Spreading the Fluff Love

Head on over to Sincerely Liz to get another perspective on Cloth Diapering.  Liz and I have had many chats about cloth diapering and I like to think that I maybe had a tiny piece in her choosing to cloth diaper her beautiful little girl. :)  It makes me so happy to see that others are sharing their fluff knowledge. 

Cloth With 2

Well, we're almost 6 months in with cloth diapering two children.  We have saved so much money and I feel that we're really getting good use out of the diapers.  They are holding up well and I still love a fluffy butt just as much as I did when we first started. :)

I've been using a new cream, recommended by my friend Sophie and I love it.  Danny does too because it's hands free.  The GroVia Magic Stick is a little pricey (about $14.00/stick) but it lasts a long time and works great.  Dylan has not had a single diaper rash in his almost 6 months of life!  Marissa still gets rashes when she is teething but it is a great preventative when she isn't teething.

Our wash routine has picked up a bit.  In order to have enough for daycare I'm washing every other day.  It's a good routine and we don't run out of diapers.  I've had several friends make their way into the world of cloth and so far everyone seems to be doing great with it! 

I will be sad to one day sell of my cloth stash...Marissa is starting to get acquainted with the big girl potty but Dylan still has a ways to go! And who knows...maybe one day I can convince Danny to have a 3rd.  :) Ha, ha...I better not push my luck!

Wet Bags, Wipes and Baby Gifts - Oh My!

I attended a friend's baby shower this past weekend and I made lots of goodies for their little girl!  I hope they enjoy and get good use out of these items.  I had fun making them. :)

Cloth wipes made of super soft flannel.  These are double sided so they are nice and comfy for a tiny tush!

Taggie/sensory blanket for Miss Sydney

Zippered wet bag for cloth diapers (yay for more CDing mommies!)

Ladybug hair clips - you might remember these from Marissa's 1st Birthday. They were so cute I decided I had to make more. :)

Sunday Funday

It's been an uneventful weekend.  Lots of relaxing in PJs and spending time as a family.  Just what the Doctor ordered!  For those that know our last name, this picture might be a little comical. :-D

Marissa likes playing doctor.  She puts the stethoscope on and lifts her shirt to listen.  She also likes it when we listen, so cute!  Maybe she will be a doctor or a nurse when she grows up. 

Playing outside the other day 

Sittin' in a tree

Can you believe these eyes?  He is going to be a lady killer with these blues! ;-)

Apparently diaper changes are tiring, but he has the "touchdown" pose ready for football season.  {Go Skins}

Such a sweet boy!

We're successfully cloth diapering with 2U2.  A few people thought I might give it up after having two in diapers, but sure enough we're still going strong!  I need to get some supplies from the craft store because I plan on attempting my hand at sewing a diaper.  My sewing skills are still far from perfect but I thought it might be fun just to try it out.  It would be good practice working with elastic and velcro.  

I'm getting the cloth diaper itch...I really want to buy some fun new colors but I'm trying to resist, as I have too many diapers as it is. :)  Maybe I will de-stash a few so I can buy some new colors.  :o)  It's a good thing Danny doesn't mind my CD addiction. 

Dylan is coo'ing at me for some attention, so I'm off to see that sweet smile. 

Guest Blogger - Sophie's Cloth Diaper Review

A friend of mine, Sophie, has started her cloth diapering journey and would like to share her experience thus far with some of my other readers.  I've also included a little feedback to some of her comments! :)  I hope some of you new cloth diapering mommies find this information useful.


While I am still a cloth diapering novice – I’ve only been completely in cloth for a little over 2 weeks I’m definitely glad we decided to go this route. Alicia has been so awesome to share her wealth of knowledge and my husband was surprisingly agreeable to the idea so we decided that cloth diapering was the route to go. I started to build my stash and decided on 3 different brands to try out. BumGenius, Kawaii and SmartiPants. I created a diaper registry online and started telling people our plan to cloth diaper. Some people were supportive of the idea…many were not, but I had no problem putting people in their place. This was mine and my husband’s decision and the unwarranted opinions definitely got irritating, but I was sticking to my guns. Like Alicia, I decided to start out in prefolds and then move to pockets when the baby was big enough. I got a little bit of a late start with the prefolds because my baby was having trouble feeding. We had to make sure he was getting at least 12 wet and 6 poopy diapers per day. I decided I didn’t want to transition from disposables until we were sure he was getting what he needed and his output was what it should be. After the baby was peeing and pooping like a champ I decided I was ready to embark on the prefold journey.

The problem was the covers I got. There was no cut out for the umbilical cord so the cover kept rubbing against it and irritating it. So I decided he would remain in disposables until the cord fell off. It took only 2 weeks (the pediatrician said that was early). I had received a prefold package from diaperjunction.com. It contained 24 unbleached cotton prefolds and 3 bummis whisper wrap covers. It was around $85 and I thought this was a great deal. Well unfortunately, you get what you pay for. I didn’t care for the covers at all. The fabric was stiff, it wasn’t easy to clean and like I already mentioned there was no cut out for the umbilical cord. Thankfully, I had a rumparooz cover that I had received as a gift. That cover was a lot better. Fabric was softer and there was a cut out for the cord.

Alicia - We had a great experience with the Thirsties Duo Wraps.  They have an umbilical cord cut out and double layered leg gussets to keep contents contained within the shell and not on you and your baby's clothing.  They wipe clean and had a great fit for Marissa.

I decided to go with the angel wing fold for the prefold. I will say I wasn’t a fan of the prefold process. My baby doesn’t do well with diaper changes. He gets really fussy (unless he’s about to pee on me ). So trying to hold him still while doing the fold was difficult. Also, I found he had a lot more diaper rashes simply because the urine wasn’t being drawn away from the skin and I was constantly changing his pants because the diaper leaked constantly. I wasn’t leaving him in the diapers for hours. I changed him every hour to two hours and was still having these problems. I’m not sure what the problem was. Maybe my fold was crappy or maybe it’s because you get what you pay for, but the prefolds were getting tighter so I decided it was time to transition to the pockets.

Alicia - I'm not going to lie, prefolds are a learning process.  And I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that I think Danny was better at it than I was (he was also a pro at swaddling Marissa, he must have a knack for that sort of thing!).  Anyway, youtube videos are very helpful and different folds work for different babies.  The angel wing worked great for Marissa and with our Thirsties covers we rarely had a leak or blow out.  I also highly suggest using a Snappi with the prefold.  They help hold the diaper together and contain everything.

As far as the rashes go...if your baby has super sensitive skin, you may want to line your prefolds with a fleece liner to help wick away moisture.  You can easily (and cheaply) make these with cut up pieces of scrap fleece either found at the craft store or an old blanket or fleece jacket you no longer use.  

You can also use a cloth diaper friendly rash cream to create a barrier on the skin, Grandma El's is a great one to use and I have also grown to love CJs BUTTer.  You have to remember that the outside world is all new for your baby and you may find some skin sensitivities along the way (Marissa had baby acne, cradle cap, an occasional diaper rash...pretty much the works, just within her first month or two of life).  Keep an eye on any rashes that may occur.  Especially since your baby has likely not started solid foods yet, it could be anything from the formula he is on, something you've eaten if you are breast feeding, too much detergent (remember to rinse diapers until you see no soap bubbles in the wash) or it could be a sensitivity to the cloth diaper detergent you are using.  It can be tricky to rule these sensitivities out, but with a little digging you should be able to (literally) clear your baby's bum up!

Back to Sophie... =)

I love the pockets!! What a HUGE difference. The diaper rash has gone away and I haven’t had any leaks. I just started with the pockets this week so I’m still trying to decide which brand I prefer.

Alicia - I will say that Sophie is lucky that her barely 1 month old baby boy is already fitting in his pocket diapers!  Marissa was closer to 3 months before she was big enough (most one sized pocket diapers recommend 10-12 pounds before use).  So again, keep in mind that all babies are different and what may work for one person may not work for another.

If I had to rank them now I would rank them in the following order:

1. BumGenius 4.0

2. Blueberry/Swaddlebees – I got this as a gift at my shower. I like the hemp insert that came with it.
               Note: Hemp inserts are more absorbant than microfiber!  These are great for heavy wetters and for use in night time diapers.

3. Baby Kicks – I got this as a freebie from Kelly’s closet. It’s hard to stuff, but it fits really well because my boy has skinny legs.

4. Kawaii

5. SmartiPants

I would love a follow up on how Sophie's preferences change as her little man grows.  Since most of the diapers she is using are one size, meaning she can use them from 10-35 pounds, it will be interesting to see how he grows and what diapers have the best fit. 

I do the majority of my ordering from Kelly’s Closet. It’s so easy to get free diapers (they have an awesome points system) and I love the free shipping. I have 2 kinds of wipes I am using. I love the babykicks hemp washies. They absorb the wipe solution right away and they are nice and soft. They also hold up well in the wash. The other wipes I have are just flannel wipes. While these were cheaper they aren’t as absorbent. I have only had them a short time and some have already started to fall apart in the washing machine. I have also been using the baby bum drops for my wipe solution. I put it in a spray bottle. I think it smells great and I think it’s nice on his skin. I have been using Grandma El’s with every diaper change and it is keeping diaper rash at bay.
My washing machine doesn’t have a pre rinse cycle so I decided to get a diaper sprayer. The jury is still out on whether that was worth the money. The poop has left some stains, but the diapers are coming out nice and clean. I plan to put the diapers out in the sun to bleach out the stains.

Alicia - Fact: Poop Stains!  Especially breast fed babies' poop.  While it can be annoying to look at, it in no way impacts the effectiveness or cleanness of your diapers. The sun does work wonders on stains (put them in the sun clean but wet) and I've noticed that prefolds stain much worse than my pocket diapers.  Also, using a fleece liner helps protect your diapers from staining.  Seriously, I can't recommend fleece liners enough.

Overall, I am enjoying my CDing experience and I’m excited to continue to add to my stash!! Also, a great tip when changing boys is to throw a wash cloth over him so you don’t get sprayed!!! Even though my boy is a kicker the wash cloth has saved me multiple times!

 
Thanks so much for making a guest appearance on my blog, Sophie!  I hope that you enjoy your journey in the CD world and continue to spread the love one fluffy butt at a time! ;)
 
Q&A's??
 

Boy Fluff!

In an earlier post or two I mentioned that I had some baby boy fluff on its way.  Now that I've received them in the mail, I'm on the wagon (boo).  I love how they all turned out!

BeeBunz elephant print

BeeBunz Space Invaders for Danny

Click-A-Doo Elephant Parade Halfsie

Front

Lucky Panda Zoo Fun

Click-A-Doo!

My Click-a-doo diapers are ready and I can't wait to receive them in the mail!  Aren't they just too cute!?  They will be perfect for Marissa's birthday theme!

Marissa is going to have one stylish little fluffy butt! ;-)

On The Fence?

Okay, if I have any readers who do not give two cents about cloth diapering, I apologize in advance. =)

Something that I don't think I've mentioned before (but maybe I have?) is cloth diaper trials.  If you are on the fence about cloth diapering and don't want to invest a lot of money on something that you may not like, then I suggest doing a cloth diaper trial. 

Jillian's Drawers does a great program and you are not obligated to buy anything you don't like.  Check it out here:  Jillians Drawers

Nicki's Diapers also does a trial program.

Try it out, if it doesn't work, you're not out much!  But at least you can honestly say that you gave it a shot and know what it's all about.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day, everyone!

In celebration of Earth Day, there is a great cloth diaper change challenge happening tomorrow all over the world.  The goal is to put cloth diapers in the Guinness book of World Records by having the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously!

From their Website:

"Cloth diapers have come a long way in past 10 years, and it’s time to stand up and be noticed. Celebrate Earth Day, by joining the North American and International cloth diaper community on April 23rd, 2011 at 9AM PDT to set the world record for the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously.

There are many ways to participate so please take a few minutes to explore the site to find a location near you or offer to host a location of your own. The more babies participating the better, so every cloth diapered bum counts. Can’t attend an event near you? Consider getting involved in your local cloth diaper community by learning more about organizations like the RDIA and RDA.

We can’t wait to put cloth diapers into the record books!"

Since we will be at my parents, I'm not sure that I will get to participate.  The nearest check in is in Harrisonburg, so we'll see if we can get up and get there by 9 am.  Either way, I think it's great they are doing this and hopefully it will get more people interested in cloth!

I challenge everyone to make Earth Day everyday!  Pick up some recycling bins, be conscious of your waste, change out harsh chemicals you use for cleaning for safer, greener options, tell a friend about cloth diapers, plant a tree or a garden.  Anything you do to make a difference counts!  Don't sit back and say "well, no one else is recycling" or "what I do isn't impacting the earth that much."  If everyone had this mentality, we would drain this earth of it's beauty.  I'm just as guilty as the next person, but I've made a conscious effort to change that; now I challenge you to do it too!  It really is a great feeling and I promise you won't regret living a Greener life!



Diaper Review

I have several different brands of cloth diapers, though the majority of my stash consists of pocket diapers.  It can be overwhelming when venturing out into the cloth diapering world, there are so many brands that range in prices that it's hard to tell what a good deal is. 

I've compiled a list of diapers I have and pros and cons to each.  This is not an "end all be all" list.  My favorite diaper might be your worst nightmare and vice versa.

Here goes!

BumGenius 4.0
Average Price - $14.95 - 17.95

Pros:

• Great fit for Marissa
• Average cost, not too high
• Versatile fit, ranging from 10-35 pounds
• Cute colors and a few prints are available
• Available in snaps or velcro
• Good quality
• Comes with two microfiber inserts
• Can buy at almost any cloth diaper retailer
• Good resale value
• Fast drying time

Cons:

• Some babies have an allergy to the microsuede material lining the inside of the diaper, this can usually be remedied by using a fleece liner

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SmartiPants
Average Price - $13.95

Pros:

• Smart sleeve technology, no need to remove inserts since they agitate out in the wash
• Good fit for Marissa
• Versatile fit, ranging from 10-35 pounds
• Made in USA
• Good quality, lower price than other competing brands
• Fast drying time

Cons:

• Only retails through their website
• Colors are available, but no prints
• For the velcro lovers, I believe they only come in snaps

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Rumparooz
Average Price - $23.00 - 25.00

Pros:

• Double inner leg gusset to contain messes
• Comes in velcro or snaps
• Cute colors and prints
• Versatile fit from 10-35 pounds
• Comes with two microfiber inserts
• Good resale value
• Fast drying time

Cons:

• Has a short rise on Marissa, I don't think they will last as long as our other diapers as far as fit
• I have two in velcro and they look terribly worn compared to my other velcro diapers and snaps
• Not as cost efficient as other brands
• Due to the rise being shorter, I find these to be bulkier

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Fuzzibunz
Average Cost - $17.95

Pros:

• Adjustable elastic in the waist and leg
• Easy to replace elastic in the legs
• Comes with an extra elastic replacement
• Great for skinny or small babies
• Cute colors and some prints available
• Fast drying time

Cons:

• Not the best fit for Marissa, I'm not sure if it's their microfiber inserts or just the fit, but she leaks in them on occassion
• For the price, I would rather spend my money on a diaper that works better for us

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Kawaii
Average Cost - $8.00 - $12.00

Pros:

• Cost efficient
• Cute prints
• Available in snaps or velcro
• Great for larger babies
• They have an overnight diaper that seems to have thicker material which works great (especially when paired with a microfiber insert and a hemp insert)
• Also available with minky fabric
• Fast drying time (with the exception of Minky diapers, they take longer to line dry)

Cons:

• Hard to get, I've found Jack Be Natural to be the best site as far as availability, but sometimes it is hit or miss
• Manufactured in China
• Velcro does not hold up well, making diaper look worn after a short period of use

Comments:

• I have several Kawaii's and they are all different.  I'm not sure if this is good or bad.  They all seem to be shaped differently and fit differently.  If you are looking for consistency, this may not be the brand for you.

Regular Kawaii
 This is the "heavy wetter overnight" diaper
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Blueberry/Swaddlebees
Average Cost - $18.00 - 25.00

Pros:

• Cute prints
• Available in velcro and snaps
• Available with hemp inserts
• Good fit on Marissa
• Also available with minky fabric
• Versatile fit from 10-35 pounds
• Fast drying time (with the exception of Minky diapers)

Cons:

• A little pricier than other brands
• Sometimes hard to get, especially prints
• Hemp inserts need to be folded before inserting into the pocket.  For me, this is no big deal but for others it may be an extra step they don't want to worry about

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BG Elemental/Organic

Average Price - $25.00

 

Pros:

• All in one diaper, no need to stuff
• Great over night diaper, no leaks
• Made of organic materials
• Trim compared to many pocket diapers
• Comes in colors and a few prints

Cons:

• Takes a long time to dry (line or dryer)
• Expensive (but so worth it, In My Opinion (IMO))
• Natural fibers stain more easily than cotton, fleece, etc.  

 

 The outside looks just like a BG 4.0

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Prefolds and Thirsties Covers (with a snappi)
Average Price for Prefold - $1.50 - $3.00
Average Price for Covers - $10.00 - $12.00

I almost forgot about newborn cloth diapering!  Most one size diapers do not fit a brand new, itty bitty, teeny tiny baby.  For the newborn we used prefolds (you know, the diapers your mom probably used) along with a Thirsties cover.  There are lots of covers out there to use, I've heard that rumparooz makes a great cover as well!

Pros:

• Cheap
• No stuffing required
• The Chinese prefold diapers from cottonbabies.com can be purchased by the single, so you can have as many (or as few) as you want!

Cons:

• Stains easily (but nothing the sun can't fix)
• Little bit of a learning curve to learn how to fold them and use a snappi
• Green Mountain prefolds get great reviews, but you are limited to buying by the dozen (for me 2 dozen wasn't quite enough, but 3 dozen was too many, I settled for 28 of the prefolds from cottonbabies)
• Prefolds require a cover, they are not water proof
• Bulky on an itty bitty baby, but you get used to it...it's not like they are crawling around yet

Thirsties Duo cover Prefold w/ Snappi
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Kissaluvs Size 0 or Cloth-eez Workhorse Fitteds
Average Cost: $4.95 - $12.95

Pros:

• Great fit for newborns. 
• Easy to use, I used these at night so I didn't have to mess with a snappi
• Thirsties covers also work with these
• Snap down rise for when the umbilical cord is still attached
• Kissaluvs come in a few fun colors

Cons:

• Fitted diapers require a cover, they are not water proof
• Kissaluvs Size 0 are a bit expensive, but the workhorse fitteds are a cheaper alternative
• Short period of use, since they really only fit small babies, they fit Marissa until about 2.5 - 3 months
• Since they are more expensive than prefolds, I only purchased 3 of these

  Kissaluv Size 0 (KL0)      Workhorse fitted

Tips of the Trade

There are so many tips and tricks out there for cloth diapering, here are a few things that work for us!

• Sunning your diapers after they have been washed is great for getting out stains and the sun is a natural disinfectant.
• Fleece liners (you can make your own by purchasing no pill fleece from a craft store and then cut them into strips to go inside your diapers) are great for protecting your diapers and keeping your baby's butt dry.  Fleece wicks away moisture and they keep our diapers looking new and fresh!
• Essential oils can be multi purpose.  Place a few drops on a cloth wipe and throw it in your pail liner or wet bag to keep things smelling fresh.  I personally love to use lavender.  
• I use white distilled vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser on our washer, I also add in a few drops of essential oils.  Vinegar is great for disinfecting, killing odors and cleaning your diapers naturally.  
• Note: I have read that hard water and vinegar may not go well together, you will need to decide what is best for your situation.
• Hang drying your covers will prevent wear and tear on the elastic, buttons and velcro; making them last longer for future use!
• Wool dryer balls can cut down on your drying time.  I recommend using at least 3 balls.  We use these with our regular laundry as well.
• Most diapers come with an option of snaps or velcro.  Personally, I like the snaps.  We have no problem getting a nice fit and when Marissa gets a little older, it will be harder for her to undo the snaps versus undoing the velcro.  
• Sprinkle baking soda in your pail liner or wet bag after a few diaper changes.  Baking soda is a natural deodorizer (you know, the stuff you keep in your fridge) and it can minimize and even eliminate odors from your pail.
• Use cloth wipes!  It is so much easier to use cloth wipes so that everything goes in the same pail, no need for an extra trash can at the changing table to put disposable wipes in.
• Get a nice sized diaper bag.  Most cloth diapers are a bit bulkier than disposables (hence the name "fluff") so have a diaper bag that can accommodate your needs while out and about.  I have a Vera Bradley Miller Bag and I love it!  I normally keep 6 diapers in there, a wet bag, wipes, a spray bottle for the wipes, an extra change of clothes, toiletries like: soap, a comb, lanolin cream, etc., a blanket, a hat, a changing pad, a few rattles, a thermometer, pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. :)  This bag holds a lot!  Plus I got a matching lunch bag to take on the go. 

These are just a few tips that I found helpful when diving into the cloth diaper world.  You may find that some of these things don't work for your or don't apply to you.  Do some research and figure out what works by trial and error!

I hope to do a review of the diapers we currently have and what we love about each one...stay tuned!

Why Cloth Diaper?

I have had a few friends recently inquire about cloth diapering (which has me beyond excited) and the responses and reactions they are getting from their friends and family are, well...not exactly positive.

You all know I have a serious cloth diaper addiction appreciation.  People tend to fear the unknown and trust me when I say I heard every excuse, every reason and every horror story while I was pregnant as to why I shouldn't, couldn't or wouldn't be able to stick to cloth diapering.  I've said it before, I'll say it again...here I am almost *8* (how is that possible that my baby is almost 8 months old?) months later, going strong and spreading the "fluff" love one cloth diaper at a time! =)

I thought I would compile a list of reasons why I cloth diaper and possibly give you ladies (and gents?) that are interested in cloth diapering some ammo to use against those annoying people who know nothing about cloth diapering but want to dictate how you change a poopy diaper people who aren't up to par on the current cloth diapering trends!

Why Cloth Diaper?

• No harsh chemicals on or near your baby's bum.
• Some research is indicating that disposable diapers could be a factor in increased infertility due to reactions to the chemicals in disposable diapers, this has not been proven but I do believe it should be researched more thoroughly!
• Less trash you generate in your home and at the land fill.
• Fun Fact: Did you know it takes over 300 years for O-N-E disposable diaper to decompose in a landfill?  That means no one currently living has seen one single disposable diaper decompose in their lifetime!
• You save a lot of $$$
• It is said that on average you spend $1,700 the first year on disposable diapers.
• I have spent about $800 currently on my cloth diaper "stash" and I have a lot of diapers!
• You can't deny the cuteness of a fluffy butt.
• No need to buy one of those stink holding Diaper Genies.
• No running to the store in the middle of the night because your sleep deprived husband forgot to pick up diapers.
• Often times, cloth diapered babies potty train earlier than babies in disposables
• The reason?  Disposables have a gel like material that absorbs urine (baby can't feel if they are wet), whereas cloth diapers are just that, cloth, so baby can feel when they are wet.  When your baby can start associating wetness with using the bathroom, it might be a good idea to plop them on the big boy/girl potty!  Disclaimer: we are nowhere near potty training yet so I have no direct experience on this, but do some research and you might be surprised at what other people have experienced!
• ETA: My daughter, Marissa, was daytime potty trained at 22 months.  She only sleeps in a cloth diaper at bedtime.  How's that for some proof?! :)
• Have you ever heard the term "poo-splosion?"  If you've ever used a disposable diaper, you probably know what I'm talking about...poop up the back, out the front and both leg holes sounds fun, doesn't it?  Just another reason why I love our cloth diapers, no mess outside the diaper, just in it!
• Your house will not smell like a landfill.  I can almost always tell if someone uses disposable diapers, they just have that smell to them.
• I believe that cloth diapering really opens the door to a better lifestyle.  It makes you more conscious of your waste and can lead to things like recycling!
• Feces is properly treated when you cloth diaper (flushing poo down the toilet) rather than letting it sit in a landfill and then seep into the ground and back into our drinking water, lakes, rivers and ponds that we swim in, etc. Yum.
• Did I mention they are cute, cute, cute?!
• You are providing a better future for your child by contributing less waste to our earth.  Our children, our children's children...and so on...will have to live here on this earth, why not make it a better place today so they can live a better life tomorrow!
• Modern cloth diapers are just as easy as disposable diapers.  No pins, plastic pants or "swishing" if you don't want to!
• Fewer (if not any) diaper rashes.
• Can be used for multiple children, to increase the $$$ you save.
• You can re-sell your diapers when you are finished with them to gain some of your money back that you initially invested in the diapers
• I know buying used diapers is not for everyone, but a lot of people sell on swapspot.com, craigslist, e-bay, etc.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but it's a start!

Wash Routine

I've had a few people recently ask me about my wash routine for my cloth diapers so I thought I would dedicate a post to washing!  Keep in mind what works for one person, may not work for another person, but it's a start.  Cloth diapering is an art, not a science.  As a lot of factors, like hard water, can come into play with how you wash and care for your diapers.  It doesn't have to be hard or difficult, you just have to find what works best for YOU.


For starters, you want to start out with a cloth diaper safe detergent.  Don't skimp on this...seriously!  I've talked to several people who are using detergents that really aren't recommended for cloth diapering and they are now having issues (rash, stink, repelling, etc) and they wonder why.


Here is a very helpful list of detergents to use and to avoid:


http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html


Personally, I use Allen's Naturally detergent.  I bought a gallon bottle (for about $37.00 with shipping) and I've been using it since day 1.  I still have a TON left, so while it may seem expensive up front, it lasts a long time (7 months and counting). 


Now on to the wash routine (note, I have an HE front loading machine, which requires less detergent than a top loading machine):

1. Cold rinse, no spin with no detergent (takes approximately 9 minutes)
• Note: HE machines are just that, high efficiency, so they use less water to save energy.  I do the cold rinse with no spin to "trick" the machine into thinking it needs more water.  The weight of the wet diapers will tell the machine that it needs more water to get the load clean.
2. 1/4 ounce Allens Naturally detergent, fill fabric softener dispenser to line with white distilled vinegar
• Vinegar is great for many reasons...1) it kills odors and 2) it can also kill bacteria, which is obviously a good thing when cloth diapering and 3) it is a natural product so no harsh chemicals like bleach on babies bum!
3. Optional, add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar.  I use lavendar oil, but I have read that adding grapefruit seed extract is a great way to prevent and cure yeast spores (often times a baby will get a yeast rash after being on an antibiotic)
4. Hot wash, followed by two cold rinses (takes approximately 1 hour and 11 minutes on my machine)
5. If no soap residue (bubbles) are in the machine, you are ready to dry your diapers.
• If you see soap residue, you need to do another rinse and you may be using too much detergent.  Soap build up can cause lots of problems (which leads to stripping).  Soap build up can cause your diapers to repell and make them unable to absorb.  It can also lead to rashes on baby.  If you see suds, rinse again!
• If your diapers come out stinky, you probably didn't use enough detergent.  If they come out soapy, you probably used too much.  It's a fine line but once you find the routine that works for you, stick with it! :o)
6. No suds?  Throw those babies (I mean diapers) in the dryer.  The majority of my stash is made up of pocket diapers.  A pocket diaper has 2 parts, a cover and an insert that goes in the pocket (usually made up of microfiber (MF), hemp or bamboo).  I put all of my inserts in the dryer (along with my fleece liners and cloth wipes) with wool dryer balls (found on etsy.com and most cloth diaper stores).
• Note: Do not use fabric softener or fabric dry sheets with your cloth diapers. It will cause the diapers to repell.  Fabric softener also makes clothing highly flammable, so I don't even use it on our clothing (especially Marissa's) anymore.
7. I hang dry all of my covers inside when it's cold and outside when it is nice!
8. Once everything is dry, I stuff all of my pocket diapers and get them ready for use.  It usually takes me about 15 minutes while watching TV to stuff all of them.

Currently, I do 2 loads of diapers a week.  It really depends on how many diapers you have in your stash that will depend on how often you have to do laundry.  I currently have about 45 pocket and all in one (AIO) diapers.  I wouldn't recommend going longer than 3-4 days between washes, just because you don't want them sitting around dirty for too long.


In the beginning, when we were using prefold diapers (newborn stage since pockets were still too big) I had 28 prefolds (size infant with green stitching) and 3 Kissaluvs Size 0 (KL0s) and I washed every 2-3 days.  It sounds like a lot but it really wasn't, I was on maternity leave and had nothing better to do anyway, right? :)  I used Thirsties duo covers to put over the prefold as a waterproof cover to prevent leaks.  Next time around (yes, I am already thinking about baby #2), I think I want to try some workhorse fitteds instead of the KL0s.  They are much cheaper and I've heard great things about them!


If you are interested in prefolds for the newborn stage, check out this site with great pictures and tutorials on how to use prefolds, snappis and covers!  http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/


So I got off on a few tangents, but hopefully you now have an idea of how to wash your cloth diapers!


Questions?

How Cute is THIS!?!?

Isn't this print just adorable?  If you remember...we are doing a pink lady bug theme for Miss Marissa's 1st birthday and since I am a freak for cloth diapers, I obviously have to have a diaper to go along with her theme!  This print is just PERFECT!

Click-a-doo dipes (go "like" her FB page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Click-A-Doo-Dipes/123560291034609) will be making a custom cloth diaper, made one of a kind for Marissa.  This will be my first Working At Home Mom (WAHM) diaper purchase and I am beyond excited!  I had to be put on a wait list, so that should tell you how awesome these diapers are. :)  This is what a custom finished diaper looks like...and I'm contemplating getting this one too.  Ahh, they are just so cute!

Can you see why I have a "fluff" addiction!?

Crunchy, what?

I’m Crunchy! There, I said it. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, I mean I'm a hippie, eco friendly, saving one tree at a time, etc.  I have become so conservative since becoming a mom. I cloth diaper, make my own baby food and I’ve kept up with my New Year’s resolution to recycle.


Lately, I’m finding myself wanting to convert every new mom to cloth diapering and baby food making. I know it’s not for everyone, but I’ve had so much fun exploring new things that I just want to share the wealth of information.

Everyone thinks that cloth diapering is hard, gross or just not for them. I never would have considered cloth diapers before, because I didn’t know anything about them. The more I researched and read about them though, the more interested and intrigued I became. Six months later, I’m addicted (seriously, ADDICTED, I say!) to cloth diapering. I can’t get over how cute they are, how easy it is and it makes me feel like I’m really doing my part to provide a better environment for Marissa.

You probably have questions like "don't you get tired of doing laundry?" and "will I have poop in my washer?"  I will say, I do 2 extra loads of laundry a week, that's it!  If she were in disposables, we would be doing twice the amount of laundry for "poo-splosions" (trust me, we had to use disposables for a trip and I couldn't wait to get back to my cloth).  And your washer comes out clean, just as if you were to wash muddy clothes in your washer, everything comes out fine.
Though I’ve done it before, I’ll do it again…just in case someone stumbles upon my little blog and says “hey, that sounds interesting!”

Here’s a few helpful links if you are interested in cloth diapering:

http://www.theecofriendlyfamily.com/

http://littlebitofme22.blogspot.com/search/label/Cloth%20Diapers


Baby Food Making 101

 Also, making your own baby food doesn’t have to be tedious or hard. It’s a great way to save a little money (who doesn’t want to do that?) and you know exactly what you are giving your baby! I start off by steaming vegetables so they are soft. Then I pop them in the food processor to give them a smooth consistency, such as a puree. For hardier vegetables, like butternut squash or sweet potatoes, I thin the puree with breast milk or a little bit of water.

Next, I put the puree in cheap ice cube trays (you know, the old school ones that you have to fill with water, ahh…the days of ice makers have changed the world as we know it). Place the ice cube trays in the freezer until they are solid. Once they have solidified, place the cubes in Ziploc bags, or if you want to be extra environmentally savvy, you can buy reusable Tupperware containers to store the cubes in. I like using Gladware containers, because they stack nicely in the freezer. I can also label them as “fruits”, “veggies” or narrow them down to peas, carrots, squash, etc.

So far we have tried avocado, peas, carrots, banana, butternut squash and sweet potato. Banana and avocados tend to change colors quickly, so I’ve found that it’s best to get them in the freezer as soon as possible. The color changes do not affect the fruits at all, so don’t worry about that.

When I’m ready to feed Marissa I pop a cube out of the freezer and warm it up in the microwave. Each cube is approximately one ounce so it’s a perfect serving when you are just starting out with solids. It’s easy to add another cube and you never feel like food is being wasted! I do recommend making small portions before you crazy with the food processor. You don’t want to make a ton of food to find out that your little one despises peas!

You might be thinking, how do you find the time to make baby food?  Honestly, I spend about an hour to an hour and a half once every two weeks or so. I make enough food to last about 2 weeks at a time (sometimes longer) and the food can stay in the freezer for upwards of a month. I set aside a little bit of time while she is napping or after she has gone to bed, so no time is spent away from Marissa. Trust me, being a full time working mom, I cherish the time we get together.

This website has a plethora of great information for baby food making, check it out!

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/



And can I just leave you all with this:

Yep, that's Marissa's latest diaper print!  TOOO CUTE (if I must say so myself)! :-P

Questions?  Feel free to comment!