On Friday we posted about how to build a cloth diaper stash, most specifically, Emi of The Cloth Diaper Report’s question, “How did you decide on what styles and brands of diapers to purchase.”.

Today we are going to give you a basic formula we use both in our online and brick and mortar store to calculate (don’t worry, you won’t need a calculator…I don’t think) HOW MANY cloth diapers you will need for your baby.

Are You Ready for Some Cloth Diaper Math?

Diaper changes times laundry. More diapers, wash less often. Cloth baby diaper math is that simple.

(# of diaper changes per day)
x
(# of days between washing)
__________________________
(# of diapers you need)

More diapers, wash less often

If you change your newborn baby’s diaper 12 times a day, but you only wash twice a week, you need 3-4 dozen diapers. This may be more diapers than you need. If you schedule more washing into your busy life with a newborn, you will only need about 2 dozen cloth diapers.

Fewer diapers, wash more often

Once your baby is a bit older, you won’t be changing diapers quite as often. For a crawling baby, 8 changes a day may mean fewer washes for you.

Very few diapers, wash every day

You can just make cloth diaper washing part of your daily routine. When you wash every day, you need far fewer diapers.

Toddlers need fewer changes

Once your baby is talking, you may hear, “Diaper! Diaper!” Your baby will let you know when it is time to change. A toddler may even tell you before it is time. It’s time for potty training! Even when your toddler tries to get to the toilet each time, you will likely continue to change diapers for a while.

Ideal wash load

You can get by with 4 or 6 diapers for a toddler, but you may not want the expense of laundering so often when your toddler uses few diapers every day. It may be convenient to have 4 dozen diapers for a newborn, but does your washing machine allow enough room to clean so many diapers well? Depending on the capacity of your washer and the type of diapers you use, you may find the ideal number of diapers per load is 12 - 36 diapers.

Emergency stash, the extra diapers

What if you usually wash every other day, but you need to skip a day? What if your baby is sick and uses twice as many diapers as you expected one day?

If you keep a dozen cotton prefold diapers handy, you don’t need to worry about baby outgrowing the diapers. Then, when your toddler leaves diapers behind, these cloth baby diapers make wonderfully soft cleaning rags.

Do all of the diapers need to be the same?

No! Needs vary. There are a variety of cloth diapers and cloth diaper covers to choose from. You may find different times of day/different activities call for different styles of cloth diapers and diaper covers. If you are unsure of what to try, there are a number of cloth diaper sample packages available to discover which cloth baby diaper best fits your needs.

LAST WEEK’S WINNER CAN BE FOUND ON THE HOME PAGE SIDEBAR!

This week you will get the chance to “FEED YOUR STASH” one (1) Flip One Size Diaper Day Pack in the color of your choice!

WHO CAN PLAY?

Anyone 18 years of age or older and living in the Continental United States can play. Yes, you can play if you’ve won before. Yes, you can play if you’ve never seen or even heard of the Flip One Size Diaper Day Pack. Yes, you can play even if you have disposable diapers in your home (heh heh)…see, we’re easy. :)

HOW DO I PLAY?

Follow the guidelines below and be sure to leave any of your comments by Friday, November 13, 2009 at 9:00 am CST.

• Your first chance to enter is to leave a comment right now to the question below.
• If you share this giveaway on your BLOG or FACEBOOK account, come back and comment a second time (be sure to leave the link where you posted on your blog if you do).
• A third possible entry in this giveaway is if you leave a review for ANY PRODUCT at Diaper Junction.
• With three chances to enter, be sure to come back next Friday morning to see if you won!

HOW DO I KNOW IF I WON?

PLEASE NOTE: The winner’s name is displayed on the HOME PAGE SIDEBAR the following Friday on our “FEED YOUR STASH” Friday graphic; it is also written in the text written below the home page graphic. The weekly winners are responsible to follow the link provided on the home page to claim his/her prize.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE WINNER?

Every Friday morning I enter the number of comments into the number generator at Random.org and take the first number it spits. out. In the past, we did have a very lucky winner take home the giveaway more than once; like I said, it is completely random.

DO YOU HAVE BUTTONS?

We’ve been asked several times to make buttons for your blogs and websites and we FINALLY got it done! Grab your “FEED YOUR STASH” Friday buttons!

AND THE QUESTION IS…

Flip One Size Diapers have an available disposable insert to use when traveling, with caregivers, or whenever you need it. How do you feel about disposable inserts for cloth diaper shells?

If you have a blog that promotes cloth diapers, and you want to use the image above, feel free to copy and paste the following code into your blog entry:

<a href="http://www.clothdiaperblog.com/feed-your-stash-friday-nov-6-13-2009/" title="Feed Your Stash Friday: Nov. 6-13, 2009"><img src="http://www.clothdiaperblog.com/wp-content/themes/tma/images/latest/feed-your-stash-friday-giveaway-11-6-09-470x175.gif" alt="Feed Your Stash Friday: Nov. 6-13, 2009" width="470" height="175" /></a>

Like I mentioned yesterday, the world wide web has busted wide open with cloth diapering information - whether you are looking to buy cloth diapers or simply want to learn about them, Google is your oyster!

Once parents have decided they do want to use cloth diapers they have several more decisions to make - first, “What kind of cloth diapers do I want to buy?”, and then, “How many cloth diapers do I need?” Over at Diaper Junction we have comprised an archive of Cloth Diapering How To’s to assist parents when navigating this information for the first time. We present you with how to how to choose cloth diapers for your baby or toddler and how many diapers are needed to cloth diaper your baby full-time.

The Cloth Diaper Report

There are several mommas out there sharing their own experience and information about cloth diapering in their own blogs and today I want to point you to The Cloth Diaper Report. This momma started a blogging series on How to Build a CD Stash, this past Tuesday she began with Week 1: How To Build a CD Stash where she answers the question, “How did you decide on what styles and brands of diapers to purchase?”.

Other Helpful Cloth Diaper Articles

• Cloth Diapering Definitions and Terms for Cloth Diapers and Cloth Diaper Accessories
• How Many Diapers Should I Buy to Cloth Diaper My Baby?
• How Do I Find the Right Size Cloth Diaper for My Baby?

Next Tuesday, The Cloth Diaper Report will blog about “How many cloth diapers are in an ideal stash per child? What is your reality?”. Check out Emi’s cloth diaper reviews or visit our online cloth diaper store and scroll to the bottom of any cloth diaper or cloth diapering product we sell to read personal customer reviews.

I have been having a great time perusing the world wide web and finding all manner of bloggers interested in promoting cloth diapers.

Typically the bloggers are women, but on occasion I come across a daddy blogger with a penchant for sarcastic wit - like Derek Markham of Natural Papa who blogs about “Natural parenting from the perspective of a treehugging dirt worshipper.”

Earlier this week Natural Papa wrote the New Dad’s Guide to Diapering; or, the Scoop on Poop. It is entertaining; seriously, you’ll want to read it.

Sentences like “One of the laws of baby physics is that if it goes in, it must come back out. it doesn’t have to come back out the same way it went in, but it does have to come out.” had me rolling.

Or, when he answers the oft-asked question, “How do you wash cloth diapers?” Natural Papa’s response? “Short answer: in a washing machine.” Bwahahahaha! Nah, he goes into more detail.

And, if you are like me, you’ll find yourself wandering from post to post - starting from their tiny house experiment.

You’ll enjoy the read. At the very least it’ll give you a link to share with any man in your life opposed to the idea of using cloth diapers.

If you are new to the online cloth diaper community, you might not realize how it has grown in leaps and bounds over the past decade.

I’m proud to say I saw it at its roots and have watched it utilize the networking capability of the world wide web to challenge mainstream ideas and beliefs one baby/momma/family/caregiver at a time!

You can’t imagine how encouraging it is to see how the initial flame has blazed forward, burning a path through all the false information and research, not to mention how cloth diapering has improved upon itself through the years.

Love Cloth Diapering?

Share that love with other cloth diaper mommas, as well as find out about regular cloth diaper giveaways, over at Cloth Diapering Bloggers.

I would like to begin a weekly blog entry listing all the cloth diaper giveaways I can find. Please FEEL FREE TO EMAIL heather@clothdiaperblog.com with your cloth diaper giveaways. We have our own cloth diaper giveaway called “FEED YOUR STASH!” Fridays where you can win FREE DIAPERS each and every Friday, but there are MANY, MANY MORE!

THIS WEEK’S CLOTH DIAPER GIVEAWAYS!

• Sweet Pea Cloth Diapers Giveaway! over at All About Cloth Diapers. Giveaway ends Friday, November 6, 2009 at NOON!
• The Great Cloth Diaper Giveaway over at Cute Caboose is offering prizes for the next 4 weeks, including a GRAND PRIZE. The first prize will be announced on November 6, 2009. Get over there to get the details and check out the method of entry!
• Here’s a Canadian Cloth Diaper Giveaway! Win a Bummis Cloth Diaper Package over at . Giveaway ends November 14, 2009 at 9 pm.
• Want a chance to win a Rocky Mountain Diaper for your baby? There is a Rocky Mountain Diapers Giveaway over at Cloth Diapers Made Simple. You can enter up until 11:59 pm EST on November 9, 2009.
• You just might want to go over and subscribe to Happily Domestic; she has announced The Blessed Event” - a HUGE run of giveaways beginning November 21, 2009!

Because our love for cloth diapers stems for our desire to make healthier and more environmentally sound decisions for our children and YOURS, we have decided to give shout-outs to blogs across the vast interwebz doing the same thing!

Today we are going to point you towards KIWI Magazine’s Blog, Kiwi Log. If you aren’t familiar with KIWI Magazine, they cover the latest in natural and organic products, nutrition and wellness. They touch on everything from social and environmental issues to parenting advice from leading experts. You’ll be able to get in on kids’ fashions, reviews on kids’ media, toys, and games, and much more…here’s what’s in their latest issue.

In today’s Mom Blog Round-Up they linked our blog post about Pampers disposables, Disposable Diaper Promises are All Wet.

Get on over there to find out about other sites they rounded up for the week. Or, if it is ONLY cloth diapers you’re interested in, follow this link to the search results for “cloth diapers” on their blog!

LAST WEEK’S WINNER CAN BE FOUND ON THE HOME PAGE SIDEBAR!

This week you will get the chance to “FEED YOUR STASH” one (1) Econobum One Size Cloth Diaper Kit!

WHO CAN PLAY?

Anyone 18 years of age or older and living in the Continental United States can play. Yes, you can play if you’ve won before. Yes, you can play if you’ve never considered purchasing the new Econobum One Size Cloth Diaper Kit. Yes, you can play even if your favorite color isn’t chartreuse…see, we’re easy. :)

HOW DO I PLAY?

Follow the guidelines below and be sure to leave any of your comments by Friday, November 6, 2009 at 9:00 am CST.

• Your first chance to enter is to leave a comment right now to the question below.
• If you share this giveaway on your BLOG or FACEBOOK account, come back and comment a second time (be sure to leave the link where you posted on your blog if you do).
• A third possible entry in this giveaway is if you leave a review for ANY PRODUCT at Diaper Junction.
• With three chances to enter, be sure to come back next Friday morning to see if you won!

HOW DO I KNOW IF I WON?

PLEASE NOTE: The winner’s name is displayed on the HOME PAGE SIDEBAR the following Friday on our “FEED YOUR STASH” Friday graphic; it is also written in the text written below the home page graphic. The weekly winners are responsible to follow the link provided on the home page to claim his/her prize.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE WINNER?

Every Friday morning I enter the number of comments into the number generator at Random.org and take the first number it spits. out. In the past, we did have a very lucky winner take home the giveaway more than once; like I said, it is completely random.

DO YOU HAVE BUTTONS?

We’ve been asked several times to make buttons for your blogs and websites and we FINALLY got it done! Grab your “FEED YOUR STASH” Friday buttons!

AND THE QUESTION IS…

Have current economic stressors reduced or changed how you shop for cloth diapers and other natural baby products?

If you have a blog that promotes cloth diapers, and you want to use the image above, feel free to copy and paste the following code into your blog entry:

<a href="http://www.clothdiaperblog.com/feed-your-stash-friday-oct-30-nov-6-2009/" title="Feed Your Stash Friday: Oct. 30 - Nov. 6, 2009"><img src="http://www.clothdiaperblog.com/wp-content/themes/tma/images/latest/feed-your-stash-friday-giveaway-october30-470x175.gif" alt="Feed Your Stash Friday: Oct. 30 - Nov. 6, 2009" width="470" height="175" /></a>

From time to time truly interesting articles pop into my inbox, and the October 25, 2009 article, P&G Introduces Pampers 3 Way Fit Diapers, published in the business section of Vanguard’s e-zine is no exception.

The article starts innocently enough, detailing a “Dance with Dad” dance competition sponsored by Pampers to promote their new Pampers 3 Way Fit diapers. The article explains that the diapers “…are designed to celebrate the freedom of movement which is important for babies development, as it allows little ones to explore and discover the world around them.”

I can get behind the idea - better fitted diapers restrict less, leaving baby with increased mobility. Increased mobility encourages movement. Movement is good for baby’s body on a physical level, as well as a mental level. Development occurs.

Agreed.

So maybe Pampers and I don’t necessarily see eye to eye on the whole paper -v- cloth diaper issue, but we do both understand the importance of a diaper to not resemble a straight jacket.

Got it.

But then the article goes off the deep end gets a little quirky; it quotes the Pampers Brand Manager of West Africa, Guillermo Tafurt, as having educated “Dance with Dad” participants “…on the advantages of discovering their babies’ unique moves, which help develop their sense of positive self-esteem, whilst encouraging greater movement exploration.” And of course, since Pampers 3 Way Fit diapers are designed to move with babies, I’m sure you are more than prepared for the “natural extension” of these self-esteem findings, right?

Are you ready for this?

“…recent studies with global academic experts show that Pampers delivers superior sleep quality over cloth diapers, resulting in babies’ improved learning and social interaction.”

Take a moment to let that sink in.

According to “global academic experts” - which cannot be mentioned, nor cited, “Pampers delivers superior sleep quality over cloth diapers…”.

No definition of what defines “superior”.
No explanation of “sleep quality”.
No clarity on which cloth diapers were tested alongside disposable diapers.
No studies, period.

We’re supposed to read and drink-in this information at face value, but not just that, we’re also supposed to swallow their result…that the superior sleep quality of Pampers babies resulted “…in babies’ improved learning and social interaction.”.

Disposable diapered babies apparently will be the popular kids in play group, moving from “Mommy and Me” straight into AP high school coursework, and on to Harvard.

I’m not buying it.
And apparently the 3 that commented on the thread weren’t in agreement either - requesting documentation of the supposed studies.

Not surprisingly, no documentation has been given.

Bryana wrote me this morning to point me towards an interview with Tereson Dupuy, Inventor of Fuzzi Bunz over at the Sundance Channel’s blog, Big Ideas For A Small Planet. If you can’t view the video above, you can reach it at the direct link.

The video opens with a bit of a goofy line about cloth diapers from Sarah Douglis of Ecomedia, “Five percent of our landfills are filled with disposable diapers…and those are dirty.” As the cameraman laughs in the background at the obvious blunder–who puts CLEAN diapers in landfills–she easily laughs at herself and moves on (gotta appreciate a woman who can laugh at herself).

She goes on to point out in her quirky, laughable way that disposable diapers are full of chemicals, chemicals that are “…rubbing up against your little boy or girl’s family jewels all day long.” I’m sorry, but so much of the eco-news is so heavy - I found myself loving her interjections.

Right after Douglis’ quick-take, Tereson Dupuy talks about a sustainable Fuzzi Bunz Eco-Diaper in development. Apparently ALL of it will be 100% compostable. The outer shell will be made from sustainable polyesters derived from vegetable proteins (corn, soy, potatoes) and the insert from bamboo and organic cotton. But again, ALL OF IT? Compostable. I’m looking forward to seeing that new product when it launches!

Dupuy explains that after the diapers’ 3 year life cycle, it can be composted back into organic matter. “It is grown from a crop…and goes back into the earth and never into a landfill.”

Anyway, I won’t tell you everything, but there are recommendations on how many cloth diapers are needed for a reasonable washing cycle and prevent stains from sinking in or ammonia build-up. There are also recommendations regarding detergent ingredients for keeping Fuzzi Bunz (and by default, other pocket diapers, clean).

And if you’re wondering why this matters…why we have to talk cloth all the time (or as often as you will pull-up and read our blog posts), Sustainability Journalist Simran Sethi says it very well, “Babies are the most vulnerable members of our society…their immune system is still developing.”

We are here to share about cloth diapers so we can help keep babies more comfortable during their early years, but most of all, to offer information on how to protect your baby’s personal and environmental health.

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED - WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON ON THE HOME PAGE SIDEBAR!

This week you will get the chance to “FEED YOUR STASH” three (3) Smartipants One Size Pocket Diapers!

WHO CAN PLAY?

Anyone 18 years of age or older and living in the Continental United States can play. Yes, you can play if you’ve won before. Yes, you can play if your pants aren’t Smartipants. Yes, you can play even if you curl your tongue…see, we’re easy. :)

HOW DO I PLAY?

Follow the guidelines below and be sure to leave any of your comments by Friday, October 30, 2009 at 9:00 am CST.

• Your first chance to enter is to leave a comment right now to the question below.
• If you share this giveaway on your BLOG or FACEBOOK account, come back and comment a second time (be sure to leave the link where you posted on your blog if you do).
• A third possible entry in this giveaway is if you leave a review for ANY PRODUCT at Diaper Junction.
• With three chances to enter, be sure to come back next Friday morning to see if you won!

HOW DO I KNOW IF I WON?

PLEASE NOTE: The winner’s name is displayed on the HOME PAGE SIDEBAR the following Friday on our “FEED YOUR STASH” Friday graphic; it is also written in the text written below the home page graphic. The weekly winners are responsible to follow the link provided on the home page to claim his/her prize.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE WINNER?

Every Friday morning I enter the number of comments into the number generator at Random.org and take the first number it spits. out. In the past, we did have a very lucky winner take home the giveaway more than once; like I said, it is completely random.

DO YOU HAVE BUTTONS?

We’ve been asked several times to make buttons for your blogs and websites and we FINALLY got it done! Grab your “FEED YOUR STASH” Friday buttons!

AND THE QUESTION IS…

Have you found that one size pocket diapers work well for your baby(ies)?

If you have a blog that promotes cloth diapers, and you want to use the image above, feel free to copy and paste the following code into your blog entry:

<a href="http://www.clothdiaperblog.com/feed-your-stash-friday-oct-23-30-2009/" title="Feed Your Stash Friday: Oct. 23-30, 2009"><img src="http://www.clothdiaperblog.com/wp-content/themes/tma/images/latest/feed-your-stash-friday-giveaway-10-23-09-470x175.gif" alt="Feed Your Stash Friday: Oct. 23-30, 2009" width="470" height="175" /></a>