Cutee Patootees

We are this week's Fuzzibunz Monday Mama!

2011-10-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

Recently I received an email from FuzziBunz thanking me for reaching out to them. I will have to say, that of all of the diapers I have reviewed on my Blog, this is the first company to reach out back to me!

I started this Blog because I love cloth diapering, and before I was a mom I was an Internet pioneer, programmer and designer. This Blog has been my outlet of motherhood! I never expected it would become something more, or that those I wrote about would reach back to me.

Thanks FuzziBunz! http://www.fuzzibunz.com/news/monday-mama-julie-phipps-labonte-attributes-cloth-diapering-to-helping-her-save-thousands-of-dollars-each-year/

In my time with this Blog, I've noticed that FuzziBunz are one of the most active with Social Networking, and regularly use it to involve their customer base. I believe that this is one of the most progressive cloth diapering companies today who understands their customer base and has nothing to hide. It's no wonder they are one of the most successful cloth diapering companies today. I've learned much as an Internet Marketer from cloth diapering, and from FuzziBunz!

FuzziBunz One-Size Diapers

2011-09-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

Type of Diaper:

Pocket-Style

Average Unit Cost:

$19.95 each (Includes one pocket diaper with 2 inserts and spare adjustment elastic)

Suggested Best Uses:

Travel Diaper, Caregiver Diaper, Daytime Diaper, *Night-time Diaper

Availability:

Many online and bricks and mortar diaper specialty shops carry FuzziBunz around the world.

*Night-time use in my personal experience has depended largely on situation (growth development, wetness levels and fit). At times I have had periods of great success using extra pocket stuffers, while other times my little bub just wets too much at night and we've had leaks with not just this diaper, but many diaper styles.

FuzziBunz One-Size Diapers

FuzziBunz were the very first cloth diapers I bought for my Stash. Out of the thirty varieties included in my 1 week trial program from The Extraordinary Baby Shoppe, these were my favorite to use.

The FuzziBunz cloth diaper style that I tried was Perfect Size, (which were indeed, perfect for my little guy). I chose to buy the One-Size style to maximize my budget. Due to the sizing nature of these diapers, I have waited a few months before making a review in order to provide feedback on the experience.

How It Works

Fuzzibunz 'shells' are made from 2 pieces of fabric sewn together; an outer waterproof layer (PUL), and a moisture-wicking inner layer that touches babies skin (Polar Fleece). The absorbency comes from the 'stuffers' that you put into the pocket opening of these shells at the back of the diaper. Fuzzibunz package two microfiber inserts of slightly different sizes to be used on their own at different growth stages or together for added absorbency. You can also choose to experiment use other stuffers in your diaper stash. My personal favorite is adding a hemp liner to the Fuzzibunz liners for shopping or road trips.

The diaper is closed with two rows of plastic snaps that provide a good fit at different stages of development, allowing for a decent amount of sizing customization.

There is an added level of adjustment inside the elastics at the waist and both leg openings. On both ends of the elastic there are buttons sewn neatly into the diaper and the elastics have numbered holes that allow you to tighten or loosen the elastic as baby grows. A handy sizing chart is provided for your convenience, although I've found that there is some trial and error involved as babies aren't the same. My own little guy has a rather skinny waist but really chunky thighs, so I had a tighter waist while allowing for larger leg holes.

Best Features

These are great looking diapers! In my opinion, FuzziBunz are some of the cutest looking diapers on the market today. The color variety gives moms a lot of options for coordinating with boys' or girls' wardrobes and the lack of any pattern means they look great no matter what fashion choices you prefer.

I love the sizing customization. It was actually fun bringing these home, getting them ready with a few prep washes then sizing them in front of a good movie -- I made an mommy's night event out of it!

What I'd Like To See Enhanced With This Product

There isn't much fault I can find with this diaper. I've been using these diapers for eight months and have only had one very small period where I had trouble achieving the perfect fit, but this quickly remedied itself within a couple of weeks when my little guy grew into a new size.

It would be cool to see some neutral tones and a black option added to the color variety, specifically for little boys where clothing variety tends to be more neutral on the scale.

I'd also like to see more options for stuffers in terms of absorbency and bulkiness. While there are a lot of options available at my favorite diaper shop, I have noticed that other shops are more limited in stock based on their list of suppliers and stuffer variety is a must for different periods of wetness and size.

References & More Information

Fuzzibunz Official Website: http://www.fuzzibunz.com

Resist the temptation of CIO

2011-08-23T06:27:00.000-07:00

We've hit the seven month marker and while there's a lot of fun and discovery at this age, many old patterns still remain. Despite claims in my birth-mom community that their babies are sleeping through the night, my little guy is still waking up like clockwork wanting to breastfeed. Other moms in the same position as me have asked what the "secret" is to having babies that sleep through the night, and once again the term CIO has come up.

CIO is short for Cry-It-Out. It is a theory of parenting based on 'tough-love' practices and while there may be some instant results to common perceived problems like getting your baby to sleep through the night, this approach has never felt right to me.

These discussions in my group did have me wondering if I was doing the right thing by indulging my baby in his feed-on-demand schedule overnight, and out of sheer frustration I even considered trying CIO after a marathon of sleepless nights this past week. Rather than act on my frustration, I decided to get a book from a source I felt I could trust.

While I've always known that my natural method of parenting has been loosely based on theories presented by Dr.s William and Martha Sears, I didn't buy The Baby Book until this week, along with The Baby Sleep Book. I jumped right to Chapter 3 in The Baby Sleep Book which discusses how and why babies sleep the way that they do, and everything started to make sense... including why some babies will naturally sleep through the night even though mine does not.

Bottom line is that this book has reinforced by gut instinct to nurture on-demand and avoid sleep training methods like CIO. The long-term effects of training a baby to do something they aren't ready for can have some very negative long-term effects that will make later childhood more difficult. So while my baby may not be sleeping through the night at seven months of age, I know he'll get there in his own good time when he's developmentally ready for it and he won't develop any confidence or trust issues along the way.

If you are frustrated by lack of sleep because your little one isn't letting you get much shuteye, please read this book. It takes a different approach to helping you teach baby to do things... more than I can explain in a simple blog post. Best part of all is that the practices described make sense, and neither you or baby willwon't shed a single tear while employing the methods outlined within them.

Hilarious! Baby Eating Broccoli (First Food Ever)

2011-06-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

Baby Led Weaning

So We've decided to try the Baby Led Weaning approach to introducing solids. This video speaks for itself as to our success so far!

My Baby has Outgrown his Stretchy Wrap! Now What?

2011-04-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

Just before my son was born, I purchased a stretchy wrap made by Maman Kangourou. I specifically wanted a wrap, and it was the most attractive and appealing brand in the only store I thought to go looking for baby things at the time... 'Babies 'R Us'. It's the same basic idea as a Moby, but as an added bonus it has a pocket on the front panel to stuff cloths, pacifiers, and just about anything you need while going about your business wearing your baby. It's also made in Canada... a big plus for me.

I've used it almost every day from doing housework to working at my computer as he snoozes comfortably. Not only is it a staple of attachment parenting concepts, I can get a lot more done when wearing him because he is happier to be with me than not.

My son is a big boy. At just over 3 months he is 24 inches long and weighs nearly 17 pounds. We recently decided to try the wrap while shopping. I decided I definitely prefer carrying him while shopping instead of using the stroller. He's still too wobbly for the seats in shopping carts, and the stroller just doesn't have enough storage to get a full load of groceries. I've tried using my Mommy Hook to dangle a basket off of, but that too is awkward because the handle is long and flat and the basket tilts to the right or the left.

For the first time, I was unhappy with my stretchy wrap. After walking around the huge Costco store for a bit, the wrap started to stretch out too much, and my son was not as secure as he was when I placed him in it. His weight and the up and down movement was pulling on the fabric and causing the hold to loosen up to much.

I have also learned quite a bit more about Babywearing than I knew while pregnant. One of the best resources I found was the information and forums over at http://www.thebabywearer.com/.

We were given a couple of used carriers of the Babies 'R Us variety before our son was born, and we had by this point tried them out. One was a very dated Evenflo carrier ( of questionable safety), and the other an Infantino Snuggli carrier. The Snuggli wasn't bad but it had way too many buckles and straps to fiddle with every time we put it on. Neither my husband or I were happy with either of them. I was almost turned off from soft structured carriers altogether.

Mei Tai's and Soft Structured Carriers Inspired By Them

After researching various slings, wraps, and other styles of carriers, I narrowed down my search to two styles of carriers: a Mei Tai or a Soft Structured Carrier based on the Mei Tai style. A Mei Tai is a simple Asian baby carrier that has been used for centuries comprised of four long straps attached to a square panel. Similar to a wrap, the idea is that the baby is secured to your body with the square panel by tying the four straps around your shoulders and waist.

There are several Mei Tai manufacturers including handmade styles by WAHMs (Work at Home Moms) to established brands such as the Babyhawk Mei Tai. Several soft structured carriers have been based on the Mei Tai design, including the Ergo Baby Carrier, another product I was interested in largely because of its' simplicity in design as well as the thoughtful accessories built into the carrier like pockets, pouches and a hoodflap to keep sun and wind off of baby.

The same Diaper Shop that let me try a variety of different diapers before buying them also has a Carrier Loan program with a variety of slings, wraps and carriers to choose from. They also carry both the Babyhawk Mei Tai and several varieties of the Ergo. I decided to try them both, starting with the Babyhawk.

The Babyhawk Mei Tai

I love this carrier because it is so simple to put on, and folds up nicely to fit into a diaper bag or even a large handbag. The best feature is the neck support, which makes this carrier great for doing work around the house when you have to bend over quite a bit. It took my guy a little getting used to as he's familiar with being in the lotus position against my body in the wrap, and having his legs spread apart is a new way to be carried.

If he was smaller he could have easily into the carrier in the lotus position, which would have made this a great carrier right from infancy. I didn't get a chance to try a back carry with him in this, but because of the neck support I can see that this is something we could do as his head is still a bit wobbly on his neck at 3.5 months old.

One thing to note is that the standard Babyhawk strap size is intended for average framed women (up to size 12) and smaller framed men. If you are a larger framed lady, or you will be sharing this with your husband who is taller than 5' 8" and has a waist larger than 38 inches, you are going to want to opt for the larger strap size in order to do all of the tie styles (which you will need to do for larger babies).

You can either buy one of these "As Is", or you can custom design one yourself on the Babyhawk website at http://www.babyhawk.com. Shopping for one of these things is just as much fun as using them! You can pick from a variety of front and back pattern styles, add pockets, a toy ring and a hood for baby to your Mei Tai.

The Ergo Carrier

When it was time to turn in the Babyhawk I was certain that I had already made my decision on which carrier to buy. When I got home and unraveled the Ergo in all its' padded canvas glory, I was skeptical that I would like it as much as the simple, compact Babyhawk. I adjusted the straps as I was shown by the shopkeeper to fit my frame (which is still a generous size 14 three months after giving birth with an above average bosom due to breastfeeding). The waistband fits me at the most let out setting, but it would not fit around my husband who is a large 6'2" man who also gained a few sympathy pounds during my pregnancy. To remedy this problem here is a waist extender available for the Ergo.

I put the Ergo on in the Front Carry position, and followed the instructions to put my baby in the carrier. As a first-time Ergo wearer, I had to try this a couple times until I had the straps adjusted comfortablly and securely. Once I did... I was immediately sold. This thing is comfortable! I'm also thrilled that once you set the strap mechanism, provided someone else doesn't use it you will only ever have to do up two buckles to secure your child, making it even quicker to put on than the Babyhawk.

This is also the only carrier that I would be able to breastfeed in due to the position of the baby and the maneuverability for me. I managed to do it a couple times in my wrap, but not without a lot of fussing. The fit in the Babyhawk was just too tight for me to do this in.

The thoughtful safety features on this carrier are well designed, including a safety loop by the waist buckle in case the buckle comes undone while you are carrying so baby won't slip out or off.

Although there is no head support, there is a hood that can be secured with snaps to the carrier frame that can be used for light support ideal for sleeping. As such, I wouldn't use this carrier for an infant without their Heart to Heart Infant Insert until your baby can hold their head up themselves, which my son has only been able to do for a couple of weeks. I would have liked to try the infant insert if my baby was younger and smaller.

What Did I Decide To Do?

Although I'm not finished with my stretchy wrap and it will still give me some situational use, I am definately going to get another carrier for activity based carrying like shopping or working around the house. I know for certain that I will be buying the Ergo. I can see us getting use out of this carrier for the next two years. I would also also like to pick up the Babyhawk for carrying in my purse, around the house tasks and earlier back carries. It all depends on cost, and carriers at this level aren't cheap!

What's in a disposable diaper?

2011-04-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

The answer? We're not quite sure!

Go ahead, take a peek at the ingredients list on a package of disposable diapers. On the most forthcoming of packaging, it will read something like Diapers, Cosmetic Ingredients and some may even list Petroleum as an ingredient. Now perhaps I'm out of my mind but this reads all wrong to me. Isn't the product inside the packaging the diaper, and the ingredient what is in the diapers?

Before becoming a mom, I worked as a Graphic Designer. Package Design was one of many projects I worked on for a variety clients who manufactured cleaners and pharmaceutical goods. From my experience, this listing "diapers" as an ingredient to me appear to be a regulation loophole.

There is a regulation process that evaluates products containing materials considered hazardous and provides information back to the manufacturer to supply on the label. The term for this information, which not only outlines potential Hazard warnings but also supplies First Aid measures to be taken is called an MSDS Sheet. This is why you see a hazard symbol on a bottle of bleach warning you not to dunk your hands into it, and what to do in case you (or your little ones) do!

Are we to assume that diapers don't contain materials that are hazardous? I think the manufacturers certainly want us to think so, but on close inspection of today's modern diaper... I was a bit suspicious of the construction. The most obvious ingredient that warrants explanation are those tiny gel beads inside today's disposable diaper that soaks up liquid unlike anything nature invented and hardens into a firm, bulky mass. My cousin-in-law uses this reaction as an indicator that it's time for a diaper change.

After much digging, I have found that the substance is called Sodium Polyacrylate. Is there an MSDS sheet for Sodium Polyacrylate? There sure is, and here's a bit of what is contained on that sheet:

Hazard Identification
May be harmful if swallowed. May cause irritation. Avoid breathing vapors, or dusts. Use with adequate ventilation. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothes. Wash thoroughly after handling.

First Aid Measures

FIRST AID: SKIN: Remove contaminated clothing. Wash exposed area with soap and water. if irritation persists, seek medical attention.

EYES: Wash eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting lids occasionally. Seek Medical Aid.

INHALATION: Remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen

INGESTION: If swallowed, induce vomiting immediately after giving two glasses of water. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

So if there's an MSDS sheet for Sodium Polyacrylate, and it's in the Diapers, why aren't these ingredients and their warnings listed on the packaging? How are diaper manufacturers getting away with not telling us about hazardous materials in the diapers?

My theory lies with complications within the regulatory system that allow provisions for certain products to be classified as self regulated. This means that it is entirely up to the manufacturer to choose whether or not they list these ingredients (and subsequently their warnings). I'm going to go ahead and assume that diapers are one such product classification, which might have been fine when disposable diapers were essentially made of paper, stuffing and plastic, but today's waste-containing product of convenience has changed! Shouldn't the regulation rules have changed with it?

Maybe I'm being too critical, but in an age where entire schools are banning children from bringing a peanut butter sandwich to school, I think it's pretty nutty that we don't expect full disclosure when it comes to exposing our infants to mystery chemicals. Don't you?

When I was researching this chemical, one chemist remarked that,

"by definition, it's nontoxic. Pretty damned unhealthy to eat, though".

Perhaps that is to mean that provided it's sealed within the diaper it's harmless? The same chemist goes on to say that as someone who likes kids he wasn't concerned about this chemical being in diapers because,

"what kid is in the habit of eating his diapers and has the physical strength to tear one open"?

Well to that, I would turn around and ask what happens if (and when) a flawed diaper bursts as it is unfolded due to a faulty seam? They have been known to do this, and frequently! This stuff then leaks all over your baby, who of course rubs his little hands in it then shoves his fist into his mouth! Even worse, how would you even know what to do about it... you haven't been told what it is, what to do about it, or even that it's in your diapers!

In the same article a chemist raises the point that cloth diapers produce ammonia which indeed is toxic, but I argue that it's not the same thing. Our bodies produce ammonia naturally as a waste breakdown bi-product which means we are used to some exposure to it. We do not produce Sodium Polyacrylate.

I'm no crazy tree-hugging fanatic either. I'm an average late 30's first time mom who has adopted some green ideals because they make sense financially and are better for my family's health. I chose cloth diapers because I wanted to save money and reduce the level of exposure my son has to potentially harmful substances. I'm writing this article because I am genuinely unnerved after learning about this in a recent CBC news article. I used disposables the first week my son was born when we were stuck in a hospital room for 5 days, and I didn't know this stuff was in the diapers I was putting on him in his first year of life.

Had we known what was in those diapers, we would have used cloth from day one no matter how inconvenient it was for my husband to run home to do the laundry every other day!

References

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2010/05/28/f-disposable-diapers.html
http://www.sciencestuff.com/msds/C2688.html
http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=76;t=000993;p=1

Sandy's Fitted Diaper by Mother-ease

2011-04-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Type of Diaper:

Fitted

Average Unit Cost:

Costs vary as follows:

Cotton:

Newborn Size (6-12 lbs)	Small Size (8-20 lbs)	Large Size (20-35 lbs)	Toddler Size (35-45 lbs)
$10.75 each (unbleached) $13.75 each (organic) $11.25 each (colours)	$11.75 each (unbleached) $14.75 each (organic) $12.25 each (colours)	$12.25 each (unbleached) $15.50 each (organic) $12.75 each (colours)	$13.50 each (unbleached) $17.25 each (organic)

Bamboo:

Newborn Size (6-12 lbs)	Small Size (8-20 lbs)	Large Size (20-35 lbs)	Toddler Size (35-45 lbs)
$13.25 each (unbleached)	$14.25 each (unbleached)	$14.75 each (unbleached)	$16.50 each (unbleached)

Suggested Best Uses:

As a diaper, specifically for heavy wetting situations (really great as an overnight diaper).

Availability:

Unbleached variations are a common item carried in most specialty diaper shops. Colour varieties are harder to find.

Sandy's^TM Diaper by Mother-ease

How It Works

At first glance, the Sandy's Diaper by Mother-ease doesn't look like anything special, and might even turn some people off with its appearance. Although the colour varieties are cute (if not somewhat pointless since they should never be visable with a cover on), the overall shape of the diaper is unappealling. Looks aside though, when you try one of these diapers you will absolutely fall in love with them. They are probably one of the most comfy diapers on your baby because the elastic isn't tight and really stretches, and the bamboo variety in particular stays velvety soft. More importantly, they soak up an amazing amount of liquid and I have yet to have a leak from one of these diapers.
The diaper goes on your baby very easily using 2 rows of adjustable snaps, one row at the hip and the other at the waistline. There is a small amount of adjustability in each size so you should always have a perfect fit on your baby when using the appropriate sized diaper.

Best Features

Hands-down the best features about these diapers is their fit, feel and absorbancy. I keep a few of these on hand for night-time because I want my little guy to be as comfy as possible overnight when sleep periods are longer and bum changes less frequent than during the day. They are super easy to put on, and work with any kind of cover you like. I use them in combination with both Wool Soakers/Longies and regular covers (eg. Thirsties Duo Wraps).
There is an added lining of material sewn in between the inner and outer layer which accounts for the increadible amount of liquid that these diapers hold, but if you find you need even more absorbancy you can easily throw in a hemp liner or two and still not worry about leaks.

What Could Be Better About This Product

There are two things that I feel could be improved with these diapers.
First, I found the cotton varieties to be very scratchy when washed properly. Since you can't use fabric softeners and the detergents you use are free of any fabric-treatments, the cotton terry can become very stiff when washed under these conditions. I chose against buying the cotton varieties because in my trial program they had a Sandy's Cotton diaper. I almost didn't buy any of these diapers at all until the lady at my favorite Diaper Shop suggested I try the Bamboo (which seem only to get softer with each wash).
Second is the number of size variations. Four sizes can get very expensive if you use these diapers exclusively. The price of them is pretty close to what I paid for my One-Size Pocket Diapers (which I don't have to buy covers for), making them one of the most expensive cloth diapers on the market. I wish they would experiment with more snaps to reduce the size varieties even down two two versus four. Until then, frugal cloth diaperers like myself will only use these for certain situations that call for extra absorbancy.

References & More Information

Mother-ease Official Website: http://www.mother-ease.com

Product Review: Thirsties Duo Wraps Diaper Covers

2011-04-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Type of Diaper:

For use with Pre-fold and Fitted diapers

Average Unit Cost:

$13.00 each (can get several uses out of each between washes)

Suggested Best Uses:

Two adjustable sizes provides for longer wear, This cover is great for daytime, and also can be used at night for lighter wetters

Availability:

Common item carried in many specialty diaper shops

How it works

Thirsties diaper covers fit over any fold or prefold style diaper, as well as fitted diapers (eg. Kissaluvs, Mother-Ease). This cover is essentially an adjustable version of the original Thirsties Diaper Cover, except that it has adjustable snaps for the "rise" (length from crotch to waist) size of your baby. There are two sizes to choose from:

Size one: 6-18 lbs (0-9 months)
Size two: 18-40 lbs (9-36 months)

The two size approach has made for trimmer fits for babies of all sizes, versus a one-size fit which tends to be too big on newborns and too snug on toddlers. I've noticed that there is a crossover period between the two sizes when both work just fine (the cusp between both sizes). When your baby approaches the 14 pound mark, it's a good idea to upgrade to size two. You'll still be able to use the size ones for a while, but don't hold out too long... too-snug or ill-fitting covers will mean leaks!

Adjust the "rise" snaps to fit your baby so that the prefold/fitted diaper is covered completely and no cloth is poking above the waist (so you don't have any top-leaking). As your baby grows, you can adjust the snaps to give you more length. You can choose from a velcro (Aplix) or snap closure. Velcro is certainly faster to close than the snaps and a bit more convenient, but velcro can be a nuisance in the laundry when not secured properly and many clever older babies figure out how to undo them (making for some terrible messes)! Snaps take a bit longer to close, but much more difficult for babies to undo. The choice is yours, for little babies I like the velcro but as my little guy gets older I will be making sure all of my diapers use snaps for closing.

Best Features

The adjustable sizes of these covers is great for fast-growing babies. My favorite thing about these covers is that when I have them on my bub properly I've never had a problem with leaks. The only time I did have a leak was when I left part of a cloth diaper poking out over the top, and I realized my little bub had grown and I had to let the snaps out in the rise. The legs have a double gusset that makes it very difficult for messes to escape through the leg holes. I have had some very serious 'Pooplosions' and one major 'Poopageddon' while using prefolds and fitted with these covers and have been amazed at how well they contained messes that blew out and around the diaper underneath them and never out onto my little guy's clothes.

They are also very trim-fitting and comfortable-feeling... no crackling or scratching on my son's skin.

What Could Be Better About This Product

While the colour choices and styles are nice, I'd like to see more variety and patterns outside the standard colours and patterns you see for babies. I'm a modern parent that doesn't always want to stick to just the same old blues, pinks and pastels. While very hard to find, (and I've had to make some of my own things), I like to dress my baby in khakis, blacks and bold colours, patterns and themes. For example, let's see some animal skin, bold purple polka-dots on black or some pirate prints... or how about some completely solid colours without white trim? How about adding some neutrals colours or the incredibly rare-to-find black!

References & More Information

Thirsties Official Website: http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/covers.php & http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/duo_wrap.htm

2 Months into Cloth Diapering

2011-03-30T22:26:00.000-07:00

My son is now 3 months old, and has been in cloth diapers for two months. I can honestly say I regret not having him in cloth since day one that we came home from the hospital. I'd say day one, but I had a C Section and my husband, son and I were stuck in a room that was hotter than hell for 5 days without proper access to laundry, and my poor husband was taking care of both my son and I. He earned Father's Day in that 5 days alone!

I digress...

I barely know what it's like to use a disposable anymore. It's much like breastfeeding versus formula feeding for me. I tried formula a couple of times and thought "what a hassle". I recieved samples of formula and cloth diapers in the mail (amazing what happens when you register an infant with the government), and I got a diaper cake. I've looked at the cost of both in my supermarket and nearly lost my lunch at how much they cost! Call me frugal, but I don't get how something I produce myself can cost over $50 per week to feed my baby, or how a weeks worth of disposable diapers could equate to several cute cloth diaper choices or accessories.

I am glad that I don't have to worry about running out of either of these things... and that as long as I have water... I'm good!

There have been a couple of times that I considered using cloth diapers. One is when I needed to visit a client last week and my cousin was going to look after my son until my father said he was off the day. My cousin is one of those who swore I'd try cloth and would be back into disposables in a month... and did not use them herself on either of her two children. I have had similar resistance comments from a lot of people, but when I wave the cute multicolored pocket style diapers I use to travel with, a lot of those opinions turn into curiosity. I don't tell them about the truly basic diapers I use at night or when at home... baby steps!

Even I wouldn't have used a pre fold when I started looking in to this 8 months ago when I was a few months pregnant. Now, they're my preferred diaper for certain situations. I've become a diaper connoisseur so-to-speak!

FuzziBunz® Spring Smiles Photo Contest

2011-03-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

Are you on Facebook? Win 5 FuzziBunz diapers just for taking a winning snapshot of your Fuzzibunz-wearing baby, and enter the Facebook Contest linked from the Fuzzibunz Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/FuzziBunz-Cloth-Diapers/113757034234?v=wall

Good Luck!

Fitted Diapers

2011-03-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

Average Unit Cost:

$5.00 to $18.00 each

Suggested Best Uses:

Great for use as your regular diapering system. The snug fit and extra absorbency makes them great for overnight use (if you use a different daytime system).

Availability:

Common item carried online and in many specialty diaper shops

What They Are & How They Work

Fitted diapers are based upon the same principals as pre-fold diapers, but they have added convenience by eliminating the need to fold, tuck and secure by shaping them with seams and gussets and sometimes also provide enclosure materials such as snaps.

There's a huge variety of fitted diapers on the market made out of different kinds of highly absorbent materials and come in a variety of styles, shapes and colours. They can be super cute or pretty darned ugly, but most will agree that no matter what they look like... this is a workhorse diaper that delivers! I personally love it as my overnight diaper. Since you use a cover with these, what they look like doesn't really matter as long as you love the way it goes on and comes off, and how it does its' job.

Some manufacturers make covers designed especially for their fitted diapers, but like pre-fold diapers most of them will fit into any cover designed for use with pre-folds and fitted diapers. Wool covers are awesome for overnight use, and plastic or PUL covers are awesome for daytime (and are a great way to hide the not so cute varieties.

Materials

You want the most absorbent materials you can afford that are soft and wash/wear well. Some fitted diapers have additional materials sewn into them to soak up extra wetness. Other styles use cloth blends with highly absorbent materials to soak up excess moisture and big messes. Beware of materials that touch your baby's skin that can get course and scratchy when washed and dried under certain conditions (eg. line drying). Cotton terry can become like sandpaper under the right conditions, while bamboo always stay soft even under the roughest washing conditions. Remember that we're not using fabric softeners here, so the material of the diaper really counts.

Cost

You can pay a lot or a little for fitted diapers, ranging in price variety from $5.00 each to almost $20.00 per diaper (nearly the same price as a pocket style or All-In-One (AIO) diaper). Also consider that many fitted diapers are sized as well, so you will need to purchase a new set of diapers once or twice before potty training.

Fit

Just like any other tailored or shaped diaper, how it fits your little one is going to be a major factor in your success with it. I have found that with the fitted diapers there is a great deal of variety, especially because of the variety of sizes available.

Function

Picture the situations you'll be diapering in. Think about when, where and how will you be using your diapers. Are you a stay-at-home parent who will never venture further than the local supermarket and a walk in the park for the next couple of years? Do both parents work and is your child in daycare for a portion of the day? Do you like to take regular adventures out of town and even have regular overnight out-of-town trips? These are all important factors to consider if you plan to exclusively cloth diaper because some systems are more convenient and/or better suited to different situations.
You may decide you want a variety of types/styles of diapers based on what situation you'll be using them. For example, I have a mix of fitted, prefold, pocket and AI2 style diapers for my own day-to-day use. I have tried to instruct the grandparents how to use fitteds and prefolds with snappis and wool covers for overnight use, but they stick with the AI2s and Pockets (provided that I've pre-stuffed them), even though it means they're changing his bum every couple of hours overnight. Different strokes for different folks... and that includes every caregiver that you will be counting on too if you want to exclusively cloth diaper.

Fashion

Fashion is one major reason for the growing popularity of cloth diapering. They're just cuter than disposables... hands down! When I talk about fashion in a cloth diaper, I'm talking about style and how much variety and customization is available for each product in terms of colours, patterns and styles.Some diapers threw fashion out the window completely in favor of function, and others (like fitted) rely partially on covers to complete the fashion statement for them. Many manufacturers have invested a lot of time and love on fashion using cute colours, designer prints and seasonal styles that change every year. If fashion is something that is important to you, it is important to factor this element along with other items on the score scale because fashion alone won't make for a successful diapering experience. After all, the diaper's job is for poo and pee collection first and foremost... the rest is fluff (but we do like our fluff!).

I personally don't think that the fashion of a fitted diaper matters too much, since it is covered up until you are doing a bum change... but others may feel differently. There is definitely a lot of variety and you can even get fitted diapers in different colours to hide that telltale yellow of pee!

Fun

You are going to be changing thousands of diapers before you hit potty training... so the experience should be as fun as a bum change possibly can be, right? I have a lot of fun snapping pictures of puffy butts in a myriad of colours and prints matched with cute outfits, but I also have fun with the experience of shopping for and maintaining my diaper stash. Trying new things out is also fun, especially when it's something new and solves a particular problem (like overnight leaks)!

Think about to the overall experience that you are going to have with fitted diapers and their accessories. I personally find that the day to day maintenance of changing, washing and drying fitted diapers to be super easy... and as an added bonus I don't have to change the cover every time I change the diaper (only if it gets poo on it).

The only downside is travelling with them, particularly the cotton and bamboo varieties that get super wet and messy when soiled (and really stinky when they sit for any period of time... make sure you have a good sealed wet bag for travel).

As a result, I find that they're a good diaper to use at home or when you are travelling and have access to laundry facilities within a day. They're particularly good as an overnight diaper, and when used with a good cover they can go several hours under fire of extra wetness when most other diapers would leak.

Cloth Diaper Categories De-Mystified

2011-03-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

One of the first things that terrified me about cloth diapers was the vast variety of what is available. I remember walking into that first shop and looking at the expanse of shelves and racks not knowing where to begin!
From that day until now I have asked a lot of questions and have been helped by many enthusiastic diaper sales people (all of whom use cloth diapers themselves). I even attended a cloth diapering class offered at a local shop.
What I have learned is that there are six main categories of cloth diapers available in today's modern market. These are broken down as follows:

Flat Diapers (Flats)

Brand Examples: Cloth-eez Birdseye Weave

Flat diapers are your traditional cloth diaper. These have been around for decades and if you were born in the 60's or 70's, they were probably the same diapers your mom used on you. A Flat diaper is a single piece of cloth, generally made of cotton, hemp or bamboo that is folded into a smaller, more absorbent rectangle that will fit a baby. Flat diapers must be used with a cover to keep wetness and messes in. Covers are available in a variety of styles, patterns and materials and can also be used with Prefold and fitted diapers.

Flat Diapers can be fastened with traditional diaper pins or a Snappi--a 3-pronged device constructed to safely fasten and secure diapers without the danger of a pin opening up and poking your baby.

Flat diapers are washed after each use, but covers can be re-used if not soiled with poo.

Prefold Diapers

Brand Examples: Bummis, Thirsties, Cloth-eez

Prefold diapers are Flat Diapers that have been conveniently folded and stitched to a pre-defined size that will fit babies of specific weight ranges.

Prefold diapers are good "round the clock" diapers, and when used with added absorbency liners and wool covers can be great overnight diapers.

Prefold Diapers can be fastened with traditional diaper pins or a Snappi--a 3-pronged device constructed to safely fasten and secure diapers without the danger of a pin opening up and poking your baby.

Prefold diapers are washed after each use, but covers can be re-used if not soiled with poo.
Prefold diapers are generally sized into 3 different weight categories from newborn until potty training.

Fitted Diapers

Brand Examples: Thirsties, Bummis (Bamboozle), Mother-Ease, Kissaluvs, Cloth-eez, Growing Greens, Under the Nile

Fitted Diapers are based upon the same basic principals as pre-fold diapers, but they have added convenience by eliminating the need to fold, tuck and secure by shaping them with seams and gussets and sometimes also provide enclosure materials such as snaps.

Fitted Diapers are an excellent "round the clock" diaper and excel at overnight wear, especially when used with added absorbency liners and wool covers.

Fitted Diapers can be fastened with traditional diaper pins or a Snappi--a 3-pronged device constructed to safely fasten and secure diapers without the danger of a pin opening up and poking your baby.

Fitted Diapers are washed after each use, but covers can be re-used if not soiled with poo.

Fitted Diapers come in a variety of sizes, colours, styles and materials.

Pocket Diapers

Brand Examples: FuzziBunz, Thirsties, Bum Genius, AMP

Pocket Diapers look and work like disposable diapers, except they're re-usable. They are constructed of a waterproof outer layer, and a moisture-wicking inner layer designed to "wick" moisture away from baby's skin (without drying out the skin). An opening "pocket" is generally made at the back waistline where you stuff a long rectangular shaped highly absorbent material. Most pocket diapers come with their own stuffers, but you can also use prefolds, add liners or double up on stuffers for diffrent levels of absorbency.

Because of the wicking layer, Pocket Diapers are well known for minimizing and preventing diaper rash.

Pocket Diapers are excellent daytime diapers, and not bad overnight diapers when stuffed with an added absorbent liner. I'd say they would make awesome overnight diapers, but overstuffing can cause leakage, so try this at your own risk!

When soiled, the entire Pocket Diaper (cover and stuffer) is washed by removing the insert stuffer and throwing both parts into the wash. They tend to dry faster than most All-In-One (AIO) systems but slower than prefolds or flats (because the stuffer tends to be several layers of dense fabric). If you dry the covers and stuffers together, they must be machine dried on a low heat setting, but you can choose to line dry the covers and machine dry the stuffers on high to increase drying time of the stuffers.

Pocket Diapers come in a variety of colours, styles, patterns and can come in sized or one-size varieties. The one-size varieties have adjustable elastics at the waist and leg gussets.

All-In-One Diapers (AIO)

Brand Examples: Grovia, Bum Genius, Monkey Doodlez, Sposo-Easy, Swaddlebees

All-In-One Diapers look and work like disposable diapers, except they're re-usable, and unlike pocket diapers they do not require any extra work stuffing absorbent materials into a pocket before use. As a result most do require more time drying after washing, but some parents prefer convenience and because they're so simple to use, they make for an excellent daycare diaper system. They're generally constructed of a waterproof outer layer and an inner layer with a system of of absorbent materials and moisture-wicking liners that is already fastened into place. Some systems provide snaps to adjust sizing for both the outer layer and the inside liners.

All-In-One Diapers are excellent daytime diapers, but they require frequent changing to prevent leaks. As such, they are not the greatest diaper for overnight use unless your child is toilet training (they're easy to get on and off if your child wakes you up in the middle of the night to go potty).

In addition to the overnight limitations, All-In-One Diapers tend to be the most expensive type of cloth diaper, so very few parents use this type of system exclusively.

When soiled, All-In-One diapers must be washed after each use. Because all parts are sewn together these tend to take the longest in terms of drying time. If machine drying they must be dried on the lowest setting so as not to ruin the waterproof layer.

All-In-One Diapers come in a variety of styles, colours and prints, and tend to give some of the most variety when it comes to fashion, and they come in sized and one-size varieties.

All-In-Two Diapers (AI2)

Brand Examples: Bum Genius, AMP, Best Bottom, Flip

All-In-Two (AI2) Diapers look and work like disposable diapers, except they're re-usable. They can be used either as an All-In-One diaper or as a diaper cover (without the insert) for other styles of diapers including flats, prefold and fitted diapers.
All-In-Two diapers make excellent daytime diapers, and can be used as overnight diapers, but depending on what you put inside the cover they can leak if not changed frequently.

When the insert is soiled, it must be washed after use, but the cover can be re-used with another insert if it is not soiled with poo.

All-In-Two Diapers come in a variety of styles, colours and prints and have a good amount of fashion variety. They're also very versatile in that they can be mixed with other diapering systems.

Product Review: Bummis Organic Cotton Prefold Diapers & Snappi

2011-03-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

For my first diaper review, I wanted to start with the basics. Prefolds have been the diapering mainstay for decades, so I felt this was the best place to start.

Type of Diaper:

Pre-fold

Average Cost:

Preemie (4 - 9 lbs or 2 - 4 kg)
$9.99 per package (sold in packs of 1/2 dozen)

Infant (7 - 15 lbs or 3 - 7 kg)
$16.99 per package (sold in packs of 1/2 dozen)

Baby (7 - 15 lbs or 3 - 7 kg)
$26.99 per package (sold in packs of 1/2 dozen)

Suggested Best Uses:

As a diaper on its own or as a diaper insert.

Availability:

Common item carried in most specialty diaper shops

The Organic Bummi Prefold

How It Works

The organic Bummi pre-fold cotton diaper is about as close to your traditional cloth diaper as you can get these days (outside of cutting squares of cloth yourself). It is very similar to the cloth diapers our moms and grandmothers would have used, except that Bummis have selected a high grade organic cotton blend for the best absorbency that has been folded the perfect number of times for absorbency and fit, and then stitched into place. That's one less step for us, and all that's left to do is to fasten the diaper into place and use one of a large variety of waterproof covers on the market.
Fastening the Diaper is super easy with a Snappi. This rubber device completely replaces traditional diaper pins (which are pretty unsafe when you think about it). They have teeth on the rubberized ends that hook into the fabric of any pre-fold diaper in a triangular pattern (left, right, center) to keep the diaper in place.

Once your diaper is fastened on the baby you need a waterproof cover to keep the moisture and mess in. There is a huge amount of variety here! I myself have a couple of PUL covers with velcro tabs in cute colours for daytime, and I have a couple of wool covers that I use for overnight extra wetness protection (but some choose to use the wool covers exclusively).
These diapers can also function as inserts for other more sophisticated diaper systems. This is a great way to make use of your small prefolds when baby grows. If you find they're too bulky you can cut them in half. When the diapers are this cheap, resale value isn't as much of a concern so get creative!
In my opinion, it's a simple but efficient diaper and for the price and versatility, you really can't afford to not have at least half a dozen of these on hand.

Best Features

The organic Bummi pre-fold cotton diaper product has been a staple product on the shelves of nearly every diaper specialty shop I visited in the months leading up to the birth of my son. The simple explanation for pre-fold popularity is cost. One half-dozen of these diapers will cost as much as one pocket diaper, and you only need a few covers and a couple dozen diapers to get going with cloth diapers. For the same cost of one or two month of disposable diapers, you can quite literally diaper your baby from birth using pre-folds and a few simple covers (sold separately for as few as $8.00 each).
While this is a strong reason behind their popularity, of any other diaper type on the market today this type of diaper (pre-folds) have the most versatility. While they can serve as diapers on their own with covers, they can also be used for added absorbency in other more expensive and convenient systems such pocket diapers.
I myself purchased a dozen of these when I picked up my starting diaper assortment. My own intention was to use them as a backup to my pocket diapers, however, I have found that for overnight protection when you need extra absorbency I will use these with a hemp insert and a wool cover to keep my guy's bum comfy and his pajamas dry for the longer period between bum change.

What Could Be Better About This Product

I have never liked how "wet" the organic cotton Bummi pre-fold feels when soiled, even though this isn't necessarily a bad thing (particularly for babies close to potty training). However, opposed to more sophisticated diapers using more absorbent fibers, cheaper cotton loses the race, and as a result the fabric of these pre-folds will become "soaked" much faster and just don't have the muscle on their own for heavy wetting situations especially combined with runny poo (as with most infants).

I'd like to see a hemp blend variety, and would even pay a bit more for it!

References & More Information

Bummis Official Website: http://www.bummis.com
Snappi Official Website: http://www.snappibaby.com/products/snappidiaperfastener.html
Folding and Care Instructions (PDF): http://www.bummis.com/media/user_guide_en.pdf

About My Diaper Reviews

2011-03-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

My Diaper Reviews

Before purchasing my own diapers, I did a trial service from a local diaper shoppe. This gave me a very good idea of how different diaper systems worked, washed and wore.

Before I get into my review, I think it needs to be clear that there really is no absolutely fair way to judge a diaper as the "best" or "worst", because from what I've experienced this is largely going to depend on the uniqueness of your baby. Some wet more, some have higher waistlines, some are chubbier, etc. All of these factors are going to affect diapers differently, and some will shine while others will fail on one baby, and be completely opposite on the next.

So instead of focus on whether a diaper is amazing or an absolute fail, I'm going to focus mostly on the strengths of each diaper type, and if something doesn't work for me, I'm going to present these facts based on how I encountered them. For example, if a fit isn't just right, I'll explain what didn't work for me from an objective position (eg. my little one's legs were too chubby or his waist was too high). Naturally, if something is terrible or is a shoddy product (eg. fabric leaks all the time using several different samples), I'll be sure to let you (and the manufacturer) know!

Being the diaper addict that I am quickly becoming, this section is likely going to be the most active. Eventually I hope to have reviewed enough diapers on my infant son to give you a good idea of what will work best for you!

Reviews:

How Cloth Diapering Changed The Way I Do Laundry, And Why!

2011-03-15T16:54:00.000-07:00

Before Cloth Diapers

I don't have a fancy washing machine or dryer. It's your standard, run-of-the-mill top loading washer and front-loading dryer. I don't have a boil cycle on my washing machine, and my dryer has two heat settings... Dedicates and Permanent Press (Cool or Hot, basically).

Historically, I've always loved perfumes in my washing products. My favorites were Cheer (because it reminds me of the smell of clothes after my grandmother washed them), and vanilla scented Fleecy.

I used to believe you needed those perfumes to make clothes smell nice. Never in a million years would I have thought that the perfumes (and a lot of other junk) that they put in those enzyme-loaded detergents could actually make your clothes smell bad! In fact, I think the perfumes are there because they're meant to mask the nasty smell from all the buildup those detergents put on your clothes over time.

After Cloth Diapers

I found out when I bought my diapers that I could void the 1 year warranty on my Fuzzi Bunz if I used enzyme-loaded detergents or fabric softeners (which coat the diaper and destroy their absorbency). I also found out that even if I used these detergents in my non-diaper loads that there could be a residue buildup in my machines that would transfer on to my diapers even if I used diaper-safe only detergent in those loads.

So, to be on the safe side, I decided to switch my washing detergents completely, and stop using fabric softeners (liquid and sheets) altogether. I don't even use bleach anymore! For my regular loads I'm using Nellie's detergent.

The biggest reason is cost... Nellie's is cheaper than what I am using for my diaper loads, and is one of the least expensive "safe" brands on the market. It's also the brand that is carried at my diaper shop. Once you purchase the tin, refills are cheaper too ($14.00 per refill, 100 loads per tin). It leaves clothes clean in either hot or cold temperature, scent-free... just clean.

For my diapers, I am using Rock'n'Green detergent. While it does come in a variety of "natural" scents, I find they don't actually perfume the laundry at all (there is no staying power to them). There is literally just "no" smell... good or bad, after I wash the diapers when washed right.

How do you store dirty diapers between washes?

Gone are the days of soaking your diapers in chemicals. It is actually a drowning hazard to have a wet pail in your baby's room! All you need is a pail with a tight lid close to your change table and a couple of PUL lined bags.

I picked up a cute little pail that looks like a mini garbage pail with a lid from Wal Mart for $8.00, and 2 PUL lined bags (the kind without handles and an elastic at the top). I literally put a clean bag inside the pail and take the full one out, and rotate between the two bags.

When it comes time to do the laundry, simply remove the PUL bag filled with the dirty diapers (twisting the top to keep any smell inside while you transport it to the laundry room). Empty the PUL bag completely into the washing machine turning the bag inside out, then toss the bag into the machine with the diapers, close the lid, and wash!

Note: If you are using any pocket type diapers or systems with several parts that snap together, make sure you separate all parts before washing. If you don't, the parts may not wash or dry completely or properly or even worse, you can develop mold problems!

How do you wash diapers properly?

The most important thing I learned was that in order to get diapers clean

Use as much water as possible in relation to the diapers being washed
The water must be as hot as possible for the wash cycle.
Use a small amount of detergent, but enough to "wash" the diapers.

This third point may seem cryptic, but it's actually explained on the package. Most diaper (natural) detergents are heavily concentrated powders without a lot of "junk" added, so a tablespoon or two is generally all you need. If you have an HE machine, you will need even less detergent.

I always use the highest water setting possible, and I never "stuff" the washing machine until it's packed. I will generally fill the compartment 1/3 full of diapers (dried), and 2/3 water. Some will say that to get diapers properly clean, you should first do a cold rinse, then a hot wash (with the detergent) with a cold rinse at the end. I have found that with a newborn who is exclusively breastfed that you can skip the first cold rinse, but eventually when you introduce solid foods (or forumula) that this extra rinse will become necessary.

Also, with breastfed babies, you do not need to dump, rinse or swirl any poo off the diapers because it is completely water-soluable. If you are at a stage with your baby where you should be rinsing your diapers off, or somehow disposing of poo, you can buy a sprayer device that attaches to your toilet, and/or you can use disposable fleece liners that "peel" the poo out of your diaper to be flushed away.

I dry all of my diaper parts together on a low setting, however, if you find that your dryer isn't getting everything "dry" the first run, you can hang your covers (the waterproof parts) and run the absorbent parts only on a high setting to dry them faster. Keep in mind, doing this might mean your covers dry slower though.

So To Recap

Change your laundry detergents over to diaper-safe detergents. If you are unsure if your detergent is safe or not, check out this link: Diaper Safe Detergent Chart
Run the "safe" detergent through your washing machine a couple of times, ideally with loads of towels, and then through your dryer to strip away any residue from unsafe detergents and dryer sheets
Store your diapers in a dry pail with a PUL lined bag (that gets washed with your diapers)
For exclusively breastfed babies, no poo rinsing is needed
For solid/formula fed babies, you will need to remove the poo off your diaper by rinsing or using disposable liners to "peel" it off your diaper before laundering
Wash the diapers and PUL bag together
Dry your covers with your diapers (or inserts) on a LOW tumble dry setting or on a line. (You can dry cotton/hemp/bamboo diapers and inserts by themselves on high heat, as long as no waterproof parts are in the dryer.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them and I'll answer as soon as possible!

Why did I decide to use Cloth Diapers?

2011-03-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

I'm a 39 year old first time mom, and my decision to use cloth diapers was influenced largely by cost. In addition to the immense cost savings, switching to cloth diapers immediately cleared up my baby boy's severe diaper rash (he was in disposables for the first 3 weeks he was born until the meconium had totally cleared his system). Of course, it's also much better for the environment because no plastic or human waste is going into a landfill, and it forced me to use less laundry detergent that is more natural for all of my laundry... not just my diapers. By the way, this too is cheaper than what I was using before!

I should mention that I live in a home equipped with my own washing machine and dryer, and I have a private yard for drying diapers outside (when it get's warmer, we still have snow up here!). I only mention this because I believe immediate access to laundry facilities is the only must have for cloth diapering.

I started this blog largely to give women out there a personal experience with Cloth Diapering. Every day I'm learning something new, and i'm constantly modifying my "system" to make it easier, better, etc.

How much did it cost for me to start cloth diapering?

In total, I have spent approximately $550.00 (give or take a few dollars and cents) to get started on my cloth diapers. My stash could quite easily get me through until potty training.

I bought a hybrid mix of diapering products for my system, including:

a dozen indian pre folds (Bummis)
4 pre fold covers (Thirsties)
14 one-size pocket diapers (Fuzzi Bunz)
2 All-in-2 Flip covers with 4 inserts
a couple of Snappis (although one would have been enough)
6 soaker/liners (Thirsties)
one Sandees fitted diaper
one Wool Cover for extra overnight wetness (Woolly Bottoms).
1 Grovia "Magic Stick"

In addition to the diapers themselves, I bought a cute little mini garbage pail with a lid (white) and 2 PUL bags for dirty diaper disposal between washings.

If any of this sounds overwhelming, keep in mind that 3 months ago I knew absolutely nothing about cloth diapers, other than what little I had learned from a quick demonstration by sales ladies in local diaper shops.

Today, I feel like a pro, and my "favorites" have expanded from the one system I started with (pocket diapers) to include a variety of diapers for different situations.

What kind of diaper should you start with?

In my own opinion, there is no clear-cut "best" cloth diaper. What works best for moms and their babies is going to depend on a variety of things including price, style, maintenance level and most importantly your baby's size, shape and how much he/she wets and poops!

I bought a variety of diapers to start with to cut costs.

I started with a dozen pocket diapers (Fuzzi Bunz) in a variety of colours that would match my baby's wardrobe (yes, this is very fun). I backed this up with the pre folds just in case I didn't get all my diaper laundry done before I used up all the pocket diapers. One day this did actually happen, and I did run out of the pockets before the ones in the laundry were dry. With only a dozen to start with, I have to wash diapers every day and it's easy to get behind. To my surprise I found the pre folds faster to change and decided to use them instead for situations when I needed a fast change and I really don't care how "cute" his bottom looks.

But this isn't as "hardcore" as I would get... a couple of weeks ago, we started having issues with overnight wetting that was so heavy it would leak out of his diapers (Fuzzi Bunz and pre folds). I know it was an over wetting issue because I wasn't having leaks during the day when he gets more frequent bum changes.

I went to a diaper class at my diaper shoppe last Friday, and the lady suggested I try a Sandy's (Mother-Ease) fitted diaper with a wool cover, no plastic shell. This shocked me... I was sure that without any cover with plastic or rubber lining that he would wet right through... but apparently Wool can soak up to 40% liquid of it's own weight. These wool bottoms aren't scratchy or itchy either... they're very soft to the touch. They also don't require laundering very often despite getting wet because lanolin-infused wool has antibiotic and anti-septic properties. She also suggested I try some soaker liners to help absorb the extra wetness.

The combination has been brilliant, and I'm no longer going through several pajamas a night. The only additional purchase I can see myself making in the near future are a few more Sandy's and soaker liners so I don't have to keep washing the one pant and few liners that I got last Friday.

As an FYI, I have smelled this outer woolly pant every time he has used it and it still smells fresh and clean... it's bizarre!

This Blog will be about adventures in diapering, and in having a new baby at home. I have a few other bits of pregnancy information that I want to share as well, including my adventure with PUPPPs. I thoroughly documented my treatments in terms of what worked and what didn't, and the information wasn't easy to come by!

Cutee Patootees

We are this week's Fuzzibunz Monday Mama!

FuzziBunz One-Size Diapers

Type of Diaper:

Average Unit Cost:

Suggested Best Uses:

Availability:

FuzziBunz One-Size Diapers

How It Works

Best Features

What I'd Like To See Enhanced With This Product

References & More Information

Resist the temptation of CIO

Hilarious! Baby Eating Broccoli (First Food Ever)

Baby Led Weaning

My Baby has Outgrown his Stretchy Wrap! Now What?

Mei Tai's and Soft Structured Carriers Inspired By Them

The Babyhawk Mei Tai

The Ergo Carrier

What Did I Decide To Do?

What's in a disposable diaper?

References

Sandy's Fitted Diaper by Mother-ease

Type of Diaper:

Average Unit Cost:

Cotton:

Bamboo:

Suggested Best Uses:

Availability:

Sandy'sTM Diaper by Mother-ease

How It Works

Best Features

What Could Be Better About This Product

References & More Information

Product Review: Thirsties Duo Wraps Diaper Covers

Type of Diaper:

Average Unit Cost:

Suggested Best Uses:

Availability:

How it works

Best Features

What Could Be Better About This Product

References & More Information

2 Months into Cloth Diapering

FuzziBunz® Spring Smiles Photo Contest

Fitted Diapers

Average Unit Cost:

Suggested Best Uses:

Availability:

What They Are & How They Work

Materials

Cost

Fit

Function

Fashion

Fun

Cloth Diaper Categories De-Mystified

Flat Diapers (Flats)

Prefold Diapers

Fitted Diapers

Pocket Diapers

All-In-One Diapers (AIO)

All-In-Two Diapers (AI2)

Product Review: Bummis Organic Cotton Prefold Diapers & Snappi

Type of Diaper:

Average Cost:

Suggested Best Uses:

Availability:

The Organic Bummi Prefold

How It Works

Best Features

What Could Be Better About This Product

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About My Diaper Reviews

My Diaper Reviews

Reviews:

How Cloth Diapering Changed The Way I Do Laundry, And Why!

Before Cloth Diapers

After Cloth Diapers

How do you store dirty diapers between washes?

Sandy's^TM Diaper by Mother-ease