The Cloth Diaper Whisperer

A Rookie’s Nighttime Solution

2013-06-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

I feel like I started Cloth Diapering backwards and you could probably agree with me. I started CDing when my daughter was about 15 months old. She was in disposables from the day she was born and until recently, GASP, I started moving her into a more of a nighttime cloth diaper routine. I have to say that I was petrified of cloth diapers at night. What was I mostly scared of? That she would wake up in the middle of the night crying, disturbing my already broken up pregnancy sleep, and I would have to change her pjs, diaper, sheets, etc. How selfish am I? HA! Yes my husband could also get up and change it all, but let’s face it mommies, we like to take control in these matters.

Well, lo and behold she still leaked through her heavy wetter disposables. Yikes! At least once a week, I would change her morning diaper and there were these little chemical crystals everywhere. Really gross and scary to think that was on my daughter’s skin. My temporary solution for the leaking? I placed a waterproof cover over the disposable. Seemed to work, but I was still not thrilled.

So after much research, I decided to start nixing the disposables at night and I placed a few orders for night-time solutions. THANKS KC! So here goes my 2 options that have successfully worked for me:

Option #1: KaWaii Goodnight Heavy Wetter One-Sized Cloth Diaper

The KaWaii comes with 2 very long and thick microfiber inserts. During naptime, I would probably just stick with the 2 microfiber inserts, but it becomes very bulky. So instead, I just use:

1 of the microfiber inserts
BabyKicks Hemparoo Joey-Bunz Premium When I stuff, I make sure that the microfiber is closest to the baby’s skin, then the hemp right below just because I’ve read that other mommies do that since it absorbs a lot and slowly.
Since my daughter does have very sensitive skin, I use a cloth diaper safe balm and I also use a Bummis Fleece Liner. The liner wicks away any of the moisture and in the morning, her bum is so dry!

My daughter is also a tummy sleeper so I really do appreciate how the KaWaii sits flat on her tummy without it flipping forward.

Option #2: bumGenius 4.0 One-Size Stay Dry Cloth Diaper

I’ve only tried this once and I was a little nervous about it, but it worked!

How I stuffed:

1 long bumGenius microfiber insert snapped on its very first button for a little extra absorbency
BabyKicks Hemparoo Joey-Bunz Premium. In this case I actually folded one of the hemp inserts so it created 3 layers instead of just 2. I did this towards the front of the diaper since she is a heavy tummy sleeper.
Not pictured, but I used the Bummis Fleece Liner as well.

I also have a Kissaluvs Organic Fitted Diaper, but have only used it during nap times. I used a diaper cover and she still seemed to leak through. I have a feeling I didn’t put it on tight enough up top. We will try again and hopefully prevail!

My daughter goes to sleep between 7-7:30pm. In the past, we would give her almond milk closer to her bedtime. Now I give it to her around 4:30-5:30pm and I have noticed a big difference in the amount of pee at night. Let’s see if we can keep that up.

Now the whole irony of this all? I learned a lot about night-time CDing a toddler, now I’m going to be cding a newborn any day now, so here goes CDing 101 again!

Til next time - Happy Dry Heiny’s!

Bio: Kat Castro lives in Queens, NY and is a full time stay at home mommy to her 17 month year old toddler and She is expecting her 2nd baby girl in May 2013. In her spare time, she cooks, cleans, and writes on her personal blog: mammapanada.com

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Dad Gives a Thumbs Up for Thirsties Duo All-In-One

2013-06-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

My husband is not a fan of cloth diapers. Well, that's not true. He is just not a fan of the majority of the cloth diapers in our stash! The snaps closures confuse him. (It is tough to wrestle a diaper onto a toddler, especially one that snaps closed – so I’ll give him a pass there!) He always has issues with them leaking (probably because of how he snaps them), and he’s constantly asking me, "I have to put what insert where?!" Needless to say - when I leave my son with him for more than a couple of hours, he ends up putting him in disposables, because they're "easier".

So, I was on the hunt to add some more "daddy-friendly" diapers to our stash, because I was tired of taking out diaper trash twice a week. I obviously needed something that didn't require snapping or stuffing, but was also budget-friendly.

Right about the same time, Thirsties debuted their new "Polka Dance" print for the Duo All-In-One. I was in love with the design. I had to have it! But now that my son is so close to potty-training, I try not to be swayed too much by the cuteness of cloth diapers (otherwise I would buy them all!)

So, my love of polka dots aside, I had to make sure this was a diaper that would serve its purpose. An all-in-one diaper with hook & loop closure, under $20, that’s made in the USA? It's like they were reading my mind. SOLD!!!

When we received the diaper, it went right on the bum! It's surprisingly trim for an all-in-one, and the fit is awesome on my super tall almost 2 year old. (A lot of other diaper brands are getting too low in the rise at this point, but we still have a little room to grow in Thirsties!) I was slightly concerned that my husband would think the polka dots were too girly for our boy...but it is actually a very gender neutral print!

I am really impressed with the quality of Thirsties. The hook & loop fasteners are very sticky. So sticky, in fact, that my son does not attempt to take the diaper off! (Seriously, could these diapers get any better?!) They’re lightweight, while still being very absorbent for my heavy wetter. We have not had any leaks! They do take a little while to dry, as most all-in-ones do, but I have been flipping ours inside out before I put it in the dryer and that seems to help speed up the process.

Despite how much I love this diaper - the real tester was my husband. Is this something he would actually put on our son on a regular basis? Well, we've been using this diaper for a few weeks now, and I’m happy to report that it has received a "thumbs up" from Dad! He's actually asking me to buy more! (This is the first time my husband has ever encouraged my cloth diaper "hobby"! It's a win-win situation!)

So nice to see a happy cloth diapering daddy! Mission accomplished!

Bio: I’m Allie, The Practically Green Mom. I’m a green(ish), mostly vegetarian, coffee addicted mommy of a toddler boy, and wife of a (formerly) cloth-diaper-phobic husband.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Fluff Friday 237

2013-06-14T13:00:00.000-04:00

Who doesn’t love Free Fluffy Mail??

This week The Cloth Diaper Whisperer is giving away 1 bumGenius Freetime AIO, 1 Bummis Bio-Soft Flushable Liners, 1 GroVia Magic Stick (Daddy's Favorites!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Fluff Friday 236 WINNER!

2013-06-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

This week's fluff friday winner is: Faty Oth!

She will receive the following:
2 GroVia AIO Diapers in the New Persimmon and Citrus colors.

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

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

My Top 5 Favorite Cloth Diaper Accessories

2013-06-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Here are 5 things I think every cloth diapering house should have on hand!

1. Grovia Magic Stick (Diaper Balm)
I LOVE this product! It's cloth diaper safe (of course) and is in the form of a stick. It's organic and smells very "green". I use it daily on my baby. It's really good for mild diaper rash but if the diaper rash gets to out of hand I'd recommend a stronger cream instead. This stick super handy for the diaper bag and you don't have to worry about any messy spills that might come with creams. It also lasts a long time! It took us about 6 months to use up our first stick!

2. Clothes Line for Drying
I live in a town home and don't have access to very much outdoor space...so I dry my diapers on a drying rack that we installed in our laundry room! It works beautifully. I don't have to worry about critters or Mother Nature messing with my diapers outside. I don't have to worry about the sun bleaching any of the colored parts of my diapers. I hang them in our laundry room, they are up high and out of my way, and they are there waiting for me as a reminder that I have diapers to stuff later!

3. Planet Wise Wet Bags & Wipe Wet Bag
I probably have these wet bags in every size they make. They are great to hold used diapers, for wet clothes from the pool or the beach, for cloth wipes on the go (keeps them wet), to carry snacks in, to carry products that might spill (medicines), the possibilities are endless. I even keep one extra in each car...just in case. Even non cloth diapering houses should own some of these super handy bags! They are easy and very good at keeping things organized and clean. Just wash them with your diapers and hang them dry to maximize their life!

4. Kanga Wet Bag (for laundry)
I love these GIANT wet bags! We have 2 we rotate in and out as our daily diaper laundry bags. They are super well made and can hold A LOT of diapers! The zipper and handle feature make them super convenient to use too. I like that is zips up to really keep any odor from diapers INSIDE the bag. We have even used these as travel "duffel" type bags for dirty laundry.

5. Diaper Sprayer
A MUST HAVE...can I say that again? A MUST HAVE! This is the only reason why my husband was even willing to consider using cloth diapers! It is basically a hose attached to your toilet (be sure to follow installation instructions to avoid any water problems!). This is our go to method of dealing with poo! Which is one of the biggest deterrents of people considering cloth diapers...well here's an awesome solution! Spray it into the toilet, flush, and go! No mess.

SO there are my favorite cloth diaper accessories...things that have made our cloth diapering life easier. I'm always on the look for cool new products! If you have any cloth diaper products you use that you can't live without...please share!

Bio: Kaitlin Wilson is a full time working Speech & Language Pathologist and devoted mother to a 12 month old little girl. Efficient, practical, and healthy are the top criteria in Kaitlin's life. She is committed to cloth diapering and loves telling people about her experiences. You can find her blog at: http://millionsoffingerprints.blogspot.com/

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Super Saturday Coupon

2013-06-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

Coupon Code: FISHING

Free one-size diaper with $39 order at Kelly's Closet. Limit 1 code per order. Limit 3 uses per customer. Excludes the purchase of gift certificates. Not valid on pending or previous orders. KC chooses free diaper. Offer may expire at any time.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Fluff Friday 236

2013-06-07T13:00:00.000-04:00

Who doesn’t love Free Fluffy Mail??

This week The Cloth Diaper Whisperer is giving away 2 GroVia AIO Diapers in the New Persimmon and Citrus colors.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Fluff Friday 235 WINNER!

2013-06-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

This week's fluff friday winner is: Natalie Moliterno!

She will receive the following:
1 The New Clothesline Co DUO
1 RLR Capsules Pack

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

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Doll Diapers Support Creative Play

2013-06-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

This week we had a meeting with our daughter's new preschool teachers. She is transitioning from the toddler room at daycare into the "big kid" room within a matter of weeks. We're excited for her, and we had the opportunity to visit the room where she'll be spending her time.

During the tour, the teacher showed us the “dramatic play” area. This area was filled with lot of items to enhance creativity and imagination. There were dress-up clothes for the kids to try on, and even baby dolls that they could dress. I noticed that there were disposable diapers laying next to the baby doll area, and I thought to myself, "Where are the cloth diapers?" Since both of our children have been cloth diapered since birth, I would be surprised if my daughter would even recognize the crunchy plastic things also known as disposables.

Our daycare is extremely natural-parenting friendly: wooden toys, books that support multicultural awareness, involving the kids in gardening (the list goes on). Multiple children in the center are cloth diapered. I knew I wanted my daughter to have the opportunity to play with cloth diapers like she does at home. I decided to start saving up my Kelly's Closet Rewards Points and purchase some doll diapers to donate to our daycare center. I felt that this was not only a great way to advocate for the use of cloth diapers, but also a way to enhance creativity. Kids and parents who normally use disposable diapers would get a chance to see modern cloth diapers and parents may become interested in using cloth diapers at home. But most importantly, cloth doll diapers would offer the children another aspect of dramatic play. The prints, colors, and textures of a cloth doll diaper would give kids choices, allow them to select a favorite color, or even start the process of creating matching outfits. The white, disposable diapers the kids were currently playing with were not very fun or imaginative.

I think all daycare centers should consider adding cloth doll diapers to their classrooms and it's a good idea for parents to think about purchasing a few for use at home. Our daughter likes to play with our one-size cloth diapers that we use to diaper her younger brother. However, most of our diapers have snap closures and she isn't able to secure them or unfasten them. Doll diapers are typically secured by hook-and-loop closure, which allow children to work on the fine-motor skills necessary to take the diaper on and off. Our daughter also enjoys unloading our entire drawer of cloth diapers, leaving me hunting for diapers during her brother's diaper changes. Doll diapers help keep older siblings out of the diaper drawer, prevent unnecessary wear to your real diapers, and fit correctly onto the baby dolls. I have diapered a few stuffed animals where the diaper was almost the same size as the animal!

I'm trilled to be supporting my child's daycare by providing another opportunity for the kids to learn and have fun. Dramatic play is an amazing way for kids to learn about life skills, develop motor coordination, and use their imagination. Doll diapers provide a great opportunity for older children to learn about the care of an infant, and support the transition to being a big brother or big sister.

Bio: Nissa is a researcher and writer working in the life sciences. In her free time, she enjoys writing about natural parenting, cloth diapering, and eco-friendly living at Cloth Diaper Guru.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

What's That Smell??

2013-06-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

When I was 12 years old, my little brother was born. I was just old enough to babysit and do some of the "mommy chores," and the thing I remember hating the most was dealing with the diapers. Not necessarily changing him, but the smell of the used diapers that seemed to drift around the room. When we were on the go and he had to be changed in the car, my sister and I would dramatically hold our noses the whole ride home until mom could throw it out. I think it actually brought my parents joy to see how we reacted to it, haha. And emptying the full diaper pail was a chore that we dreaded!

So when my husband and I adopted our son, I was resigning myself to reliving that experience. Luckily, a few months before he arrived, a friend who cloth diapered showed us her system, and I was hooked. Now after using cloth on my son for 5 months, I've been so pleasantly surprised to find that "the smell" is almost nonexistent! When we're on the go, we use a travel-size wet bag that easily fits into the diaper bag. There can be 4 or 5 messy diapers in there, and you'd never know it! At home, I use a large PlanetWise wet bag with elastic on the top. Originally, we'd planned on getting a kitchen-sized garbage pail to put it in, but with all the business of being new parents, only got around to buying one recently. Until now, that bag has just been sitting in the corner, full of a day or two's worth of messy diapers, and there's still no smell. I think there's something about cloth that just allows for better air flow. A few times when I've been lazy and haven't finished the laundry in time, we've had to use a disposable diaper or two, and there's quite a noticeable difference. When that used diaper is taken off, there's "the smell" again. I don't understand the exact science, but I've read that it has something to do with the chemicals in disposables that allow them to be absorbent. In my opinion, things like that have no purpose being near my baby's sensitive skin!

Now, that's not to say that my baby's diapers NEVER stink. My boy has created some masterpieces that would make your hair stand on end! That's just a fact of nature...you can't quite get rid of that. But it certainly is nowhere near as bad as what I've experienced with disposable diapers. And I also use a system that minimizes the stink and staining. When my baby hasn't had a bowel movement yet, I try to remember to lay a flushable liner on top of my diapers. When he finally goes, I carry the messy diaper into the bathroom, where I have a "diaper sprayer" hooked up (well, it's actually a handheld shower attachment that we rigged up ourself. It works great!). I carefully flush the messy liner, then use the sprayer to get any remaining mess off the diaper. Since he's not on solids yet, I could technically skip this step and toss it straight in the washer, but I find that my diapers are less likely to stain if I spray them first, and it really only adds a few minutes onto the routine. Easy and totally worth it!

So if you have friends, family, or a hubby who is reluctant to try cloth due to the mess and stink factor myth, feel free to show them this post. :)

Bio: Laci is a new mom to a sweet baby boy who loves his cute fluffy dipes! She works from home as a freelance illustrator and voiceover artist, and has an affinity for all things geeky.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

My First Cloth Diaper

2013-06-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share my experiences with Best Bottom diapers. These diapers are sold as a two part system consisting of a one size diaper cover, and three sizes of inserts. The diaper cover contains two layers of PUL, double leg gussets, and four rows of rise snaps, instead of the usual three. For the inserts you can choose either four layers of microfiber topped with a layer of stay dry fleece, or an organic option of cotton and hemp. Also available are a "micro-doubler" and an overnight insert that has six layers of microfiber. You can also use them separately; you can use the diaper covers over prefolds, flats, or fitteds, and use the inserts in pocket diapers or other covers. These diapers make up about half of our current rotation, with the other half being pockets and all in ones.

I definitely have an emotional connection with these diapers. This system was the one that I picked when I was pregnant, and the first cloth diapers we put on our daughter. I was drawn to this system because of the customizability and the adorable patterns on the covers. We didn't actually start using these diapers until she was about three weeks old and maybe 9 pounds or so, however, I do think that you could use this system on a newborn, as the extra row of snaps in the rise and the crossover tabs allow them to adjust to a very small size.

My baby is a very heavy wetter, so we have had some issues with the inserts being able to keep up with her. I bought almost all of the stay dry inserts, which was fortunate because she doesn't like to feel wet. She started out in the smallest size, and by the time she weighed about 12 pounds she was already wetting through them. It is very obvious when it is time to size up the inserts, as the cover starts leaking and her skin started getting red in the areas where it touched the PUL- I think because urine was saturating the whole inside of the cover instead of staying in the inserts. At that time we switched to the medium size, but I only ended up using them for about a week because I did not see any real increase in absorbency from the small inserts. If I was able to do it over again I definitely would not have bought the medium inserts, I barely was able to use them.

At that point my daughter was still only about 12-13 pounds, I don't even think four months old, and we were already starting on the large inserts. The disadvantage of having to switch so early was that we had to unsnap the rise to the second to largest size to accommodate the snaps, and it turned the diaper from a fairly trim option to quite bulky. However, the large inserts are definitely more then a match for her, and I am hopeful that it will take her a long time to outgrow them. She is now six months old and 14 and a half pounds, with a long torso and slender frame. She has been wearing the BB diapers at this size for over two months with no problems at all, and since she has grown, they look less bulky and obvious. She has fallen asleep in one and worn it overnight with no leaking, or I will use them with the overnight insert as a night diaper on purpose. I also have a few of the cotton and hemp inserts, which I pair with a microfiber insert in a pocket to use as a night time option, and that works really well. My plan is that if she eventually does outgrow the microfiber inserts I can use the cotton and hemp inserts with a fleece liner, as they are supposed to be more absorbent.

I wash my BB diapers in Rockin' Green detergent, and haven't had any issues with staining or repelling. I generally tumble dry my inserts, but I always hang the covers because it really seems to wear down the PUL faster to put them in the dryer, even though I dry them on low. You can definitely see the difference in the covers that have spent more time in the dryer, but even so, all of them have held up very well to five months of regular use. I feel confident that this system will last through this child and possible future ones.

Bio: Rebecca Azer is a working mom to one daughter. She started cloth diapering to save money, and ended up an addict!

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

What's in Your Pocket?

2013-06-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Spare change! Lunch receipt! Barbie shoe! Instead of pants pockets, let’s focus on diaper pockets. After all, this is a diaper blog.

We are a pocket diaper family. Pockets offer the simplicity of an all-in-one without the lengthy dry time. The beauty of pockets is you can adjust absorbency by stuffing them with just about anything. With so many choices on the market, where do you start?

I decided to compare 4 popular pocket stuffins; flour sack towel, Thirsties Hemp Prefold size 1, small Microfiber insert and small Minky insert. I rated each item on a scale of 1 (worst) to 4 (best) in 5 categories; Cost, Trimness, Absorbency, Cleanliness and “Stuffability”. All 4 stuffins were evaluated with a 2011 Fuzzibunz Elite (One Size).

Cost

Microfiber- Many pocket brands come with a microfiber insert so I have to give this a 4 for cost because it’s free. And you don’t get any cheaper than free.
Flour Sack Towel (FST)- FSTs get a 3 for cost, as you can pick up FSTs at your local Walmart or Target for as cheap as $1/piece.
Minky- Minky inserts came standard with the 2011 Fuzzibunz Elites. If you want to get your hands on them now, they come in a 3 pack for $11.95 or if you are lucky, you can find some used. Score: 2
Hemp Prefold- These stuffins are the most expensive of the group, coming in just under $8/prefold. I personally find this pretty expensive; therefore Thirsties gets a 1.

Trimness
All of these options are pretty trim, but Minky was the trimmest by a slight margin, then the prefold, followed by microfiber with the FST being the bulkiest.

Absorbency
This is when the science nerd in me gets excited. For those of you that snoozed through high school science class, 1 gram of water = 1 mL of water. Therefore, one can conclude that the weight of an insert is directly proportional to the amount of water it absorbs. I weighed each stuffin dry to get a starting weight and then left them in a bucket of water for 10 minutes. I then weighed each saturated stuffin to determine how much water each was able to absorb.

The results were interesting:
Thirsties prefold: 297 mL, score 4
FST: 295 mL, score 3
Microfiber: 254 mL, score 2
Minky: 198 mL, score 1

Cleanliness
To me the most important factor in anything diaper related is how easy it is to clean. Drying time is a big factor in any wash routine. I chose to evaluate the different materials in relationship to dry time. After washing all 4 stuffins, I hung them on the line outside and evaluated dryness every 15 mins. The FST was dry within 30 minutes, earning a 4. The minky insert came in a close second, getting a 3 for dry time. The microfiber insert took about 3 hours to dry, so it earns a 2. Lastly, I took the prefold down after 4 hours and it was still damp, coming in last with a 1.

Stuffability
Lastly, I wanted to evaluate ease of stuffing. I am getting ready to return to work and I would like to spend the shortest amount of time stuffing diapers as possible.

Minky- I love the feel of minky. Soft to the touch and it glides into the pocket effortlessly. Add the fact that it is designed for this diaper and requires no folding and minky gets a 4.
Microfiber- This is a personal preference but the feel of microfiber gives me the willies. This friction also makes stuffing the pocket slightly difficult, so I gave microfiber a 3.
Thirsties Hemp Prefold- I love the jersey feel of this prefold. To fit in the pocket, the prefold must be trifolded before stuffing. Although this takes less than a minute, it is more labor intensive than the other two inserts, so it receives a 2.
FST- The flour sack towel comes in at 1 because it requires so much folding.

Final totals:
Minky: 14
Microfiber: 13
FST: 12
Prefold: 10

I believe each of these stuffins have value in different circumstances, that’s why I have a variety in my stash. What is your favorite pocket stuffin?

Lindsay is a first time mom to a 2 month old little girl and a crazy dog. She lives with her quiet husband in Illinois and is slowly navigating the journey of motherhood one cloth diaper change at a time. Follow her adventures at thedogatewhat.blogspot.com.

Super Saturday Coupon

2013-06-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Coupon Code: BABYTOES

Free one-size diaper (value $17+) with order of $69 or more at Kelly's Closet. Limit 1 code per order, Limit 3 uses per customer. Excludes the purchase of gift certificates. Not valid on pending or previous orders. Offer may expire at any time.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Fluff Friday 235

2013-05-31T13:00:00.000-04:00

Who doesn’t love Free Fluffy Mail??

This week The Cloth Diaper Whisperer is giving away One The New Clothesline Co DUO and One RLR Capsules Pack

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Fluff Friday 234 WINNER!

2013-05-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

This week's fluff friday winner is: Kenzi Kuhns!

She will receive the following:
2 NEW FuzziBunz Elite Stripes and Spots Minky Prints

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

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Super Saturday Coupon

2013-05-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

Coupon Code: HONOR

Free One Size Diaper with purchase of $39 or more at Kelly's Closet. Limit 1 code per order. Limit 2 uses per code. Excludes the purchase of gift certificates. Not valid on pending or previous orders. KC chooses free diaper. Offer may expire at any time.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Fluff Friday 234

2013-05-24T13:00:00.000-04:00

Who doesn’t love Free Fluffy Mail??

This week The Cloth Diaper Whisperer is giving away 2 NEW FuzziBunz Elite Stripes and Spots Minky Prints

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Fluff Friday 233 WINNER!

2013-05-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

This week's fluff friday winner is: Stephanie Napier Beck!

She will receive the following:
1 Rumparooz Dexter Snap One Size G2 Diaper
1 Rumparooz Quinn Aplix One Size Cover

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

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

The 'Onya' One For Me

2013-05-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, I had to throw in a silly play on words with the baby carrier brand name Onya. But it IS the only one for me. It is a wonderful (over-priced) baby carrier and I adore it! Let me count the ways:

1. It is comfortable.
I loved my sling ($20 from Target) and it was my go-to carrier with my first, but it did make my back tired. After lengthy use, I would get a little pinch in my back. I fixed it by reversing the cross of the sling, but that's no longer a problem. The Onya sits evenly on my back, so no back ache for me.

2. It fits well.
The Onya has the availability to do criss-cross straps on the back. With my slender build, some backpacks and carriers don't lay right. The Onya fits every body type.

3. It's versatile.
I carried my newborn in it and loosened the straps to carry my almost 4 year old in the same outing. Yes, the same outing. I ended up carrying the baby in my arms and my 40 pound daughter "backpack style" in the Onya (quite a spectacle). But aside from me, it's husband worthy. I don't know how I lucked out with a husband that has handled and grown with me in my crunchy momma ways, but he is supportive and adorable. Is there anything more handsome than a baby-wearing husband? I submit there is not! Plus I hear it works as a chair seat for babies that can sit up. When my lil' peanut gets bigger, I'll let you know how it works.

4. It's stylish.
I don't feel silly when I use it. Most baby carriers look okay, but the Onya was my favorite. I chose the beige and green with the waterproof fabric. It makes it a little more "outdoorsy" than the regular fabric and that's why I chose it. (And I know it's silly, but I liked the packaging as well.)

5. It's easy.
It's still a baby carrier and requires a quick tutorial. But as far as carriers go, I think it is more intuitive than most. Other brands take a video tutorial and some serious practice to get used to. This just clicks in and you're done.

I didn't buy my Onya through Kelly's Closet (I chose a local retailer instead) but I know they currently carry it. The price is steep, but I really have enjoyed it worth the price already in 4 months. I plan to use it for a long time with my son and future children as well, so it's a worthy investment. It might be right for you too.

Bio: Alicia is an 8th grade English and Drama teacher and is a pretty crunchy momma. She shares her Arizona home with a wonderful husband, energetic 4 year old, sweet 5 month old, 1 crazy dog, and 6 happy chickens.

Poop Tales: Cloth Diapering a Medically Complex Kiddo

2013-05-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

“Not again!” I muttered as I changed my son's diaper for the ninth time one afternoon. With that back-breaking straw, I decided to take the plunge and finally buy some of the cloth diapers I had researched for so long. From day one I was in love with everything about them! I loved not having to throw a dozen diapers away every day. I loved that I would be able to use these same diapers on baby #2 (whom I was pregnant with at the time). I loved not having to chase diaper sales and store huge boxes of diapers. It was a dream come true!

As my pregnancy progressed, I excitedly looked into newborn cloth diapers. I purchased cute newborn pocket size diapers, newborn inserts, prefolds and newborn covers. We planned to have everything we would need to cloth diaper our bundle from day one.

That fall we welcomed our second baby boy into the world. He was (and still is) beautiful and perfect, we couldn’t get enough of him. Sadly within hours our sweet baby started to get sicker and sicker. Tests revealed that his intestines had never connected to his bowels. The Doctors life flighted him to a bigger hospital where he underwent a 4-hour surgery, in the hopes that the problem could be fixed with ease. Unfortunately, surgery to connect his bowels and lower intestine was unsuccessful, so our sweet boy was given a colostomy. We were sent home; told that we would be changing poopy bags not poopy diapers. I mentioned our cloth diaper plans to the Neonatologist who told us that he didn’t see how we could make cloth diapering work. Being scared NICU parents, we took his word for it and put our cloth diapers away.

After a few weeks of using disposables we realized that there had to be a way that we could make cloth diapering still work. We started trouble shooting. It was a bumpy ride, but in so many ways cloth diapering turned out to be the best thing we could have done for our medically complex son.

What we had to do differently:
Our baby's stoma (poop hole on top of his abdomen) was much lower than most colostomy patients, so we had to put the diaper very low on his belly. Secondly, our son’s bag needed emptying; so we emptied it into the diapers. The diapers would then get laundered as “normal” poopy diapers.

What didn't work:
Most Pockets/All in Ones- We simply struggled to get them to fit low enough on his belly. As he got older we got a few brands to fit by folding down the area above the waist snaps or folding the velcro strip in half down into the diaper.

What worked best:
We finally found success with prefolds and low rise covers (flats also worked too). Below is how we folded the prefold in order to get them low enough for him.

How Else Cloth Diapering Helped Us:
Our cloth diapers not only went on our baby's bum but we ended up using them on his belly. Babies with colostomies and similar procedures often get skin breakdown around their stoma sites. We ended up occasionally using cloth diapers on his stoma to give the skin time to breathe and heal. We used a snappi to attach a prefold. It worked like a charm.

Cloth was also a blessing after our son’s colostomy reversal. He, like most children who undergo intestinal surgeries, experience bowel incontinence for weeks to years post surgery. We ended up using 15 diapers a day at least. This would have been a huge financial burden had we been using disposables.

Ultimately, cloth diapering our son did not go as we had envisioned it. But with some creativity even a child with special health challenges can be cloth diapered. Don't be discouraged by like feeding tubes, ostomies, low birth weights, older children with diapering needs etc. Every baby and family can benefit from using cloth diapers. There are enough cloth diaper brands, styles and sizes to ensure that every baby can sport a fluffy bum and a smile.

Bio: Charlene lives in UT with her adorably geeky husband and the two cutest baby boys in the Northern Hemisphere. She is a cloth diaper enthusiast, baby sling connoisseur, overall rockin' domestic engineer and avid blogger at cgmrb.blogspot.com

How to Discretely Nurse in Public

2013-05-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Breastfeeding your child is a beautiful experience. Not only is breast milk best for baby, but there are a number of benefits for the nursing mom as well. Nursing in the privacy of your own home is one thing, but some mothers feel intimidated by nursing in public. We can't stay in the confines of our homes forever, and expressing breast milk to bottle feed during outings is both time consuming and potentially damaging to the breastfeeding relationship (such as in the development of bottle preferences).

While some mothers have no issue feeding their babies in any situation, any attire, and around any company, other mothers prefer to keep the fact that they are nursing more discrete. A modest mother may be tempted to seek privacy in public restroom stalls: a practice that is both unsanitary and uncomfortable, and serving as a detriment to the nursing relationship. Instead, nursing mothers should be able to find products or solutions to enhance their breastfeeding experience, and allow them to nurse comfortably and discretely in public when necessary.

Nursing Shawls: A nursing shawl offers great coverage while nursing, without drawing attention to the nursing mother. The shawl can be worn over any shirt for an outing, but may work best when paired with shirts that have loose fitting neck lines (or those that button up). You can wear your nursing shawl over a nursing tank top to make feeding even easier.

Nursing Tank Tops: A mother can select to wear a nursing tank top underneath of her shirt for outings. When baby needs to feed, the outer shirt is lifted to provide access to the breast, while the tank top covers the stomach and back. The outer shirt can be used to cover the breast while baby is feeding. Tank tops are relatively inexpensive, however you may need to purchase several of them.

Decorative scarves: Try pairing a button-down dress shirt (or a shirt with a wide neck line) with a decorative scarf. The dress shirt can be unbuttoned when baby needs to feed, and the scarf used as a cover.

Nursing Covers: There are a variety of different nursing covers available on the market today. Many covers are developed so that the nursing mother can easily see the nursing baby. While covers offer the benefit of completely covering the baby, covers may be difficult to use in warm weather. Other mothers feel that nursing covers draw more attention to the fact that they are nursing.

Blankets: A thin swaddling blanket can make a perfect nursing cover. Either cover baby completely, or lightly drape the cloth over baby's face while nursing. Thin blankets can also be used for wiping up drips of milk or burping the baby after a feeding.

These are only some of the solutions that will allow a mother to discretely nurse in public and provide confidence to those who are just beginning their breastfeeding relationship. It is often difficult to spot a mother nursing in public: usually bystanders are oblivious that a “sleeping baby” may actually be nursing. I still remember one instance where a woman approached me as I was nursing my son in public. She walked up to us and pulled back the blanket covering his face before I could warn her. She simply smiled and said, “Oh, he’s eating. He’s so beautiful! You are so blessed!” That woman made me feel proud to be a nursing mother.

Bio: Nissa is a researcher and writer working in the life sciences. In her free time, she enjoys writing about natural parenting, cloth diapering, and eco-friendly living at Cloth Diaper Guru.

StreptoWHAT?

2013-05-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

It began as a simple rash. We'd dealt with these before. I was a pro. I have extremely sensitive skin and I often get rashes when the weather is changing, when I try a new product or, basically, whenever I breathe. The rash on my 2 and a half year old son's bottom looked just like the kind of rash I get on my legs where my pants rub and I just assumed his skin was suffering from the dry Colorado weather like mine does every.single.year.

I slathered the rash with all kinds of creams from calendula, GroVia Magic Stick to CJ's BUTTer. We tried air time, changing to pull-ups at night instead of cloth diapers. We even tried coconut oil.

But the rash got worse. The spots started to bleed. I just assumed that was because he just wouldn't stop itching. We couldn't kick it.

And then my daughter got a weird sore on her neck. Little pimple like sores started popping up on her legs and face and then finally on her diaper area. In a matter of mere hours, the rash went from something that looked simple and manageable to a site that truly scared me. I decided it was time to go see the pediatrician.

The answer, "Streptococcal." StreptoWHAT?! I'd never heard of it but I knew I was David and this rash was Goliath. She prescribed a topical antibiotic, as well as an oral antiboitic, for both kids.

I thought that things would start to clear up. Little did I know that the battle had just begun and this Goliath was laughing in my face. Things got worse. I came down with Mastitis and an eye infection which made it impossible to drive or go out into sunlight for several days. I was put on an antibiotic eye drop but decided to flush the mastitis out without antibiotics.

YIKES! Although there is no real way to say that these things are all related but I'd never had either issue.

Here is how we beat Goliath.

Normally our kids take a bath together but I started bathing them separately.
I washed all of our diapers with bleach and rinsed them over and over again in hot water. I packed them away until I was sure the rash was completely gone.
I bleached the tub after every single bath. And bleached the toilet every time my son went to the bathroom.
We applied the diaper rash cream as prescribed.
I put my son in a onesie as often as I could so he wouldn't itch the rash and touch anything.
I made sure to wash my hands, my son's hands and my daughter's hands as often as possible.

If you are dealing with a rash that isn't familiar or isn't going away, it is a good idea to reach out to your pediatrician. If you have multiple children, do your best to prevent the rash from spreading between them (use separate towels, different sets of diapers, different bathing times, etc).

Also, the wonderful ladies at Kelly's Closet and The Cloth Diaper Whisperer are an amazing resource for solving any cloth diaper related issue, including how to clear out the bacteria in your diapers from these yucky Goliath type rashes.

Don't allow yourself to be intimidated by or defeated by this giant. You don't have to give up cloth diapers just because your child gets a bad rash.

Mindy is mommy to two spunky kids who have both been clothed diapered mostly from birth! She can often be found stalking kellyscloset for no reason or trying something “crunchy” like washing her hair with baking soda! Follow along (when she has time) at neckdeepinlove.blogspot.com.

Flat diapers are easier than you think!

2013-05-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

When cloth diapering first came up as a discussion between my husband and me, he suggested it. We had just recently found out we were expecting our first child and were looking for ways to fit a baby into our budget. My first thought was flat diapers, pins, and covers. I didn’t know anything about modern cloth. I turned my nose up at the idea and began thinking of ways I could convince him that Pampers really were worth the money over store brand disposables.

So imagine my surprise when I wandered into a baby boutique one day and came across modern cloth diapers! They were so cute and soft! I was convinced! Cloth diapers were definitely the way to go. I was happy they were so modern and my husband was happy we were saving money. When I told people we were planning to cloth diaper, they too imagined flat diapers with pins. I assured them that cloth diapers had come a long, long way. We accumulated a pretty large stash of pockets and all-in-ones and were thrilled.

But about 8 months into our cloth diapering adventure, I became curious. I felt like an expert at that point, but knew I wasn’t truly an expert. I hadn’t given all types of cloth diapers a try yet. So I took the plunge and ordered my first package of flat diapers. I spent a couple days on YouTube learning different folds. I was so proud of myself! My husband was a little skeptical. When I shared with him the cost savings of using flat diapers, he was convinced too! He couldn’t believe we didn’t go with flats in the first place. “We could have saved so much money!” he says.

I’ve given up on the fancy folds and have really simplified my life with a pad fold. It’s the easiest and I can store my flat diapers ready to go. I still reach for my all-in-ones, but I love the simplicity of my flat diapers. They are incredibly easy to care for and because they cost so little, I don’t worry about ruining one.

Are you afraid to give flat diapers a try? I promise, they are much easier than you think!

Jenny is the mama behind the blog Cloth Diaper Revival. I'm a stay at home mom to Noah and a wife to Chas, the cloth diapering dad. She is a cloth diaper addict and a social media junkie!

Super Saturday Coupon

2013-05-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

Coupon Code: ORCHID

May is Blooming with Babies! Use coupon code ORCHID and receive a free one-size diaper (valued at $23+) with your order of $99 or more at Kelly's Closet. Limit 1 coupon per order. Limit 3 uses per customer. Excludes the purchase of gift certificates. Not valid on pending or previous orders. KC chooses free diaper. Offer may expire at any time.

Fluff Friday 233

2013-05-17T13:00:00.000-04:00

Who doesn’t love Free Fluffy Mail??

This week The Cloth Diaper Whisperer is giving away 1 Rumparooz Dexter Snap One Size G2 Diaper and 1 Rumparooz Quinn Aplix One Size Cover

a Rafflecopter giveaway