitted diapers, you just wrap the flip around it…easy as that!

The elastic wraps gently around Flip's thigh and back waist openings to prevent leaks from occurring. The patent-pending butterfly closure ensures a snug fit without bulk at the waist or reducing baby's mobility. You can also go ‘green’ by choosing the organic inserts, Flip™ Organic Inserts are very soft and ultra-absorbent. 

How to Use FLIP

Simply fold one way for the small setting and fold the other for a medium/large setting. Flip™ Organic Inserts are ideal for a heavy wetting baby overnight. What makes FLIP special is its basic and hugely functional construction. With FLIP baby enjoys comfort, mobility and the completely dry feeling too!

Why bumGenius may just be the ONE for your baby?

bumGenius was a product that came out of sheer necessity. 

The Story Behind the Best Cloth Diaper

Founder Jennifer Labit needed natural, comfortable and environmentally conscious solutions for her babies, something that the market didn’t offer and not many people were doing anything about. 


So she went ahead and designed and developed the perfect cloth diaper, all by herself!


 The original bumGenius were all about comfort and absorbency but with time and with the support of mommy’s all over the world, this wonder diaper went on to become the avatar it is today, the super cosy, super comfy, super absorbent, earth friendly cloth diaper that fits all sizes! Yes, you heard right, all sizes!

What Makes bumGenius Best for Babies

The beauty of bumGenius is not in its styling or the fact that it comes in a variety of colours, the true value lies in the fact that a pack will serve you well and serve you through infancy till potty training. 


We offer the bumGenius 4.0 one-size stay dry cloth diaper (this is a pocket diaper that comes with 2 microfiber inserts) and the bumGenius Elemental one-size cloth diaper (this is an all organic diaper that is an all in one piece). 


The simple yet functional design makes cloth diapering as easy as using disposables. The "no-stuff" system with semi-attached inserts is an ideal solution for families with a child in day-care or family members resistant to cloth diapers! By using the snaps on the front of the diaper, the size can be adjusted, all you do is put the diaper on your baby, wash, dry and re-use. No extra steps. No stuffing. No cover required.


 Our one-size diapers are designed to fit most babies weighing between 8 and 35 pounds. Now that’s a perfect solution! Especially if we throw in colours, there is never a dull moment for baby!

bumGenius are made with a soft, waterproof outer fabric keeps the diaper trim on your newborn and toddler. The waterproof material stays on the outside to hold the moisture but it does not touch the baby’s skin at all. 


The soft, suede inner fabric gently wicks moisture away from your baby's skin and into the inserts. These diapers are also super stretchy with a gentle leg and back elastic that have rolled out casings which keep the ‘waste’ in and help to keep moisture, rashes and ickiness away from baby!

This is also an environmentally friendly decision on your part, by using cloth diapers, you are reducing the stress on ecology considerably. That’s the bonus with cloth diapers, you end up doing a good deed, for baby and the planet! 50 million disposable diapers enter landfills each day, where they sit for 500 years. 


And that’s just the beginning. You don’t need to be a part of the problem, you can be a part of the solution, call SmartBaby now for more information!

Diapering Wash Care Made Easy: How to Clean Your Cloth Diapers

We are asked more about wash care than about the advantages of cloth diapering. Probably because over time Moms have realized that natural is definitely a better choice for their baby, the budget and of course our planet.


 Making that one change has caused a ripple effect that these mommies can give themselves credit for! Good job ladies!
 


Managing cloth diapers can be as easy as you want it to be. Powered with information, you can make this decision or transition easier on yourself; baby will love the change anyway!

Washing Cloth Diapers

 Wash care for cloth diapers is not as tedious or complicated as it may seem, it’s easier than managing regular fabric diapers we are all persuaded to stock. If you have good water in your area and you can control the temperature you have half your job done. 


There are lots of great detergents that will keep your diapers clean and fresh with minimal build-up, not all easily available locally yet it is easy to miss chemicals, additives on the labels and still end up introducing agents you may want to avoid when it comes to baby-wear. 


Most detergents contain some levels of 6 offending agents: enzymes, brighteners, dyes, fragrances and softeners. And there are few and far between that don’t!

How to Wash Cloth Diapers

 Well, depending on the habits of the babies using them - it may or may not be important to do an initial cold rinse. If your child is a big pooper, you might want to, if not you can probably skip it – it’s totally up to you.


 To keep your diapers build-up free as much as possible is to make sure you do your main wash in very hot water, some people prefer to do a double wash, with no soap the second time around, it totally depends on you.

Best Way to Wash A Cloth Diaper

-          Wash a full cold wash/cold rinse cycle with recommended amount of detergent.

-          Wash a full hot wash/cold rinse cycle with recommended amount of detergent.

-          Run a second cold rinse cycle.           

More Cloth Diaper Wash Care Tips

Here are a few more tips that will help keep your cloth diapers stink free and fresh –

1. Wipe out the inside of both the washer and the dryer with a 50/50 bleach/water solution.

2. Wash twice in a row on hot - the first with detergent and the second with a quarter cup of bleach only to help rinse out any remaining detergent.

3. Strip once a month and do 3-4 hot washes in a row using no detergent.

It may take several months to decide on a detergent that is going to work for your cloth diapers, water type and family preference. Softeners are the biggest culprits when it comes to absorbency issues and once the softener gets in the diapers it’s a big pain to get them out! If you can, it is better to dry your diapers outdoors on sunny days - it helps them to last longer as well as look cleaner and newer due to the natural bleaching effect of the sun.

If you are a bumGenius fan then we have an FAQS section that can help you keep those babies clean.. here it is for a quick review!

# 1: How do I wash my new diapers?

If the diaper has hook & loop closures, secure the laundry tabs.
- Pre-wash cold to remove waste and fight stains.
- Wash hot (100F/40C) with bumGenius detergent to cleanse your diapers.
- Follow with a second rinse.
- Line-dry covers and diaper shells. Tumble dry inserts, fitteds and prefolds.

# 2: Do you have any other washing tips?

- Wash dirty diapers every other day.
- If your diapers still stink, wash again.
- Remove solid waste before storing in pail. (A bumGenius diaper sprayer is wonderful!
- Use only detergent and water. Do not use other additives like vinegar or baking soda.
- Once per month, use up to 1/4 cup bleach in the hot wash cycle (step 3) to sanitize diapers and fight odours.
- To remove stains, lay clean, wet diapers in the sun.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To preserve your hook and loop closures, we suggest washing bumGenius products separately from heavy cotton or hemp diapers (like prefolds or cotton fitteds).

#3: What detergent can I use?

Ingredients in certain detergents may ruin your cloth diapers or cause your baby to have a diaper rash. When washing cloth diapers, always use a detergent free of perfumes, dyes, whiteners, brighteners, softeners, enzymes, or other fabric enhancers. Using too much detergent may cause cloth diapers to leak. When using detergents not made for cloth diapers, use 1/2 the amount of detergent suggested by the detergent manufacturer for a load of 18-24 diapers. We recommend bumGenius™ Detergent. A list of alternative detergents can be found at www.cottonbabies.com/clothdiaperdetergents.pdf Free shipping is available on cloth diaper safe detergents here.

# 4: What should I avoid?

- Do not use extra additives in your wash (like baking soda or vinegar). These ingredients are unnecessary and will cause problems in your diapers.
- Do not use fabric softeners.
- Do not boil your diapers.
- Do not use rash creams without a barrier between your baby's bottom and the diaper.
- If your cloth diapers are made with hook and loop closures, do not wash them with natural fibers. Natural fibers produce lint that will build up in the diaper's closures. This will shorten the lifespan of your closures.

# 5: Should I prewash?

First of all, make sure that you washed everything at least once before using. There can be residue left on the fabric from the production process that can cause leakage. If you have organic or hemp diapers, they must be prewashed in hot water with a small amount of detergent 3-5 times before they become absorbent. They reach their full absorbency after 10 washes.

# 6: I think my diapers have detergent build-up. What should I do?

Wash once in hot water with one teaspoon (for high efficiency machines) to one tablespoon (for regular washing machines) with original liquid Dawn (blue formula) and up to 1/2 cup bleach in the wash cycle. Do two additional hot water washes with no detergent to completely rinse the diapers clean. If you still see suds, keep rinsing until the diapers are rinsed clean.

Colour me Comfy: Coloured Cloth Diapers to Brighten Up Baby's Wardrobe

It’s not always complexion that determines what colours suit us and the same applies to babies as well. 


Babies are lucky enough to have a big cuteness factor which allows them to look lovely in whatever they wear yet every parent and even baby has a preference. 


Gone are the days of blues for boys and pinks for girls, it’s all about hues, patterns and prints and babies are having a lot of fun in what they wear now. 


While it is true that young infants don't distinguish colours as well as older ones but by two months of age, most babies can tell the difference between most colours and white. But the question is do they prefer particular colours?

Studies show that babies can see colours at birth though often they will have trouble distinguishing similar tones. For this reason many babies prefer to look at black and white patterns or objects with similarly highly contrasting motifs in the early days. 


The ability to distinguish colours develops rapidly, and as early as 3-4 months old some babies begin to show a preference for certain colours. In the beginning a baby’s brain works hard to learn and tell colours apart. 


So it’s important for parents to notice a baby’s particular fondness for a colour and present them with an opportunity to make self decisions this early in life. Have fun and let baby experiment, lay out an array of coloured toys (for smaller infants, just 2 will do) and note if baby gravitates to similar tones again and again!

Once you are aware of your babies colour preferences it is easier to give them opportunities to pacify themselves with colours they enjoy and have developed a fondness and familiarity with. What a wonderful way to watch your baby become a complete and thinking person?! 


Patterns come in a bit later though it’s never too early to pick a theme for baby’s nursery and watch how they relate to objects and designs, yet you will always see your baby notice colour, first! It is these interesting developments that make parenting so enriching as an experience. 


Now when you step into baby stores you are overwhelmed with styles, colours, comfort and more, so why not extend the same to diapering ...it’s time to see that cute little ‘bum’ crawling across the hallway jazzed up with some colour!


 What do you think?

Simple Smart Reasons to Cloth Diaper

• It is better for the Environment 
• You save money with each diaper change.  You can expect to spend over 50,000 INR or more on disposables diapers by the time your baby is out of them. 
•  A baby can be sensitive to the materials used in disposable diapers.
• Disposable diapers are not readily biodegradable. The Real Diaper Association says that disposable diapers may take from 250 to 500 years to complete decomposition.  
• Cloth diapers are softer for baby’s skin.
• Cloth diapers are free from chemicals often contained in disposable diapers. 
• Cloth diapers are more healthy.