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Greetings!
It's been another busy month at Monkey Doodlez® and we're getting all of our planning in place for 2012! Can you believe that the holiday season is just around the corner? We're really thrilled to hear from our customers (and bloggers) just how much you're loving our products - we're committed to manufacturing HIGH quality cloth diapers and accessories that not only work for your family, but make it easier and more affordable to make healthy choices. Our Tuck and Go® system is proving to be a favorite with dad's and day cares - after all, no one wants to touch soiled fabric and our redesigned pads covered in luxurious bamboo microfleece is so comfy on your baby's bottoms and ultra absorbent! Our Wipe Cubes are flying off the shelves as families come to appreciate how easy they are to use and how well they work! Karen from New & Green Baby Co. has written a great tutorial on how to make and use your own Toxin Free Wipes and she has allowed us to share it with you this month! The world of cloth diapers can sometimes become a bit overwhelming with conflicting opinions and advice. We want to help you wade through some of that confusion with the articles in our newsletters as well as through our Facebook page. We believe that the bottom line is that is is healthier and more economical to use cloth diapers on your baby and that really, parents are just looking for quality products that contain the pee and poo where we want it contained. When they are trendy or cute, that's just a bonus! We also believe that it is important for parents to be educated as to what ingredients or components are used (and unfortunately sometimes hidden in misleading terms) in the products that you are selecting for your families. We're excited to see a number of our retailers winning accolades and awards, proving that the "movement" towards reusable and sustainable products that are healthier for our babies and our planet is really taking off! Our number 1 priority at Monkey Doodlez® is customer service - so if we can be of any help, in any way, please contact us via our Facebook page or email. Be sure to pass along this newsletter to family and friends so that they can sign up and receive future issues. We're so thrilled to be able to provide top quality, Canadian made products for your family. Sincerely, Cheryl Yakem & Kelly Paley Monkey Doodlez® |
 Warnings for Your Warranty If you're feeling overwhelmed and confused about cloth diapering and warranties, you are not alone. In fact, it is a very common and ongoing concern for cloth diaper users. All cloth diaper manufacturers have warranties contingent upon correct usage of their product. When you've made the large financial and moral investment to cloth diaper, you want to be sure to take proper care of your diapers and make them last as long as possible. With so many different fabrics, blends, cleaning methods and companies, everyone has a preference and a professional opinion on how to maintain and prolong the life of your cloth diapers.
If you're new to cloth, take the time to read but most all, understand your warranty. Some manufacturers only cover defects in workmanship like the elastic breaking or faulty sewing. Some manufacturers will replace or refund after 3 months, some 6 months or even a year for various issues. There are manufacturers that do not cover warranty after the first use, some after 30 uses. If you have a stains or ammonia smell, this may void some warranties. Some will not replace your products if you do not adhere to their strict washing guidelines. Repelling, residues and leaking are issues that some manufacturers will not cover under warranty. Some manufacturers err on the side of caution only recommending a handful of detergents.
When there are so many different lists, charts and recommendations, there is bound to be conflicting information and confusion about detergents. Although these lists contain some great information as a guide, even some of the top recommended detergents contain toxic irritants with questionable ingredients that may not be suitable for delicate skin or the environment.
Before doing anything else, the foundation of your washing routine should be to understand the products you use and why certain brands recommend some detergents over others. For example, some detergents might work very well but are not recommended by some companies who are brand sensitive, only recommending their own house brand.
Let's take a look at some general concerns in relation to warranties:
Baking Soda: Some manufacturers do not recommend baking soda for use on certain brands of cloth diapers. Their reasoning: if it is not rinsed properly, it can, over time break down fabrics. If you are concerned about baking soda residues, simply add an additional rinse to your load. There are many other ingredients in detergents that can break your clothing down much more quickly than baking soda could ever do. Soda wash, for example is a form of ground up glass. It is the abrasive agent in almost all detergents.
Oils: Some detergents list palm, coconut, soy, castor and other oils as a base. Be sure to understand if the oil is a soap base, added as a moisturizer in liquid soaps or simply added as "coconut derived ingredients" (a questionable term for foaming agent). Always consider whether you are using a soap based detergent or a detergent that has oil added to it. There is a huge difference. All soap must contain oil in the process of saponification. Mixed with an alkaline solution, it is cured (solidified) into a bar. Oil in soap ingredients does not mean that oil has been added to a mixture, it simply means it has hardened into soap. Always use the suggested amount from the company directions. With all detergents, if too much soap is used without proper rinsing, repelling can become an issue. Especially when switching from a different detergent, an initial cloth strip might be necessary to eliminate any original residues.
Fragrances: Most commercial fragrances are phthalate based which are derived from plastic sources. When used in hot water, this ingredient creates a barrier much like a slip and slide which can trap bacteria and cause repelling. If you are concerned about certain companies who use scented products with oils, simply use unscented and don't be afraid to ask if they are phthalate free.
Fabric Softeners: Most manufacturers do not recommend the use of fabric softeners. Commercial fabrics not only contain phthalate fragrances but also acidic ingredients that soften fabrics with the use of chemicals. This can indeed break down fabric and cause leaking.
Sodium Sulphate: surprisingly, Sulfuric Acid is a very common ingredient in some top cloth diaper detergents. Sulfuric acid is considered toxic. It is corrosive and carries the risk of chemical burns when in contact with skin. It is questionable that Sulfuric Acid is considered a safe ingredient that will not void the warranty of a child's diaper regardless of high acidity levels that may break down material and cause negative skin reactions.
Surfactants and Foaming agents: Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS), Disodium Dioctyl Sulfosuccinate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Disodium Oleamide Sulfosuccinate, Laureth or Lauryl Sulfate Lauryl or Cocoyl Sarcosine, Potassium Coco Hydrolysed Collagen, Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Triethanolamine (TEA). Apart from their negative reputation of being carcinogenic, causing respiratory toxicity, skin irritation, tumors in mice and immunotoxicity, surfactants can cause major residues and repelling in cloth diapers. Many of these ingredients are also listed in some of the safe detergents list.
Ultimately, how you launder is up to you. If you have the proper information, you can have great success with your laundering without sacrificing your desire to keep your baby safe from exposure to chemical substances. Your diaper warranty is merely one factor to consider.
Until next time, Happy Laundering!
Jessy Doyle-Huberman,
Operations Administrator. NHP, CNC, CHN, RNPA, CI, CH
Jessy Doyle-Huberman holds over 6 natural health designations in nutrition, health sciences and nutraceuticals. Keenly interested in natural health and the environment, Jessy is also a published freelance writer for health magazines and clinics throughout Canada and the USA. In 2009, Jessy developed and founded The Laundry Tarts™; an unlimited data base of helpful information and safe alternative products for all ages.
Learn more about The Laundry Tarts by visiting their website and joining them on Facebook!
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Celebrating Our Retailers
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| Parents Think WiggleBums is Pure Gold
WiggleBums has been serving the parents in the Durham Region for two years, and this year the readers have recognized them with the Gold Award for Best Baby Supplies in Readers' Choice Awards.
"We are so excited to win this award," says Leanne Coatham, owner of WiggleBums. "Once people discover all of the advantages of using cloth diapers, they never look back. We are honoured to be able to help new parents get started and answer any questions they have along the way."
Leanne doesn't just sell cloth diapers; she also uses them on her son and is an avid supporter of their use. Her son has tried everything they sell so she is very knowledgeable on how the products work. "I am here for my customers whenever they need me," says Leanne. "I offer in home consultations and I'm always available to answer questions and provide information."
In addition to cloth diapers, WiggleBums also offers breast pumps, handmade quilts and will soon have rattles and educational toys.
If you are looking for the perfect gift for the expectant mom in your life, WiggleBums has gift certificates available. Soon to be moms can create a registry with WiggleBums for their showers.
Everything WiggleBums offers is in stock, so you can pick up what you need, when you need it. You can also order online or over the phone, and delivery and shipping is available.
WiggleBums is a home based business located in Oshawa. For more information, please call (905) 721-2471 or visit the website at www.WiggleBumsDiapers.ca. You can also visit them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter
To celebrate this award, WiggleBums is offering a free sample of Monkey Doodlez Wipe Cubes with every store purchase of $30 or more! Simply add "congratulations" to the comments section of your order to have the sample included. Valid until November 30, 2011 or while supplies last!
CONGRATULATIONS LEANNE AND WIGGLEBUMS FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT MONKEY DOODLEZ®!
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EcoParent is a brand new Canadian, community focused organization that believes in making better choices for our children, and for ourselves. Their goal is to inspire and facilitate these better choices in whatever ways we can. They have some unique things planned inlcuding the launch of their new website and coming Spring 2012, the EcoParent Magazine. They've even released an EcoParent Book of Fabulous Savings (which includes a deal on Monkey Doodlez® and Laundry Tarts products)!
Joining the EcoParent community will make it easier for you to make informed choices that will benefit your family and your community. Check them out today!
We're in the running for an award from EcoParent and we hope you will take a moment to help us out!
PLEASE VOTE for us if your family had a really good experience with Monkey Doodlez. Have we vastly exceeded your expectations or went the extra mile? EcoParent wants to know about it!
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Monkey Doodlez was born out of necessity to fill a need for a functional, high quality, good fitting diaper made with comfortable, natural fibers.
The name Monkey Doodlez was Cheryl's oldest daughter's nick name as a tot, so it seemed only a natural fit for the product line. Born on a dining room table, Monkey Doodlez has now grown to serve nearly 500 retailers around the world. Monkey Doodlez products have always been made in Canada, sourcing as many materials as possible from Canadian suppliers. We opted out of a factory environment, choosing instead to employ home sewers, to provide them with flexible hours, competitive wages and the opportunity to spend more time with their families. The end result is excellent workmanship. Over the years, the Monkey Doodlez line has grown to include AIO's, Swim Diapers, Wet Bags, Pail Liners, Pail Pals, Wipes Cubes and in the past year we have added the patent pending Tuck and Go Diapering System. Our head office and warehouse is located in picturesque Uxbridge, Ontario, a little bit NE of Toronto. Kelly Paley has recently joined us in a marketing and customer service role, based out of Kelowna, BC. We stand behind our products. If ever you run into an issue with one of our products, we will work with you until the matter is resolved. Customer satisfaction is our #1 priority! Please don't hesitate to contact us any time with questions or feedback!
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Ask the Diaper Fairy
 How Much Detergent Should I Use to Wash My Diapers?
If you haven't already discovered, you'll soon learn that establishing the ideal laundering routine for your cloth diapers takes some trial and error. Every machine, water conditions and assortment of diapers varies and so there is no one simple answer.
Some detergents have specific instructions for laundering cloth diapers and in such cases, the directed amount is your starting point for laundering your cloth diapers.
Other detergents are not specifically formulated for cloth diapers and such detergents require a bit more trial and error to determine the specific quantity to be used.
Once you have checked that the ingredients are compatible with your cloth diapers, we would suggest that you start with about half the recommended amount of detergent. Every detergent varies, so you may be best to contact the manufacturer for their recommendations on the product - for example your water conditions and water temperature can have an impact on the detergent.
Do you have a question for the Diaper Fairy? Please email us and we'll do our best to help! If your question is selected as our question of the month, you'll receive a discount code for your next order!
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Dominican Ministry - Diaper Drive Update
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A quick update on Jeffery, he is doing better,with regular food and milk, will try to get you a new picture as soon as I can.
the diapers are a HUGE hit and there are many many happy dry colored little bums around, trying to get more pictures for you but it is hard to get them together..... We are feeding approx 40 mamas, babies and toddlers on the oatmeal program and hoping to make it a full kids meal day for ages baby to 12 as soon as the funds are available. We have a lot of new babies in the village and most are doing well. More diapers will be needed soon thanks for caring and sharing...we love you mucho! For information on how you can help please visit
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How To Make Your Own Toxin Free Wipes!
By Karen Randall, New & Green Baby Co.
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With all the concern brought to light about what we are exposing ourselves and our children to when using personal care products, it's refreshing to have a product that is safe and effective to use and offer up to you.
Wiping baby skin is a repetitive job which means repetitive exposure if using something a on the little less healthy end of the spectrum.
So have a read and see how easy it is to start using cloth wipes. Less waste, more health concious.
Read the Article Here!
Then stop by New and Green to save 10% on your next order of Wipe Cubes with code wipe10 at checkout!
About New & Green Baby Co.
Launching New & Green Baby Co. has allowed me to continue to make connections with mothers and babies and share knowledge which is what I love to do. Owning and running New & Green has been a dream come true, from a productivity and family perspective. It's been very exciting to be Vancouver's first online
store where you can get everything you need to successfully cloth diaper your baby - products and information. Prompt, friendly and knowledgable customer service is part of our mission.
Happy Baby, Happy Parents, Plain & Simple - That's our Goal!
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Little Models October 
Congratulations Ellie! Your mommy now has $25 in savings on her next Monkey Doodlez® order!
Enter to win our November photo contest!
October
Entries
   
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