Cloth Diapering for $30- It Really CAN Be Done!

There's been a lot of talk lately about parents who are struggling financially re-using disposable diapers.  It's a sad reality for more moms and dads than anyone probably even realizes, and it's got to be something that leaves these moms feeling a little hopeless.

Food or diapers.

That's a decision I'm glad I've never had to make, especially if I didn't know that there were options out there other than disposable diapers.  So let me preface what I am about to say with this- you can diaper your baby for little to no money.  It may require sacrifices of time and convenience, but it can be done.  I'm not going to hit on all the nitty-gritty here because it is just too complex and it would take more than one blog post to do it.  I'm just going to give you some options, some real, useable options.  Because maybe you find yourself struggling to pay for diapers sometimes.  Maybe you don't see a way out, and maybe you don't think cloth is an affordable option.

It can be both a way out, and an cheap, doable option.

Ok, let's break it down.  You have one baby.  You want to wash diapers every two days, because really, every day is just not always doable.  You need enough supplies to get you through 48 hours plus some wiggle room.

Let's set a budget for ourselves.  We've got $30 to diaper our baby with.  30 hard-saved, fought for dollars.  I'm going to say $30 because it's about what you'd pay for a big case of name brand diapers when you factor in taxes.  We've got to come up with two days worth of diapers for $30.  Whew.  Here we go.

1.  Raid your closet.  I know most people have those t-shirts that they just can't wear anymore.  They've got holes in them, stains all over, and they just don't fit.  Those old t-shirts?  Use 'em as diapers.  Really.  They will function just like Flat Diapers, will be easy to wash, and quick to dry.  You can find instructions on different folds just about anywhere online.  cost- free

2.  Go to resale shops!  Search around and I bet you can find some old flour-sack dish-towels.  Do you know what those are?  Basically the same exact thing as flat diapers.  Don't have enough old t-shirts at your house to use as flats?  Pick some up here too!  My guess is that if you hit your resale shops on days where they had a sale, you could pick these items up for as cheap as $.25 each.  We'll guess a little more conservatively though to make sure we're being realistic just in case.  You pick up about 15 tees and towels for $.50 each.  cost- $7.50

So far we've spent $7.50 and found ourselves anywhere from 15 to 20 diapers (depending on how many old t-shirts you had around your house) for just $7.50.  $7.50!!!!

3. Use those flannel receiving blankets that you have sitting around.  Traditionally sized flannel receiving blankets are the perfect size to use as flat diapers.  Really.  I'm sure you can find some at a resale shop as well if you don't have any lying around.  My guess is you could get a pack of four for about $1.    Cost- free to $1

Ok!  So that puts us at a count of anywhere from 19 to 25 diapers depending on your resale scores, all for a cost of about $9.00.  woo!  That's enough to get one baby through about two days of diaper changes.  Now we need to figure out a waterproof barrier.

4.  Diaper Pins.  Gotta fasten those diapers!  Cost- $1.29

5.  Diaper Covers-  You have a lot of options here.  Some are obviously not going to fit into our budget.  Others will be perfect.  Bummis Pull On Diaper Covers are breathable PUL pull-on covers that cost only $6.50 each.  Pick up 3 and you can totally get through 2 days if you wipe down any messes in between changes.  You can also pick up a two pack of Gerber plastic pants to cover those diapers for about $5.00 a pair, they won't be breathable like the Bummis PUL option, but they are cheaper, so theoretically you could cloth diaper for even less than $30!  For this illustration lets go with the Bummis.  Cost- $19.50

Total cost for 2 days worth of cloth diapers- $29.79!!!

You really can diaper your baby for $30, and instead of buying disposable wipes, just cut up some t-shirts or receiving blankets, wet them, and use those instead!  These diapers could be hand-washed, or done in a washer and dryer at home or in the laundry mat.  It may not be the glamourous option, but it is a heck of a lot better for baby, and you won't have to decide between food and diapers again.

Spread the word cloth addicts, because this could save a lot of mommies a lot of heart-ache.

Oh, and if you're one of those mommies who struggles to buy diapers for your baby- you are a super-hero.  You are doing the best you can for your baby.  You are a great mom, and I know it is hard.  But I applaud you, because I know you must make a million sacrifices for your baby.

Smart Snugs Simple Snug All in Two Review & Giveaway

Alright fellow cloth diaper addicts- I've got a review of a brand spanking new product for you today!  Oh- and a giveaway!  woo hoo!!

You all know that I like Smart Snugs Diapers.  A lot.  They're cute, affordable, and work like a charm. So when they contacted me with the opportunity to review their new All-In-Two diaper line, along with a few other bloggers, of course I was excited.  Being an almost strictly pocket diaper and all-in-one diaper fan, this was a great chance to try something new.  Plus the diaper cover they sent me is black!  Every baby should have a LBD (little black diaper)!

The new Simple Snug AI2 is a cover-style system with stay-dry micro-fleece pockets in the front and the back of the diaper to hold the inserts securely in place while also keeping the sticky PUL away from your baby's body.  Speaking of inserts, there are 5 that you have to choose from.  Yeah, 5.  That's a lot of great options!  The covers also have double gussets to keep messes inside the diaper and not on your baby's clothes.  And like all Smart Snugs diapers, they have hip snaps and fold-over tabs that will ensure that this diaper will fit your baby for a long long time.

The insert that I was sent to test out with my new Simple Snug AI2 was the 6 Layer Bamboo Cotton with Gussets.  This insert is soft.  Really really soft.  I know that it's got to feel great on Eisley's little tushie, and that's important to me.  It's also really absorbent.  One 6 Layer insert is plenty for nap time protection.  It didn't quite get us through the night, but Eisley has been drinking a whole lot of milk before bed time lately, so the only thing that tends to get us through is a hemp pre-fold tri-folded in a pocket diaper.

Anywho, in case you're wondering exactly what is inside of the 6 layer bamboo insert, check out this handy dandy graphic from Smart Snugs.  Two layers of thirsty bamboo cotton, three layers of microfiber, and a bottom layer of waterproof PUL which will let you switch out your inserts without wiping your cover very often.  Which is awesome because I think that is what keeps me from using more covers and prefolds.  The cleaning up of messes in between uses.  I'm actually pretty lazy when it comes to diapers, so I typically like to just toss a dirty diaper right into the wet bag.  With these, I have no problem just tossing the insert into the wetbag and popping a new one into the cover.  Easy as pie.  Which is an expression I've never fully understood because making a pie isn't super easy.  But I digress...

 The only thing I'm not sure I am in love with are the gussets on the insert.  The gussets don't seem to grab the four inside layers, and so it always seems a little bunchy when I pull the inserts out of the washer and dryer.  I don't like when my underpants get all bunched up, so I tend to think my daughter must not like it either, so for me the bunching is con to this insert.  It's not a deal breaker, with some effort I've been able to get everything smoothed back out, but in the future I'd love to see these inserts made with the gusset grabbing onto each layer.  If that happens, I'll be a convert.

If you're not wild about the gussets on the insert, there are also non-gusseted options that will be just as absorbent and soft.  The inserts also come in charcoal bamboo in place of the bamboo cotton.  I do love  options!

Ok.  So here are the details-

Price- $14.99 for a Simple Snug cover with wipeable PUL inside that can be used for multiple diaper              changes.
          $19.50 for a pack of three Cotton Bamboo Inserts with Gussets

Options- 6 great colors to choose from as well as two different pocket materials.  (note that the charcoal bamboo pockets or Nature Snugs are $18.99 instead of $14.99)  5 different inserts to choose from!

Pros-  Great fit that covers a huge range of weights and sizes thanks to the overlapping tabs and cross-over snaps.

The black color is awesome.  Seriously, why haven't I gotten a black diaper before now?  All of their colors are vibrant and gorgeous.

The covers can be used for multiple diaper changes and you can use so many different Smart Snugs inserts, prefolds, flats... just about anything in them.

The stay dry pockets really do keep the inserts in place, and keep baby comfortable.

These are affordable and fairly priced.

Cons-  The gusseted inserts are a little bit bunchy.  You have to mess with them a bit to get them to lay nice and straight.

There are only 6 colors!  With colors that vibrant, I'd love to see some more modern options like a deep teal, hot pink, and some less primary colors.  This isn't really a con as much as a wish for more.

Overall-  I really like the new Smart Snug Simple Snug AI2.  I think I'm going to have to add more to my stash because these are so easy and work so well.

               

Here's the Review!  It goes live on July 1st!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer-  I was not compensated in any way for this review.  I was sent a diaper for review, but all opinions are my own.  Your experience may be different than my own.

Hey First Time Moms & Dads! You Don't Need All That Stuff!

Hey readers!  This one goes out to all of you future moms and dads that are expecting your first baby.  It's inspired by some good friends who are pregnant with their first babes as I type this, and the conversations we've had about what you do, and do not actually need.  (Now, this is by no means a definitive list, and there may be a few things on here that really would make your life easier that I just didn't find necessary... but you get the picture here!  It's always nice to know what other moms could have lived without, because magazines and stores will try to convince you that you need a whole lot of junk that you just don't need.  Ever.)

Ok, so I'm going to start with a couple of things you need.  And y'all know what #1 is going to be right?

#1 must have for new parents- Cloth Diapers!  Seriously now, if you didn't see that one coming... But really- I've said this before, and I'll say it again.  And again.  And again.  Cloth is EASY, Saves you money, keeps nasty chemicals away from your sweet babe's bum, and they are just so darn cute!  My favorite of all favorites right now happens to be Thirsties Cloth Diapers AIO (that means All in One if you're new to cloth).  I'll tell you why I love them because this will be a good jumping off point, and then you can look through some of my older posts about cloth diapering like this one or this one, or even this one here.  There are quite a few.  Take a look around!  Anywhoo-  Thirsties Diapers makes a few different styles of diapers, but my favorite by far (and even favorite out of anything right now) is their Duo All in One Diaper.  It's only about $15 a diaper, two sized for a great fit, and it's nice and absorbent.  Also, it's my opinion that Thirsties has some of the best colors around on their diapers, and there are so many color options and prints to choose from.

#2 must have for new parents- a co-sleeper of some sort.  With E we used a Rock 'n Play Sleeper, which worked great, but I think with baby #2 (whenever they decide to come into existence) we will get an Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper since babe #2 will be sharing our room longer than E did as we are currently living in only a 2 bedroom house.  Either way, having a safe and easy way to keep baby right next to you in those first 3-5 months will be a sleep-saver.  Trust me on that one.  You don't want to be getting out of bed, leaving your room, feeding your baby in a chair for an hour, then dragging your tired feet back into bed a million times a night.  With a co-sleeper you can just reach over and bring your baby into bed to nurse.  So.  Nice.

#3 must have for new parents- This one's for the moms.  A really good, supportive nursing pillow.  Especially if you are big chested like I am.  I had a Boppy with E, but I always needed a pillow under it.  It was a little bit of a head ache.  Spend the extra money, and go with something like the Balboa Baby Nursing Pillow.  That extra support and firmness can make a big difference in how comfortable you are when nursing your baby.

So now let's get to the things that you really could live without.  So save your money.  Babies are expensive enough, right?

#1 thing I wish we hadn't registered for-  a travel system.  Yup.  HUGE waste of money in my opinion, and here's why... when E was a tiny little baby I personally preferred to wear her.  She preferred it too.  There were times when a stroller came in handy at first, but we just didn't use our travel system stroller much in those first months.  Now that E is older, we go on more walks, but I quickly found that the small hard wheels of the travel system stroller just wasn't going to cut it here in Kansas City.  The sidewalks are awful.  And they're definitely not made for trail walking.  oi.  So I bought a BOB jogging stroller, and I LOVE it.  Now I really don't see when I will use the stroller that came with our travel system.

What I should have done was this- buy a nice and safe infant car seat.  Buy a stroller frame that I could have just clicked the carseat into.  Then bought a BOB.  Had I done that, I wouldn't be sitting here trying to figure out what the heck to do with my travel system stroller.  Lesson learned.

#2 thing I wish we hadn't registered for-  a Bumbo.  I thought I would love that thing, but man, I think I used it a maximum of ten times, and now it's just taking up space in my daughter's room while I try to think of where to store it.  Seriously.  They're cute, and it seems like a great idea, but E never seemed comfortable in it.  I would say you can skip it.

#3 thing I wish we hadn't registered for-  all those little odds and ends.  You know what I'm talking about.  The cute little gadgets, the toys, the socks.  All that stuff that will clutter up your baby's room and look cute, but never actually make your life easier.  The little bath ducky that is supposed to tell you if your baby's bath water is too hot (it doesn't really work), the stuff that companies will market to you because they know you're nervous because you've never had a baby before.  Trust your instincts, and save your money.  

I could go on and on and on with stuff you need and don't need.  So before you go and register, poll your mom friends, ask your sisters and your brothers what they found helpful and what they didn't.  Go buy yourself some Cloth Diapers, and ditch the useless gadgets.  After all, you know what the Beatles said- "All you need is love!"

And a bassinet.  

Do you have a love-hate relationship

With your cloth diapers?

What I mean by that is, did you buy a whole lot of one brand of diaper when you started your stash after doing weeks of research, thinking you found the perfect one, only to find that they just aren't all you thought they'd be?  Or maybe you just love them at one age, and hate them at another?  I'm here to tell you, don't throw in the towel just yet!

just hanging out in her Fuzzibunz

Cloth diapers are a big expense, and it can be frustrating when they're just not working as well as you want them too.  Whether they're just too bulky, you can't get the rise just right, or they're too tight in the legs, what doesn't work well for you right now may be just what you need three months from now.  Of course that also means that what works for you now may not work for you in three months.  Especially if you use one sized diapers.

The first diapers that fit E super well were our Fuzzi Bunz Cloth Diapers.  The rise was perfect, no leg gaps at all, and super trim.  Of course she was tiny so one insert was all we needed, so her diapers fit perfectly in her clothes.  They really were the only diaper that fit her for a while.  Especially when she had newborn thighs.  The adjustable leg elastic was a life-saver.

Now when E went through a super-heavy wetting stage, I had a little bit of a harder time figuring out how to make our Elites work for us.  Two inserts just felt too bulky, so I kind of abandoned them for a few months.  I moved on to some other one sized diapers.  I never loved how bulky the others were on her when she was itty bitty though.  I kept wanting to make those Fuzzi Bunz Diapers work for us!

A month or two later I decided to give the Elites another go.  I realized I could trifold a small prefold and stuff that into the pocket.  Problem solved!  All it took was a month or two, and getting out of the super-heavy wetting stage, and they are one of the first diapers I reach for again.

And those other bulkier one sized diapers that fit so poorly on E when she was tiny-  now they fit great!   I've just learned in these past 14 months that babies change so quickly.  Their little thighs go from chicken legs to roll-covered cherub legs in no time flat.  Then just as quickly they're back to chicken legs when they start walking!  So the moral of my story here is that if you bought a few diapers that you thought you would just love, but don't- you may not have to throw in the towel just yet.  Give it some time because they could be just what you need a little further down the road.

That's also why I tell people to buy a few different brands of diapers when they're starting out.  You just don't know what you're going to love, because you just don't know what your future little bundle might need.  Give your diapers some time to prove themselves, and if after a six months or a year you just don't love them- you could always sell them and try something new.  That's the beauty of cloth after all is that it holds its value so well.

So if at first you don't succeed, try try again.  Or sell them off and buy something new.  Whatever floats your boat!

Smart Bottoms AIO Diaper Review

It's been a while since I've reviewed a diaper for you guys!  Woo!  Feeding your addiction one diaper at  a time.  I've got another one for you!  Lovely Eco Chic needed a second opinion on the Smart Bottoms Smart One 3.0 AIO, and I was more than happy to give that second opinion as I'd never tried Smart Bottoms before.  And y'all know I LOVE trying new diapers on E.  We've talked about our addiction before.

We'll start that Cloth Diapers Anonymous group as soon as our stashes are done...


Yeah.  Ok.  Enough with the delusions and on to the good stuff!  I know you want to hear all about this diaper, and I have a lot of great things to tell you about it!.  Firstly, it's a one sized all in one- so if you're new to cloth and trying to figure out what in the heck that means- it's a diaper that can grow with your baby.  Smart Bottoms says their diaper can fit a baby ranging from 8 lbs to 35 lbs.  It's also an all in one which means no stuffing, no prefolds, no trying to figure out how to set it up- the organic cotton inner is sewn right in!  Easy peasy.  They come in a bunch of great colors and prints, and have a feature I love- some of their colored diapers have contrasting snap colors.  Cute!!!

The deets-  The inner is a sewn in "snake style" insert.  What that means is that it is one long insert that you can lay in the diaper however your baby needs it.  I put it on E to sleep in one night and the girl is a tummy sleeper so I folded that little "snake" to have the most absorbency in the front, right where she gets the heaviest wetting at night.  It's a feature I definitely love.  It does not have a stay dry top on the insert, which is something some people love and others hate.  I don't feel passionately one way or the other about that, but it's just something to keep in mind when you're ordering one of these.  Some people do say that having a natural fiber against the skin with no stay dry inner can help babies potty learn faster because they can feel when they are wet.  It's also just my personal feeling that a diaper without a stay dry inner has got to be more comfortable and much less hot in the summer.

The diaper has four rise snaps which means there is tons of room for customization on the fit.  Which is awesome, because if you really do have an 8 lb newborn, the diaper will probably be pretty bulky snapped all the way down, but I think you probably would be able to get a good fit.  Obviously E is 14 months and almost 20 lbs, so that isn't an issue with her, but it does fit her really well.  It's not bulky at all, and she has plenty of room to grow into it.  If she keeps her infant round-tummy I might worry about running out of room in the waist, but as I think that will go away as she grows, I think she will get a lot of use out of this diaper.

The way the waist snaps are set up is a little different than most diapers, and in a really great way.  The female snaps are on the tabs, and the male snaps are on the tummy panel.  So what does that mean for you and your little one?  It means that there's no possibility of an errant tab snap digging into their skin. While I don't really think that would be an issue with this particular diaper since there are no hip-snaps, it is something that I think makes a whole lot of sense, and I'm not sure why other diapers aren't made that way.

So what do I love about this diaper?

*Organic cotton inner.  No worrying about what kind of chemicals may be going up next to your baby's skin with this diaper.  And if it does help with early potty learning- another huge plus.

*Great trim-fit.  Even when the snake insert is folded into crazy positions, your baby will never look like she or he can't move in this diaper.  But even being as trim as it is- E slept in this all night long with no extra absorbency added and had NO LEAKS!

*I love that the snaps on the tummy panel are reversed from what most cloth diapers are.  The female snaps are on the tabs, so they won't dig into your babe's skin.

*The colors and prints are so adorable.  Seriously.  I want them all.  Which really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but they are just so cute.  And the contrasting snap colors?  Yes please!

*Super absorbent.  Keep in mind that as this diaper is organic cotton- it will take 5 or 6 washes to be fully absorbent.  If you only wash it once and then put it on your baby and it leaks- that is why.  That being said- once it is prepped and ready, this diaper is awesome!  It lasted E all night with no leaks.  And that is saying something!

*Easy to size, easy to use.  There's not much of a learning curve with this diaper, and there are so many ways you can fold the insert to get the right fit for your baby.

Is there anything I would change about this diaper?

*The leg elastic.  E has been having some crazy watery teething poops lately.  It's unfortunate.  And some diapers just don't hold it in at the legs.  While E hasn't pooped in the Smart Bottoms yet, I do worry about it's ability to keep it in.  I'd really love it if the leg elastic was top stitched.  I feel like leg elastic that is top stitched just stays in place a little better, and holds everything in a little better.  The way the elastic is on the Smart One is not bad- it's plenty snug, but I do worry about the watery teething poops.

*I'd like the tummy panel to have one more set of snaps and be just slightly wider.  On a really chunky baby, I'm not sure this diaper would really fit up to 35 lbs.

But that's it!  Just two things that I would improve on, and neither is even close to being a deal breaker for this gal!  I think the Smart One 3.0 is going to become one of those diapers that I reach for first.  It's so easy to use, is super duper cute, and really absorbent.  I also love the organic cotton inner, and think I'll probably need a couple more for the summer months because it just has to be a little cooler than most of E's fleece-inner diapers.

All in all, I really really love this diaper and I'd recommend it to anyone!  At $23 it's not the most expensive AIO, but it's not the cheapest either.  I'd say it's a pretty fair price for an organic cotton AIO and it certainly won't deter me from buying more.  I'm already planning my purchase of a Berry Berry color.  Pink with purple snaps!

Alright folks- hopefully I've just helped feed your cloth addiction today, and told you about a diaper you didn't know too much about before!

I Know You Think Your Baby Is The Cutest Baby Ever...

So prove it!  Show that cute baby off, and do it for a good cause!  I have a super awesome, and really wonderful contest to share with you today.  You all know about Smart Snugs cloth diapers through our fall fluff giveaway, and you all know that I love their diapers.  Well... I have a new reason to love them!   They are doing a huge charity giveaway- you can start entering today.  All you have to do is enter a photo of your adorable offspring.  They don't even have to be in a cloth diaper!  You just enter right through this blog, and the three cute babies that get the most votes win!

There are three grand prizes-

1st prize- 5 nature snugs diapers (you get to pick the colors.  SWEET!), 1 wetbag, and 1 pack of bio liners.

2nd prize- 5 simple snug diapers (you get to pick these colors too.  Heck yes!), 1 wetbag, and 1 pack of bio liners.

3rd prize- a $20 SmartSnugs.com gift card!

These are great prizes, and if you've been looking for a way to get started on cloth diapering, you will definitely want to enter this contest.  Tell your friends who are pregnant, tell your co-workers, heck- tell your mail-lady!  Why are you telling everyone and their moms about this contest?

I'll tell you!

Because if you all enter and get all your friends, family, dentists, pediatrician, co-workers and their moms to vote for your baby- you could help the charity of my choice (Giving Diapers, Giving Hope) get $1,000 worth of Smart Snugs cloth diapers to give away to low income families in the U.S.  That is pretty darn cool.

So show off your cutie.  Get everyone you know to vote.  Because if you win, not only will you get some amazing prizes, but you will help a lot of mamas diaper their babies safely and without making them go without something else on their grocery list.  Pretty darn sweet.

So enter away, and please share this with all of your friends!  And make sure you stop by the Smart Snugs Facebook Page and let them know how awesome you think this contest is!

Good luck mamas!

(oh- and you can enter more than one photo if you've got more than one baby!  Yay!  And like I said, they don't even need to be in cloth diapers.)  Submit via the form below!

Fill out my online form.

Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Cloth Diaper Deals at DiaperJunction.com

Hey everyone!  Happy Thanksgiving!  I just wanted to share one of my favorite diaper shop's cyber monday and thanksgiving sales!  Enjoy your shopping!

Save BIG this weekend with these great deals on name brand cloth diapers, baby carriers, cloth diaper detergents and more!

Double Reward Points ALL Weekend Long

Free Shipping on ALL USA Orders over $35

Free Gift Bag (while supplies last) when you order $79 or more! Gift Bag valued at $50+ and includes

• Diaper Rite Wetbag
• Rumparooz OS Pocket Diaper
• Diaper Rite OS Pocket Diaper
• $10 Stash Cash

Discounts you will LOVE on the brands you adore!

GroVia Newborn All In One Diapers – Buy 2 Get 1 Free

GroVia One Size All In One Diapers – Buy 2 Get 1 Free

GroVia Shells – Buy 2 Get 1 Free

GroVia Soaker Refills – Buy 2 Get 1 Free

Plus, Save 10 – 40% off

Boba Baby Carriers

TaylorMade Slings

Kissaluvs

Discontinued Kiwi Pie Diapers

Green Sprouts

Planet Wise

Best Bottoms

Aden + Anias

Select Bummis BabyLegs

Fuzzi Bunz

Thirsties

Fuzzi Bunz

Diaper Rite

Econobum

Flip

BumGenius

and more!

Thanksgiving through Monday November 26th at midnight!

Shop this holiday weekend and save at DiaperJunction.com!

*Plus, Flash Giveaways all weekend long on Diaper Junction's Facebook Page!

The Best Cloth Diaper Accessories To Make Your Life Easier

When I tell people that I cloth diaper, they often look at me like I must have lost my mind.  One eyebrow will rise, their mouth gapes open, and I can see the questions start to form in their brains.  As I try not to laugh at their incredulity, I prepare to answer the same questions I always get.

"What do you do with the poop?"

"How do you clean them?"

"What do you do with dirty diapers when you are out and about?"

The answers to these questions are largely influenced by the easy peasy accessories that are available to today's cloth diapering parents.  So today, we are going to talk about the best cloth diaper accessories out there, and how they can make the day to day easier.  Then when the uninitiated and slightly baffled masses ask you how you can say cloth diapering is easy, you'll have some answers and strategies.

So in my opinion the best cloth diaper accessory is a great hemp insert.  A great hemp insert or doubler will keep your little one dry and free of leaks while you are out and about.  So not that you won't need to deal with the occasional dirty diaper, or public diaper change, but odds are pretty darn good that you are not going to have to do a public outfit change because of a leaky diaper.  Hemp is also a natural fiber, which I am a fan of.  It doesn't get as stinky as microfiber, and holds a ton.  If you don't have any hemp inserts in your stash, save up some cash and get some.  They are also a must have for night time diapering.

Now on to the question "What do you do with the poop?"  Well besides the glaringly obvious answer of "you plop it in the toilet!" I tell people all about diaper sprayers.  These little gems will help you clean up the most disgusting of poops without having to scrape, swish, dunk, or wipe poop off of your diaper.  Just hook it up to your flexible line, set it to the right water pressure, and just spray that poop off of your baby's diaper and straight into the toilet.  So easy.  It is one of the best cloth diaper accessories that you can invest in.

When people ask how I clean the diapers, I tell them about my washing routine.  I am a big fan of Tide for diaper washing, but there are some other products that I do depend on because we have extremely hard water.  RLR is a cheap and easy way to keep your diapers from building up stink, and it will keep them looking fresh and white.  Since using RLR on my diapers, I've also started using it to get my daughter's clothes looking nice and new again.  It is amazing.  Just add it to your diaper laundry for upkeep purposes, or run a wash cycle with clean diapers and just RLR to strip as needed.  It has been a life saver for us, especially since smells have been harder to battle in this crazy summer heat.  I will also say that I think water test strips are a great little accessory to invest in.  At only $.99 per strip, it will make it so easy to find the right washing routine for your water quality.  Washing has been the biggest challenge for us as far as finding a routine that works really well goes.  Once we discovered that we have very hard water, it made it easy to figure out what aspects of our washing routine to tweak.

The third and final must-have accessory is a great wet bag.  When people ask what I do with soiled diapers when I am out and about, I pull out my super cute wet bag.  They keep moisture and smells in, come in various sizes, and will keep your diaper bag nice and clean.  You will probably want to have at least two travel sized wet bags in your stash in case one is in the wash when you need to run out for something.

So if you are new to cloth, or just need some ideas of what kind of products you should recommend when people are curious, these are what I believe to be the best cloth diaper accessories you can have.  Banish the fears of those who are interested in using cloth but think it is going to be complicated or messy, and show them all of the great accessories available to make cloth diapering easier.  There's a million reasons to cloth diaper, and these modern conveniences make up quite a few of them.

So happy easy peasy diapering!



disclosure- this blog post was written as part of the Diaper Junction Blog Squad, and I have been compensated for this post.  That being said, all the opinions stated are completely my own, and your experience may vary.

Fall Fluff Sponsor Spotlight- Lambie Love

Tonight I am bringing you our last sponsor spotlight for the Fall Fluff giveaway, which is only two days away!  Exciting!

Wool Wrap- One Size

Lambie Love is an awesome WAHM etsy shop run by Heather who is based out of Saint Louis.  Her shop has some of the most gorgeous wool covers and soakers you will ever see.  Each one is unique, and each one is like putting a  wooly work of art on your baby's bum.  Each cover and soaker is hand created out of up-cycled wool sweaters and hand dyed interlock wool.  The wool she uses is some of the softest out there.  When I got my first cover from Lambie Love, I was a little jealous that Eisley was going to get to wear something so soft and luxurious.  Um, can I have some cashmere undies?

Lambie Love wool was the first I tried, and I love it.  It is such a great option for night time since wool is breathe-able, wicks moisture into the wool and away from baby's skin, and does not need to be washed often.  Wool covers can be worn over a traditional diaper at night for an extra layer of protection, or over a fitted diaper as a cover.  Lambie love also makes adorable fitteds that will help keep your baby dry all night long.

Wool is definitely an investment, and I think that it keeps a lot of people from giving it a try, but Lambie Love's wool is affordable, functional, and just so beautiful that if you have been wanting to get started with using wool, this is a wonderful option for you.  At about $20 for a soaker and $30 for a wool wrap, you just can't find high quality wool at this price anywhere else.

Another awesome feature that I just have to tell you all about is that Heather will work with you to create something custom.  If you are just dying for a houndstooth and teal soaker, Heather will try to make that happen for you.  If you look on her facebook wall, you'll see lots of mamas with special requests.  I think this really sets Lambie Love apart from lots of shops out there.

So go, run, check out Lambie Love's shop.  Drool over the gorgeous wool and brightly colored fitteds.  Pick up some yummy scented lanolin to keep your wool going strong, and try to decide on just one soaker that you would pick if you win.  I'm pretty sure you will have a hard time choosing just one.

Heather stocks her shop just about every week with brand new woolies, so check back often.  Like I said, no two are exactly alike, and they are all so pretty that each stocking is going to bring something you're going to want to snatch up.

Lambie Love has generously offered to give our winner a wool soaker and lanolin to get you started on your wool journey, or further feed your wool addiction.  Please make sure you stop by Heather's facebook page and leave her some love, thank her for the giveaway, and check out the photos of her amazing work.

And don't forget to stop back in two days to enter to win a beautiful Lambie Love soaker of your very own!

Good luck!



Disclaimer- I did not receive any compensation for this post.  All opinions are my own, and your experience may vary.

Fall Fluff Sponsor Spotlight- Smart Snugs Cloth Diaper Co

ok! It's time to spotlight another of our amazing sponsors for the Fall Fluff giveaway-  Smart Snugs Cloth Diaper Co.  Smart Snugs has generously offered to give one of our lucky readers a diaper of their choice, and you have some great options to choose from!

Smart Snugs offers an affordable line of cute, easy to use, and great fitting diapers.  I was lucky enough to find out about Smart Snugs by winning a stay dry charcoal bamboo diaper.  It is a pocket diaper with a bamboo insert, and charcoal bamboo inner fabric.  I love this diaper.  It fits Eisley perfectly, it's cute, and I really love that the inner material is charcoal bamboo.  "What is so great about charcoal bamboo?" you are probably
saying in your heads right now.  Well I will tell you!  Charcoal bamboo is great for babies with sensitive skin, and is a fantastic option for babies who just don't do well with other synthetic types of fabric.  It is anti-microbial, odor and stain resistant, and it wicks the moisture away from baby's skin.  What is not to love about that?  If your baby has a hard time with materials like suedecloth, this is a great option for you, and at $18 for a pocket diaper and bamboo insert, it's not going to break the bank.

Charcoal bamboo inner

Smart Snugs also offers original stay dry diapers that have a micro-fleece inner and bamboo insert for $13.00.  Oh- and they have really cute multi-color diapers in both the charcoal bamboo and original pocket diapers.  So cute!

So, go get a head start on your entries for the giveaway and head over to Smart Snugs facebook page, like it, and tell them how sweet they are to give away one of their diapers.  I know you all will love them.  And of course- don't forget to check back on September 1st for your chance to win a Smart Snugs diaper of your very own.


Disclaimer- I did not receive any compensation for this post.  All opinions are my own, and your experience may vary.

Fall Fluff Giveaway Sponsor Spotlight- Buttercup Baby

The Fall Fluff Giveaway is coming up, and I'm really excited to tell you about the great sponsors and the sweet stuff they are so generously offering to one lucky reader!  Our first sponsor is Buttercup Baby, who will be giving away a mint colored Fuzzibunz One Size Elite.

Buttercup Baby is a great shop with tons of cloth diapers, baby gear, and products just for moms.  They also have one of the most generous rewards programs I've come across.  With Buttercup Bucks you get $5 back for every $55 you spend.  Have you ever seen a deal like that?  The other sweet deal that Buttercup Baby offers all the time is a free sample with any sized order, and free shipping when you spend $49.

If that isn't enough to show you how great they are, they have several pages of sale and clearance items right now.  Like the adorable Itti Bitti Tuttos that are $6.73 off or the Green Sprouts baby food storage cubes that are on sale for $2.00 off.  Make sure that you "like" their facebook page to keep up to date on sales and special offers (and it will give you a head-start on your entries for the giveaway in a week!)

So a big thank you to Buttercup Baby for sponsoring a Fuzzibunz One Size Elite, and I really do hope you guys go check out their shop.  If you are just starting out with cloth and need to build your stash, you can't beat the cash back that you will earn just by buying the items you already need.  Plus, you will receive some of the sweetest customer service around, and that is invaluable.

Check back on September 1st to enter to win a Fuzzbunz One Size Elite, and in the mean time go check out Buttercup Baby's shop!




Disclaimer- I did not receive any compensation for this post.  All opinions are my own, and your experience may vary.  This post contains affiliate links.  

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.  ;)

Starting Cloth Diapering on the Cheap

So I have a bunch of friends who are pregnant or have babies and are thinking about or have expressed some interest in cloth diapering.  I know I've posted stuff before on here for how to snag free or cheap diapers to get yourself started out with minimal out of pocket cost, but a I've got some more tips for you!  The great thing about cloth diapering is that there is a growing community out there of other moms and dads that are passionate about helping each other save some money and get cute fluff for free or cheap.

Swagbucks is still a great option for getting free diapers with all of those Amazon.com giftcards you're going to get for searching and doing surveys.  If you missed my how-to post, go here.  I've made about $200 to date on Swagbucks, and I've bought bunches of diapers for free that way.  Yup.  Free.  F.R.E.E.  woot!

Ok, now that I'm done doing my own little happy dance about that number over here, on to some more tips.  Deal networks.  I know you've heard of sites like Zulily, where they have at least one or more great baby deals a day.  You get stuff for usually 50% off or more, but it does require some stalking.  Well worth it.  For instance, starting tomorrow on Zulily, you can pick up some Rearz cloth diapers for a great deal.  Other baby sites have great cloth diaper deals on a regular basis, and those are the ones you want to make sure you check out every day, and sign up for their email alerts.  It's totally worth the extra couple of emails in your inbox every day.  The first one is BabySteals, who actually has Itti Bitti cloth diapers on their site for 40% off right now, as I write!  BabySteals has cloth diapers all the time.  I bought a couple of Bitti Tuttos from BabySteals the other day for about $10 off per diaper.  And they ship right away unlike a lot of these baby deal networks.  Another great site is eco baby buys.  They have diaper deals all the time, and you can save a bundle there too.  The key with these sites is to check them every day while you are building your stash.  Deals often sell out quickly, and if you want a certain color or size, you have to act fast.

Giveaways!  Ok, so I am a giveaway addict.  I started with just a few, and didn't win anything for a while, but once the winning started, I was hooked.  I've won tons of stuff in just three or four months.  I should have kept better track, but I've won about a dozen diapers, a baltic amber teething bracelet and necklace set for Eisley, a onesie, some flats and prefolds, nursing pads, a couple of Diva Cups, some cloth wipes, a wetbag, some bottom spray, a wool diaper cover, baby leg warmers, and some cj's butter samples.  Wow, looking at that, I need to go buy a lottery ticket.  I'm on a little bit of a roll here!  My point is, I never won anything until Eisley was born.  Now they key is that I enter a LOT of giveaways.  For every one I win, I lose probably 20... but I've added a lot of great diapers to my stash this way.

A lot of diaper blogs off giveaways all the time.  Start "liking" some blogs, and join in on some cloth diaper forums on facebook.  My favorite place to talk about all things diaper and mommy related is the Change Diapers Blog facebook page.  Maria, the woman behind this awesome blog and page, is super knowledgeable, and every Friday she puts together a cloth diaper related giveaway roundup.  I love how easy she makes it to enter a bunch of giveaways.  She does a ton of work so that you don't have to go searching all over the web.  Most of the giveaways I've won have been straight off of Maria's roundup.  So go start entering.  Enter a lot, and enter often.  It's totally worth the time you put into it when you start racking up the wins.  My husband can't believe how often I win these giveaways, and my good friend thinks it's ridiculous when we chat cloth and she finds out that I've won something else.

I just think it's ridiculously awesome.

Ok.  So the babe is going to wake up any minute now, and I need to take a moment for myself here, so this is where I leave you for today.  Now start creating your plan of attack, and go get some free, or super cheap, fluff.

Happy deal-hunting!

More tips when they come to me.  =)