AND THE WINNER OF THE ECO-NOMICAL BABY GUIDE is: Jessica, Comment #24!!
Did you know that…
…it is possible to cloth diaper and spend only $100 on your start-up costs?
…buying used baby gear will save you about 40%?
…breast milk is not only cheap and readily available but that it’s so healthy for your baby that in one study cancer cells died when exposed to it?
…you are supposed to knock the solid waste off of disposables, into the toilet, before throwing them away just like you do with cloth diapers?
Did you know that it is possible for living green to actually be easier and less expensive than the popular alternative?
I have to admit, I always felt somewhat judged by people who strive to leave the smallest carbon footprint possible. I watched No Impact Man and though I was intrigued, and somewhat inspired by his example, I was also a little overwhelmed.
It isn’t that I don’t want to help the environment, but in my limited experience, it seems more expensive and more difficult to do so. Given the option of being green or saving green, I will always choose the cheapest route.
I’m sure a lot of you feel the same way. In this economy, we just have to look out for our wallets and stretch our budgets as far as possible. So, I was so delighted to have the opportunity to read The Eco-nomical Baby Guide: Down-to-Earth Ways for Parents to Save Money and the Planet, because it completely changed my idea of what I thought it meant to be green.
In this book, Joy Hatch and Rebecca Kelly from The Green Baby Guide, decided to fit living green on a budget and a tight schedule. They were so successful at it that they shared what they discovered in this very informative book.
The Eco-nomical Baby Guide is non-judgmental
One of the things I really love about this book is that it’s non-judgmental. These women don’t make you feel badly for not recycling everything or for using a disposable diaper once in a while and they sweetly invite you to skip over the section about breast-feeding if you have opted to use formula. Hatch and Kelley approach the green concept practically, from a busy mom’s perspective, rather than accusing you for buying brand new nursery furniture or for not pureeing your own baby food.
This book is very simple to read and lays out the tools for you to save money, time, and the environment with an easy-to-read layout. All throughout the book you’ll find eye-catching blue boxes with information that compares prices, tells you where to go for the greenest and cheapest stuff, and feeds you tidbits of useful information on your green journey.
Cloth Diapering
I especially loved the chapters (yes, there are more than one) on cloth diapering because I just happen to be a cloth-diapering fanatic. These chapters compare cloth diapers to disposable diapers and give you easy tips for starting your own stash for as cheap as $100 to as much as $390 – which is still far cheaper than using disposables.
The The Eco-nomical Baby Guide breaks down exactly what you will spend when it comes to cloth diapering, in addition to the initial cost. It lets you know, down to the dollar, how much water, energy, detergent, and time it cost them and their families to cloth diaper.
It also breaks down the pricing of some of the most popular disposable diapers and the generic brands so you can compare how much you will save by going with cloth diapers. And should you choose to use disposable diapers, it highlights some of the more environmentally friendly options.
Since modern cloth diapering can almost be a new language to someone who’s never heard of it, The Eco-nomical Baby Guide breaks it down into sections that explain (with illustrations) how to fold your cloth diapers, and how to put them on with diaper covers, and includes lists of some of Hatch and Kelley’s favorite cloth diaper brands.
There are convenient lists of online cloth retailers, likeDiaper Junction, where the cloth diapers can be purchased.
My favorite part of this chapter are the results when the authors recorded the amount of time it took to care for cloth diapers. They discovered it takes only 10 minutes/week. Ten minutes! And, of course, they break down exactly how each minute is spent so you can do it too!
I learned so much from reading this book!
I learned so much from reading this book! I’ve since asked my husband to put in a clothesline so that I can save energy in the warmer months (and get the added benefit of sunning my cloth diapers)…
…and I’ve started breaking up a garden bed so that I can grow my own vegetables.
I’ve also started looking into getting used baby gear at places such as The Freecycle Network and Craig’s List, and I have switched out the paper in my kitchen for real towels and cloth napkins.
I have discovered that pureeing my own baby food is very rewarding and, of course, I use cloth diapers all the time.
I had really wanted to live a greener and more financially responsible life before reading this book but I just didn’t feel I had the tools. Joy Hatch and Rebecca Kelly give you the tools and make it look so easy to raise a baby in an eco-nomical manner.
I love this book and will definitely keep it around for reference for as long as I’m raising children, and after too, because lots of the tips written inside are useful even if you don’t have kids.
AND NOW YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THIS BOOK TOO!
Joy Hatch and Rebecca Kelly from The Green Baby Guide have generously donated one (1) copy of the
The Eco-nomical Baby Guide for us to give to one (1) lucky reader!
WHO CAN PLAY?
Anyone 18 years of age or older and living in the Continental United States can play.
HOW DO I PLAY?
Follow the guidelines below and be sure to leave all of your comments by Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 11:59 pm (CST). There are TWELVE DIFFERENT WAYS to enter this Giveaway!!
- Your first chance to enter is to leave a comment right now to the question below.
- Go and share this Giveaway on your BLOG, linking back to this post.
- Talk about and link to Diaper Junction from any cloth diapering or natural parenting forums and come back and comment with the link. If you post about us on a forum in 10 different posts it counts as 10 different entries!
- Earn one entry (comment) for each new review on ANY PRODUCT at Diaper Junction during the dates of this giveaway and return to comment for each review you completed.
- Join our newsletter at Diaper Junction (or if you already are, comment and say so) and come back and let us know you did in the comments.
- Join Cloth Diaper Blog through Google Friends (or if you already are, comment and say so) and comment to let us know you did.
- Follow us at Twitter @Diaper_Junction and comment to let us know you did.
- Tweet @Diaper_Junction GO GREEN! Win The Eco-nomical Baby Guide. http://www.clothdiaperblog.com/the-eco-nomical-baby-guide-a-review-and-giveaway (One extra entry per person, per day.)
- Tweet any tweet @Diaper_Junction including #clothdiapers. Copy and paste your tweet and post as a comment (One extra entry per person, per day.).
- Become a fan of our Facebook group; if already a fan, you can still comment below that you are and it allows for yet another entry here in the comments.
- Place any order at Diaper Junction between 5/1/2010 – 5/7/2010. Enter your order date and number in the comments.
- Join the Diaper Junction Affiliate Program (or if you already are, comment and say so).
With 12 different ways to enter, be sure to come back next Thursday to see if you won!
HOW DO I KNOW IF I WON?
The winner will be announced/posted here at Cloth Diaper Blog on MOTHER’s DAY, Sunday, May 9, 2010!!
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE WINNER?
On Saturday evening at midnight (CST) we will enter the number of comments into the number generator at Random.org and take the first number it spits. out.
DO WE CHECK THESE ENTRIES?
Yep, we do. Once the Comment # is selected, we will check to verify valid entry. If it isn’t, we’ll select a new Comment #.
AND THE QUESTION IS…
What are YOU doing to “GREEN” your lifestyle economically? Hints/Tips for like-minded parents? Is Cloth Diapering part of your GREEN regime?
GUEST BLOGGER
is a part time Spanish Teacher, a part time Stay-at-home-mom, and the wife of the best husband imaginable. Becca’s absolute favorite thing to do is to spend time with her little family. She also enjoys doing anything crafty – from making jewelry, to writing, to sewing, to photography.
You can read more about Becca at her blog, Becca’s Cloth Diaper Blog.
Bryana is the owner of 
Becca is a part-time Spanish Teacher and part-time Stay-At-Home-Mom. She's a cloth diaper expert who enjoys spending time with her family, crafting and selling her wares in her very own
Julie is a mom to three kids including a set of identical twins. Through cloth diapering her twins she developed a passion for the industry and is an avid cloth diaper advocate. You can also find her on her blog
I am cloth diapering. It is my first step. I am new to all of this, but I am very excited to go green!
I posted about your giveaway at momcyclopedia.blogspot.com
I am a facebook fan!
I cloth diaper, buy used clothing, breastfeed, and am working on switching household products to eco-friendly brands.
I am a Google Friend.
onetallmama
I am a fan on FB
Pamela Miersma Olson
I follow you on Twitter
@onetallmama
I subscribe to the DJ newsletter
I follow with google
i use cloth diapers, cloth wipes, reusable cloth grocery bags, and green detergents and cleaners… but i want to learn more by winning the book :)
cloth diapers and cloth wipes. . . starting to try and switch over some cleaning supplies
We’re learning to live more green. We use cloth diapers, cloth napkins and towels, recycle, have a garden, and we’re working on composting.
I get the newsletter.
i cloth diaper of course, I havea garden and compost, I “swap” clothes for little one instead of buying new ones. (thats my BIG one, there are plenty of clothes out there, do we really need to buy everything new? no)
Currently I am living “green” (or trying to) by having about 8 raised garden beds, using a clothesline to dry the wash and cloth diapering part time. ;-)
I cloth diaper among other things.
I get the DJ newsletter
I’m a FB fan
I cloth diaper, breastfeed, and plan on making my own baby food.
We cloth diaper, breast feed, make our homemade food, don’t buy unnecessary items, use a push mower, comport, recycle, use only soap-nut liquid as an AP cleaner, use green detergent, use reusable grocery bags, my husband works from home sometimes, only eat a limited amount of processed foods (cereal is my comfort food!), have a garden, buy/use hand-me-downs… I’m sure there’s more. I’m excited about this book, because I’m “green” mostly because I’m cheap!
I follow with google
I cloth diaper, use cloth wipes, I use natural laundry detergent, re-usable grocery bags, etc.
I follow on twitter @jcruz1125
i follow with google friends
fb fan
I try to ride my bike more, and carpool for grocery shopping with a neighbor. I get my socializing and shopping done at once.
I am very interested in cloth diapering and attempting to live more green.
I love that Green living is being shown from a cost perspective rather than a moral perspective.. I know I respond better to dollars and cents than I do to moralizing.
Baby steps, swapping out old out dated appliances w/ newer energy efficient appliances. I am also researching cloth diapers so that my next little one won’t be a burden on the planet.
I cloth diaper my DS, as well as make his baby food. I have finally decided to try my own garden as well, but with little space I have decided to opt for a porch garden where each item is potted after germination, instead of going into a garden. Not really much of a green thumb though, so I am hoping to at least get half of the veggies planted to grow! I also use cloth wipes for my DD, and try to remember to grab a towel instead of a paper towel to clean up spills and for household cleaning.
I am a facebook fan
I am a twitter follower
I receive the newsletter
One of the best things we ever did was virtually give up paper towels- it was so easy! I bought some cloth napkins, a few sponges & dishcloths, and we were set! I can’t even imagine how much virgin paper and how much money we have saved over the last 3 years!!!
I’m still expecting but plan to breastfeed and cloth diaper as well as make my own baby food when the time comes! I’d love to win this giveaway!!
We have always been greener than all of our friends and family, ususally referred to by them as the hippie tree huggers. Since becoming pregnant with our daughter, we have put our green living into overdrive. We: cloth diaper and cloth wipe, exclusively breastfeed, baby wear, make our own baby food, have a work share in a CSA, recycle, compost, have our own backyard garden, use the line on nice days possible, make our own baking soda based laundryr detergent, use vinegar in place of fabric softener, use doTERRA essential oils, make our own baby wipe spray, use CFLs, use reusable bags for all shopping, reuse, thrift and rummage shop, hand down reusable things, avoid unneccesary items (especially for the baby), carpool whenever possible, can our produce… I am sure there is more, but that is the majority of it! :)
Whoops! I realized as I hit send for that last one that my email was spelled wrong. It should be rl, not el.
I already follow through Google. :)
I receive the newsletter.
I am a facebook fan!
We cloth diaper; make some of our own baby food; use CFLs, cloth grocery bags; use second hand clothes, baby gear, and other household items; pass down or give to charity items we don’t use anymore; recycle; walk to the store for small trips; open windows before running the AC when possible, and probably more. We’d love to learn more practical and affordable ways to continue!
I am a Google Friend!
Facebook Fan!
I receive your newsletter!
I have skimmed through a copy of the book and found I really appreciate the non-judgmental aspect. Not all of us can be stay-at-home moms and I appreciated that they thought of that.
Currently I’m trying to reduce as much “new” stuff that I buy as possible. I buy and take my kids’ clothes to consignment shops. I try to use as much homemade cleaners as possible, but when I don’t I use “green” cleaners. I am currently part time cloth diapering 2 little ones.
My husband and I have gone from 3 cars to 1. We also began taking the bus. We also dramatically cut back on how often we run the a/c and heater.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my cloth diapers. I am a cloth diaper junkie… Anyone who says this is hard work is just plain lazy b/c it’s way easier than having to worry about running out of disposables. And I also use cloth wipes. I am happy and proud to say she has never had a single diaper rash. Diaper rash, what’s that? Even my dear old hubby loves it. So for now that is our e-contribution.
FB fan
google friend
twitter follower
newsletter subscriber
I use cloth diapers/wipes and line dry them. We don’t use chemicals for cleaning. Instead use things like baking soda, “green” cleaners if any at all, and also use norwex cloths. Just started participating in a co-op for produce. It’s cheaper through them and it’s all local to our region.
We try to be green in many ways–cloth diapering, making my own baby food, breastfeeding, making a lot of food from scratch to minimize packaging. We also have a paper-free kitchen, use green cleaning products, and walk/use public transportation as much as possible! In fact, we only have one car, and it gets used only a couple of times a week at most.
I have just started cloth diapers and been a lifelong recycler. I made most of our baby food and use organic cleaners in our home. We are looking forward to starting a vegetable garden and I breastfed as well.
facebook fan
Google follower
We purchase our produce from local farmers through a local CSA program.
In addition to being more nutritious, it’s better for the environment.
I subscribe to your newsletter
I’m a member of your affiliate program.
I hope to engage in a better life style w/better friends
and a better influence on my peers! My husband & I have realized we’v been settling for friends & life style! No more! We need the knowledge! I’m starting to cloth diaper, ect. He will fallow & so will new friends & life…
I cloth diaper (pocket OS) -everywhere. It’s intimidating at first. Once people see that it can be done it gets easier. Same with breastfeeding in ‘public’, thanks to a nursing cover. It’s strange how more natural products actually cost less per unit: Charlies Soap vs dreft, Whole Food hand soap vs BBWorks. You can make your own ‘puree’ with a seive and spoon, or a $4 food mill
I didn’t realize I was being a green ‘hippie’, just practical.
I have been cloth diapering for a month. We also have joined a local food co-op and buy all of our produce from them (all local, all organic.) We live in an apartment so we are limited but we are changing what we can to be green.
I follow through Google Friends.
I am a FB fan.
tweet on 5/2
http://twitter.com/cocokj/status/13265/3126912
tweet on 5/4
http://twitter.com/cocokj/status/13370931772
We cloth diaper, breastfeed,and we have a garden. I can or freeze the the produce at the end of the season to last us through the winter.
Mother-ease One Size Diaper review at Diaper Junction submitted.
To green our lifestyle we use reusable bags and cloth diapers. I also breast feed my children until about 1.5 yrs old. Recycle kids clothes, maternity clothing, and toys between households. Use chemical free household products.
I already submit to your newsletter
I’m a facebook fan.
i did not cloth diaper from the beginning. i wish i had! my first son was in all disposable, and i didn’t start with this one until he was 8 months old. I started blogging then and was introduced to the world of cloth diapers. i won one on a blog giveaway and made the switch!
krys13@msn.com
cloth diapering is definitely part of our family’s greening, but we also started using cloth wipes and try to use cloth towels to clean up messes in the kitchen – we also use cloth napkins. i love it! its so much nicer than paper and saves lots of trees!
cloth diapering, recycling, eating organic, using CFLs, eco-friendly cleaning products, cloth napkins…basically we try to do our best as much as we can without breaking the bank!
We do cloth diaper to save green and be green. We also use cloth in the kitchen and eat organic when we can afford it.
follow through google
joined mailing list
follow on twitter @heart4home
I try to re-use, buy recycled goods and consume less: never order food for take-out or delivery, not drink bottled water, eat less packaged/shipped prepared foods, not use shampoo. I think that if you treat consumer goods as special treats rather than the everyday, it ends up having an impact on the amount of waste you produce. I’m definitely looking at cloth diapering as part of the green effort- disposable consumer culture just feels wrong. In fact, I’m hoping to inherit rather than buy a lot of baby and maternity stuff from friends and family, but that may be more luck and thrift than eco-conscious design. I’m currently struggling with switching to bottled water to get away from the fluoridated water…
Newsletter subscriber
I cloth diaper, we don’t buy bottled water, and I make baby food if time.