Westside Doula

Eco Friendly Alternatives to Pampers and Huggies:

Diaper Services:

We have three diaper services (that I know of) that service the westside of LA.  Isn't that great?  Cloth is an eco-friendly way to deal with the, um, shitty side of infant care. :D Lots of families find a happy medium between using both cloth and disposables.  Check out their websites.  They have videos, advice, suggestions, and are overall a good learning experience.  

• You will need to buy snappis , which are a pin-free way to secure a cloth diaper. 
• You will also need to buy some diaper covers.  There are lots of different colors and patters.  Their main job is to keep the wet and poop inside the diaper. 
• There is a slight learning curve on how to fold the diaper to fit your child.
• Comes with a pail.
• Diapers are swapped out every week on a pre-assigned day.

Dy-Dee Cloth Diaper Service :  

Dy-Dee is an environmentally friendly company.  They use less than 3.5 gallons of water per baby per day (less than a toilet flush!).  Dy-Dee uses energy-saving equipment that reclaims the heat from both the dryers and wastewater.  Their trucks are powered by clean-burning natural gas.  Weekly pick-up/delivery.

Blessed Bums Diaper Service (661) 755-6982:

"Blessed Bums organic diaper delivery is the most environmentally and baby-friendly choice for your diapering needs. Blessed Bums features adorable diaper covers, modern diapering accessories, and top-of-the-line organic baby & mama skincare." (From their website)

Luludew Diaper Service (323) 225.5858 : 

"We reserve a set of diapers for your baby when you initiate service.  Every week you will be delivered the same diapers.  This gives you the peace of mind that the diapers you receive will only be used by your baby."

Bum Genius :

• Stylish, cloth diapers that you wash at home.
• Stretchy, stylish
• Diaper covers
• Suggestion:  Buy the Mini Shower to rinse off the poop befor laundering
• All in one cloth diaper.

Elimination Communication (EC):  

Encouraging your baby to use the potty early is very rewarding, cuts down on diapers (and the need to change them), and is fun one-on-one time.  Some parents are more comfortable starting this once the baby has some head support (about two months). 

The philosophy is simple:  If the baby already knows how to use the potty, you never have to train them.  Try "catching" one pee a day.  All you have to do is put the baby on the potty when it wakes up from nap and/or after a feeding.  The rest of the time, you can use diapers!  Then baby self weans at about one year.

Trust the process, if you're not sure get in touch with the support group. 

All of the eco-friendly diaper solutions are good partners to EC.

Click HERE for EC case study.

Seventh Generation :

Frangrance free, hypoallergenic, chlorine free, latex free.  Seventh Generation discloses all ingredients so it is a great solution to the allergic-to-everything baby.

• Much more flexible on sizing (a larger baby can squeeze into a smaller diaper and visa versa without leakage). 
• Size N (newborn) is for the very tiny, so might not be necessary to buy in bulk.  But for all other sizes, buy in four-pack bulk for significant discounts. 
• Biodegradable, if you really have the urge to bury them in your back yard
• Made using mostly sustainable practices so less manufacturing guilt
• Seventh Generation can also be found at Toys R Us and other mainstream realtors. 

G-Diapers:  

These are flushable inserts.  You have to buy the washable covers (which are totally cute).  Then you buy the inserts. The start-up kit comes with a stick to help tear up the insert. 

• YOU HAVE TO TEAR UP THE INSERT BEFORE YOU FLUSH. 
• Make sure you are using the right size for your baby.  A chuncky baby might need a slightly larger size. 
• Have back-up covers and inserts on hand.
• Respect postings warning of "country" or "weak" plumbing.
• Since it's flushable, nothing is added to a landfill
• Covers can be used over disposable diapers as extra protection and to add a bit of style.
• Available at Whole Foods, specialty stores, and online.

Nature Baby Care :

• Cookie calls them the best Greener Disposable diaper
• Chlorine Free
• Forest Stewardship council certified
• These really do handle baby pee and poop well. 

Pampers/Huggies have their place.  They are super absorbent--so much so that our beautiful baby can be sitting in her stuff for way too long.  That absorbency makes it a good for a night diaper.  Not for babies with sensitive skin.  There may be more occurances of diaper rash since babies tend to be left in them longer.

Target Diapers are a good example of why to try the diaper, not the brand.  Here is a glowing recomendation for Target Diapers!.

Places to order:

Discount Code: westdoula

Discount code:  WestDoula

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