Rhode Island New Moms Connection is pleased to announce the opening of the first Rhode Island-based cloth diapering service. Meet co-owners (and parents of two children) Melissa and Jennifer Schroeder Rondeau of Mama Earth Cloth Diaper Service. Below are excerpts from our interview as well as additional information you may find useful.
RI New Moms: What inspired you to open Mama Earth Cloth Diaper Service?
Melissa (pictured left) and Jennifer (pictured right): Over 1,800 diaper services have opened throughout the United States in the past 18 months, however, there was nothing being offered in Rhode Island. More and more families are health conscious and environmentally sensitive these days, and there is a growing demand for a cloth diaper service in our state. Among other concerns, disposable diapers have been linked to asthma, male infertility, and rashes. Worst of all, they sit in a landfill for up to 500 years. It is because of these reasons —and many others- that we launched Mama Earth on Earth Day 2010.
RI New Moms:In the simplest of terms, how does a cloth diaper service work?
Melissa and Jennifer: Mama Earth’s cloth diaper service supplies the 100% cotton pre-fold diapers, picks up the dirty diapers at your home, professionally launders the diapers, and delivers fresh, clean diapers to your door! It is a weekly service and the diapers are rented to you.
RI New Moms: What sizes/styles of diapers do you rent? What is the cost?
Melissa and Jennifer: We offer preemie, small and large prefold diapers and will help customers to decide what will best fit their needs. There is no variation in color or style. The best value service option is $26.00 per week for a supply of 70 diapers per week. This includes weekly pick up, professional laundering, and delivery. There is a $2.50 fee for ten additional diapers per week. We also offer a choice of three different packages to get started. The most basic includes a diaper pail, two deodorizer disks, weekly laundered reusable diaper pail liners, and at home demonstration on the use of cloth diapers. Cloth diapering is modern. No more pins and the latest fashionable diaper covers are virtually leak proof with “tuck and go” features for busy modern families….great for those who are unsure about using cloth!
RI New Moms: How are the diapers laundered?
Melissa and Jennifer: The cloth diapers are professionally laundered in energy-efficient machines using a method that involves several rinsing cycles. We use Bio-Kleen Premium Plus Laundry Detergent. The final step is to bring the diapers back to a PH balance that is gentle for babies’ skin. A fresh, clean sanitized diaper is our highest priority.
RI New Moms: This sounds great! What other information would you like to share with readers?
Melissa and Jennifer: Cloth diapering is really easy and it’s better for babies as well as the environment!
In addition to our cloth diapering service, we have a full line of hand crafted personal care products formulated for adults, babies and children. These hand crafted formulations include organic ingredients mixed with raw herbs and vitamins. If you are a cloth diapering customer of ours, we waive the shipping fees for purchases and deliver goods on the day we deliver your cloth diapers. We also offer fresh, organic baby food from local farms which can be delivered right to your door! Mama Earth also offers on site and in-home workshops and party workshops. Check out our website for more information.
RI New Moms: How do parents (and expecting couples) sign up for Mama Earth’s services?
Melissa and Jennifer: To get started with service or to learn more about Mama Earth, please visit us at www.mamaearthonline.com or call 401-626-2995 (401.MAMA.995). We are committed to excellence in customer service. Friendly, reliable, and timely weekly service with fresh, clean diapers is most important to us. We love the feedback we’ve received and we’re proud when customers tell us the benefits they’ve enjoyed from our service, including precious time saved without the need to do extra laundry. We are moms too and understand how valuable this service is to Rhode Island families.
RI New Moms: Thank you mamas so much. You offer many services that local parents can appreciate. Rhode Island New Moms Connection is happy to share the news of your cloth diapering service with moms in our groups – as well as here on Kidoinfo!
Kristen Kardos, MA Ed., and Kathy McGuigan, MSW, the co-founders of RI New Moms Connection, provide affordable, accessible pregnancy and new mom groups throughout Rhode Island. In “Tips for New Moms,” they share their knowledge, resources, and helpful ideas for moms just beginning their journey into parenthood or moms who may need a little refresher.
Is this company still around. I cannot access the website
Bravo! I used a diaper service and cloth diapers for all of my children (youngest now 21) and was heartbroken when the last of the RI diaper services went out of business, wondering what new moms would do.
My youngest sons are twins… the stack of diapers when they were newborns was amazing, 140 a week! But it was great to just send them away and get fresh cloth diapers every week.
Best wishes for much success.
Wow! Sounds like a completely awesome servie. Definitely something my partner and I will be looking into when we are ready to finally have our children. I really appreciate your environmental awareness and sounds like your customer service is fanominal. Great job ladies! I’ll definitely will be telling people who have children all about this. Thank you!
Amanda
Thank the sweet goddess you opened this!! I’m certain that I would have stuck with cloth diapers had there been a service available when my kids were younger. Thank you thank you thank you!