RLR Laundry Treatment Giveaway!

In the Diaper Laundry post in my cloth diapering series, I mentioned that I occasionally "strip" my diapers with RLR Laundry Treatment. To quote myself:

The product that I've fallen in love with for stripping diapers is RLR. When I strip my diapers, I start out with clean diapers and do a hot wash load with just RLR. Then I do a million rinses, marveling at the amount of suds that are coming out. (Thanks hard water!) I know it's time to strip when the diapers start smelling more strongly after they're peed in, and RLR always solves it!

To kick off Fine and Fair Favorites, I'm giving away 3 packets (3 winners will each receive one packet) of RLR Laundry Treatment!

Image Source: Simple Wonders Diapers

Enter to Win

Mandatory Entry

 Follow Fine and Fair Favorites via Google Friend Connect (Click 'Follow' in the upper left corner of this page)

Bonus Entries

Like Fine and Fair on Facebook

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Tweet this entry (comment with link)

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Link to this Giveaway in your blog (comment with link)
Comment, letting me know what types of products you'd like to see reviewed

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 and Canadian residents only.

Contest is open until Midnight CST on 4/1/11.

Winner will be selected by random.org.

Winners will be announced on 4/1/11 and will be contacted by e-mail. 

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

*****

This Giveaway is not sponsored, nor was the review of this product solicited.

The Vaccine Book

In my spare time (ha!) I volunteer as an administrator on the Natural Parents Network's Facebook Page. Lately, to vaccinate or not to vaccinate has been a hot discussion topic over there. Making an informed decision on whether to vaccinate, which vaccines to give, and when to give them can be a challenge, given the amount of information available that is biased one way or the other.

The single resource that helped the most in determining Delilah's vaccination schedule (we vaccinate selectively and on an alternative schedule) was The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears. The Vaccine Book gives detailed information on the risks and benefits associated with each vaccine on the current CDC child immunization schedule. It includes information on the diseases and viruses that vaccines are meant to protect against, including their prevalence and severity, and also discusses how vaccines are made and tested, how they function, and explains the potential side effects associated with ingredients commonly found in vaccines.

In addition to the comprehensive information provided, Dr. Sears's writing style makes this book stand out. He provides the facts in an un-biased manner, explaining medical terms to ensure that the information is clear and easy to understand. He withholds judgement on whether or not to vaccinate, seeking instead to provide all of the information so that parents can make educated and informed decisions about what is best for their children. He offers several suggestions for alternative, delayed, and selective vaccination schedules, including rationale for his suggestions. He weighs the risks and benefits of each vaccine against the severity and prevalence of the disease it is meant to guard against.

Whether you are pro-vaccine, anti-vaccine, or undecided, I recommend this as one of the must-have books in every parent's library.

--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!

Raz-A-Dazzle Toothbrush

I recently posted a DITL photo project, and got a couple of questions about Delilah's toothbrush.

Delilah brushes her teeth with a RaZBaby Raz-A-Dazzle Baby Toothbrush.

The Raz-A-Dazzle Toothbrush was an impulse buy. I was waiting to check out at Once Upon a Child one day when I noticed the display of RaZBaby products. Delilah certainly didn't need a new toothbrush. The little finger tip brush I'd been using on the few teeth she had at the point was still more than sufficient, but the thought of seeing her brushing her own little teeth with her own little toothbrush made me smile. I was sold. (As you can see, my foresight was spot-on. How adorable is that?)

The Raz-A-Dazzle toothbrush is reasonably priced at around $5. It is made from non-toxic medical grade silicone and has very soft and gentle bristles. Even when she's teething, the soft bristles against her tender gums don't seem to bother Delilah a bit. I think my favorite part of the toothbrush is the little safety shield. That shield means that after I've done my part in getting her teeth clean, I can let Delilah brush her own teeth (by which I mean chew on the toothbrush). The shield keeps her from sticking it too far into her mouth and gagging or injuring herself with it. She loves being in control of the toothbrush and seems to find chewing on the bristles very soothing and satisfying!

I absolutely recommend this toothbrush. This was one impulse buy that I don't regret!

--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!

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!