The Cloth Diaper Whisperer

Cute Baby of the Cloth - March 2010

2010-03-11T00:01:00.001-05:00

Luck o’ the Irish: March Cute Baby of the Cloth Winner

Congratulations to “Lucky” Baby Jack and his mom Katrina for being our very first Cute Baby of the Cloth monthly photo contest winners! This little leprechaun stole our hearts with his cute hat and even cuter expression!

A huge thanks to all the adorable babies who allowed their mommies dress them up in their green cloth diapers and take fun St. Patty’s Day pictures of them. We had a blast looking through all of them! In fact, we got so many fantastic submissions, it was really hard to choose just one winner…so we put together this sweet little montage to celebrate some of our other favorites!

And keep the photos coming! Next month’s Cute Baby of the Cloth theme is: “Best Friends.” We’re looking forward to seeing your cloth-diapered cuties with anyone they consider “friends” and love spending time with: mom or dad, grandparents, siblings, four-legged friends, other babies, a favorite toy or stuffed animal. Remember, a cloth diaper must be in the picture! Please email submissions to sarah@diapershops.com by Friday, March 19th.

Note: By submitting a photo for this contest, you consent that Kelly’s Closet and Diapershops.com has the right to use the photo of your child and his or her first name in future newsletters and blog posts.

100% Reusable Cloth Diapers Every Time

2010-03-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

As an organization, Real Diaper Association supports the use of 100% reusable cloth diapers.

We are concerned about the waste created by disposable products, no matter whether that waste is sent to a landfill for 1000 years, flushed and disposed of through wastewater treatment, or composted and disposed of as yard waste. Reusable products do not create waste.

We know a lot of our donors and volunteers work hard to find ways to keep babies in 100% reusable cloth diapers all of the time, and we want to recognize you. We also want to use your expertise to create support materials to help you in continuing your advocacy and support work.
Announcing the 100% Reusable Cloth Diapers Campaign

The Real Diaper Association announces the 100% Reusable Cloth Diapers Campaign to help parents choose reusable cloth diapers every time, all the time. For the next year we will ask the experts for advice on overcoming any difficulties cloth diapering parents may face. Then we will compile that advice and provide it to parents and caregivers who need support.

Who are the experts? They are experienced cloth diapering parents willing to share what they know with new parents, health care providers, and others.

You are the experts! Parents who find 100% reusable solutions in every cloth diapering situation have valuable tips and techniques to share with those who are struggling to succeed.

Yes, You Can Participate!

Spread your knowledge and experience face-to-face in Real Diaper Circles, with friends and family, or online. Help parents and caregivers overcome obstacles to using 100% reusable cloth diapers. Every few months we’ll focus on a different major obstacle, so stay up-to-date via this blog to continue your support for our year-long campaign.

Are you using 100% reusable cloth diapers on your baby all night?

The first area we’re focusing on is nighttime cloth diapering. RDA is looking for your tips to succeeding with 100% reusable cloth diapers all night. Tell us what works for you with nighttime diapering. As a thank you, you can download the RDA All Night Badge! We will compile your answers into a tip sheet for parents new to or struggling with nighttime cloth diapering.

Do you support 100% reusable cloth diapers in other ways?

RDA wants to hear how you support parents and caregivers in using 100% reusable cloth diapers. Are you an advocate? A business owner? A blogger? Tell us what you’re doing to help parents choose 100% reusable cloth diapers every time. We have a badge for you, too! Get your own RDA 100% Support Badge.

Read more about the campaign and get your support badges now.

What is the Real Diaper Association?

The Real Diaper Association is a non-profit organization which organizes local advocates and activists for cloth diapers through a member-supported resource center to plans campaigns, trains organizers, distributes educational information, supports local groups, and connects users to the U.S. Cloth Diaper industry. They're committed to spreading the cloth diapering word; cloth diapers are real diapers!

Diaper Doublers vs. Inserts

2010-03-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

There can be a lot to keep track of when you begin cloth diapering. From inserts, to wipes, to diaper doublers, what does each component do? Are inserts the same as doublers? What are each of these items used for? By examining each part of your diapering system, you can become familiar with the nuances, details and proper usage for each component.

Inserts vs. Diaper Doublers
At first glance, both cloth diaper inserts and diaper doublers look quite similar. Both are generally made in a long rectangular shape and are comprised of absorbent materials to hold your baby's waste. These two items do, however, have slightly different uses. Inserts are designed to fit inside of a pocket diaper to provide the sole absorbency for the entire diapering system. They may be shaped to fit a particular brand or style of diaper so that all parts of the diaper shell have absorbent capabilities. Inserts may also look similar to a prefold diaper so that they may be folded for customized absorption in your cloth diapers. Inserts are made with extremely absorbent natural or high-tech fabrics, such as microfiber. Cloth diaper designers often try to make inserts as trim as possible so that the diaper performs well, while still maintaining a trim profile on your baby.

Diaper doublers have a slightly different function. They are used as an extra layer of protection in another diaper. Unlike inserts, they are not intended to be the sole absorbent part of a diapering system. Instead, they add absorbency for times when you might need a bit more performance. Parents often use doublers for nighttime wear, sitters and when they are spending the day outside the home. Because diaper doublers often lay next to the skin, they may have special liners built in to protect your baby's skin.

Using Diaper Doublers
How you intend to use your doublers will determine what design and features are best for your cloth diapers. If you use an all-in-one prefold or fitted diaper you will be using a doubler that will sit next to your baby's skin. Many parents using this system favor doublers that have a wicking top layer. Popular wicking fabrics include lightweight polar fleece and suede cloth. This wicking material will sit on top of the absorbent layers and pull wetness to the inner layers of your cloth diapers.

For those that use a pocket style diaper system, diaper doublers can be placed inside the diaper shell, along with the absorbent insert. This allows you to customize your cloth diapers according to your immediate needs. If you do plan on using your doublers in a pocket diaper, you will not need to invest in a doubler with a wicking layer. However, you may want to have a few on hand just in case you want to add absorbency after your cloth diapers are already stuffed.

Purchasing Diaper Doublers
Most parents prefer to have at least two dozen cloth diapers in rotation at any given time. It's a good idea to have at least one diaper doubler available for each cloth diaper that you regularly use. If you start using cloth diapers on your newborn, purchase a set of smaller doublers to reduce bulk. At Kelly's Closet, diaper doublers are very affordable, ranging from $3-6 each.

The Birth of Rumparooz

2010-03-08T00:01:00.003-05:00

Looking back at the day I made Autumn's first diaper, I never imagined this is where we would be today. This just wasn't the plan. The Rumparooz didn't even have a name, they were just a solution to our personal needs. After the diapers started getting attention from other interested moms, the first person I turned to was my mom. Since I was 5 years old she has been my mentor in all things fabric and stitching. She was an amazing seamstress. You could not stand in our house and not be within arms reach of something that she made.

I lost my mother in August of 2007. I still can not say that out loud without quickly becoming inconsolable. She passed away very suddenly after suffering from complications of a disease called Scleroderma Sclerosis. This does not have to be a fatal disease, but my mother was mis-diagnosed and went un-treated for many years. I lost so much more then my mom and my best friend that day. I lost a part of me. There are just no words to express the depth of the pain. My mother was so proud of me and so excited for where she knew we were heading. She was my biggest fan! The morning that she passed away, no one knowing that would be her last, she told me "Honey, I am so proud of you. You work so hard and what you are doing is not only amazing for your family, but so many others as well." And that is what I take with me.

Immediately after my mothers passing my Aunt founded the Susan Marie Sclerodmera Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Their mission is to raise monies to support efforts to increase awareness of and treatments for scleroderma. You can learn more about this organization here: http://smsclerodermafoundation.com

The Cloth Diaper Report-Spreading Awareness About Cloth Diapering

2010-03-07T00:01:00.003-05:00

I am thrilled at the opportunity to share a little bit about myself and my blog here at The Cloth Diaper Whisperer. For those of you who don’t know, I started cloth diapering when my daughter was almost 3 months old and often call it my “deployment hobby” as my husband deployed to Iraq the day my daughter turned 2 months old. I had never considered cloth diapering while I was pregnant, although I registered for and sought after organic and eco-friendly products. I read dozens of pregnancy books and magazines, but was never exposed to modern cloth diapers until I was flipping through a magazine one morning shortly after my husband had gone overseas. It was a parenting or baby magazine and saw a picture of a Swaddlebees Econappi on one of the pages. It was a small picture with a small caption, but it was enough to grab my attention and I thought “I want this”, “I need to learn more about what cloth diapering is all about” and “how did I not know about this before!”   

I hopped online later that day and that is when my research and cloth diaper obsession started… and it hasn’t ended to this day! I continue to search for new brands, innovations, styles, fabrics and anything else I can discover about the world of cloth diapering. I didn’t have the intention to have a blog about cloth diapers when I started this journey and had no idea that it would become a part of my daily life (outside of the diaper changes of course). My husband jokingly asks me on a regular basis, “what do you love more than cloth diapers”? Although the answer is obvious, cloth diapers are something that I have become very passionate about and have a lot of fun exploring and researching.

  Since I didn’t have many friends who cloth diapered when I started in July 2008, I gathered most of my information and purchased most of my diapers online. Although I was able to research a lot of information online, I saw that there was a need in the cloth diapering community for reviews that were detailed, easy to navigate and where it was clear what the reviewer’s experiences were. I had found a few sites where reviews were posted, but quickly because frustrated that it often seemed it was only the people that passionately loved or hated a product that took the time to write reviews. I was also skeptical at what the reviewers were comparing the products to, as they may have been using an additive-filled detergent or had never used a pocket diaper before etc. After spending hundreds of hours online reading so many different sites, I wished there was a resource where more information was gathered in one place.   

The Cloth Diaper Report blog was started after 8 months of cloth diapering my daughter as I wanted to provide that resource that I wish existed to others. After purchasing 10-12 brands by that point, which was more than anyone I personally knew, I started the blog so that other parents could read reviews of the various brands and styles knowing exactly what brands I had tried, detergents I used, and cloth diapering knowledge I had. It wasn’t until late in the spring of 2009 that I realized the potential my blog had and the direction I wanted to take it in. Although I have since discovered more cloth diaper resources and blogs, some of which I wish I discovered in the beginning, I still feel that my blog offers something unique and hope to continue to be a useful resource to families.   

My current goals for my blog include my original mission to provide reviews of cloth diaper brands, styles and related topics; however, I also have expanded my goals and mission from my humble beginnings. I hope to be a source of product announcements, sales, other family friendly products and a place where families can also get coupon codes or have their luck at winning free diapers and other goodies. I also have weekly columns like “Diaper Tips Tuesday” that offer other families the opportunity to chime in with questions and tips and a resources section that lists dozens of different cloth diaper, eco-friendly and family friendly resources. I never thought I would be reviewing, blogging and literally spending dozens of hours a week reviewing, networking, writing and maintaining my site. I hope to continue to regularly improve my site, expand my content and spread awareness about cloth diapering and eco-conscious living to more families around the world.

Enter to win a Gro Baby Accessory Kit on Facebook!

2010-03-06T07:34:00.003-05:00

Head on over to our DiaperShops.com Facebook Fan page to enter to win a Gro Baby Accessory it! Our community on facebook is growing and we want you to become a part of it!
To enter to win the Gro Baby Accessory Kit you have to post a comment on the facebook post ONLY (dated March 2nd)!

Weekend Super Saver Coupon - March 6th & 7th

2010-03-06T00:01:00.002-05:00

Valid 3/6 & 3/7 only. Sorry, no previous or pending orders discounted. Limit 1 code per order. (Cannot be used on bumGenius,Flip,Econobum,Thirsties, or Gro Baby. You can order these items but you need to spend $49 or more on other brands to get the $5 off.)

Fluff Friday 69

2010-03-05T13:00:00.005-05:00

Fluff Friday:
2-Rumparooz One Size Diapers with 2 Rumparooz 6-R One Size Inserts

Question of the week:

If a friend asked you 2 reasons why you liked using cloth diapers what would they be? You should leave your comment before Thursday, March 11th at 7pm EST. (You can only answer the question ONCE PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY.)

Other ways to enter:

Follow Rumparooz on twitter page and post a comment letting us know you are following Rumparooz.
Become a follower of Rumparooz' new blog. Come back and comment that you are now following the Rumparooz blog.
Being a follower of our blog or subscribing to our blog, gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower.
Commenting in other posts during the week will give you ONE EXTRA comment PER EACH comment that you make. Simply post a comment on this one saying the title of the post where you wrote your comment. So, what are you waiting for?? Participating in other posts pays off!!!
Advertising the giveaway in a forum or other blog gives you ONE extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a advertising and where.
Using our button on your blog (or starting to) gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are using it and where.
Being a fan of our Facebook group gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a Facebook fan.
Being a follower on Twitter gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower and your Twitter ID.
One entry for signing up for our newsletter at Kelly's Closet. Post a comment when you sign up or if you are already signed up.
Tweet @diapershops fluff friday @rumparooz #clothdiapers giveaway Enter at http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/. Then come back and comment that you tweeted AND the exact tweet (not tweet id status).
Tweet any unique tweet with @diapershops #clothdiapers. Cut and paste your tweet and post as a comment. You can get 1 entry for EVERY unique tweet!
Being an affiliate of Kelly's Closet. Please post your affiliate id in your comment.
Place an order at any DiaperShops store between 3/5-3/11. Post your order # and order date in the comments.
Leave a product review at Kelly's Closet and return to the blog and comment which product you reviewed.
Start a thread about our giveaway or comment on a thread that is about or giveaway on any chat room (http://www.diaperpin.com/, http://www.diaperswappers.com/, etc) . Post the name of the thread AND the url of your comment.

Have questions?? Visit our FAQ's.

How? We will draw one winner randomly with an "Online Number Generator" and will make a post with the winner on Friday, March 12th. It is the responsibility of the winner to contact us to claim their prize.

Who can participate? US Residents are welcome!

Important note about the winner: If we haven't heard from the winner by the closing time of next week's giveaway, we will choose another winner that will be published TOGETHER with next week's winner.

Good luck, and don’t forget to tell all your family and friends about the giveaway! In case that you don't win, what a better person to win than a friend of yours!!

Fluff Friday 68 Winner PLUS Facebook & Twitter Winners!

2010-03-05T00:01:00.005-05:00

This week's Fluff Friday winner is: Kelly!

She will receive:
1-Kushies Ultra Lite Diaper Trial Pak (Includes 1-Kushies Ultra Lite Infant (10-22lbs) Diaper, 2- Washable Diaper Liners,2-Washcloths,10-Biodegradable Liners)
1-Kushies On-the-Go Wet Bag 2pk

Facebook winner - Jodi J.
We reached 3500 followers and randomly drew a winner.
Jodi J. won 1-bumGenius 3.0 & 1-Flip Stay Dry System

Twitter winner - @Kaylynbuckner
She wins 1-goodmama one size fitted diaper in exclusive diapershops.com print.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Please, contact us ASAP so we can get your winnings out to you!!!

Gro Baby: Parent Tested, Parent Approved!

2010-03-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

One of our popular selling brands of diapers, Gro Baby™ (made by The Natural Baby Co.) recently announced that it was awarded the Parent Tested, Parent Approved (PTPA) Media Award!

This award was not only given to the Gro Baby One Size Diapering System, but also to the company’s shells, soaker pads and boosters. The PTPA Media Awards honor products only after they are vigorously tested by parents. Only products that pass muster are given the PTPA award.

Gro Baby has also announced their Gro Baby BioSoakers are officially U.S. Patent Pending. BioSoakers are disposable pads that line your baby’s cloth diapers (the backside of the BioSoaker is sticky, so it stays in place inside your diaper’s shell). Gro Baby BioSoakers are biodegradable, compostable, plastic and chlorine free... and now, patent-pending!

Let your little grow with Grow Baby!

"Why does your baby look like a Who?"

2010-03-03T00:01:00.003-05:00

This is what my brother asked me within minutes of meeting my then-2-month-old baby Oskar over the holidays. My husband and I, baby in tow, made the eight-hour trek by car (typically five hours, but baby adds three) specifically to introduce our new bundle to my family. The highlight of this visit was that Oskar would have the opportunity to meet my brother's baby -- Oskar's cousin -- for the first time, along with a host of tittering aunts and fawning uncles and fussing grandparents. We arrived and made the whirlwind of introductions, barely surviving the onslaught of camera flashbulbs that went off when the babies held hands upon meeting. Then, not long after,

"Why does your baby look like a Who?"

"What?" I asked.

"A Who," my brother replied.

"A which?"

"A Who. You know, from Dr. Seuss?" he clarified.

"Oh," I said. "As in, Horton Hears a..."

"A Who." My brother pointed at my baby's butt.

I looked at Oskar and realized what my brother was trying to say in his typically colorful way. Oskar did look somewhat like a Who, one of the tiny, cheerful, and vaguely pear-shaped inhabitants of Whoville, with his one-piece romper stretched over his little body and his especially rotund bottom. That's because Oskar was sporting our pocket diaper of choice, a Smartipants, double-stuffed for the long car ride, and was looking extra-fluffy that evening.

Since he was about a month old, Oskar has been in cloth. We never planned on cloth; it never even occurred to us. We figured we would have enough on our plates with a whole new person living in our house, leaving a trail of soiled laundry in his wake. But a few things happened right after Oskar was born. We became tired of the constant trips to the baby store for diapers and wipes, just in the few weeks our baby lived in disposables.

We were appalled by the sheer volume of garbage we were tossing into our trash can several times a day -- made even more embarrassing by the fact we were tossing said garbage into the can directly next to the recycling bin we proudly frequent, the one right behind our hybrid car. We educated ourselves and I spent lots of time over at educated; I spent lots of time on Kim’s website, Dirty Diaper Laundry.

I was shocked at how different cloth diapers are from how I'd imagined (in other words, they didn't necessarily involve giant safety pins and a backbreaking laundry routine). We became sentimental; how could we possibly have been prepared for just how much we could love this new little person, for just how fervently we would want to give him the very best we could?

And so I explained to my brother that Oskar looked like a Who that night -- and in fact always looked like a Who -- because he wore cloth diapers. I waited for the standard response.

"Poop? In your washing machine?" He raised an eyebrow.

And, as I always do, I resisted the urge to reply, "Chemicals? Against your baby's skin?" or "Trash the planet your baby will inherit?"

Instead, I simply smiled and said, "You bet."

By Patti W-C.

Dr. Seuss photo courtesy of PBS

Why bumGenius are Genius!

2010-03-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

bumGenius were the very first diapers I bought and put on my daughter. I purchased them because they seemed like an easy transition from disposables, their performance had rave reviews and the design, style and colors were adorable. After seven months of using them they still hit each of these points and have impressed me with even more outstanding qualities. Since that first purchase I have been on a quest for the perfect diaper for our family. I am always anxious to try the new design, fabric or brand in search of the diaper that will make me abandon all others. In truth, that diaper might already be in my stash and I just cannot give up the thrill of the hunt! If I could no longer justify buying and trying the latest and greatest, here’s why I could be very happy sticking with only bumGenius One Size diapers:

Performance: These diapers are the gold standard, the old faithful in my cloth diapering world. I’ve never had a leak with bumGenius unless it was complete user error on my behalf. I stuff them with the basic micro-terry insert and they are good to go. Double stuff with a hemp insert and the micro-terry insert and they are “bulletproof” for overnight.

The inner liner keeps the skin so dry while the pocketed insert absorbs all of the moisture. The elastic around the legs holds everything in without leaving any painful red marks on my daughter’s chunky legs. Some people have had trouble with the hook and loop (Velcro) closure weakening over time, but I haven’t had any issues with that thus far. Furthermore, the hook and loop is completely replaceable if it becomes a problem so I have no worries there.

Style: I love the styling of these diapers. They are adorable. The intensity and depth of the colors is beautiful. However, it is the trimness of the diaper that gets me. These are the easiest diapers to get a pair of pants over and look the trimmest on her. Prints or patterns would put them over the top for me.

Ease of Use: The design of these diapers is the closest I’ve seen to disposables. They go on and fasten just like a disposable, they’re easy to adjust and a breeze to stuff. They are simple to clean and wash up beautifully day after day. The micro-terry insert can be bleached or dried in the sun and brought back to almost original condition. To this day not one of my bumGenius diapers have stained.

Each diaper in my stash has one or two qualities in which they might be superior to the others. One might be softer inside, one might have a prettier exterior, one is super-absorbent, one is trimmer than the others. For me, though, the diaper that hits the mark most consistently is the bumGenius. They hold the largest majority in my stash and are usually the diaper I turn to most when getting my daughter dressed for the day.

Does this mean that my quest for the perfect diaper has ended? Maybe, but I’ll never admit it outright. What fun would that be?

By Jennifer G.

Kushies Product Focus

2010-03-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Kushies Baby designs, manufactures and markets an innovative collection of quality baby products and accessories. The company strives for excellence in all areas to ensure its customers receive the highest attainable workmanship and quality. This is exemplified in our continued dedication to service - an uncompromising commitment maintained for more than 50 years.

The company was established as Diana Dolls Wear Ltd. in 1953, by Mary Malinowski of Stoney Creek, Ontario. Founded as a small "cottage-style" industry, it grew to become the only Canadian manufacturer of doll clothing and accessories, with a customer list that included all the major Canadian department stores. In 1987, Mary Malinowski retired and on January 1st 1988, Susan Malinowski and Sam Perez purchased Diana Dolls Wear Ltd. assets.

With a seasonal product line focused on Christmas, Diana Dolls Wear Ltd. naturally began to look for additional markets possibilities for the company to expand. The decision was made to concentrate efforts on the infant children's market, with the initial product to be a re-useable form-fitted cloth diaper. The internationally trademarked name Kooshies was created for the new product line. As President, Sam Perez, explained, "It was a unique name easily pronounced in many languages, enabling the product to be marketed worldwide under one name."

After designing the revolutionary 100 per cent cotton, reusable diaper, Kooshies undertook a year of extensive testing and refinements, and went on to patent the Kooshies diaper.

Kooshies was awarded the privilege of displaying the "Ecologo" of the Canadian Ministry of the Environment on their patented cloth diapers and have received numerous awards and "Best Buy" rankings for their products. Sam Perez recalls, "Timing was an extremely important factor. In the late 1980s there was a new and growing awareness in Canada concerning environmental issues, and Kooshies offered a quality, environmentally - friendly product at the right time".

The Canadian public also responded to the "Kooshies' washable diaper with an overwhelming positive response as Kooshies offered a product better for the environment, a product that made diapering convenient for parents and healthy for the baby.

In just over a year, Kooshies became the industry leader in Canada, with sales exceeding initial projections tenfold. Their market was also expanding into the United States at this time. Since 1990 Kooshies has grown to become a market leader in more than 35 countries around the world.

State-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and meticulous inspection standards for the expanding Kooshies product line, which currently encompasses over 350 baby products, ensures the continuation of the company's high quality standards.

The year 2003 has been notable for Kooshies. When Sam took over the company in 1988, the name was spelled "KOOSHIES". This name had been successfully registered with a worldwide trademark. However, there was opposition from a company registered in the United States and over a ten-year period, without any real progress, the parties finally reached a settlement early 2003. Sam realized the solution would be to change the spelling. This year the corporate logo, labels and packaging have been changed to "KUSHIES".

Today, Kushies is located in a huge, beautiful facility in Stoney Creek, Ontario - less than an hour's drive outside of Toronto. All of our corporate and manufacturing personnel are housed under one roof, resulting in increased efficiency. Sam reflects that, 2003 has been a big year for us. From educational toys to clothing, Kushies covers an entire range of consumer products. "We have a lot in the works and a lot on the go," boasts Sam."It's an exciting place to be".

Looking to the future, Perez emphasizes "Kushies will have an increasingly strong presence in the baby products industry with products that are complimentary to each other. Our commitment to quality and customer service will allow Kushies to continue to make a change for the better."

February's Spotlight Mom

2010-02-28T12:12:00.002-05:00

Name: Alycia C.
Hometown: Springfield, MA
mom to: Tommy (4.5 month)
Occupation: Stay at Home Mama!

What is one cloth diapering tip you wish you had gotten at the very start? To keep it simple! I bombarded myself with a million different diaper types and I was so overwhelmed with everything. I should have stuck to the 1-2 kinds I liked the best. That is what I do now and it’s so much simpler.

What baby product could you not live without? When Tommy was a newborn, my two lifesavers were Gripe Water and this Tummy Band that I warmed up and wrapped around Tommy’s tummy to help colic. Nowadays it’s our wet bag. We use these instead of a diaper bag when taking short trips and they’re so great. I just throw a diaper, a burp rag, a bottle, and a changing pad in one and we’re good to go!

What is your parenting style?I’d say we’re a mix of mainstream and attachment parenting. We do the typical crunchy stuff like delayed vaccines, cloth diapering, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, and baby wearing, but we also don’t go crazy if the television is on a little too long or Tommy gets a little bit of sugar before he’s two. We like to do what feels right for us.

What is the cutest thing your baby does?I love his laughs. When I’m holding him and something makes him laugh he buries his face into my chest and lets out the most adorable giggle. It makes me melt!

What is the one cloth diapering tip you would tell a new mom? Don’t make yourself crazy. Pick a couple of brands that really interest you and get enough to last for a day or two. Then once you find your favorite, invest in a larger stash. The most popular brand or fit may or may not be the one that works best for your family.

What are your TOP 5 favorite websites? Diaperswappers.com, TheClothDiaper Whisperer.com, OxygenMag.net, Amazon.com, and MamaNotes.com.

What is your favorite thing about being a mom? When you wake up in the middle of the night and roll over just to see your baby sleeping so peacefully. Knowing that this precious person is here because of me just fills my heart and makes me look forward to each day I have with him.

Weekend Super Saver Coupon - Take 15% Off Kushies

2010-02-27T00:01:00.003-05:00

Take 15% off all Kushies brand products at KellysCloset.com -Use code KUSHIES15 at check-out. Valid Feb.27th & 28th only. Limit 1 code per order. Sorry, no previous or pending orders discounted.

Fluff Friday 68

2010-02-26T13:00:00.011-05:00

Fluff Friday:

1-Kushies Ultra Lite Diaper Trial Pak (Includes 1-Kushies Ultra Lite Infant (10-22lbs) Diaper,2- Washable Diaper Liners,2-Washcloths,10-Biodegradable Liners)
1-Kushies On-the-Go Wet Bag 2pk

Question of the week:
What 2 Kushies products would you consider purchasing that we don't currently carry at Kelly's Closet? Please visit Kushies.com for product selections. You should leave your comment with the full names of both products before Thursday, March 4th at 7pm EST. (You can only answer the question ONCE PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY.)

Other ways to enter:

Follow Kushies Baby on twitter page and post a comment letting us know you are following Kushies.
Become a fan of Kushies Baby on facebook. Come back and comment that you are now Kushies facebook fan.
Being a follower of our blog or subscribing to our blog, gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower.
Commenting in other posts during the week will give you ONE EXTRA comment PER EACH comment that you make. Simply post a comment on this one saying the title of the post where you wrote your comment. So, what are you waiting for?? Participating in other posts pays off!!!
Advertising the giveaway in a forum or other blog gives you ONE extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a advertising and where.
Using our button on your blog (or starting to) gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are using it and where.
Being a fan of our Facebook group gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a Facebook fan.
Being a follower on Twitter gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower and your Twitter ID.
One entry for signing up for our newsletter at Kelly's Closet. Post a comment when you sign up or if you are already signed up.
Tweet @diapershops fluff friday @kushiesbaby #clothdiapers giveaway Enter at http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/. Then come back and comment that you tweeted AND the exact tweet (not tweet id status).
Tweet any unique tweet with @diapershops #clothdiapers. Cut and paste your tweet and post as a comment. You can get 1 entry for EVERY unique tweet!
Being an affiliate of Kelly's Closet. Please post your affiliate id in your comment.
Place an order at any DiaperShops store between 2/26-3/4. Post your order # and order date in the comments.
Leave a product review at Kelly's Closet and return to the blog and comment which product you reviewed.
Start a thread about our giveaway or comment on a thread that is about or giveaway on any chat room (http://www.diaperpin.com/, http://www.diaperswappers.com/, etc) . Post the name of the thread AND the url of your comment.

Have questions?? Visit our FAQ's.

How? We will draw one winner randomly with an "Online Number Generator" and will make a post with the winner on Friday, March 5th. It is the responsibility of the winner tocontact us to claim their prize.

Fluff Friday 67 Winner!

2010-02-26T00:01:00.005-05:00

This week's Fluff Friday winner is: Claire!

She will receive:
1- Knickernappies One-Size Diaper with 2 Loopy-Do Inserts (provided by the manufacturer)
1- Knickernappies Hanging Door Pail Liner (provided by DiaperShops.com)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Please, contact us ASAP so we can get your winnings out to you!!!

Thirsties is Harnessing the Sun

2010-02-25T00:01:00.003-05:00

Among Colorado’s many natural blessings is an almost daily dose of high-intensity, high-altitude sunshine--over 300 days per year. The kind that can burn your skin nastily if you stay out more than just a few minutes without protection, but as well the kind that makes solar panel manufacturers slobber on themselves.

Enter Erin Kimmett, founder and owner of one of America’s largest cloth diaper manufacturing and wholesale companies, Thirsties, Inc. Long an advocate for less-impacting methods of modern living, Kimmett began Thirsties five years ago as a venture to supplement her husband’s teaching income, to find an outlet for her incessant entrepreneurial spirit, and in large part to spread the news of the wonders of cloth diapering, both as a less-expensive means of diapering and as a way to drastically cut down on the environmental consequences of the omnipresent--and in her mind dangerous--disposable diaper.

Fast-forward the five-odd years since its inception, boasting a retailer roster of over 300 stores worldwide, and through all the struggles and hardships that any small business owner witnesses, Erin is still hard at it--the all too common platitude of “being a good steward of the planet” living deeply and with resounding truth in both her life and business ethic:

100% domestic manufacturing--check
Utilizes American-made materials--check
Purchases carbon credits to offset 100% of manufacturing and transport utilities--check
Recycling of all used cardboard and paper--check
100% recycled cardboard and paper for new shipments--check

The next step is underway: to power the entire warehouse operations with solar electricity. And then some--enough to sell back to the local coal-burning utility! Thirsties is presently installing a behemoth of a solar panel array, with a configuration that at full-capacity will produce enough electricity to cover more than all of the business’ needs--11 clean, sustainable, photovoltaic Kilowatts. This equates to a total CO2 reduction of 200 tons, as if Kimmett herself is planting over 7700 trees.

Skimming past the obstacles that seemingly obstructed her path to the sun--local skepticism and regulatory hurdles, among others--Kimmett has never taken her eyes off of the prize, and is characteristically enthusiastic about steering her alternative-energy mantra to solar production. Especially relevant to Thirsties’ ability to finance the undertaking are the present federal tax credits available to anyone installing a solar energy system ¾ coupled with a special business installation credit ¾ in addition to the local utility’s own solar energy rebate program, bringing a $44,000 system down to a more small-business manageable level of roughly $7000.

The solar tour de force is only adding fuel to Kimmett’s clean energy fire, complementing an already long laundry list of green practices which dominate Thirsties’ business model. Who knows what’s next?

By Dave Kimmett January 28, 2010 CAÑON CITY, Colorado - Erin Kimmett, CEO of Thirsties, Inc., can be reached at 719-315-2333 - Dave Kimmett can be reached at 719-275-4919

We're Looking for Unique Cloth Diapering Stories - Share Yours With Us!

2010-02-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

We need some help and thought we'd turn to our loyal CDW followers. Our readers are the best and always come through for us.

What we need: We are looking for a few good cloth diapering stories. If your story fits into any of these categories, please email Jenny@diapershops.com and you may be included in a special project for Kelly's Closet!! Thanks for your help in advance!!

Mom who is cloth diapering multiples (twins, triplets, etc.)
Mom with a special needs child and uses cloth diapers
Mom who uses cloth diapers because of doctor order / specific medical reasons
Working mom who convinced her daycare to give cloth diapers a go
Stay at home dad who uses cloth diapers and likes it!

Thanks,

Kelly

Introducing the New Gro Baby Getaway Package

2010-02-23T11:39:00.009-05:00

A few weeks ago we sent out an email requesting suggestions for new Gro Baby packages. We received many wonderful suggestions; in fact we're still going through all of the emails!

We are proud to announce the new Gro Baby Getaway Package:

3-Gro Baby One Size Diaper Shell Sets and a package of

Gro Baby Biodegradable Soaker Pads (50ct)

"I'd offer the GroBaby "Getaway" package, with everything you need to spend a few days away from home with 3 shell sets and a package of bio soakers. If you were using biosoakers on the trip, you wouldn't need the regular soakers, but who would really want a bunch of shells without soakers? Anyhow, that'd be sweet."- Suggested by Slee F.

Congratulations to Slee who will receive 1 Gro Baby One Size Diaper Shell Set.

Thank you to everyone for your participation! If we decide to utilize any further package suggestions (exactly as suggested) we will contact you.

Top 3 reason why I would NEVER cloth diaper; and the truth I ultimately discovered!

2010-02-23T00:01:00.001-05:00

When I had my first baby, my parents and others told me how lucky I was that disposable diapers were so easy compared to the cloth diapers of their day. At the time, I didn’t know anyone who was cloth diapering, and I didn’t give it a second thought. I used disposables with my daughter though potty training and with my son for the first 16 month of his life.

Without any conscious decision on my part, I gradually felt little nudges to look into modern cloth diapering. Initially, someone I knew registered for cloth diapers for their baby shower; so I spent time exploring them online. Then, some of my sister’s friends started cloth diapering. Finally, a good friend of mine came for a visit and was using cloth diapers. She asked me if I ever thought about it, and I said, “Yes, BUT here’s my reasons why I don’t…” Following is my list of reasons why I would NEVER cloth diaper:

1. I don’t want to have to swish poopy diapers in the toilet
2. I don’t want to have to carry dirty diaper around with me when I go out.
3. I have enough laundry as it is. I don’t want to add anymore.

That very night after my friend visited, I was up all night thinking about the benefits of cloth diapering and how cute her baby looked with his fluff. I spent the following week doing research and by the end of the week I had purchased 9 bumGenius 3.0 One Size pocket diapers, a diaper sprayer, a FuzziBunz hanging diaper pail liner, a small wet bag, bumGenius bamboo wipes, and some flushable liners. So… how did I overcome my 3 biggest hesitations?

1. The diaper sprayer: This is the most amazing cloth diapering tool. I don’t know how people cloth diaper without it. I can tell you I definitely would NOT!
2. I keep a small wet bag inside my diaper bag so I always have a place for wet or soiled diapers. I also try to use flushable liners when I’m out so I can just drop the mess in the toilet.
3. I know it probably sounds strange to some of you, but I really love washing my cloth diapers. It’s different than regular laundry because I don’t have to do all the folding and sorting. I just sit and stuff them and they all get put away in the same spot.

My friend urged me to just buy one or two cloth diapers to try it out. She also advised me I could still use disposable at night or when I went out. Instead, I just jumped in with both feet and haven’t looked back. I haven’t purchased any disposable diapers or wipes since my son was 16 months (he’s now 22 months). Now I always encourage new moms to try cloth diapering.

My only regret? I wish I had started sooner!

By Megan W.

Knickernappies One Size Diaper: iParenting Media Winner!

2010-02-22T00:01:00.002-05:00

Knickernappies One Size Diaper is a proud winner of the 2009 Best Products Award from iParenting Media!

What goes into creating an award-winning diaper? Come behind the scenes with me for a moment.

I’ve owned Knickernappies for about 4 years. My husband works with me and together we wear all of the hats: packing, shipping, designing, sourcing, customer service, etc. Two years ago, we were ready to create a One Size diaper. But since our diaper is side-snapping, this presented some unique challenges for designing a one-size-fits-all diaper.

On our kitchen table, I set up my sewing machine and cranked out sample after sample. After about 10 prototypes, over the course of a year, I had a pattern that I was ready to take to our sew shop for a professional prototype. We went through another five or six prototypes over 6 months. First the snaps were way too high and interfered with the side snaps. Then the snaps were way too low and just looked uncomfortable for baby. We got the snap placement just perfect, but I really wanted a top-stitched diaper. Those look so clean and finished…but we had elastic on the belly and that interfered with the fit if it was top-stitched. Around and around we went, tweaking and testing. Our local testers used a variety of prototypes and gave us valuable feedback on what they liked the best, what worked, and what didn’t.

Finally in April 2009, after nearly 2 years of sewing and testing, we started official production of the Knickernappies One Size Diaper. They released to retailers in June 2009. Last fall we submitted our diaper to a panel of judges and to our great joy, our diaper was awarded one of the Best Products of 2009 from iParenting Media. What an honor to have all of our hard work anointed with a seal!

By Heather - Owner and Creator of Knickernappies

Seattle Mom Documents Her Switch to Cloth

2010-02-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

Seattle Baby & Toddler Examiner, Rachel Ostrander, is conducting an experiment.

This writer and busy mom of a nine year old and an infant is making the switch to cloth diapers and is documenting it all in the online publication, the Seattle Examiner. She’s taking her readers through the process from start to finish – from stuffing inserts to finding detergents to washing – and giving them a real-life glimpse into cloth. I’ve given her some tips and advice about getting started and I look forward to helping guide Rachel through this process. It’s a great way for anyone who’s thinking about switching to learn exactly what it takes.

I encourage you to check in with Rachel periodically … comment and cheer her on! She’s in for a very big, but very positive change in her life and we’re happy to be a part of it! Go Rachel!!

Weekend Super Saver Coupon- Take $5 off your order!

2010-02-20T07:30:00.005-05:00

* Take $5 off an order of $50 or more (PLUS FREE shipping) at Kelly's Closet! Use discount code 5NOW at check-out.

Valid Feb.20th & 21st only.

(Cannot be used on bumGenius,Flip,Econobum,Gro Baby,or Thirsties- you can add these items on your order but you will have to purchase $50 worth of other brands to get the $5 off. Limit 1 code per order, limit 1 use per family household. Sorry, no previous or pending orders discounted.)

Fluff Friday 67

2010-02-19T13:00:00.007-05:00

Fluff Friday:

1- Knickernappies One-Size Diaper with 2 Loopy-Do Inserts (provided by the manufacturer)
1- Knickernappies Hanging Door Pail Liner (provided by DiaperShops.com)

What products(s) do you currently use to store your dirty cloth diapers? (If you never cloth diapered before what do you think you would use?) You should leave your comment before Thursday, February 25th at 7pm EST. (You can only comment ONCE PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY.)

Other ways to enter:

Visit the our Knickernappies One-Size Cloth Diaper page and post a comment letting us know your favorite color.
Become a fan of Knickernappies. Come back and comment that you are now Knickernappies facebook fan.
Being a follower of our blog or subscribing to our blog, gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower.
Commenting in other posts during the week will give you ONE EXTRA comment PER EACH comment that you make. Simply post a comment on this one saying the title of the post where you wrote your comment. So, what are you waiting for?? Participating in other posts pays off!!!
Advertising the giveaway in a forum or other blog gives you ONE extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a advertising and where.
Using our button on your blog (or starting to) gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are using it and where.
Being a fan of our Facebook group gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a Facebook fan.
Being a follower on Twitter gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower and your Twitter ID.
One entry for signing up for our newsletter at Kelly's Closet. Post a comment when you sign up or if you are already signed up.
Tweet @diapershops fluff friday @knickernappies #clothdiapers giveaway Enter at http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/ . Then come back and comment that you tweeted.
Tweet any unique tweet with @diapershops #clothdiapers. Cut and paste your tweet and post as a comment. You can get 1 entry for EVERY unique tweet!
Being an affiliate of Kelly's Closet. Please post your affiliate id in your comment.
Place an order at any DiaperShops store between 2/19-2/25. Post your order # and order date in the comments.
Leave a product review at Kelly's Closet and return to the blog and comment which product you reviewed.
Start a thread about our giveaway or comment on a thread that is about or giveaway on any chat room (http://www.diaperpin.com/, http://www.diaperswappers.com/, etc) . Post the name of the thread AND the url of your comment.

Have questions?? Visit our FAQ's.

How? We will draw one winner randomly with an "Online Number Generator" and will make a post with the winner on Friday, February 26th. It is the responsibility of the winner tocontact us to claim their prize.