Showing posts with label orphan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orphan. Show all posts

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Little Bee Company...Caring for Orphans around the world, one cloth diaper at a time! Review and #GIVEAWAY

As always, I am looking for a new diaper to try out! I have been able to review many different kinds of diapers since starting this blog! A company that I recently came across, a company that took me by surprise took my breath away and made my heart leap for joy!
The Little Bee Co. {Bee Changed and Change the World}
What is so special about this company, you ask? Well, let me tell you. Yes, they make and sell cloth diapers, they also sell detergents and 'extras'  (think CJ's BUTTer, cloth wipes, board books, wet bags).
This is no ordinary cloth-diapering company!
The Little Bee Co. is a Christian-based company that takes the Scripture verse James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as Pure and Faultless is to care for orphans..." literally!
That's right, for every diaper purchased, reviewed, and given away (through a giveaway), The Little Bee. Co. will donate a cloth diaper to an orphan in need! You can read more about their mission HERE!
Having worked at the Department of Human Resources, in the Children's Services department in Oklahoma for a year, I have a HUGE place in my heart for orphans and foster children alike!
I have seen children removed from their home to be placed in emergency foster care. I have heard the cries of these children as they are taken away from a dangerous situation (the only home they have ever known) and put into a safe and loving foster home.
Now, to compare foster children and orphans may be a bit extreme, but the point is, that the Little Bee Co. has a powerful mission that I am grateful and blessed to be a part of!
Now onto the #clothdiapers (ok, go ahead and grab a Kleenex and dry your eyes first)!
The Little Bee. Co. graciously sent me a Bee Changed Bamboo diaper in "American Meadow"
The name is unique... don't you think? American Meadow! In fact, all the color names of their diapers are significant.
(the following information taken from The Little Bee Co. website)

Bee Changed Diaper Colors

Each Bee Changed Diaper Color is chosen to represent a specific group of children in need. Take the time when you change your babies Bee Changed Diaper to send up a little prayer for the sweet children that color represents.


In light of the excitement of the launch of The Little Bee Co. we wanted to remember those who were suffering the devastation of the events unfolding in Japan during that same time. For the thousands of children and babies affected we dedicate: Japanese Cherry Blossom {Deep Pink}


In Russia approx. 750,000 children live without parental care. One of my greatest inspirations, my grandma, had a passion for helping kids. Her favorite flower {mine too} is also the national flower of Russia, the sunflower. To represent the children of Russian and in memory of my grandma: Russian Sunflower{True Yellow}


In all Latin America, Guatemala has the highest rate of chronic malnutrition in children under 5. For many parents a major resource for survival comes from the export of coffee . When these resources are unavailable parents are unable to provide food for their children and are often forced to abandon them. To represent these children: Guatemalan Morning Mud {A Cocoa Coffee Brown}


Across Mexico there is beauty found in a sunset, but did you know in Mexico City alone there are 1.9 million other beauties, just as beautiful as a sunset, that are overlooked daily. These beauties are children in need. At The Little Bee Co. we believe every child is beautiful. To represent these children: Mexican Sol {A vibrant orange found in the beauty of a Mexican Sunset}


On a medical mission trip in '06, I found myself in one of the most beautifully created places I have ever been, surrounded by the most heartbreaking things I have ever seen. To represent the children of Honduras and our love for them: Honduran Sunrise{A deep blue with a hint of purple found in the early morning skyline of the breathtaking sunrise over the island of Oak Ridge Key}


My husband has been blessed to participate in several mission trips to assist children in Africa. For these children water is a luxury. During the dry season it is common for children to walk miles to find water from the closest well. I can only imagine their prayers for rain. To represent these children: African Rain {A vibrant aqua}


As a little girl I told my mom someday I would have a Chinese baby. It is something so woven in my core I have never questioned it. Now I wonder: is that baby to be found in this mission, adoption or could she be my 8 year old sister-in-law {adopted from China herself} Whatever the answer I am happy for God's plan. To represent the children of China: Chinese Lotus {A natural white}


In the U.S. the term orphan is rarely used. When describing children in government care, the term 'foster child' is used even when the child is living in a group home or institution. There are approx. 500,000 children in the U.S. foster care system and approx. 120,000 currently available to adopt. To represent these children: American Meadow {A classic play on a spring green}


To represent the 1 in 40 baby girls born in Cambodia who will be sold into the sadness of promiscuous slavery and our prayer to help in the rescue of these innocent lives: Cambodian Blush {A soft pink}

The more I read, the more impressed in love with this company I am!
In fact, I just saw on Facebook that The Little Bee Co. had packaged up 250 of their diapers (enough to cover the bums of ALL the babies) at the Serving His Children home in Jinja, Uganda!
This review would not be complete without adding a few pictures of some of the children that have received diapers from this mission!!



Is that not AWESOME! I mean when you buy a product, how many of us actually think about what kind of an impact (if any) is my purchase making? I do now!
Okay, back to the review!!
This is what I received: (Bee Changed Bamboo one sized Diaper)
A close up of the mission printed on the backside of the tag:
This is the diaper all laid out:
The outside of the diaper:
The first few things I noticed about this diaper right off the bat, was the similarity of the inserts to the Rumparooz inserts. I think they are identical. Also, the outer portion of this diaper is 100% polyester, and the inner (the white) is 100% bamboo (so a bit of prepping needed to be done)! It is soooooo soft! The front of the diaper that covers the belly is really stretchy. The stretchy design assures you get the proper fit on your baby! The other thing that caught my eye was the size of the pocket opening:

It was a bit small. Okay for me, I have small-ish hands, but I thought what if the hubs tried to stuff it, then I instantly remembered that I am the certified "diaper-stuffer" in our home!
After prepping this diaper, here is what the bamboo looked like:
I think this diaper just gets softer with each wash!
Here is the diaper on my 19 mo son.... perfect fit!!
And the rear-view:
Although I do like the microfiber inserts, I prefer to use hemp inserts. I tried my Babykicks size Med. hemp insert in this diaper and it fit perfectly! When purchasing these diapers, you do have an option to upgrade to the hemp/organic cotton inserts for $3.50 more! He had no leaks or other issues while wearing this diaper, we love it!
The Little Bee Co. not only makes the one size diaper (fits babies 8-35 lbs) in bamboo ($19.95), the one size diaper also comes in microsuede ($17.95) but they also make an adorably cute "Bitty Bee Changed Diaper" ($12.95) designed to fit premature babies through 12 lbs!!
The Little Bee Co. website also has a "Cloth 101" page. This page is choc-full of information, to how many diapers you will need for your newborn/infant/toddler, to prepping instructions and getting a good fit!
So my youngest (pictured above) has just moved from size 18 months to 24 months size clothing! I love that while he is wearing this diaper, the little tag sticks out in the back! It is a gentle reminder that God calls us to ministry and that this diaper provided a diaper for a little one in need!
This is an awesome diaper made with a purpose, just as you and I are made with a purpose!
You can purchase these great diapers directly from the Little Bee Co. website, or you can enter to win one here! The Little Bee Co. has graciously offered one LWML follower the chance to win a diaper of choice (Bamboo, Microsuede, or Bitty Bee) and color!
To enter, simply use the rafflecopter form below, you may have to click on "read more" to see the rafflecopter entry form!

Good Luck and have fun!
~Mama of the littles~

Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above in exchange for this review, Thanks to The Little Bee Co.! No monetary compensation was received by me. This is my completely honest opinion above and may differ from yours.