BAMBO Nature Eco-Friendly Diapers Review And GIVEAWAY! 8/08

I will admit, while I use cloth diapers about 95% of the time, I do like to keep disposables on hand for trips, babysitters who aren't as enthusiastic about fluff as we are, and for occasional overnight use for Xander, whose poop is still mushy and not quite formed yet. He wakes up poopy every single morning, without fail, so depending on what he ate, I will sometimes put him in a disposable diaper overnight. For example, if he has had sweet potatoes or carrots, he will definitely be sporting a sposie that night. Those foods in particular cause messes of epic proportion, and the occasional break from the spraying and scraping associated with cloth is nice.

I would never give up cloth in a million years, but since we do occasionally use disposables, I have been searching for a more environmentally friendly disposable alternative to the typical disposable diapers. Most disposable diapers can take up to 500 YEARS to biodegrade, and are not manufactured in an eco-friendly manner. They use TONS of cardboard for packaging, and often contain nasty chemicals in the diapers themselves! No wonder so many babies get rashes! So after doing my research on a kinder, more responsible disposable diapering alternative, I was intrigued when I found Bambo Nature diapers.

Here is more about Bambo Nature, from their website:

Bambo Nature’s commitment to protecting the environment is long-term with the intention that both we and future generations will be able to live in harmony with nature. They achieve this by focusing on the following:


Abena only uses state-of-the-art renewable raw materials.
The wood used for pulp is derived from sustainable forestry; where more trees are planted than felled.
There is absolutely zero chlorine used in the bleaching process.
No chemicals or compounds from SVHC (REACH Article 33(2)) are used – Substances of Very High Concern.



No known substances that are harmful to health or the environment are used in Bambo Nature Diapers.

- No Phthalates

- No Formaldehyde (HCHO)

- No Organotins (MBT, DBT, TBT)

-  No Colophonium

- No Heavy metals

- No AZO-pigments

- No Chlorine (CI)

- No PVC




Abena adheres to requirements on resource consumption.

There are criteria on factory emissions into the air, water and land.

  There are no chemicals used during production.

- No optical brighteners

- No skin care lotions

- No perfumes, essential oils

- No odor eliminators

Abena has almost completely reduced all waste during manufacturing. Abena does not use cardboard boxes to package and ship Bambo Nature Baby Diapers.Products and packaging materials can be disposed of through recycling, incineration or composting.Products are designed to be easily dismantled so that parts can be recycled and/or composted.Bambo Nature is 80% biodegradable, more than 3 times as much as other brands.

Abena’s environmental requirements are strict and they are careful to ensure minimal environmental impact in all they do. With over 80% of diapering using disposables, it is estimated that over 18 BILLION diapers are used per year; and probably more since the introduction of pull-ups and training pants. It is imperative that companies invest time, energy, research, and technological development to create products that are eco-friendly and sustainable. Abena acknowledges that all consumption affects the environment. However, their products have a significantly lower impact on the environment than others. Working with their raw material suppliers, accepting independent tests and inspections, and producing one of the most environmentally-friendly baby diapers, Abena has demonstrated their commitment to improving the world we live in.

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Needless to say, these are leaps and bounds in the right direction where the environment is concerned. More diaper companies need to adopt these practices for the sake of the world we live in as well as for the health and well-being of our babies. I was thrilled to get the opportunity to review these revolutionary diapers. They arrived quickly, and were not packaged using any cardboard. I received a size 3, since my youngest is about 17lbs.

I immediately noticed how soft these diapers are in comparison to traditional disposable diapers. They have a smooth, almost cloth like feel to them, and they also feature standard, velcro like tabs. My favorite part of the visual aspect of Bambo Nature diapers? They have a cute little monkey on the waistband area! I LOVE monkeys, so this was a really nice surprise that's sure to please many parents. Sure, a diaper needs to work, but being cute helps, too! I also noticed there is a wetness indicator to help show how wet the diaper is at a glance. I LOVE this, since most diapers do not include this. The only other diaper I am aware of that does this also contains horrid chemicals and I refuse to use the brand ever again since their last product "advancements". (I use that term loosely, as I feel the new formula ruined their diapers.) So I was quite excited to see that much-loved feature in an eco-friendly disposable diaper.

Here are some photos of the Bambo Nature Diaper, and then I will get into my experience with this brand.

I LOVE the monkey!

The interior of the Bambo Nature

MY OPINION:

I was actually able to use these diapers on BOTH of my babies, since they both fit fairly well into the size range for size 3 Bambo Nature diapers. My daughter is actually a couple pounds over at 24lbs 4oz, but they still fit her fairly well. She has a more petite build and is shorter, so that may have something to do with it. Xander, my 6 month old, weighs about 17lbs and is quickly catching up to his big sister!

I tested the Bambo Nature on both babies, both during daytime and overnight use. I really like the softness of these diapers. My babies are used to cloth, and generally fuss a bit when put into disposables. That was not the case with these diapers at all. They didn't seem to mind the switch! I also noticed that these diapers are very easy to put on, and that the closure is very sturdy and doesn't come undone easily. This is a HUGE plus, since my daughter's latest game is "let's get naked", and she takes her diapers off and giggles. A good, strong closure is important!

The Bambo Nature also fit both children very well, and didn't leave any red marks whatsoever on their little thighs. The fit of the Bambo Nature diapers is also surprisingly trim. Since I am so used to using cloth during the day, I was used to experiencing bulky "fluff-butt syndrome" and having a hard time fitting regular clothing over my diapers. These diapers are trim and don't add any bulk.

Now on to the really important test: Do they work? YES! The Bambo Nature is super-absorbent and held up well during day and night time use. My babies tend to be heavy wetters, especially overnight, but when using these diapers, I did not experience any leaks with either child. I also loved the wetness indicator I talked about earlier. It made diaper changes a breeze!  Also, neither of my babies experienced any redness or irritation that is so common with disposable diaper use. This of course is due to the fact that Bambo Nature diapers do not contain irritants or harsh chemicals.

I would definitely recommend Bambo Nature Diapers to anyone looking for a more eco-friendly disposable diaper. Whether it be for full time use or occasional use by cloth-diapering families like mine, the Bambo Nature is a natural choice. They are soft, trim, cute, and absorbent. On top of that, they are chemical free and will biodegrade much more rapidly than traditional disposable diapers. When my family uses disposables on occasion, Bambo Nature will be our diaper of choice!

BUY IT:

You can purchase Bambo Nature diapers on their website and also onAmazon.

You can also follow Bambo Nature on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions.

WIN IT:

One very lucky follower will receive a package of Bambo Nature eco-friendly diapers to try for themselves!

Please use this handy Rafflecopter form to enter. IMPORTANT: For the mandatory comment entry, please include a valid e-mail address IN THE BODY OF YOUR COMMENT! Feel free to use the following format to combat spam: yourname(at)yourprovider(dot)com. If you do not do this, I may not be able to view your e-mail address to contact you if you win!

This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ and will be open until 12:01AM EST on 8/8/2011. Winner will be chosen at random and will be announced here, tweeted, shared on Facebook, and contacted via e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to reply and claim their prize. If I receive no response, I will be forced to draw a new winner.

***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

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