Knowing what goes on your baby’s skin is a must! More and more we see words like “natural” and “organic” on a product’s label, though often these terms are misleading. Many parents in the hustle and bustle of daily life just don’t take the time to read a product’s label thoroughly if at all. In addition there are those that simply just buy what they know, what they’ve grown up with, what the advertisers push. That said, I’m not a naysayer to the mainstream, I do however believe that it’s important to know what’s in the products I use, not just for my baby but for my whole family. Moderation is key, I’m not prepared to give up my M.A.C. make-up though I have streamlined it and have incorporated better choices. The following site, Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database, is a great resource, one I hope that you’ll find useful!

It’s our mission at the Environmental Working Group to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment.

Often, that means building databases. EWG’s data gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from the health risks we all face from everyday exposures to myriad industrial chemicals.

In 2004 we launched Skin Deep, an online safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products. Our aim was to fill in where companies and the government leave off: companies are allowed to use almost any ingredient they wish, and our government doesn’t require companies to test products for safety before they’re sold. EWG’s scientists built Skin Deep to be a one-of-a-kind resource, integrating our in-house collection of personal care product ingredient listings with more than 50 toxicity and regulatory databases.

Now in its fourth year and third major update, our Skin Deep database provides you with easy-to-navigate safety ratings for nearly a quarter of all products on the market — 52,698 products with 8,846 ingredients. At about one million page views per month, Skin Deep is the world’s largest and most popular product safety guide.

-Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database

Recently I came across a WAHM’s review and just had to share it, this is good stuff! I wrote the WAHM to thank her for her honest and unbiased review as I do not know her personally nor have I sewn for her directly. In my short and sweet email to her I had to add that the rumors aren’t true and I’m not mean! I laughed out loud at this as those of you that know me know that’s the furthest from the truth.

Having had the pleasure of sewing for more than a few WAHM’S such as Amanda of sweetiebums, Genevieve of The Cloth Canoe and Claudia of Sticky Peas to name a few, I can say that it’s truly a special experience and one that I value. Whether sewing for a WAHM directly or having a WAHM purchase my product second hand, the sentiment is the same, to have another seamstress appreciate the time and detail that goes into my work really does mean so much.

Join Date: Jan 2009
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I have to admit… when I read all the drama and the hype and saw the pricetag I was very curious…. so I couldn’t resist when I saw a couple of them listed for cheap in FSOT — in cute boy prints.

They are flawlessly sewn with details like having the size tag machine embroidered on each diaper. The margin for error must be microscopic because each one is just perfect. The snaps are exact… not even a mm off ever anywhere. She is like the not-quite-human seamstress… they are that perfect.

If you hold it up to my $35 piddle poddle — the piddle poddle’s snaps are a mm off here and there, serging a little goofy some places, wrinkle here or there — you know, nothing that would affect function or that
the average person would probably even notice. But they were definitely made by a human.

Obviously the stinky couture diapers took anywhere from 4 to 10 times as long to make as my speed serged piddle poddle… so asking $50 does not seem like much, relatively, to me. The perfection of her diapers also explains why people tend to have to wait so long for their orders as I believe she also has a full time job.

On that listing with the $70 diaper — I’m sure she probably paid anywhere from $10 to $15 just for the cut of that fabric sooo it still doesn’t seem outrageous to me.

Of course, that is more than the average person would expect to pay for a diaper.

If I had so much money that I didn’t have to worry about anything, I would be wearing $900 pants… not as a status symbol, but I enjoy luxurious and beautiful fabrics that cost $50 or $100 per yard and clothing tailor made to fit my every curve and angle and that is probably going to outlive me if I take care of it.

All that said, if all the rumors are true then she is pretty unstable and mean and it would be better not to do business with her imo.
__________________
wahm behind Tat2 Boutique

Again, no the rumors aren’t true and no I’m not mean . . . really.

We love the holiday season and this last year Stinky Couture™ was excited to announce the adoption of a new tradition, our version of Secret Santa. Here we go again . . . Do you know someone that is kind, considerate, cares for others and is rich in all things that matter? Stinky Couture™ wants to be a Secret Santa for a special someone. With your help someone deserving will receive a beautifully gift wrapped Stinky Couture™ gift pack for their sweet baby this holiday season. Gift pack will include a Stinky Couture™ Signature Series™ fitted cloth diaper and a pack of yummilicious Stinky Couture™ baby wipes.

Please submit your nominee to CustomerService at StinkyCouture.com with “Secret Santa” in the subject line. Please do include your nominee’s full name, email address and a short description of why you feel that they are deserving. Submissions are being accepted through 12/21.

Polyester. What falls into the category of polyester? For starters, those pocket cloth diapers we all love made using suede cloth (bumGenius), micro fleece (FuzziBunz) as well those cloth diapers that incorporate Polyurethane Laminate (PUL) and athletic wicking material, which is, guess what . . . polyester! Even the beloved OCBV (Organic Cotton Bamboo Velour) fabric that can be found in many of our favorite “green labeled” cloth diapers, commonly has a 2% polyester backing. Regardless of how it’s labeled polyester falls into the category of a fabric that is less than eco friendly due to it’s carbon footprint. That said, when incorporated to make a cloth diaper I believe, as do many, that the environmental benefits gained by the choice to use cloth diapers far out weighs the less then green facet of it. We, our babies, our planet, benefit from using cloth diapers whether they are made up of natural fibers or not. Fabrics made up of polyester work and work well giving parents the option to not use disposable without sacrificing performance. As each baby’s/parents needs differ the need for options is a must. Have you thought about how many parents might choose not to cloth diaper if there were not options?

I don’t think imitation is the highest form of flattery,
I think it’s annoying. -P!nk

Organic and natural fibers are better for babies and it’s why those are our fabrics of choice for what’s next to baby’s skin. Did you know that a baby’s skin is more porous and thinner than adults? That means that their skin absorbs things very easily. Johnson and Johnson states on the their website the following about a baby’s skin: “A baby’s skin is thinner, more fragile and less oily than an adult’s. A baby’s skin also produces less melanin, the substance that helps protect against sunburn. It’s less resistant to bacteria and harmful substances in the environment, especially if it’s irritated. Babies also sweat less efficiently than the rest of us, so it’s harder for them to maintain their inner body temperature.” This means that children are at greater risk for pesticide-related health problems than adults. Lotus Organics states that, “Millions of children in the US receive up to 35% of their estimated lifetime dose of some carcinogenic pesticides by age five through food, contaminated drinking water, household use, and pesticide drift”. Scary stuff for parents to read. Those of us that choose to cloth diaper are typically well aware of the eco benefits and we embrace them. That said, most will agree that the cloth diapering trends of days gone by are not only unappealing to many but unrealistic for most. In an economy where most households have parents working outside the home and are utilizing child care on some level, one’s diaper choice is key in a successful cloth diapering household. I have been asked why Stinky Couture does not make an all organic diaper as a staple product? In my mind blending the best of both world’s makes more sense; organic and natural fibers next to baby’s skin while incorporating man-made high performance fabrics where most effective. I have found that this hybrid cloth diaper addresses not only the need for absorbency, it washes cleaner, dries faster and allows for enhanced comfort and a superior fit. Though there are those that will happily use a simple cotton flat to diaper baby, there are those of us that want it all; the benefits of cloth diapering with the ease and convenience of a disposable diaper. . . and let’s not forget our insatiable need for style and flare!

“Eighty percent of the diaperings in this nation are done with disposables. That comes to 18 BILLION diapers a year. Each one has an outer layer of waterproof polypropylene and an inner layer of fluff made from wood pulp plus super-slurper sodium polyacrylate that can hold a hundred times its weight in water.”

“Those 18 billion diapers add up to 82,000 tons of plastic a year and 1.3 million tons of wood pulp — 250,000 trees. After a few hours of active service these materials are trucked away, primarily to landfills, where they sit, neatly wrapped packages of excrement, entombed undegraded for several hundred years.”

You can read more on The Great Disposable Diaper Debate HERE

Dear Mr President

Diamond quilting . . . it’s a good thing! Imitation, not so much. Stinky Couture™ being the inventive, contemporary brand that it is often is in the position of having our ideas imitated in one form or another. That said, their efforts though diligent, genuinely pale in comparison. The Stinky Couture Signature Series™ fitted cloth diaper embodies classic lines and luxe materials. The Stinky Couture™ cloth diaper is easily spotted with our signature, the detailed quilting design of the Stinky Couture Signature Soaker™. Being that Stinky Couture™ is just that, couture, there are those replica makers trying to make a quick buck with imitation. You can however note the inferior products if you employ close attention to detail. When I create, it’s all about the detail.

As posted 01/09 :

Diamonds may just be your baby’s new best friend. . . I’m talking diamond quilting. Stinky Couture™ is addressing the need for a soaker that not only offers superior absorbency, but still looks great wash after wash. Many of you are familiar with a common industry problem where the outer fabric of a soaker containing a boost layer through the center can develop a saggy and wrinkled look over time and washings. No more! Stinky Couture™ now offers an innovative new soaker featuring quilting through all the layers that our testing shows not only significantly increases durability, but also allows for additional layers of absorbency without additional bulk. No sagging, no curling and a great new unique look.

We had previously shared to expect some new and exciting developments
to Stinky Couture™, we will strive not
to disappoint. Please look forward to a new product line later this year which
is currently on the drawing board, quite literally, in charcoal! Now you all know some of what I dream about…