Every year, on June 5th, people around the world come together to celebrate World Environment Day. This special occasion serves as a global platform to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote positive actions for a greener future. In the last years, World Environment Day has brought attention to a simple yet impactful choice for parents: cloth diapers.
Disposable diapers have become the go-to choice for many parents due to their convenience. However, the environmental consequences associated with their use are undeniable. From production to disposal, disposable diapers contribute significantly to landfill waste and environmental degradation.
Landfill Waste: Each year, billions of disposable diapers end up in landfills worldwide. These diapers take up to 500 years to decompose, occupying valuable landfill space and releasing harmful methane gas in the process.
Resource Depletion: The production of disposable diapers requires vast amounts of resources, including trees for pulp, water, and energy. The continuous demand for disposable diapers contributes to deforestation, water scarcity, and increased carbon emissions.
Chemical Pollution: Disposable diapers contain chemicals such as chlorine, dioxins, and phthalates. These substances can leach into the soil and water, posing potential risks to ecosystems and human health.
Cloth diapers offer a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to disposable diapers. They have evolved significantly over the years, making them convenient, effective, and appealing to environmentally conscious parents. In order to allow as many environmentally conscious customers as possible to encourage circular practices, La Petite Ourse has developed cloth diapers made from recycled plastic bottles.
Here are some of the positive impacts of cloth diapers:
Reduced Waste: Cloth diapers can be used repeatedly, drastically reducing the amount of waste generated. With proper care, cloth diapers can last through multiple children, further minimizing their environmental footprint.
Resource Conservation: Unlike disposable diapers, cloth diapers do not require large-scale resource extraction. By opting for cloth, parents can help conserve water, energy, and reduce the strain on forests.
Chemical-Free: Cloth diapers are free from the harmful chemicals found in disposable diapers. This ensures a safer and healthier environment for babies, reducing the risk of skin irritation and other health issues.
Cost-Effective: While the initial investment for cloth diapers may seem higher, in the long run, they can save families a significant amount of money. The reusable nature of cloth diapers eliminates the need for continuous purchases, making them a cost-effective choice.
Cute and Fashionable: La Petite Ourse’s cloth diapers come in a variety of designs, prints, and colours. They are not only practical but also stylish, allowing parents to showcase their child's personality while contributing to a sustainable lifestyle.
On World Environment Day, it's essential to spread awareness about the positive impact of cloth diapers on the environment. This is why we love exchanging with our customers and cloth diaper enthusiasts and try to give as many tools as possible to parents to have a successful cloth diapering journey. Today serves as a reminder that even the simplest choices, such as choosing to use cloth diapers, can have a profound positive impact on the environment.
By embracing cloth diapers, parents and caregivers can contribute to a sustainable future for our planet. Cloth diapers offer a practical and eco-friendly alternative to disposable diapers, reducing landfill waste, conserving resources, and creating a safer and healthier environment for our little ones.
]]>To manage to get everything your baby will need without breaking your bank, here are some practical and simple tips that will help you save big!
To make sure you save as much as possible, let's tackle the two biggest expenses parents must make: the stroller and diapers. In most families, these items are the most important ones, and it’s where it is possible to make great savings.
Depending on what you're looking for, there are several ways to save. First, ask yourself the right questions. For example, "Does the stroller have to be light so that you can easily bring it with you on the third floor?" or "Does it have to be small, to fit through public transportation?". Once you have established your criteria, let's tackle the savings! The best way to save is to shop on second-hand product sales sites. You can make significant savings by buying second-hand. You can even find the model of your dreams at a fraction its price! Several parents buy strollers, which for personal reasons may not appeal to them when they start using it. Therefore, you can usually find great strollers, in good condition, at a fraction of the price on classified ads. If you do not want to purchase a used stroller, planning is the best option as you can shop during big annual sales. Discounts ranging from 20-40% are not uncommon in specialty stores, especially if you shop during Black Friday or Boxing Day.
Disposable diapers are among the biggest expenses when it comes to planning for a baby's arrival. Did you know that a baby will need between 5500 and 6500 disposable diapers from birth to potty training? Depending on the brand and type of diaper used, it can cost you up to $1,500 to $3,000 per child. To make significant savings, turning to cloth diapers is a wise choice. A new set of cloth diapers and accessories can cost as little as $500. Added to this are subsidies offered by certain municipalities allowing you to reduce your purchase by $100, sometimes even $200*. In addition to that, cloth diapers can be used without problem throughout siblings, or even be resold later. These are other good reasons to opt for this alternative!
Knowing that each diaper takes 300 to 500 years to decompose and that it’s one of the three most thrown away products (along with newspapers and food containers), the cloth diaper option also becomes a more eco-friendly option for the future of our children.
We have just seen the two most important expenses as your baby’s arrival approaches. By following these tips, you can save at least $3,000 (per child!).
Now let’s look at some few more tips:
With all this information, you are now ready to save! Happy shopping.
*To see if your city offers a subsidy, click on this link
You may be one of those who have mixed feelings about using cloth diapers, and we can understand why! This is a habit that was further abandoned with the arrival of disposable diapers in 1942 thanks to their easy use. On the other hand, like many other products in our current society, single-use products can contain their share of negative aspects too.
Many young parents today recognize the importance of being environmentally and budget-friendly. This explains the rise in popularity of cloth diapers which not only meet the needs of babies by being absorbent and soft on the skin, but also by being better for the environment and making considerable savings.
Many parents may feel stuck between these 2 options which somewhat reflect the “all or nothing” ideology. That's why we decided to add disposable inserts to our product offering to meet the needs of more parents.
Disposable inserts, as the name suggests, are single-use inserts. But several things differentiate disposable inserts for cloth diapers from a fully disposable diaper.
* It is possible to reuse the diaper cover or the cloth diaper if it has not been soiled.
Disposable inserts are also a great alternative for parents who primarily use cloth diapers for outings, trips, daycare, or any other circumstances where you use disposable diapers.
Thus, by opting for a disposable insert instead of a disposable diaper, you still considerably reduce your ecological footprint in addition to benefiting from the positive aspects of each of the parties.
Note that the disposable insert is compatible with any cloth diaper type.
Place the insert in the diaper cover or any other cloth diaper model. If you are using a pocket diaper, place the insert above the pocket so that the insert is facing against your baby's skin. Adjust the diaper to your baby as usual. When changing the baby, open the diaper, remove the soiled insert, replace it with a new insert and readjust the diaper on your baby.
Note that it is possible to reuse the diaper cover or cloth diaper if it has not been soiled.
]]>What is a Diaper Pod?
Very useful during outings, the Diaper Pod is mainly used to store ready-to-use diapers for the whole day. Since it is made from the same fabric as the standard wet bag, the Diaper Pod is also resistant and waterproof. This versatile little bag can also store clothes and all kinds of products for the whole family!
The shape and dimensions of this bag make it possible to properly store the assembled diapers. Organization lovers and especially diaper covers users will be delighted! If you are using diaper covers for your child, you can assemble them in advance and store them in this bag to prevent the inserts from moving.
During days out, it can be practical to have 2 bags at your disposal: the first one to store clean diapers and the second for soiled ones. Thus, the Diaper Pod fulfills the first function and the wet bag is perfect for the second function. Of course, as mentioned earlier, both bags are made of the same resistant and waterproof fabric (PUL). Therefore both bags can be used for either function.
The Diaper Pod can also be very handy for keeping a few clean diapers in different rooms of your home, preventing you from constantly moving from room to room.
Why is this bag called a Pod?
Have you ever heard the expression: “Like two peas in a pod”? This expression allows us to better understand the name of this bag. Just like peas in their pod, this storage bag keeps diapers neatly tucked away tightly against each other to prevent movement and keep them in order.
Special features of the La Petite Ourse’s Diaper Pod
We are convinced that the Diaper Pod will be an absolute must-have for all cloth diapering parents who desire to be more organized. What's not to love about this new accessory that makes the cloth diapering experience more enjoyable than ever?
]]>The La Petite Ourse 3-in-1 nursing scarf is a product loved by parents in the community! Not only is it a versatile and trendy product, it is also so easy to carry around.
Our 3-in-1 scarf lives up to its name since it is not only a nursing scarf.It can also serve as a car seat cover and scarf for mom.
1) Nursing scarf
It allows you to breastfeed in complete privacy if needed.
2) Perfect as a car seat cover
Whether you’re on the go or on your walks, the 3-in-1 scarf blocks the wind and sun from Baby’s face.
3) Scarf for mom
With its many colours available, you can now choose the print of your choice and wear the scarf as an accessory!
4) Bonus Feature: Grocery Cart Protector
You can also place the scarf on top of a shopping cart and place your Baby on top of it. Thus, your grocery cart will automatically become more hygienic for baby's curious hands and mouth!
Here are the 4 new prints available now on the online store at only $22.50 each.
When you start or evolve in the cloth diapering adventure, it is not always easy to know what are the best tips and tricks to succeed in having a winning and leak-free routine during nap and night times.
La Petite Ourse offers two main models of cloth diapers: Pocket diapers and All-in-one (AIO) diapers. Both of these models have similar absorbency and can be used either day or night.
For the luckiest ones, Baby is already sleeping through the night and wears their diapers for several hours in a row. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the diaper they wear is sufficiently absorbent and well adjusted so it stays dry throughout the night. Some parents may dread nighttime and long naps with cloth diapers from fear of the diapers leaking. However, a cloth diaper with the appropriate inserts according to Baby's needs will be by far a better alternative than disposable diapers. Many families using cloth diapers will tell you that there are far fewer leaks when using a cloth diaper!
The most difficult thing of starting with cloth diapering is that there is not only one single magicle recipe! Some babies will be able to spend a whole night with a pocket diaper including its 2 basic bamboo inserts (6.5 oz of absorption each for a total of 13 oz) without having any leaks! However, this is not the case for everyone.
This is why we are offering a wide variety of inserts mainly for pocket diapers:
Absorption per insert |
Total Absorption |
|
---|---|---|
* Bamboo Insert (pack of 2) |
6.5 oz per insert |
13 oz |
Hemp Insert (pack of 2) |
4.5 oz per insert |
9 oz |
Night-time Insert (pack of 2) |
9 oz per insert |
18 oz |
Microfiber Insert (pack of 2) |
8 oz per insert |
16 oz |
Night-time Trifold Insert |
Total Absorption: 22.5 oz |
|
Charcoal Insert (pack of 2) |
10 oz per insert |
20 oz |
Muslin Trifold Insert |
Total Absorption: 10 oz |
* Each La Petite Ourse pocket diaper automatically comes with 2 bamboo inserts. For more information on these inserts, consult this blog post.
If you want to learn more about the pros and cons of each type of inserts, visit the Experts Corner!
The different types of cloth diapers are an interesting avenue to look into. Some families have a preference for one particular model while others prefer to opt for a combination of different ones to suit their needs.
Pocket diapers with Velcro
Velcro pocket diapers are appreciated by many for their simple usage. Many use them on a daily basis, while others prefer to use them specifically for daycare, when going out or for nighttime.
If your child doesn't completely sleep through the night and often wakes up for a diaper change, opting for a Velcro diaper could be very practical. Trying to change a diaper with your eyes ajar from fatigue can be quite a challenge with snaps. That being said, the Velcro greatly simplifies this nocturnal task! This type of diaper allows a precise and quick adjustment in addition to being very instinctive. Putting a Velcro diaper on Baby is the closest thing to using a disposable diaper in terms of sizing around the waist.
Although it is not an absolutely necessary step, preparation can help make the daily cloth diapering experience enjoyable! Here are some tips to help you properly prepare your diapers for day and night:
First of all, many parents prefer to assemble their clean diapers in advance, therefore as soon as they come out of the washing machine. This way, the diaper is immediately ready to be put on Baby during the change!
On the other hand, if you opt for different inserts during the day and at night, this could be a problem. How can we differentiate diapers with inserts we use for daytime from those with nighttime inserts? The parents of the LPO community have shared their best tips with us!
Diaper-prints and Solid Colours
Many parents opt for this strategy for its simplicity and effectiveness. Just put the day-time inserts in the patterned diapers and the more absorbent inserts in the plain coloured diapers. That way when it comes to changing your Baby, they are easy to differentiate with only a glance!
But what if I don't want to limit diaper-prints to daytime use?
Very good question! Other parents prefer assembling the diapers on the spot! Having a small stack of inserts and unprepared diapers could turn out to be the winning recipe for you. With this technique, you can actually take any diaper you want and put any inserts inside of it , when they are needed! (It must be said that putting together a single diaper takes no more than a few seconds!)
The majority of parents who opt for this strategy often have more than one child using cloth diapers at the same time. Thus, this technique allows them to "skip" the full preparation of the diapers and simply put them together when the moment arises.
As you can see, every family finds their own tips and tricks and adapts them to their personal life! We always advise families to buy multiple diaper and insert types to see what works best for them. Your family's needs can change from child to child, so it's always a good idea to make sure your routine is right for each one of them!
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or new tips to share with us!
LPO is distributing its products mainly through its online store and must therefore send orders in cardboard boxes. At the online shopping area, we almost all have received an order by mail once. After opening the box, it automatically ends up in the recycling bin while its shape and strength are still intact. These still perfect looking boxes can very well be used again instead of starting the recycling process all over again!
We have developed a partnership with a company dedicated to recycling shipping boxes that are still intact to ensure the quality of the boxes that will be used by La Petite Ourse.
To help you identify recycled boxes and allow you to easily understand that the package comes from La Petite Ourse, we have developed an adhesive tape that looks like this:
So, even if the box could have the name of another company, be without fear that the parcel does indeed come from La Petite Ourse!
The fabric made from recycled plastic used to create LPO ECO diapers is so appreciated by our customers that we have decided to expand the collection by adding wet bags and pail liners!
The Astronaut wet bag from the brand-new Dream Jobs collection, the Cactus wet bag and the Starlit Sky pail liner will be the very first LPO ECO accessories in a series of several to come!
When developing LPO ECO diapers, we did research and tests to ensure the effectiveness of this new type of raw material and can say with confidence that our fabric made of recycled plastic is of high quality. Thus, the diapers and now the new LPO ECO accessories have the same effectiveness and the same softness as our products from the standard collection.
Each small LPO ECO wet bag is made with more than four recycled plastic bottles! | |
Each LPO ECO pail liner is made with approximately 14 recycled plastic bottles! |
When having all the necessary accessories, using cloth diapers when travelling is very similar to using them back at home!
An average of 7 cloth diapers per day. This number can change depending on your baby's age and needs. We advise you to rely on your average usage at home!
DAlso, it might be worth opting for diaper covers instead of pocket diapers or all-in-ones if you think that they could easily meet your baby's needs. Since the diaper cover is only the outer part of the diaper, it is the option that takes up the least space in luggages. All you need to do is bring some diaper covers with you as well as the number of inserts needed for everyday use. Plus, if the baby is only peeing, it's even possible to simply change the inserts inside without changing the diaper cover as well (if it hasn't been soiled, of course). This way you can maximise the number of times your diaper cover is used.
1. ote that we recommend washing your soiled diapers every 2 to 3 days. Some parents prefer to wash the diapers in a more spaced interval. That decision is up to you, but the longer you wait to wash cloth diapers, the more likely they are to develop odours and other problems associated with poor maintenance.
2. If you can get more information on the washing machines available during your vacation, their type of water and the detergent provided, this will allow you to adjust yourself accordingly! You can also bring with you the ideal detergent to take good care of your cloth diapers even if you are not at home.
3. We are well aware of the challenge of cloth diapers when travelling. Even if you opt to only partially use cloth diapers, remember that using a cloth diaper one time still represents one less disposable diaper in landfills!
We hope these tips will help you for your upcoming trips!
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We have created a first LPO ECO collection to do our part in managing plastic waste and to allow as many environmentally conscious customers as possible to encourage circular practices. This collection highlights unique prints and unfortunately won’t return for sale once they are sold out. On the other hand, keep an eye out for a possible LPO ECO 2 collection ...
]]>Throughout the years, more and more families have been purchasing cloth diapers. Unknown at first, they grew in popularity and became the alternative to disposable diapers for parents. Let’s take a look at 3 significant benefits of making the swap.
First and foremost, it is great to remind ourselves that using cloth diapers is eco-friendly as it is a great way to reduce our carbon footprint. In fact, the amount of water and raw materials needed to produce cloth diapers is substantially low compared to the disposable ones. On top of this, you only need around 20 diapers for your baby and good news: you can use them again for the next one or even donate them. A child uses an average of 6000 disposable diapers. By opting for cloth diapers, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of waste in your family.
As an average of 20 diapers is enough for a baby, needless to say that you will be able to save a great deal of money every week since you won’t need to constantly buy diapers. That is a lot of money that can be invested somewhere else!
Last but not least, cloth diapers are the safest for your little one's skin. Since our diapers are made of certified fabrics, we are able to affirm that they do not contain any toxic substances and meet the requirements of standards set by governments. Therefore you can use them without having to worry about the components in your cloth diapers.
]]>Cloth diapers are a way to meet your child’s needs while reducing your family's ecological footprint.
You can also consult our Q&A for more details on the world of cloth diapers.
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