Earth Mama Nipple Butter

Thanks to Delilah nursing like a newborn again due to being under the weather, I had to bust out my jar of Earth Mama Nipple Butter for the first time in...gosh, probably a year! In light of that fact, today's Featured Item is Earth Mama Nipple Butter!

When Delilah was born, the hospital sent me home with oodles of samples of lanolin. While I know that animals are not killed for lanolin, I still wasn't crazy about it being an animal based product. I went ahead and gave it try, and found it to be a bit sticky. Having to wipe it off prior to nursing Delilah was a pain (literally and figuratively). Even the softest cloth feels rough against sore, tender nipples that are new to nursing, and the frequency at which a newborn eats meant I was wiping off and reapplying sometimes two or three times within an hour. I was also sad to find that it effectively ruined my nursing tanks, leaving tell-tale and conspicuous grease spots that wouldn't wash out.

Delilah Nursing at 3 months

Photo by Nicole Aarstad

Enter Earth Mama Nipple Butter. First of all, it is certified vegan and contains no toxic ingredients or parabens. Do you know that that means? It means you don't have to wipe it off before nursing, since it is safe for both mamas and babies. Second, it is not sticky or greasy at all. It's just the right consistency (not too thick, not to thin) and glides on smoothly. It is extremely easy to apply and if it gets onto your clothes, it washes out easily. Most importantly, it works! I've been lucky enough to miss out on the joy of cracked nipples, but based on reviews, it works beautifully for cracks, too. What I can vouch for is its effectiveness at moisturizing and soothing sore, dry, tender nipples.

A little goes a long way, which explains why I still had half a jar sitting in my medicine cabinet after nearly 16 months of nursing. Knowing that it doesn't contain traditional (potentially harmful) preservatives, I wasn't sure what I'd find when I twisted that lid off, but was pleased to find that it looks as good and works as well as the day I bought it.

--This is an un-solicited review for which I received no compensation. 

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own. Your results may vary.   

If you like this blog, and haven't done so lately, please vote for 'Dear Delilah, Fine and Fair' on Babble's Top 50 Mom Blogs. I'm currently at # 46. Thanks for your support!

Planet Detergent

As I mentioned in my Cloth Diaper Laundry post, we use Planet Detergent not just for diapers, but for all of our laundry. Our hard water can make getting our clothes truly clean a bit of a challenge,

and Planet has proven itself up to the task. Our clothes come out clean and with no film or residue with about a quarter of the amount of detergent we used prior to

switching to Planet, which means that the pack of four 100 oz bottles we buy from Amazon lasts for months. I haven't kept track, but I estimate that one 100 oz bottle lasts close to 2 months. To put that time frame in context, we usually do about 10 loads of laundry per week.

What I like best about Planet Detergent is that it's gentle. I'm not just talking about gentle on out clothes, which it is, but the lack of dyes, perfumes, harsh chemicals, and allergens means it's gentle on us, too. Delilah has sensitive skin that is prone to eczema outbreaks, so that gentleness is important! The fact that it is biodegradable, free of petrochemicals, and not tested on animals means it is gentle on the planet, too.

You may be lucky enough to find Planet Detergent in stores near you, but since I am not so lucky, I buy it through Amazon. I buy 4 at a time with free shipping, and when I do figure out how often I run out, I will sign up for the subscription option which saves an additional 15% off.

Whether or not you use cloth diapers, I recommend Planet detergent to anyone who is looking for a gentle, effective, eco-friendly laundry solution!

--This is an un-solicited review for which I received no compensation. 

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own. Your results may vary.

If you like this blog, and haven't done so lately, please vote for 'Dear Delilah, Fine and Fair' on Babble's Top 50 Mom Blogs. Thanks for your support!

LuSa Baby Wipe Juice

When we made the choice to use cloth diapers, we decided that it made the best sense for us to use cloth wipes as well. It took us a year of trying different recipes and products for our wipes solution before we tried Baby Wipe Juice from LuSa Organics.

I'd seen the pretty blue bottles at the local cloth diapering store, and even picked them up a few times to look them over. I had tried and loved LuSa's Booty Balm, so I knew I could trust the product to be safe and effective. On top of that, I love supporting local businesses, and LuSa is based about 30 miles from where I live. Still, I didn't think I could justify shelling out $13 for that little blue bottle when my only issue with the water/apple cider vinegar/tea-tree oil combination we'd been using was the smell.

When we received a gift card to the local cloth diapering store for Delilah's birthday, a bottle of Baby Wipe Juice was among the goodies we splurged on. Thank goodness for that gift card, because Baby Wipe Juice quickly made it to the top of my list of must-have items for cloth diapering.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the bottle was the heavenly scent. Sure, anything would smell better than vinegar and tea tree oil, but there was no chemical or soapy smell what-so-ever. It just smelled nice and fresh; a bit earthy. There's a trace of lavender and just a faint hint of patchouli in the scent; so don't worry, your baby won't smell like a hippie. Not that I have any objection to babies smelling like hippies, I'm rather a fan. ;)

The directions call for mixing 1-3 teaspoons with a cup of water. I use less than a teaspoon with about 3/4 cup of water with great results. Using that formula nets us 4-5 days worth of wipes. Baby Wipe Juice is extremely gentle. Delilah has very sensitive skin and is prone to eczema outbreaks and diaper rashes, and she has not had a single diaper rash or hint of skin irritation since we started using it.

Remember that price tag I had hemmed and hawed about? We got that bottle in mid-November. Nearly three months later, it's nearing half empty. I never kept track, but I have no doubt that the amount of apple cider vinegar and tea-tree oil we were going through added up to much more than about $2 a month! The lack of rashes means we're saving on salves and creams for diaper rash, too!  

--This is an un-solicited review for which I received no compensation. 

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own. Your results may vary.

If you like this blog, and haven't done so lately, please vote for 'Dear Delilah, Fine and Fair' on Babble's Top 50 Mom Blogs. Thanks for your support!

Sarah's Stitches Wetbags

When I started to explore the world of cloth diapers, I heard all sorts of buzz about Sarah's Stitches wetbags. I didn't even know what a "wetbag" was (and if you're feeling clueless, stick around for next Wednesday's 'Cloth Diapering Basics' post!) but I knew that I needed one, and that it needed to be from Sarah's Stitches.

Wetbags are a must-have for cloth diapering parents, and I'm confident in my assertion that Sarah's Stitches are the best of the best. Wetbags are waterproof bags used to store soiled cloth diapers until it's time to wash them. They also have versatility beyond cloth diapering. Take them to beach or throw one in your suitcase to store your wet swimming suits in. Use cloth menstrual pads? Keep a mama cloth wetbag in your purse for handling changes with ease. I use one in my bathroom for my foray into replacing toilet paper with cloth! Sarah's Stitches even makes snack-sized wetbags for a green alternative to zip-lock bags for portable treats!

Sarah's Stitches makes high-quality and affordable wetbags in an endless variety of sizes, colors, and prints and offers some of the most outstanding customer service I've ever received. Before Delilah was born, she worked with me to make sure the colors I selected would match our nursery. She keeps in constant communication about the status and shipment of each order. We use her Medium wetbags in the diaper bag, and find that they easily hold 4-5 soiled pocket diapers and wipes. Her wipes bags keep our pre-moistened cloth wipes at the ready when we're on the go. In the nursery, we rotate through our stash of XL and XXL wetbags, which can hold 2-3 days worth of diapers and wipes.

We do diaper laundry about every other day, and the wetbag goes into the wash with the diapers it was holding. I'm no math whiz, but I think that means that each wetbag has been washed at least 50 times. I recently contacted Sarah to inquire about repair prices. One of my XL bags had started to come apart on one of the seams, which I figured was normal wear and tear after over a year of heavy-duty use. I was amazed when Sarah responded that repairs are always free (even normal wear and tear from regular use!) and that all I'd have to pay would be the shipping to send it to her. (She even pays to ship it back!)

Sarah is also extremely generous, almost to a fault. She regularly donates to Miracle Diapers. If you can't afford something that you need from her store, she will do her best to work with you to make an affordable option. On top of that, when I told her I'd be featuring her wetbags on Fine and Fair, she not only offered to share a discount code, she offered to give away a wetbag!

That's right! You can try out Sarah's Stitches wetbags with a 10% Discount by entering the code LJE at checkout. Additionally:

One lucky Fine and Fair reader will win one Small or Medium wetbag of their choice from Sarah's "Buy Now" in-stock selection!

Enter to Win

Up to 5 Entries per person:

Leave a comment explaining how you'll use the wetbag if you win.

"Like" Sarah's Stitches on Facebook.

Share this post on Facebook (comment with link).

Tweet this post (comment with link).

Link to this post in your own blog (comment with link).

Fine Print:

Leave a separate comment to this post for each entry! 

Be sure to include your e-mail address in your comments so I can easily contact you if you win.

Giveaway is open to US residents only.

Contest is open until Midnight CST on 2/12/11.

Winner will be selected by random.org.

Winner will be announced on 2/13/11 and will be contacted by e-mail.

Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a runner-up will be chosen at random.

Have fun, and good luck!

Giveaway is now closed, thank you! The winner is:

 Congratulations Heather M! Check your e-mail to claim your prize! :)

--This is an un-solicited review for which I received no compensation. 

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own. Your results may vary.

If you like this blog, and haven't done so lately, please vote for 'Dear Delilah, Fine and Fair' on Babble's Top 50 Mom Blogs. Thanks for your support!

Knickernappies One-Size Diaper

Knickernappies One Size diapers are our absolute favorite diaper. They are our workhorse diapers. We use them for everything: at home, out and about, at daycare, with sitters, overnight. Everything.

Delilah was a tiny little baby. (She still is!) She was born at 6 pounds and even when she hit 8 pounds (the lower end of the weight range for most one-size diapers) the FuzziBunz One Size diapers we'd bought while I was pregnant weren't working for us. It was nearly impossible to get a good fit on her long, lean body, so we went on the search for a new one-size pocket diaper to replace the huge stash of FuzziBunz we'd bought.

We wanted One Size diapers because we felt they would be more economical in the long run. I had heard that side-snapping diapers were trimmer, and that they were usually a better fit for lean babies.

When I stumbled on Knickernappies on Simple Wonders Diapers, they seemed to fit the bill. They were the only one-size pocket diaper I've come across with side snaps. They're made in the US. They offer an option of micro-fiber or LoopyDo inserts. (LoopyDo inserts are an extremely absorbent micro-fiber/hemp combo insert that I highly recommend. We stuff with two LoopyDo inserts for a bullet-proof night-time solution!) They come in a rainbow of colors that I prefer to a lot of the too-bright or too-pastel for my tastes shades that many cloth diapers come in. I ordered a few to try and crossed my fingers.

When they arrived, it was time for the true test. Would they fit? Fully unsnapped, these diapers are enormous. With a weight range of 8-40 pounds, these diapers on their largest settings are quite likely the largest one-size you can get. Most one-size diapers top out at 35 pounds, and the rise is nowhere near as high as on the Knickernappies. (I've tried FuzziBunz, BumGenius, and Tweedlebugs personally.)

I was skeptical that a diaper so large would fit my little peanut, but lo an behold, they fit! Snapped down to the smallest rise, and at the tightest waist and hip snap settings, they fit my long lean baby like a dream. No leaks, no saggy wings, no falling down or off, they just fit. Nearly a year later, they still just fit, and are still in incredible shape for as much use as they've gotten.

Here is Delilah in a Knickernappies One Size diaper at 3 months, 5 months, and 14 months old:

At 14 months old, she's only on the second rise setting, with two settings (one more snap setting and then fully un-snapped) left to go. Even on her long torso, the second rise setting is still plenty high for her, so I'm confident the rise of these diapers will outlast her need for them. Rumor has it that with the side-snapping design, these also work well as trainers by removing the insert and fastening them just a tad less snug so that they can be pulled up and down like underpants. When we get to that stage, I'll report back on that!

These diapers generally retail for $18.95 each with micro-fiber inserts or $24.95 each with LoopyDo inserts. While this is on the high end of the price range for one-size pocket diapers, they are well worth it, and in my experience, out-perform any other pocket diaper I've tried. When I built my stash, I shopped around, and the package prices that Simple Wonders Diapers offers on Knickernappies are the best value I could find. Trust me, you will want more than one of these high-quality, high-performance, gorgeous, trim, versatile diapers! Simple Wonders also offers a guarantee; you can try one out and return it for a full refund if you don't love it.

Finally, The Winner of the Knickernappies One Size Diaper Giveaway from Simple Wonders is:

Comment # 138: newmama2010

Congratulations! I've e-mailed you for your information and preference on color and insert. Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway!

--This is an un-solicited review for which I received no compensation. 

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own. Your results may vary.

If you like this blog, and haven't done so lately, please vote for 'Dear Delilah, Fine and Fair' on Babble's Top 50 Mom Blogs. I'm currently at # 43. Thanks for your support!

Euro-Pro Shark Steam Mop

Okay, so when I joked the other day about how much I hate mopping, it occurred to me that I think I've only actually truly mopped my kitchen and bathroom floors a handful of times since Delilah was born.

Let's be honest here. That's...disgusting.

I sweep and dry Swiffer pretty regularly, and I spot clean with a rag when I'm aware of a spill, but my kitchen floor, especially the area right around Delilah's high chair, was pretty yucked up with dried/crusted food and what-not that our dog and cats had turned their noses up at.

My sister and I (and Delilah) went over to my mom's house the day after I made that post to take down and put away all of her holiday decorations and help her clean up the house after all of the chaos of the holidays and my sister's wedding. When I was putting something away in her pantry, I noticed she had a Shark Steam Mop and asked if I could borrow steal it. Maybe it's not technically "stealing" since I asked, but I'm definitely not giving it back!

After thoroughly sweeping, vacuuming, and swiffering the floor, this is what the worst section of it looked like:

I know. Ew. You don't have to call CPS though, because now it looks like this:

Now, that 'After' picture wasn't ALL the steam mop's doing, there was some good old fashioned elbow grease at work. Prior to using the steam mop, I did some scrubbing on hands and knees, because when I say that food was crusted onto the floor, I'm not kidding. I'm surprised I didn't need a chisel to pry some of that gunk off.

Now that I've got a clean slate to start with, I think the steam mop will be enough to keep it clean if I make sure to sweep/swiffer once a day and run over the floor with the steam mop once a week (or more if there are spills). For maintenance cleaning, I can't see the whole process, including getting it out, filling the water reservoir, and putting it away taking more than 5 minutes.

I'm totally stoked that it works so well, because it's a relatively green way to mop. It does require electricity, but there are no chemicals. It uses just water to make the steam, and I was shocked by how little water it requires. The water reservoir isn't very big, and going over (and over and over) my (admittedly small) kitchen floor only uses up half of it. It uses far less water than traditional mopping. 

The mopping pads are washable and re-usable, cutting down on waste and eliminating the need to purchase refills all the time as with products like Swiffer. Toss them in a hot wash (or hand wash them if you prefer) and they're as good as new! The pads are made from three layers of microfiber, so they're absorbent and durable, and by the time I get to the far side of the room, the side I started on is dry!

The steam mop was much easier on my back than the old-fashioned kind, because there is no constant bending over to ring it out. It's also awesome that it doesn't leave the dingy film behind like when I use a regular mop and bucket, because inevitably, after two swipes of the mop, I'm just sloshing dirty water around on my floor.

The only improvement I'd suggest would be a longer cord. I have a small house with small rooms, so it's not a problem for me, but the cord probably wouldn't be long enough to easily use in bigger homes or rooms without requiring either an extension cord or moving to another outlet part-way through the task.

Now I'm convinced I need the Shark Steam Cleaner to use in my bathroom, kitchen, and every nook and cranny I can find. Do any of you have one? Is it amazing?

--This is an un-solicited review for which I received no compensation. 

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own. Your results may vary.

If you like this blog, and haven't done so lately, please vote for 'Dear Delilah, Fine and Fair' on Babble's Top 50 Mom Blogs. I'm currently at # 43. Thanks for your support!