You choose the next HOLIDAY 3-pack!

Hey everyone! We loved making the Spooktacular holiday 3-pack and we're looking into offering a very special 3-pack for release sometime in Novemeber for availability through the Holidays! Here's your chance to choose which 3 colors go into that pack! Choose the 3 colors you like beest below and vote in our poll at www.facebook.com/smartipantsdiapers make sure to become our fan on facebook! Check out the colors and combinations below.

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Here are the combinations you will be voting on:
Oh Christmas Tree: hot chocolate, tree green, christmas red

Holiday Lights: winter blue, yellow star, christmas red

Happy Holidays: winter blue, christmas red, tree green

Merry Christmas: christmas red, tree green, snow white

Winter Solstice: winter blue, snow white, hot chocolate

Tree Topper: christmas red, tree green, yellow star

Gingerbread House: hot chocolate, christmas red, winter blue

Smartipants are proud to be Made in the USA!

Thank you to all of our customers and fans for supporting Smartipants. We are so proud to offer you products made completely in the USA in our own facility in Los Angeles, CA. We do not outsource any of our labor, we cut and sew all of the materials that go into your Smartipants diapers and accessories right here. When you buy Smartipants you are supporting American families working hard to support themselves in a tough economic time for our country. The unemployment rate is the highest it has ever been and we are proud to continue to support American jobs with our Made in the USA products. We strive to offer competitive, often lower than the competition prices and the highest quality in our diapers. We stand behind our products and the workmanship that goes into them. We value our customers and our employees and we would love it if you would encourage anyone you know considering cloth diapers to look more closely at Smartipants and to make every effort to buy USA made products!

Choose Octobers Color of the Month!

Help us choose Octobers color of the month which will be available for purchase October 1st! Keep in mind we will be having a Spooktacular Photo Contest featuring the October Limited Edition Color! ( details available Oct. 1st, 2010)

Here are your choices! Be sure to click HERE to vote now!

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Color Selection for Limited Edition 3 pack Poll!

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Hot Chocolate, Raspberry, Red, Royal Blue, Sour Apple and Orange
Click HERE now to vote for your favorite color for our next Limited Edition 3-pack of the Month! Poll closes August 15, 2010 so VOTE TODAY!!

Smartipants Announcement!

We’ve had an amazing 1st year sharing Smartipants with you. It was a great pleasure for us to bring a unique diaper to the marketplace. We are so grateful for all of our customers, friends and fans who’ve supported Smartipants throughout this first year of tremendous growth.

We’ve been working hard for many months and we’re finally ready to share some brand new things from Smartipants! We know you’ll love what’s coming next and we can’t wait to continue to share our products and services with you.
We have several announcements today so please make sure to read all the way through to hear about everything we now have to offer!

The number 1 request we have received is more colors for Smartipants! We appreciate that you love your Smartipants diapers and want them in a wider variety of colors. We have a special program beginning August 2, 2010 that will bring more new colors your way. We are introducing our Limited Edition 3-Pack of the month program. We will be offering a brand new 3-Pack of Smartipants in a different and unique color each and every month. Not only are we offering a Limited Edition Diaper each month, the best part is that the color will be chosen by you, our Smartipants Fans!
Our 1st custom color has been in high demand and we’re bringing it to you as our 1st Limited Edition 3-Pack of the Month available exclusively at www.smartipants.com

Please welcome for August… HOT CHOCOLATE!

This color is available in a limited quantity and will be sold only while supplies last. Check out www.smartipants.com to see how many we have in stock in our special custom color. Our September Limited Edition 3-Pack of the month will be chosen by Smartipants fans on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/smartipantsdiapers. Become our fan and watch for the poll available from the 1st to the 15th of each month allowing you to vote on next months 3-Pack!


We are also excited to bring you not 1, not 2, not even 3, but 4 NEW PRODUCTS!!!!
We are excited to offer unique new designs and smart new diapers and accessories. Please go to www.smartipants.com and check out our newest members of the Smartipants family:

“Little Smarti” Newborn All-in-One Diapers, “Smart Fit” One-Size Diaper Covers, “Smart Tote” Wet Bags and “Smart Pail” Laundry Bags!

We are proud of these innovative new designs and we know that you’ll love their smart features and smart price tags!
“Little Smarti” Newborn All-in-One diapers offer a perfect fit for new babies and have the convenience of Velcro style closures. No extra pieces make this a smart choice for baby’s first diaper!


“Smart Fit” One-Size Diaper Covers are truly the most adjustable diaper cover design ever offered! This cover will fit over prefolds and fitteds in any size from newborn to toddler. They offer adjustments never seen before for a truly unique fit!


“Smart Tote” Wet Bags and “Smart Pail” Laundry Bags are now available! These bags are waterproof and zippered making them perfect for toting dirty diapers on the go and storing diaper laundry until wash day! They have a convenient snap handle allowing them to be attached anywhere you need them!


If you think that this was the end of our announcement, wait a second because we are not done yet…. Today for the 1st time at www.smartipants.com you can find brand new package deals on 12 and 24 packs of Smartipants! The more you buy, the more you save!
Click here to see the savings for yourself and check out the packages we are now offering on Smartipants!

We are so proud of all this exciting news and we are happy to answer questions via our fan page at www.facebook.com/smartipantsdiapers or you can email questions to customercare@smartipants.com For the next hour we will be available on Facebook and Twitter for a Live Q & A, so ask away!

Down and Dirty- the Truth about Washing Cloth Diapers

Let’s get down and dirty and talk about what it’s really like to wash your own diapers. We’ve all heard the “ewwww gross” comments and some of us even started out thinking that, you know who you are. So what is it really like? Is it as easy as these cloth diapering moms claim? Do I have to touch poop?
I love cloth diapering my babies for so many reasons, but let’s get one thing straight, messing around with dirty diapers is not my idea of a good time. I have designed Smartipants to be the easiest diapers to care for that are 100% reusable for this reason!
So here’s the play by play of using and caring for Smartipants…
Once you receive your brand new diapers you want to wash them in hot water on the normal setting for your washer with about ¼ the recommended amount of detergent. Follow this with an extra rinse and tumble dry. You can also hang them to dry if you wish. This is all that is required to prepare your diapers for first use. Once they are dry you place the insert into the smart sleeve and they are ready to go.

So now we’re ready to put them on baby. There is a great video showing how to snap Smartipants to the smallest setting. Click here to watch the video on youtube.
So you need to figure out which setting is best for your baby’s size and shape. It’s ok if it seems like your younger baby is already on a larger setting. Babies tend to slim down as the grown and become mobile. Smartipants should still provide a good fit. You shouldn’t worry about outgrowing them yet.

So you’ve figured out the snap settings you want to use and you’ve got the diaper on baby. Now what? Well now we wait…a couple hours later it’s time for a diaper change! So you get your clean Smartipants diaper out and make sure it’s set to the size you want. Then you remove the dirty diaper, wipe baby’s bottom and replace with a clean Smartipants. Here’s the not so scary part - what to do with the dirty diaper…

Take the dirty diaper to the bathroom and shake any solids into the toilet. If your baby has poop that isn’t yet solidly formed, you might invest in a diaper sprayer such as a “mini shower” brand sprayer to assist in removing waste from the diaper. Otherwise you can use some tissue to get off any big parts. Now you take the diaper to your laundry room or wherever you keep your waterproof laundry diaper pail or laundry bag and you place the dirty diaper inside and close until laundry time. This process takes just a few minutes and you will become very efficient in no time. I can do this is less than 4 minutes from removing the diaper to getting it in the diaper pail. Now you get to wash your hands and go snuggle that baby!

Laundry time…so now you have about 12-15 diapers in your pail and you’re ready to do a load of diaper laundry. This is the easy part. Take your waterproof laundry bag or pail liner and turn it inside out pushing all the diapers into your washer then toss the bag in at the same time. Set your washer to a regular wash cycle with an extra rinse, add ¼ to ½ the recommended amount of detergent, this is all that is needed to get your Smartipants thoroughly clean and start the washer. DO NOT add fabric softener or any other additives. Fabric softener will cause your diapers to repel liquid and LEAK!
If your diapers seem to retain odor or have a strong ammonia odor you can add ¼ c liquid bleach to your wash cycle. This is recommended no more often than once every other month.

Now you can toss the load into the dryer to tumble dry or you can hang to dry. When your diapers come out of the wash the inserts will have separated themselves from the diaper which ensures they are getting thoroughly clean and will dry faster as well. Once they are dry you simply place the inserts back into the smart sleeve and your Smartipants are ready to reuse. You should never have to touch the inserts when they are wet or soiled as the diaper has been designed specifically to avoid that unpleasant task. You need only handle the inside of the diaper when it is clean and dry.
I hope this information is helpful and please feel free to direct any questions via email to customercare@smartipants.com or check out of fan page of facebook by clicking here!

Benefits of Reusable Diapers

There is a lot of information out there on the pros and cons of cloth diapering today. I’d like to talk to you about the benefits I’ve experienced over the last decade in cloth diapering my own 4 children. For our family, we originally considered and eventually chose reusable diapers for the money savings. We just couldn’t justify as a young family paying thousands of dollars for diapers if there was a cheaper alternative. We originally started with old fashioned prefolds, diaper pins and waterproof pants to cover them. We had started our first baby in disposables and as soon as I discovered that we could cloth diaper him we really had no choice. I simply could not afford to continue to buy diapers that would be thrown away in the trash.
After cloth diapering with the prefolds and upon learning we were expecting baby # 2 I decided to learn to sew so we could have some Velcro style fitted diapers in cute fabrics. So I made lots of tiny diapers for the new baby and learned more and more about the other benefits of reusable diapers. I knew I wanted to continue cloth diapering with my children even if the cost of disposables wasn’t the issue any longer. It still seemed silly to waste money so that was still a big benefit, but I became interested in the environmental impact of my choices as well. There are studies that I consider very outdated at this point but they are out there and they state that the impact of disposable diapers may not be much more than that of reusable diapers. I disagree with that because it doesn’t take modern reusable diapers into consideration and the fact that they are actually energy efficient to launder these days using less water and detergent and less or no time in the dryer. For our family as we grew and especially now that I have 4 children the amount of waste we generate in our household is a big concern. We always seek ways to lessen the amount of trash we produce. We find ways to recycle more and more and reusable products is a big way to reduce waste. This factor alone builds a strong case for reusable diapers. Every child in disposables produces 1 cubic ton of non-biodegradable waste. That is a lot of waste. For the average family with 2 children that is 2 cubic tons of waste. To reduce that to zero is a major difference.
I also love the benefits to my babies. With the introduction of modern fabrics that wick moisture away from baby’s delicate skin and helps to keep them dry and rash free, we personally saw our babies benefit. We had almost no rashes ever and no need for constant application of creams and ointments. I really felt good about using a product I knew was safe and healthy for my babies and especially that it lacked the chemicals found in disposables. I wasn’t sure if those chemicals were truly safe or not but being able to avoid them completely felt like a great choice for our family.
So those were the reasons I chose and continued choosing reusable diapers over the last 10 years. I felt so strongly that it was a great option for our family that I went as far as to make getting reusable diapers to the lowest price and the easiest to use style a career so I could share this wonderful choice with other families. There are great modern reusable diapers available today and I encourage anyone who would be interested in cloth diapering to check it out!
Smartipants currently offers the smartest modern reusable diaper MADE in the USA for an unbeatable price! Click here to buy Smartipants today!

For more tips click here to visit us on Facebook!

New Contest Announced by Smartipants!

Brand New Contest Announcement!

Want to win your own Smartipants Diapers? We know you do, and we have a great contest that will give you that opportunity!

We love our customers are your reviews have really helped us become the number 1 one-size diaper in the world in the last year! We love it when you spread the word about Smartipants and we appreciate all your support. So between now and July 15, 2010 we are hosting a contest! Every winner chosen will receive a Smart Start 3 pack in their color choice. The number of winners will be determined by the number of participants so encourage your friends to join in. The more participants we have the more winners we will select!

Contest Details: We will accept entries for each new fan on our facebook fan page as well as every post, comment, or pic submitted to our facebook fan page here www.facebook.com/smartipantsdiapers

We will also accept an entry for every tweet on twitter to or mentioning @thesmartipants and for new followers on twitter www.twitter.com/thesmartipants.

Simply tell us and everyone why you love Smartipants, your favorite color, the new color you hope to see Smartipants come out with, your favorite part of cloth diapering, the kind of products you like to see us come out with and more. We want your reviews, your pics and your thoughts. Every time you post it counts as a contest entry. This contest is limited to Smartipants fans in the US and Canada. Winners will be notified by July 30, 2010. Good Luck!

10 Smart Ways to Save on Raising Your Kids

From http://www.walletpop.com
10 smart ways to save on raising your kids
Bonnie McCarthy
Jun 7th 2010 at 11:00AM Filed under: Family Money, Saving Money

There's a new price tag on parenthood and it ain't cheap -- but of course, that comes as no surprise to America's moms and dads. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the cost of raising a child has skyrocketed 22% since 1960, and now rings up at a whopping $11,650 to $13,530 per year for middle income parents (earning $56,670 to $98,120) and between $19,380 and $23,180 for families taking home more than $98,120 annually.

But wait, there's more: New parents have something else to keep them up at night. Children born in 2009 carry an even higher price tag and are estimated to cost a middle class family $286,050 by the time the tot is old enough to vote. Families in a higher tax bracket will pay closer to $475,680.

Now, for the bad news. The USDA did not include the cost of a college education, life insurance for hard working parents, and other child-related expenses like snacks for an entire soccer team, Nintendo DS, American Girl dolls and replacing appliances because someone thought it would be cool to see what would happen if you stuck an action figure in there...

The thing is, kids come with a no returns, no exchanges, all sales final sort of policy that doesn't include loopholes for the rising cost of child rearing. You can't give 'em back -- not that you'd really want to. They are worth every penny and more; it would just be nice to have a few left over. Following are a few tips for raising kids on budget that will help do just that.

Library cards are free
According to the U.S. Department of Education, reading to young children promotes language development and reading skills and is linked to a student's overall success in school. It's a lifetime advantage for a child that is absolutely free with a library card. As kids get older, the variety of books, magazines and newspapers available at libraries is equally important. Many libraries also offer free computer time, and rent DVDs and movies at bargain rates. Go to Publiclibraries.com to find a local library.

Baby sitting co-op
Not everyone lives next door to Grandma. For those of us who don't have relatives to allow a reprieve from the kids, consider swapping hours with a parent in the same position. You have their kids over for a few hours, and they return the favor. Make sure everyone knows the rules of the agreement so there are no hard feelings -- and whatever you do, don't be late for pick up. "The best thing about the co-op, besides not having to pay, is that our kids know each other and play together," said mother of two Marie desJardins on BabyCenter.com. "So in some ways, it's actually better than having a babysitter come over because it's a treat for the kids to get to visit a friend's house. Plus, we know that these are experienced parents, and over time, the parents have become close friends, too." For ideas on how to get started, go to BabyCenter.com or check out Smart Mom's Baby Sitting Co op Handbook and start-up kit at Babysittingcoop.com.

"Kids Eat Free" meal deals
Feeding the family Top Ramen at home every night might save money, but it won't do much for your sanity -- or sodium intake. When it's time to take a breather, check out MyKidsEatFree.com for a listing of 5,545 restaurants nationwide that offer one or two nights a week where kids can order and eat for free! Coupondivas.com also offers kids-eat-free listings as well as coupons for discounts on pizza. Other savings strategies might include encouraging small eaters to share an order and sticking with water instead of soda. Sometimes when you can't take the heat, you really should get out of the kitchen.

Style swap
Savvy parents are catching on to the fact that swapping gently-used clothing makes sense. How often was that holiday blazer, ski pant or darling toddler sweater worn? Has Skippy outgrown the wet suit? Some things should be permanently retired (think: stained, ripped, threadbare), but many things are perfectly suited for swapping. WalletPop journalist, Diane Wedner said, "When my daughters were teens, they organized clothing swaps in which their friends brought over clothing items they were tired of. All the girls laid their contribution out on the floor, each girl chose from the skirts, tops, pants, belts, tanks, shorts, you name it -- and each felt she'd gotten something new. The leftover clothes were donated to charity. Win-win!" If you don't have a local group to trade with, check out online clothes swapping site, Thredup.com.

Birthday parties on a budget
Keep the happy in birthday and the budget on track with planning and creativity. Skip the super-sized bash at the over priced pizza fun zone and opt for a manageable guest list (experts suggest one guest for every year of the child's age, i.e. turning five equal five friends), an inexpensive location (think park), pitching a tent in the backyard, and choosing activities that spend time, not money: three-legged races, scavenger hunt, freeze tag, Simon says, or making play dough. Parents.com and FamilyFun.com have great, inexpensive ideas online. For older kids, find an interesting free tour in your community: Organize a visit to a fire station, bakery, farm or radio station. A cake can be as simple as letting the kids frost their own cupcakes or creating a Hostess treat "pyramid" -- or maybe one made out of donuts. There are also great online resources for darling do-it-yourself cake resources that require more dash than cash. Cake and ice cream parties planned after lunchtime also keep costs down. Momlogic.com reported that Suri Cruise's 2nd birthday extravaganza cost $100,000 -- you don't have to make the same mistake.

Dive in to a car pool
Dividing the drive time can cut fuel costs and lower auto emissions (another green step forward). Finding trusted friends and neighbors who will be going to the same places is a great way to get to know your community and stretch that tank of gas. Just make sure everyone knows the schedule, the contact numbers, and drop off and pick up times, and obeys the rules of the road.

Pay less at the movies
If you don't need to see the film on opening day, a little patience can pay off. Starplex Discount Theaters operates 24 theaters and 222 screens nationwide with movie tickets priced at $3, and babies ages 1 and under are free. For the price of one ticket to an IMAX 3-D film, the entire family can see the show without sneaking in through the exit door. Costco also sells discounted movie tickets to premium theaters, and AAA offers discounts as well. One of the coolest deals in town: Regal theaters' Free Family Film Festival where select G and PG films are screened for free on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings in the summer. Go to Regmovies.com for details. Popcorn sold separately.

Travel smart
Traveling with kids might not be cheap, but the experiences and change of pace make it worth it -- as long as the budget is kept under control. Look for kids-eat-free deals like the one offered by Holiday Inn (all meals free!), and remember to pack some microwave popcorn if there will be an in-room microwave. For accommodations, check out Hostelling International USA to look for family rooms with private bathrooms -- it's not like the college backpacking trip you might remember -- and the price is right. If you're dreaming of a cruise, your ship may have come in. Many cruise lines are offering free or greatly reduced rates for kids. Check out Norwegian Cruise Line and other top lines for the best fares -- even Disney offers free cruising for kids in the off season. Bon voyage!

Start a gift stash
It's amazing how many birthday parties a child can get invited to over the course of a year, and although no one expects lavish gifts, the cost of a budding social butterfly adds up quickly. Avoid over-paying for costly gifts at the last minute by stocking up on great age-appropriate toys on the clearance racks and shopping after-holiday sales. Make sure the kids don't have access to the stash, and once in a while you might put an early birthday or holiday find on the shelf for them, too. Score! Buyer beware, however, of over-doing it! Don't stock up on more than you will realistically need -- hold out for the best gifts at the cheapest prices.

Doing Diapers
The Real Diaper Association calculates that buying 6,000 disposable diapers (averaging .25 cents per diaper) for one child over a two-year period comes to a whopping $1,500. Some experts put the figure closer to $3,000 per child over a three-year period. In a previous WalletPop post Smartipants: Earth-friendly diapers for baby's booty on a budget, the case for switching to cloth, or using the new Smartipant adjustable style diaper is a strong one. In fact, one consumer put the new "pocket style" microfiber diapers to the test and came up smiling, "I was really impressed with the design," said initially skeptical consumer Audrey Smith. "If I had known about them earlier, I would have bought 20 of them." Priced at $39.95 for a pack of three, the durable, reusable Smartipant alternative could end up saving parents thousands of dollars. Just the thing for new parents with sticker shock.

Fun in the Sun with your Baby, Toddler or Preschooler

So many ways to have fun in the sun with your baby, toddler or preschooler! Comment and tell us how you play outdoors with your family!

1.Show them the magic of shadows!
2. make chalk drawings on the sidewalk or
driveway
3. “paint” with water
4. roll, toss or kick a ball around
5. count flowers in your yard or go on a flower hunt
6. play hopscotch
7. blow bubbles
8. play tag
9. enjoy popsicles or for more fun make your own!
10. dig in a sand box
11. ride trikes and bikes
12. swing together
13. play in the local park
14. pick dandelions and make wishes
15. pack a picnic and take it anywhere- even the back yard
16. make your own root beer floats
17. wear fun hats or visors
18. lie down and watch the clouds
19. visit the beach
20. fly a kite
21. play tic tac toe in the dirt with a stick
22. play marbles (use pebbles)
23. collect pebbles, notice their colors
24. jump rope or hula hoop
25. dance to music
26. sing out loud
27. lay in a hammock
28. play “red light, green light”
29. do jumping jacks
30. play “Simon Says”
31. try to catch bugs, admire them, release
32. trace each other’s shadow on the ground
33. plant seeds, nurture them, watch them grow
34. jump in puddles – SPLASH
35. read together in a shady spot
36. go for a nature walk
37. find a local trail to hike
38. play “ I –spy”
39. make a sheet tent over a clothesline
40. camp in your own back yard
41. talk about colors and search for as many as you can find
42. get a FREE library card – USE it!
43. skip together
44. take a walk
45. play hide and seek
46. crawl around on your lawn – be a horse or a dog!
47. Splash in buckets of water
48. play with squirt guns
49. Build sand castles
50. chase but don’t catch butterflies or lightening bugs
51. find earthworms, put them in a garden
52. visit a state park
53. play leap frog

Summer School at Home

Summer is definitely arriving soon! We have just a week left of school for our 3 older kids and the sun is shining. It really got me to thinking about how to spend the time with them when they aren't in school and how to get my preschooler ready for the fall.
There are so many things that our kids are taught in school but also many that aren't. It occurred to me that the summer is a great time to focus on the things I want them to learn that aren't taught in school. It's also a great time to reinforce some of their school lessons. They learn at school to check out, take care of and return library books so we are definitely hitting up the public library this summer. They will keep up their reading skills and continue to learn about taking care of things that are borrowed and the privilege of borrowing. We are also going to get flash cards for our 3rd grader since learning the multiplication facts was a little tough for her this year.
What I really want to focus on though is some of the things we don't get as much time for. I want them to really work on taking care of their space so I'm going to hold the older kids to making their beds and doing their chores. I'm also going to make sure they all understand our choices to have a home garden, to do our own composting with worm bins and our focus on recycling and why we make those choices. I want them to really understand the importance of taking care of our planet, our family and ourselves. I also plan to take a few road trips this summer that are focused on nature and the outdoors. I'm taking them to see Yosemite and we've already been to see the Giant Sequoias. I want them to see the world as something amazing to be a part of and I want them to care about their impact here.
I also want to spend more time doing hands on things like baking cupcakes together and less time with them in front of the TV. I want them to be outside, to take walks together and maybe fit in a little creek clean up time near our home. I hope we can do a lot of economical projects together too like making our own popsicles and creating bird feeders with pinecones and peanut butter!
Now this is my idea of summer school!

Eco-friendly tips for parents!

We are all trying to make more environmentally responsible as well as economical choices in raising our families. I've put together some tips to help you get started!

1. Reusable Diapers for baby! Obviously I'm partial to this tip, but it does save an estimated 1 cubic ton of waste from our landfills per child! It also saves $3000 over the cost of disposables when you choose Smartipants!

2. Reusable shopping bags - we all shop and as moms we do it more often! Groceries, baby clothes, laundry detergent and more...tote it home in reusable bags and forget the paper and plastic.

3. Unplug appliances that are not in use. We've made a real effort at home to do this and it's made a difference in our electic bill which means we're saving money and energy. If it's not in use we unplug it!

4. Start a garden- it's good for the earth and for your family and saves money on groceries. You can also grow your own organic fruits and veggies and get your whole family involved in spending time together outdoors. Our family has even taken on the step of doing our own composting and fertilzing our garden.

5. Make your own baby food! This is a great money saver and it is so good for babies and children. You can introduce them to a wonderful variety of in season fruits and vegetables too.

6. Change your lightbulbs. It's a great time to save energy by swapping your old bulbs for energy efficient bulbs. They save energy throughout your house and they last longer!

Please feel free to share the ways your family saves money, energy and the positive things you do to be earth friendly at home in the comments!

It's a Winner! Smartipants receives top honors!

Smartipants is proud to announce that we have received both the Iparenting media award and the PTPA Media award! We are so excited to receive honors and recognition for product excellence!

Press Release
Smartipants has won the PTPA Media Inc. Seal of Approval

May 11th, 2010 Smartipants is excited to announce that it has been awarded the influential PTPA Media Inc’s Seal of Approval for excellence in family products.

Consumers looking for practical, high-quality products and services can rest easy knowing that products bearing the PTPA Media “Winner” Seal are all “Parent Tested, Parent Approved™.”

Smartipants was among many entries from across North America competing to win the Parent Tested Parent Approved™ Seal for the Summer 2010 campaign. Because independent parent volunteers evaluate these products in their own homes, PTPA winners are chosen based on merit and consumer experience – not on commercial considerations. As a result, the Parent Tested Parent Approved™ Seal has quickly gained recognition as an international leader in certifying consumer products for quality, effectiveness and value.

Being honored with the influential Seal of Approval from PTPA Media Inc. is a huge achievement for a product geared to families, children or parents. "We are so proud of Smartipants and of our hardworking team as they strive to provide the highest quality products available in our field! We are so excited to have received the Seal of Approval from PTPA Media Inc. and to have our product recognized for innovation and excellence!" -Jessica- Creative Director and designer of Smartipants.

“At PTPA Media, we are proud to play a role in certifying innovative new products that families can trust,” says Sharon Vinderine, president and founder of PTPA Media Inc. “It’s win-win. By improving communication between manufacturers and consumers, we are helping companies serve their market better, and helping families identify products that have been tested and recommended by their peers.”



Smartipants

The world’s #1 one-size reusable diaper!
Our cloth diapers are smart for your baby, smart for your wallet, and smart for your environment.




About PTPA Media Inc.
About PTPA Media: PTPA Media provides an objective framework for appraising and promoting new products designed to enrich family living. The company's mission is to marry innovative companies with discerning consumers, to improve families’ access to quality products and services.
PTPA Media Contact Information:

Sharon Vinderine, Tel: (905)738-1447 x.224 For more information visit www.ptpamedia.com.

Mom creates a good non-disposable diaper!

Thank so much to Bonnie at Walletpop for the great interview and this article about how Smartipants came to be!
http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/04/21/smartipants-earth-friendly-diapers-for-babys-booty-on-a-budget/

Thinking about reusable diapers? New to cloth?

Want to go green? Start at the bottom!
Here is an overview of Smartipants for the new user or for anyone considering reusable diapers.

So many moms I know want to make the best decisions for their babies while being environmentally responsible at the same time. But sometimes the expense can be overwhelming. What if there was a way to make a great choice for your baby that was also eco-friendly and saved you thousands of dollars? Would you be interested in trying it? Most of us would answer that with a lot of enthusiasm!
Well, there is finally a product that makes this claim and lives up to it starting at the bottom, literally! Smartipants is a fantastic new reusable diaper for your baby’s bottom. Smartipants diapers are washed and reused but that is where their similarity to old fashioned cloth diapers you might imagine ends. These modern new diapers are made from high performance fabrics, keep baby’s skin dry and rash free, and adjust to fit babies from around 7 to 35 lbs. meaning that as your baby grows so does their diaper!
These smart diapers are unique in that they are the only reusable diapers made 100% in the USA in their own facility right in Los Angeles. They are also unique in their innovative design. Smartipants diapers are the only diaper in the world with a “smart sleeve” that holds an absorbent insert in place while baby wears the diaper and automatically separates itself from the diaper during the laundering process to get twice as clean and dry in half the time! It also means moms only have to handle the diapers when they are clean and dry and can immediately place wet diapers into the diaper pail to wash.
We know your next question is going to be what about the poop? Smartipants are lined with a special stay dry material which wicks moisture quickly away from baby’s sensitive skin and does not hold onto anything solid, so soiled diapers can simply be shaken over the toilet to release solid waste and then they go right into the diaper pail until wash day. This great fabric also washes clean without staining. The outer fabric used is completely soft yet totally waterproof eliminating the need for plastic pants or separate covers.
The recommended number of diapers for full time diapering from birth to potty learning is 24 Smartipants. You can purchase these directly from their website at www.smartipants.com for around $300.00. If you chose disposable diapers you would need approximately 7,000 diapers! Purchasing reusable Smartipants diapers will save you $3,000 over the cost of disposables making these very smart diapers indeed.
Smartipants are a favorite of celebrity moms like Sarah Jessica Parker and Kourtney Kardashian! They have been featured in People Magazine, Parents Magazine, Life & Style and on televisions The Doctors and more.
Find out more by visiting website www.smartipants.com, our Facebook page www.facebook.com/smartipants diapers or follow us on Twitter @thesmartipants!

Frugalicious Mommy Smartipants Review!

Thank you Virginia for your great review of Smartipants!

http://www.frugaliciousmommy.com/2010/03/tip-licious-thursday_10.html

The Cloth Diaper Report review of Smartipants and giveaway!

http://www.theclothdiaperreport.com/2010/03/smartipants-one-size-diaper-review.html

This is a very thorough review of Smartipants diapers and the blogger is hosting a giveaway! Enter to win a smartipants and good luck!

Cloth Diapers and Social Networking

How many parents out there considering or using cloth diapers could even imagine the vast "world" of other cloth diapering parents already sharing information on the internet? There are so many sites and so much information I thought I'd list a few so that new moms and dads looking for more information will know where to find it!

-Read more about Smartipants here https://www.smartipants.com/about
-Visit Smartipants on facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/smartipantsdiapers?ref=ts
-follow Smartipants on twitter http://twitter.com/thesmartipants you can even chat Mondays at 6pm PST using the hashtag #clothdiapers
-read our ratings, participate in forums and find great articles at diaperpin http://diaperpin.com/diapers/itemdetail.asp?id=2142
-Find more information from other parents, buy, sell and trade at Diaperswappers http://www.diaperswappers.com/
-Read articles, organize your life and connect with other moms at Nesting.com, a site created by baby products designer extraordinaire Wendy Bellissimo http://www.nesting.com/experts/article/70701/Getting-Started-with-Cloth-Diapers.html

If you know of more helpful sites with cloth diapering information please comment we love your suggestions!

A pocket full of buttons review of Smartipants!

Thank you to this adorable blog for reviewing Smartipants!
http://apocketfullofbuttons.blogspot.com/2010/02/smarti-pants-cloth-diaper-giveaway.html

Don't forget to enter their giveaway to win Smartipants!

Diaper Laundry and Detergent Choices!

We get so many questions about the different choices available when choosing detergent for laundering cloth diapers. There are so many different brands and many that other moms swear by. What you need to understand is that every person has different needs. What brand of detergent or variety should be based on what kind of diapers you have, what fibers they are made of and what kind of washing machine and water you have in your home or laundry facility.

There is a very well researched list of detergent choices for cloth diapers and their various benefits here http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm

We highly recommend going over this list before makming your selection so that laundering your smart diapers will be as easy as using them!

A new Smartipants review!

Thank you so much for this new review of Smartipants! Includes a great review and cute pictures :) http://rotormommy.blogspot.com/2010/02/smartipants-review.html

Cloth diaper review of several brands including Smartipants!

This is a very thorough review of several cloth diaper brand including our own Smartipants! It also includes some adorable pictures! You can read the review here http://bugro2.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-cloth-diaper-review.html

Babeelove reviews Smartipants!

Thank you to Nicolle at Babeelove for reviewing Smartipants!!
http://babeelove.com/2010/02/smartipants-one-size-cloth-diapers-review/

Mommy and Me Giveaways reviews Smartipants

Thanks to Lisa at Mommy and Me Giveaways for reviewing Smartipants!
http://mommyandmegiveaways.com/2010/02/07/smartipants-review/

Smart for Haiti - the smart way to provide reflief for Haiti

We are just heartbroken over the images of the devastation in Haiti. There is so much help being given and we are thankful to see communities coming together for a great cause, but so much more is needed. The cloth diapering community is so generous and we want to help. For every single diaper purchased this month at http://www.smartipants.com we will be donating $1 to the American Red Cross for Haiti Relief. Please consider making your purchase count for a great cause this month!

My Silly Little Boys Smartipants review and giveaway!

Thanks to Jamie at My Silly Little Boys for reviewing Smartipants. Check out her review and enter her giveaway to win a Smartipants diaper and insert here http://mysillylittleboys.blogspot.com/2010/01/smartipants-reviewgiveaway.html

New Smartipants review and giveaway at Mommycracked!

There is a new review up of Smartipants with a giveaway at http://www.mommycracked.net/2010/01/smartipants-reusable-diapers-giveaway.html

Thanks so much for reviewing us!

Cloth Diapers and Leaks

It is a myth that reusable diapers cause more leaks than disposables. In actual use, most parents actually report less leaks with modern reusables. If you are using cloth diapers and you experience leaks there are some common causes and solutions.

1. Poor fit
If your diapers do not fit properly, or you use adjustable size diapers such as Smartipants and they are not set to the right size for your baby, you may experience leaks. It is important to adjust the diaper before putting it on the baby. There is a helpful video showing how to adjust a Smartipants diaper for a small baby here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE9unFZMZYE


You will simply place you insert into the diaper, snap to the appropriate setting for your baby and then put the diaper on the baby. We find adjusting the size first provides a much better fit than attempting to snap the diaper to a smaller size while the diaper is being changed. It is also possible to adjust the fit with different or additional inserts. By doubling up inserts you create a different fit which can be helpful at times with growing babies.

2. Inadequate Absorbency
This is the most common problem with leaks in reusable and disposable diapers. If the diaper has reached its absorbtion capacity the only place for additional moisture to go is out of the diaper. For this reason and for baby's skin health it is best to always change babies every 2-3 hours no matter which type of diaper you use. If you find your baby cannot go 2-3 hours you might consider using more than 1 insert or using more absorbent inserts such as those made from materials such as hemp or bamboo which tend to hold more liquid for heavy wetters. Some babies do need to be changed more often than 2-3 hours and it is up to each individual family to decided what the needs of their baby are.

3. Repelling
Repelling is another common problem with reusable diapers. It is important to follow the manufacturers instructions on laundering your diapering products. No fabric softeners or additives or natural soaps may be used on stay dry fabrics which line most of todays modern diapers such as Smartipants. These fabrics keep your baby's skin nice and dry without the need for additional barriers or creams. These fabrics are high performace and must be cared for properly in order to perform as designed. Additives such as fabric softener leave a film on the fabric which renders it unable to perform. Instead of allowing moiture to flow through the fabric keeping baby dry,the fabric can repel the liquid causing leaks. Built up laundry detergent can also cause this problem. If this is the problem stripping the diapers by washing on hot with no detergent and adding a small amount of grease fighting liquid dishsoap is known to be helpful. A very small amount of bleach can also remedy build up issues. If the build up or film on the fabric is very bad, then scrubbing the liner with a brush and dishsoap is also helpful.

These are the top 3 causes for leaks in reusable products. If you take care to launder correctly, make sure you are getting a good fit on your baby and provide adequate absorbency you can enjoy your reusable diapers leak free!

Smartipants review at Le Petit Owlet!

Thanks so much to Jessica at Le Petit Owlet for reviewing us on your blog!

http://www.lepetitowlet.com/2010/01/smartipants-diaper-review.html