What's In a Planet Wise Wet Bag?

Ok.  Let's get back to something lighter.  Lets chat about some cute cloth diaper related gear... it's kind of my zen place.  Since I am personally in the market for a great new Wet Bag, I think that's what we should talk about, and we're going to talk about my favorite kind.  Because that's how I roll, and what is the point of talking about a brand I don't like?  So there's that!

Have you heard of Planet Wise wet bags?  I love them.  For so many reasons.  Let me count the ways...

1.  They're adorable.  I mean really, really adorable.  There are so many prints that I'm having a hard time choosing which hanging wet bag to choose.  (ok-  it was difficult, but I just ordered the Laughing Leaf Hanging Bag.  So cute!)  

2.  They're durable.  I've had diaper-bag sized Planet Wise wet bags for two years now, and they are still just as perfect as the day I got them.  Definitely a worth-while investment.

3.  They fit every need.  Seriously though- Planet Wise bags come in so many sizes.  They have Wipes Pouches that are the perfect size for your cloth wipes folded in half or rolled up, and it even has a snap down feature that keeps them from wicking and getting things in your diaper bag wet.  Their small bags are perfect for a quick errand where you may need to change one or two diapers.  Their medium bag is my diaper-bag staple.  Big enough to fit several diapers and wipes, but small enough to fold up to a nice compact size, these are great for days out on the town.  The Large size has a snap-closure handle, and it will fit about a dozen diapers- perfect for weekends away.  Then there is the hanging wet bag.  Which I can't say enough good things about if you don't use a pail.  I just hang mine from a hook on the bathroom door, and it holds over two dozen diapers.  Perfect for your laundry needs.  

4.  They have tons of uses.  I know you aware that wet bags are a must-have item for cloth diapering, but what about other daily needs?  For instance, what do you do if your child has an accident and you need to transport soiled clothes?  Toss them in a medium sized wet bag!  What do you do with big wet beach towels and swim suits after you're done swimming?  Toss them in a large wet bag!  Wet, snowy boots driving you nuts?  I give you the Planet Wise large wet bag.  Did your child fall and hit their knees or head and you want to ice it to prevent a bump?  Stick some ice in a small wet bag.  Bam.  Problems solved.  *cue chorus of angels singing*  

  5.  They're affordable.  Topping out at $29.99 (for their enormous hanging wet bag), these are pretty great deal.  They're not going to break the bank, and you're not going to have to replace them very often at all.  A Planet Wise Medium Wet Bag is only $16.50.  Not bad.

Well I have wet bags on the brain.  I have been in desperate need of that extra hanging wet bag!  Seriously though- if you haven't checked out Planet Wise bags, you must.  They're definitely a cloth diapering/ every day parenting must have.









*Disclosure-  this is a sponsored post.  All opinions are honest and completely my own!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

My friends that are new to cloth diapering, or are thinking about starting off are always asking me what my favorite diapers and gear are.  The thing is, that is a difficult question to answer!  How can I narrow it down to just a few things?  There are so many great products out there designed to make your life easier, and your baby's bottom fluffier.  I know I haven't even tried a fraction of these products yet, but I've used enough to know what I love.

So here is my list for new moms just starting out, of things I think are must-haves when you are cloth diapering.  These things will make your life a little easier when it comes to cloth, save you some money, and make your cloth-diapering adventure a little less confusing.  So without further ado- here we go!

Obviously the first thing you will need is a great cloth diaper... or a few different brands.  Or if you are like me, you will want to try them all! (Honestly, you all have read about my addiction.  You'll think it sounds silly now, but just wait!) But a few is where you are going to want to start.  I really recommend trying a few kinds out before you build a whole stash around one or two brands of cloth.  Things you think you will love may not actually work with your baby, and features you thought would be annoying may end up being something you can't live without.  It can't hurt to try a diaper rental to see what you love, or do a try-before-you-buy program from a great store like Diaper Junction, which is one of my personal favorites!  

Now personally I will tell you that we use Rump*A*Rooz diapers exclusively at night, either stuffed with a combination of their microfiber and hemp inserts, or stuffed with a hemp prefold.  We almost never have leaks, even when E decides she's more comfortable sleeping on her cute little tummy.  I think what I love about the Rump*A*Rooz is the extra fleece gusset inside the diaper to give added leak protection.  Well that, and these diapers would fit E until she was 4 if I really wanted them to.  Seriously, these things have a crazy weight and size range to them.  Love it.

Another brand I love is Tots Bots, and their Easy Fit diapers.  There are a couple of reasons for this.  #1 these diapers are TRIM all-in-ones that have a pocket opening as well, so you have the option of adding extra absorbency.  #2, have you seen their prints?  GAH!  So cute.  They have a bunch of fairy-tale inspired prints right now that I can't wait to get my hands on.  I would love to have more of these in my stash.  

I also love Charlie Banana diapers lately.  They are a lot like Fuzzibunz diapers (another of my faves), but the crotch-area is made a little wider, so they are easier to stuff.  Plus they have ridiculously adorable prints available to both boys and girls.  They are a great one-size or sized option, as are Fuzzibunz.

Ok, so accessory-wise, there are a few things that I just can't live without.  Well, I could, but why?  Cloth wipes for one, are a must when you are cloth diapering.  You just fold them up in your cloth diaper after you've used them and toss them in the wash.  Simple, super cheap, and you never have to worry about what you're going to do with that gross and poopy disposable wipe since you don't have a gross and poopy disposable diaper to wrap it in.  I've made most of my own wipes out of brightly colored flannel and hand-me-down receiving blankets, but I do have some Kissaluvs brand terry-cloth wipes that are great for really messy diaper changes.  

I also love love love having a great wipe warmer, since I pour my wipes solution in with the wipes.  It's so easy, and you don't have to deal with a baby who protests a cold wipe against their bum at every change.  It really has been a must-have for us, and I think Eisley would agree.  

Of course when you cloth diaper, you need at least two pail liners or large wetbags to store your dirty diapers in between washes.  My favorite is the Planet Wise pail liner, and the thirsties wetbag.  They have both held up great, and do their jobs well.  I do like that you can get colored liners through Planet Wise.  They also have great diaper-bag-sized Wet Bags, which are a MUST when you are cloth diapering.  You'll want to make sure you have one or two in your diaper bag at all times for on the go changes.  They keep moisture and odors in the bag, and no one knows that you are carrying around a dirty diaper.  

My last must have is for all of you pocket-diaper users out there.  A good stash of Hemp Inserts to use as doublers in your diapers.  Hemp is super absorbent, and doesn't get stinky like microfiber will over time.  It is a slow absorber though, so you will probably want to put something like a cotton or microfiber insert over it.  Hemp is amazing to use at night, or if you know you are going to be taking a long car ride.  

Well, I know there is a whole lot more that I love, but this should be a good starting point for those who have asked.  There is a lot to learn and think about when you are deciding to take the leap and try cloth diapers, but there are also a lot of really awesome and passionate mamas out there who will be happy to help you make the switch.  Hopefully this has helped you all too, and if somewhere along the way I help you convert into a crazy-cloth-lady (who needs cats?) then you are welcome.  ;)

Slightly Befuddled Wetbag Set Winner

Ok- so rafflecopter won't load the winner's name on the form yet (I'll keep working on it), but I know you want to know who won the giveaway!

So congratulations to Nicole T!  You will have an adorable wetbag and changing pad coming your way very soon!

Thanks to everyone for entering, and a big thanks to Rebekah for offering such beautiful prizes!  If you loved her wetbags, check back on the 21st, because she has given an ADORABLE pail liner for the summer cloth diaper giveaway hop.  I'll post some pics with the post for the event, but it's the cutest liner I've seen!

I just love being able to share cute stuff with you guys, so head back on the 21st!  I've got a pail liner from Slightly Befuddled, and an in-stock diaper from Sew Silly Designs to give away to one lucky reader!

Slightly Befuddled Wetbag and Changing Pad Review & Giveaway

Today I have some really beautiful stuff to review for you all, and some really beautiful stuff to give away!  Rebekah is the owner of Slightly Befuddled, and she sells wetbags, diaper stackers, purses, cosmetic bags, and more.  Everything in her shop is super colorful, and the fabric choices are gorgeous.  Do yourself a favor and look around her shop.  You won't be sorry.  I mean really.  Go now.  Buy something gorgeous.

Anywho, Rebekah started her shop because she had so much beautiful fabric lying around her house, that she just didn't know what to do with it all.  One of her friends suggested that she start making wetbags and diaper covers to sell on Etsy, and her shop was born!  Rebekah's mom cloth diapered her as a baby, and she plans on cloth diapering her own children, so her goal is to create beautiful and functional products that mamas all over will enjoy using on a daily basis.  Her philosophy is that being a mom is hard work, so she wants to bring as much beauty into daily chores and tasks as possible.  I think that is an excellent goal, and one she completely succeeds at.  Luckily for us, Rebekah has a wonderfully supportive husband who never complains when the dishes and laundry stack up while she works away in her sewing room!

Something I love about Rebekah's shop is that one of her favorite things to do is create custom orders.  If you check out her etsy shop you'll see a listing with all of the beautiful fabrics she has to choose from.  You can mix and match them, and Rebekah will create something totally unique for you.  I think I will be taking advantage of this soon, because who wouldn't want a wetbag that is exactly the colors and fabrics they love?  Not only that, but she is so friendly and helpful that your whole experience is bound to be great.

Rebekah sent me one of her small wetbags to review.  Now when I say "small" you're probably thinking of your little wetbags that hold one or two diapers.  This one comfortably fits three, possibly four plus wipes.  My first impression of the wetbag was literally "Wow!  It's so pretty!"  The fabric is so different, and although we've never met, I have to admit that it was almost as though Rebekah had some kind of insight into what I would like, because the fabric is totally my taste.  But I digress.

These photos just don't do the fabric justice.  Its sturdy, colorful, and so pretty.

I love her logo!  Too cute.

The second thing I noticed was how sturdy the bag was.  Rebekah makes her wetbags with ProCare lining, which is a waterproof material similar to rain-coat fabric.  It is thick, durable, and kept smells in the bag where they belong.  (Thank goodness for the stink-containing fabric.  My daughter has had some of the smelliest poops lately, and I am telling you, no lingering poop-smell was left in my diaper bag.  yay!)  I wasn't sure how this kind of fabric would stand up next to your typical PUL, but I really like it.  I've never had any wicking problems.  It seems like it can handle a lot of wear and tear, and you never need to worry about it de-laminating.  Major bonus.  I just had a wetbag de-laminate the other day, and it made me that much more of a fan of the ProCare lining.  The other great thing about this material is that you can just give it a good wipe-down if it's not really soiled and use it again... which is great if your laundry gets away from you and you find yourself with no clean wetbags and errands to run.

double-sewn ProCare lining and cute coordinated zipper

The bag also had cute little details that set it apart from your typical wetbag.  It had a colored zipper which coordinated to the bag's fabrics, and a handle that you can open and close with a snap.  It is really well made, and has quickly become my favorite bag.

Size comparison between the small and large wetbags

I honestly have nothing that I can say I'd change about this bag.  Except maybe that I only have one!  I plan on purchasing these for my friends when they have babies, even if they aren't cloth diapering.  They would be perfect for soiled outfits or wet swimsuits.  I think a good wetbag is something every mom should have in her diaper bag.  You can also check out her products here and here.

What you could win- large wetbag and changing pad set.

back view of the bag

The changing pad folds and snaps shut

Rebekah's business card- easily one of the coolest I've seen!

Do you want one yet?  Rebekah has generously given a large wetbag and matching changing pad to give to one lucky reader.  The changing pad is padded, and has fabric on one side and ProCare material on the other.  It is nice and large- it's easily twice the size of the changing pad that will have come with your diaper bag.  It's big enough that if you put it fabric side up, you could use it as a tummy-time or play mat for your baby.  This is a great prize pack, and all you have to do to enter is use the rafflecopter form below!  This giveaway is open to US residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter!  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


disclosure-  I was given this product to test and review, but am NEVER compensated financially.  All of the views and opinions expressed are my own, and your experience may differ.