Cloth Bottom Baby plus Giveaway

Recently a co-worker from college reached out to me regarding her new cloth diaper clothing line. When our kids were young(er) we messaged specifically about our cloth diapering and other natural-parenting choices we share. I appreciate that she values my opinion :-)

She wanted to send me some of Cloth Bottom Baby's new clothes to try out with baby J. So glad G is potty trained and need not participate in this review.

a happy Cloth Bottom Baby selfie

Cloth Bottom Baby started because famous name brand clothes are no longer made with cloth diapered babies in mind. Sure, many years ago it was the norm for babies to be in cloth diapers, but nowadays it's still pretty rare except with us hipsters, frugalistas, or crunchies. Thus, clothing companies have changed their patterns and styles to fit over thin disposable diapers that are so popular. Which leaves us CD-parents with two options (okay three, if you count using cloth diapers as bottoms themselves, which isn't realistic in Kansas winters).

Potty Post, vol 1

Yes, here comes the mom-blog-right-of-passage potty post I know you are all dreading/anticipating.

excited with her potty treat-gummies!

First, some background. I bought G's first potty around the time she hit 14 months old. She peed on the potty for the first (And only, I'd come to realize) time on Mother's Day. I got so excited, but didn't want to push anything. I took a pretty casual approach to potty time until July or so. My mother and mother-in-law had me and my husband potty trained around 18 months or so, and since G is a genius combination of both of us, I just knew G could do that. I tried a bare-bottom day, that turned into a morning, because I couldn't handle the constant cleaning up. Mistake one, I know. Lack of commitment. I caught a few poops on the potty, and we'd sit. Oh Lord, we'd sit. But no pee. Ever. Even after an hour of Elmo videos on my phone. There started my frustration, and her learning to hold it. Out of contempt, perhaps, or out of trying to please me, I don't know. Mistake two is right there...trying to find reason.

So potty training didn't happen before the move. I thought about doing it before J arrived, but meh. I was too worn out and trying to manage a new home with a "high(er) risk" pregnancy, it didn't happen. Then there was talk about training her in the 3 weeks my husband was planning to take off work after the baby was born. But then that crazy traumatic birth sitch happened, and the potty/new baby/recovering momma combo was completely ludicris.

Busy, Tired, Pregnant.

Those are my excuses for lack of blogging lately.

I am busy --- we are in the middle of a contract on a house in Kansas. If you have bought a house before, you know there's a lot that goes into it. I knew that going in, so I was prepared, but it doesn't change the fact that there's a lot to stay on top of. Electronic paperwork certainly helps though! I also think we've got a good real estate agent, lender, and realtor mother-in-law looking out for us (don't worry, they are 3 separate people). We've got the contract down, the inspection done, and are waiting on the appraisal.

Moving across the country: diaper edition

When we found out we would be moving from Kansas to California, we had about two weeks notice. There were a lot of things running around my head; moving check lists, address changes, settling our lease terms, finding a new place to live, how to physically get to California with a baby... but I never even blinked when it came to diapering. We'd obviously continue our cloth diapering.

A year ago, I would have been scared to even think about moving with cloth diapers; but our experiences in cloth have brought us to a point where we trust them and prefer them over disposables. (I do hate to say that I did briefly blame cloth diapers for G's night-wakings about 2 weeks ago). I used to fear traveling with cloth because of the smell and hassle of changing--not to mention trying to find a place to wash them. Thankfully both of G's grandparents used cloth and are okay with me doing laundry at their houses. We've never stayed in a hotel longer than 2 days, so we've been able to skate by on our good size stash. The smell is contained in our awesome travel wet bags (one planet wise and one itti bitti). The 'hassle' of changing a cloth diaper versus a disposable is just something I've gotten used to, and pocket diapers that are pre-stuffed make changing G pretty comparable to using a 'sposie.

I wanted to share how moving across the country in cloth worked for us, incase you ever find yourself in a similar predicament.

BFBBP: Thirsties Duo Diaper & Hemp Prefold

I was thrilled when Thirsties offered my family the opportunity to try another one of their cloth diaper products. In case you haven't read them; please check out the blog I wrote about the Fab Fitted, Hemp Inserts & Duo Wrap, and my review of the Fab Wipes, Booty Luster, & Booty Love. The Booty Love is still my favorite cloth diaper accessory; it's a CD safe ointment that keeps G from getting even a hint of rash. As part of the Babies First Birthday Blog Party, Thirsties sent us a Duo Diaper to review. It's a pocket style diaper & very easy to use. While the BFBBP is geared toward one-year olds, this diaper is perfect for any diaper stash!

First LFM Guest Post: You'll have to Touch Poop!

I asked for guest posts last Friday, and had several mommas respond! I'm excited to share the first one with you today. It comes from Kira of Musings of a New Momma. I just love when other people call themselves Momma :-)

She is a fellow cloth diaper parent & today she shares how people responded to her choice to use cloth diapers on her baby--she then debunks a common reason not to cloth diaper!
I actually received similar remarks, and have still persevered through the negativity. Check out her great post below, especially if you haven't fully decided to switch to cloth diapers. Thanks Kira!!

Forgotten cloth diapers

No, no...I haven't stopped using cloth diapers, I literally forgot about some when we left for Christmas with our families.

When we travel, I always leave the diaper pail empty. I do laundry right before we leave and take the few dirty diapers with us. Who wants to come home to a smelly bathroom and days old diapers? Not this clean freak, that's for sure.

Well this past Tuesday, that's just what we did. We left town the Thursday before Christmas, and it took me about an hour to remember we forgot the dirty diapers in the pail. It was almost worth turning around to get them, but my husband isn't the type to go back. He has even left his cell phone at home for a weekend, despite only being 2 minutes away when we realized it.

Diaper Junction Giveaway

I don't know how many of you have seen this...but I sure am excited about it! One winner EACH DAY will get $50 to Diaper Junction's cloth diaper store!

Entry via Woobox

Cloth Diapers at Night, vol 2

A few months ago I wrote about our night time cloth diaper solutions. They've changed a bit since then, so I wanted to write an update.

I do laundry every other day, but sometimes laundry runs late, so I have three main night time diaper options. Sometimes G will sleep all night in one diaper, so I need them to be super absorbent because she usually eats at least once in the night and is a "heavy wetter" in general. Other times, though, G will go #2 in the middle of the night so we have to change her and don't need the capabilities of the diapers below. She's not predictable with the bowel movements, so I always have to assume she'll be in one diaper all night. I really wish there were a way to stop the midnight poop-scapades. Any tips are appreciated.

Thirsties Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway

Thirsties is first brand I remember learning about while researching cloth diapers during my pregnancy. I read such rave reviews about their products--especially the diaper covers and wraps. Consequently, Thirsties was one of the brands in my first-ever fluff purchase. I bought some Thirsties' Duo Hemp Prefolds (size 1) and an extra-small diaper cover. Until this review, my only experience with Thirsties has been with prefolds, inserts, and covers. Their hemp prefolds are the most absorbent diaper I've experienced (thirsty...Thirsties...get it?!?), so I use them alone OR as a night time doubler. But, as you've probably read around my blog, I'm over prefolds--ready to move on. I've been dying to try their other products because Thirsties is a very well rounded cloth diaper company.

Updated Cloth Diaper Giveaway Roundup

Good morning everyone! Here are some cloth diaper giveaways I've entered myself. They are all Rafflecopter (because I don't waste my time with anything else!) Go enter to win some free fluff!

FuzziBunz Elite: http://www.clothdiaperblog.com/feed-your-stash-friday-enter-to-win-2-fuzzi-bunz-elite-os-cloth-diapers-ends-11-02-11/

Ruby Moon Laundry Detergent: http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/2011/10/fluff-friday-154.html

Thirsties' Fab Fitted, Duo Diaper, Duo Wrap: http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/blog/thirsties-thursday-giveaway-22/

FuzziBunz Perfect Size Pocket Diaper: http://dailymothering.com/fuzzibunz-one-size-pocket-cloth-diaper-review-giveaway/

Itti Bitti Tutto (no daily tweet option): http://midwesternmoms.com/2011/10/itti-bitti-bitti-tutto-review-and-giveaway/

SmartiPants pocket diaper: http://ourjacobsenfamily.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-in-fluff-smartipants-review-and.html

Oh Katy pocket diaper: http://ourjacobsenfamily.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-in-fluff-oh-katy-review-and.html

Thirsties' Duo Diaper: http://ourjacobsenfamily.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-in-fluff-thirsties-duo-diaper.html

Go Green Diaper: http://ourjacobsenfamily.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-in-fluff-gogreen-diapers-review.html

$20 Gift Card to Fluffy Rump: http://ourjacobsenfamily.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-in-fluff-fluffyrump-review-and-20.html

Sew is Your Baby Pocket Diaper: http://ourjacobsenfamily.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-in-fluff-sew-is-your-baby-review.html

Thirsties' Duo Diaper: http://mommyandmegiveaways.com/?p=635

Applecheeks: http://mommyandmegiveaways.com/?p=614 

Itti Bitti Tutto: http://mommyandmegiveaways.com/?p=711

Itti Bitti Tutto: http://sapsmama.com/2011/10/itti-bitti-tutto/

Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted/Wrap (no daily option): http://change-diapers.com/2011/10/thirsties-duo-fab-fitted-cloth-diaper-duo-wrap-giveaway-112-uscanada/

Eco Babies Newborn kit (one newborn organic cotton cover (6-11 lbs), two infant size 16″ x 12″ (fits up to 16 lbs) easy fold diapers (prefolds), three biodegradable diaper liners and a cloth diapering guide in a cute box.) (no daily option): http://change-diapers.com/2011/10/ecobabies-newborn-cloth-diaper-rental-info-diaperaps-starter-pack-giveaway-113/

Rationing Cloth Diapers

What does your cloth diaper stash look like? How would you describe you diapering style?

"Diaper Central"

My stash is more prefolds, with a growing number of pocket diapers. I have a few fitteds. I'd describe it as slowly growing. My cloth diapering style is "easy as possible." I don't want to mess around on the changing table, so I do as much work ahead of time as possible (stuffing, prepping, organizing). I want G's diapers to be as much like disposables as possible--in terms of easy to use.

Now think about your favorite diapers, you know, the ones you wish you had more of--but your budget just won't allow it--how particular are you about when those get used?

our pockets
missing only my black SmartiPants

Unfortunately, prefolds are way cheaper than pockets. So, I have more prefolds, which are not as easy to use. Prefolds aren't good night or nap time options for us, and they don't contain poop very well--unless I use a snappi, which isn't often because they aren't "easy." So when I know G will be sleeping, or possibly pooping, I use a pocket diaper. Like many things, not all pocket diapers are created equally. Some keep G drier than others, and some are better fits. Some stuff well and are still trim...while others stuff super huge and nothing really fits over them. In our house, I have certain pocket diapers that are night time approved and others that are only nap time approved. Yes, I may be crazy!

I call it "Diaper Rationing," and it's a daily occurrence in my household.

G takes 2 naps a day (one diaper a piece) and goes through one-maybe two-diapers at night. IF we go to the gym, I'll put a pocket diaper on her then, too. So I need at least 5 pocket diapers set aside each day. I have ten pocket diapers currently in rotation. Simple math tells you that I have just enough, maybe.

I'm going to miss sunning our dipes

I do laundry every other day, and sometimes diapers aren't dry in time and I'm scrounging around trying to figure out what to do. You can be sure laundry gets done in the afternoon if my night time diapers are MIA. I'll use my new Mother-ease fitted for naps and sometimes night time, so that helps fill the gaps now. I'll put G in a disposable (Huggies Pure & Natural) for naps before I'll use a prefold.

I have many different types of diapers in our stash, and they all have a purpose...but I sure would like it if I had enough of my 'favorites' so that the world didn't come crashing down when the diaper I want to use is dirty or drying!


Our ideal diaper "schedule" for now:

Day 1
Night Diaper: SmartiPants stuffed with microfiber, Thirsties Hemp Duo (or Hemp Babies) and Thirsties Hemp Insert
Reserve second night diaper: Microfiber and hemp stuffed pocket diaper
First Morning Diaper: Fitted to protect for any extra morning poop
Second Morning Diaper: prefold
Nap time diaper (or gym diaper, depending on the day): Fuzzibunz or OhKaty stuffed with microfiber and doubler
diapers between naps: prefolds
Nap time diaper: Fuzzibunz, Kawaii Baby, or Tots Bots stuffed with microfiber and doubler
diapers until bed time: prefolds

Day 2
Night Diaper: My new bumGenius 4.0 style Kawaii Baby stuffed with microfiber, Thirsties Hemp Duo, &  Thirsties Hemp Insert
Reserve second night diaper: Microfiber and hemp stuffed pocket diaper
First Morning Diaper: Fitted to protect for any extra morning poop
Second Morning Diaper: prefold
Nap time diaper (or gym diaper, depending on the day): Fuzzibunz or OhKaty stuffed with microfiber and doubler
diapers between naps: prefolds
Nap time diaper: Fuzzibunz, Kawaii Baby, or Tots Bots stuffed with microfiber and doubler
diapers until bed time: prefolds

It finally happened.

My poor, whimpy prefold and unsuspecting Bummis Whisper wrap didn't stand a chance. It was an unexpected poop from the black lagoon. G's clothes actually had MORE poop on them than the diaper did. I guess it's related to something she ate and the way she was crawling?

Either way, it finally happened. We had a blow out poop that resulted in a bath. We've had a few blow outs (now refered to as mini-blow-outs) that were handled with some wipes and a clean change of clothes, but there was no getting away from this one...my afternoon was ruined. I had plans to go to the grocery store, do some ironing maybe--but instead we took over an hour to delicately remove said dirty clothes without getting too much smeared around, remove and spray down the dipe/cover, rinse G under the faucet, find the bath tub, run a bath, wash the baby, dry the mad baby, re-diaper the mad baby, and clothe said baby. She was SO mad. It was not bath time, nor even bath day. She didn't understand why I was doing all of this...so of course she fought me, which took even more time. I tried to remain calm, but after an hour, I told her in desperation, "Well, G, momma wouldn't have to do all of this if you were potty trained!" HA! My nearly eight month old daughter stared at me and then resumed crying.

Long story short, I am SOOOO over prefolds. I usually only use them when I anticipate #1...but like I said, this was a poop from the middle of nowhere!
I want my pockets/fitted stash to grow ASAP!

Needless to say, I'm beat. What a day...What a day.

Baby Probiotic to the rescue

Let me start by saying that I love my daughter, of course I do, but I did seriously think twice about buying her baby probiotic. It is expensive stuff! Too bad I just couldn't feed her Activia.

not her normal self, but still sooo cute!

I was pretty sick on Friday with what I assume was a stomach virus. I hoped my breastmilk immunities would help G avoid the illness, but she has been having diarrhea diapers since Friday. She never ran a fever, and she acted pretty normal. By pretty normal, I mean she slept like a typical 7 month old would...not my usual daughter. She's also been more irritable, but not ridiculously out of sync. Her diapers were dirty more often, and the poop was so disgusting smelling. The color was way different, and they're very runny. Sorry for the TMI. You asked for it by reading a probiotic themed post. ;-)

Yesterday, I changed 14 diapers between 7:30 AM and 2:30 PM. 7 hours, 14 diapers. That's an average of 2 per hour. MORE THAN A NEWBORN!! Yeah, it was a great day. Yes, I did use some disposables. Not only did I get tired of just changing a diaper; I had to keep her hands out of that area, restrain her flailing legs, wipe her down, and deal with her squirming body FOUR times more often than a normal day. Oh, and I had to change her clothes 5 times. I like to let things run their course, but Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were not nearly as bad as Monday.

Source

Thus, a call to the doctor was made.
The remedy?
Baby Probiotic.

Weird, but it was worth a shot. Seeing as I was averaging a diaper change every thirty minutes, I went to the closest store. CVS. How much did they want for this magical powder? 29 big ones.

I can think of 100 other things I would rather do with twenty-nine dollars. I wanted G to feel better, I really did, but I just couldn't force myself to shell out that cash. At least not without checking the store down the road.

Super Target to the rescue. I could go on and on about how much I love Super Target, and yesterday they were like an angel sent to rescue me from this diaper changing abyss. Oh, and hopefully make G feel better...yeah, that too.

Rather than spending lots of time browsing the aisles (which I would not normally mind), we went straight to the pharmacy consultation. "Baby probiotic?" I asked.

The pharmacy tech took me right to it. No Up & Up (Target generic) option. bummer. The cost was still $10 cheaper than CVS. Well worth the extra 5 minute drive.

The doc told me to give her one packet of powder mixed with breastmilk 'now' and one packet (mixed with solids or milk) before bed. If it didn't seem to help by (this) morning, we'd need to make an appointment.

Seems like she is on the mend, so we'll see how today goes. She is back to her wacky sleep self and has only had one dirty diaper this morning. It was still a little weird, but nothing like before. I don't know if baby probiotic should get all of the credit or not, but it certainly didn't hurt.

source

What are probiotics?
Basically they are live microorganisms that help human digestion. Generally, they are thought to help irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, and ulcers--among others. I've read several websites about probiotics, but am not quite sure how they work. Currently, it seems, literature is more focused on detailing what probiotics help.

Cloth Diapers at Night

Do you cloth diaper?
Just not at night time?
Want to try cloth but you're scared?
Need a better night time solution? 

Try ours!
I'm not gonna lie, there was a time in our household where we used disposables at night. It was a dark, expensive, and occasionally leaky time. We didn't start out that way, it just became necessary when G got really bad rashes from cloth diapers.

Come to find out, it was because I wasn't using appropriate detergent & I wasn't using the right kind of diapers for night time. Because G wets her diaper a lot at night, using certain types of diapers (regardless of detergent used) caused her to get rashed up because the diapers wouldn't keep the moisture off of her. Certain diapers also couldn't contain the leaks, and that just wouldn't work for us because we want to be sleeping--not changing sheets.

Enter disposables with Destin and Rx rash cream. After about a week of that being our night time solution, I got really fed up because it wasn't what we had set out to do. Buying disposables, even if we only used 7 to 14 a week, was not part of the plan. We were determined to save money, be kinder to G's bottom, and help the planet. AND they weren't leak proof either!

I stripped our cloth diapers and started using cloth diaper detergent. Then I made sure to keep the diapers detergent-residue free (sometimes this is a very annoying task). Then I tried some different combinations of diapers/inserts/doublers to see what worked best. A few of our diapers weren't good for night time, but those that were, I share below!
In my honest opinion, the below solutions work even better than disposables at night time.

You will need to get a quality pocket diaper with a microfiber insert, a hemp doubler, & possibly another hemp insert depending on the thickness of the microfiber-or the level of wetness you are trying to protect against.

Microfiber, although not a natural fiber, absorbs the quickest. Many moms have found that if their baby pees too quickly other fibers can't soak up the wetness quick enough--and the diaper leaks. Hemp is the most absorbent fiber you can stuff into a diaper, so it's great for overnight. The combination of the two is the best I've found! 

Our night time line-up:

Tots Bots, SmartiPants, FuzziBunz, Rump-a-rooz

Tots Bots (sold in North America by Bummis) Easy Fit stuffed with its liner, 1 Hemp Baby Little Weeds insert, & 1 Thirsties Hemp Insert

OR Tots Bots stuffed with its liner and 1 Thirsties Hemp Duo Prefold
I have one Tots Bots and it is my preferred night time diaper. It holds in the moisture while keeping G as dry as possible. The nicest thing about this solution is the fit of the Tots Bots. It's stretchy in all the right places so that it closes around her legs and belly perfectly. The velcro allows for a customizable fit every time.

Our new Smarti Pants stuffed with its liner & 1 Thirsties Hemp Duo Prefold. This is my second favorite night time solution, due to my preference of velcro (Tots Bots) over the snaps (smartipants). This, as I state in my SmartiPants review, is a very trim fit, so her bottom isn't too bulky.

My third preference at night time is a tie between the medium one-size FuzziBunz and the Rump-a-rooz. I like the trimmer fit of Fuzzibunz, but don't really like the way it fits her legs.  I stuff the Fuzzibunz with its microfiber insert and a Thirsties Hemp Duo Prefold.

I like the double gussets of RaR, but it is SO bulky and doesn't fit G very well in the belly. Thus, the two are tied. I stuff the RaR with the two 6-r soaker inserts it came with, plus a Hemp Babies Little Weeds doubler.

SmartiPants (2nd) is the trimmest fit, the Rump-a-rooz (4th) is the thickest

The reason to have a good pocket diaper for night time is to keep the moisture off the baby but still contained inside the diaper. The stay-dry capability of part that touches the baby is really important, that's why I've listed the brands that work best for us (to give you some suggestions/starting points). The covers of the pocket diaper are important too, so that the diapers don't leak out the front or back. The real workhorses here, though, are the extras that I stuff the diapers with--as long as you have a quality diaper, the brand probably doesn't matter as much--it's the stuff you stuff it with.

Hemp Babies Little (or Bigger) Weeds Doublers/Inserts
Thirsties Hemp Prefolds and Inserts

 Check out my other diaper posts!

Buy some dipes at Kelly's Closet!

Wednesday's rose/thorn

Wednesday's rose: G and I had to run to target to pick up some Huggies Pure & Natural because we're not CD'ing on our trip to the Ohio River. So despite my attempts to get us in the shortest check out line, we found ourselves in the slowest moving one. Apparently it was her first day. Needless to say, we were stationary in line for quite some time. I amused G by tickling and kissing her. It wad so precious. She kept giggling & smiling back at me, as if to say, "I love you momma! Keep playing with me, it's so fun!" I just melt with each little giggle.
Wednesday's thorn: late bed time. To get to our current destination we have an 8 hour journey broken up by stopping at my in-law's home for the evening. Regardless of stopping, bed time was going to be late. Instead of the 6:15 pm bedtime she needed due to her last nap ending early, G got a 9:30 pm bedtime by the time all was said and done. You naysayers of 'sleep training' may assume she slept later, but you should know better from previous posts. She was up at 6:15 am. Tragic.

Whole Hand Club!

Dear G,
You're officially in the whole hand club!! So what if it's five months, not five years! We had a melancholy day overall (you hit your head and were pretty clingy-understandable), but took some cute pictures. None of them really show your best smiles, but they definitely show your firecracker personality. I also kept several hilarious out takes.



As a whole-hander:

• You weigh 14.6 lbs
• You are 27.3" tall
• You can sit up unassisted, especially if you use your hands to help hold yourself up, like that you can go for 10 minutes+ but with your arms up you can last around 1-2 minutes.
• You roll over to your belly ALL the time but don't roll the other way too much.
• You crawl in circles, although you are starting to get the "inch worm" movement. You get very frustrated that you can't go anywhere. You're working on it, but you're not quite strong enough yet.
• You hate diaper changes. You are a very squirmy baby (daddy calls you a wiggle worm) but diaper changes are the worst! You flail around more than ever. You used to wiggle during changes, but now that you are heavier and stronger, it's pretty ridiculous to change you.
• You like standing in your go pod, swinging, and being in the beco.
• You hate naps, but get very fussy without them. As in, very.fussy.
• You take 3 naps a day, typically 1 hour, 40 minutes, 40 minutes.
• You eat about 7 times a day.
• You sleep through the night about half the time, the other nights you wake between 3:30-4:30 am to eat...it's always random because we can do everything the same and on one night you'll wake up but another night you won't. Silly baby :)
• You LOVE, love, LOVE you're "Who hid the Honey?" board book. You're back up favorite toys are a blue octopus that plays music & a granimals crinkle book.
• You are very aware of your surroundings, including new babies now...at a recent playdate you tried to eat a baby's hand and pull his ear.
• I don't think you recognize your name yet, but you definitely know momma's voice from anything else.
• You are a ridiculously distracted eater.

Speaking of eating, you are probably ready for solids. You like watching me eat, especially with a spoon.
Fun story:
The other morning I was sitting on the floor next to you eating my oatmeal. You were staring at me, so I talked to you, "Take the spoon, put it in the bowl, put it in my mouth, eat the oatmeal!" You thought this was captivating. So I did it several times & you caught on. I put the spoon in the bowl and then put it toward your mouth & you opened! Now, I realize this seems pointless because you put anything into your mouth, these days, but it was a different type of movement. It was like a baby bird waiting to be fed. When you put random things into your mouth it opens like an exploration, but this was definitely you knowing it was food. I thought it was pretty cool, but then when I didn't put any oatmeal in your mouth, you got every mad! Your daddy says I shouldn't tease you, so I won't be doing that again.

I can't believe that at the end of this month you will be half a year old!!

cute out take

octopus toy

favorite book!

Diapering Lessons & Reviews

G in a thirsties' duo cover, 4 weeks old

To all parents considering cloth diapering:

As a mother who did a lot of research about the in's and out's of cloth diapering, and has now been cloth diapering for over 4 months, I'd like to share with you some experiences and reviews of products I use(d). There are many new products I haven't tried, and many brands I don't own. These reviews are products I use all the time and have experience with.
To view the post that I wrote prior to the birth of my daughter click here. It contains information about the various types of diapers, reasons to diaper, my expectations/thoughts about the topic before actually doing it, and links to various places.
Now, I realize that 4 months is not really that long, but trust me, changing diapers 24/7/rain or shine/number 1 or number 2, I feel like I've been doing it since the day I was born. I do advise you to do your own research, but I'm happy to be part of that as I consider myself an expert of sorts now because I have tried a variety of diapers and a variety of methods.

Ok, ready for the good stuff? 

Detergent.
This is lesson number one. For the first few months of G's life, I used Purex Free & Clear (PFC) based on the information found online that suggested many moms had good things to say about it. I didn't want to shell out the extra cash for fancy-schmancy cloth diaper specific detergent. I knew that PFC had the potential to build-up (that is, leave residue behind that could cause rash/irritation) due the fact it still contained brighteners/enzymes. So to combat that possibility, I read up on how to strip diapers (wash using dawn dish soap, vinegar, or a variety of other methods & then rinse a million times in HOT water) should said build up occur.
The long story short is that the build-up did occur, despite extra rinses, using less-than-recommended amounts, and a variety of other steps taken to remedy the situation. G got diaper rashes, especially after being in a wet diaper over night (the good news is that I can tell you how to keep a heavy wetter's overnight diaper from leaking at all). After several days in disposables and Zinc/Rx cream, she was all healed up...and I thought my diapers were stripped. I.thought.wrong. Back to disposables it was....I finally just bit the big-spender-bullet and headed over to my local diaper store to pick up some Rock In Green.
Lesson learned: just start with diaper specific detergent and save yourself and your baby's bottom the trouble.
Rock In Green (RiG) is awesome; it gets the diapers so soft, smelling new, and rinses out leaving nothing behind--but there are many other brands to choose from. Check out this chart, but stick with the good ones, don't risk anything below 4 stars. Or, at least don't say I didn't warn you.

Washing Method.
You've gotta find what works for your situation, and I tried a variety of methods before settling on my current one. If you have regular water and a top loader, try this:

• Use a diaper sprayer (we use Bum Genius Diaper Sprayer - love it!) to spray yuckies off your diapers before putting in the pail (I'd squeeze/wring out excess water). Put plain ol' wet diapers straight into the pail.
• Do laundry every other day so that nothing gets too smelly in your dry pail. I, and almost every modern CD'er, do not suggest the wet pail method favored by our mothers.
• Do a cold rinse and if you are not exclusively breast feeding, include a pre-wash solution, like Thirsties pre-wash or Bac-Out, to get rid of bacteria.
• Do a HOT LONG wash cycle with the appropriate amount of detergent (varies based on what you're using. For RiG I use 2.5 tbsp, for PFC I typically used 1/4 of the way to the number 1 line).
• Double HOT rinse.
• Do another cycle to make sure all bubbles are gone, if diapers seem like they need it.
• Line dry many items, but usually I tumble dry because it keeps them soft. I ALWAYS line dry my pail liners and my covers.  

line drying my diapers

 Diapering Product Reviews. 5 point scale based on ease, fit, and protection in my experiences with my daughter who is very long and average weight, with chubby-for-her-size thighs
 - Click on the diaper name to be linked to manufacturer's information.

Prefolds.  
*Thirsties Hemp Duo 4 
These are great absorption diapers. They definitely cost more than plain cotton prefolds, but they are worth it for heavy wetters/over nights. They do take a bit longer to dry, and are white so they may stain (nothing a little sun won't cure). They are easy to fold and are trim/thin under covers and clothes. I'd suggest having these in your rotation for sure. 
*Econobum 100% cotton 3 
These are pretty thick prefolds, which is a good thing for absorbency but bad for fitting under clothes. We used them even when G was to small to wear them. We put them under her while changing her so that the changing table stayed dry if she decided to go mid-change. She has just begun wearing them in the past 2 weeks. They aren't perfect fits when trying to fold 'angel-wing' style, but are great for 'twist' or 'newspaper' folds. For the cost, just get run of the mill prefolds, but I do like them. 
*plain cotton prefolds 4 
Cheapest way to diaper your baby. We got ours at our local diaper store, $20 for 12. I think you can find them even cheaper online. You can get a few different sizes that fit babies from newborn to toddler. They are easy to clean, and once you get used to them, they are fairly easy to put on. I would love to give them a 5 because I don't think they are that hard...but of course there is some work involved and they can add bulk to babies' bottoms.

Covers. 
*Thirsties Snap Duo Covers 4.5 
These, as I stated in my first blog, are great because they have the ability to fit what are normally two sizes of babies. They snap up or down to fit what equates to size 1 to about size 3 in disposables. They are great at keeping wetness in, and have only had a few blow-outs (nothing a disposable could have done about those either!). Come in snap or aplix close, but we only have the snaps and I highly recommend them, as aplix (velcro) will be easy for growing hands to rip open.
*Thirsties Regular Aplix (non-duo) 4  
These don't do the snap up or down thing, but fit great for the size they are for. I have the extra-small size aplix closure in these, and they were great for little babies growing fast in the waist. Aplix really allows for a customizable waist fit. The Duo type costs a bit more than these, but as stated, these will only fit a specific size, so you'll buy more in the long run. 
*Econobum Snap One-Size 2 
Don't waste your money. They came with a package deal I received, and I'm glad I got the prefolds that came with them, but the covers are nothing compared to the Thirsties, so don't buy them separately. 
*Bummis Super Bright 4 
Received hand-me down and despite being older, it's in good condition and hasn't leaked yet. I think the leg 'gussets' could be nicer. Overall, no complaints. 

Fitteds.
*Kissaluv Organic Hemp 4
Completely different fit than the regular (see below). I really like this fitted. It comes with an extra snap-in insert that makes cleaning dirties off a lot easier. Change these pretty soon after they get wet because it doesn't seem to keep moisture off G as much as I thought it would. I really like fitteds in general because they contain dirty messes even better and work nicely under wool covers. Not a perfect score because it is harder to get a cover over these than prefolds.
*Kissaluv (regular) 3.5 

The worst thing is the fit. I think these are for skinny thigh, chubby belly babies because the sizing is completely opposite what G needed. She's not 15 lbs yet but has been out of the "up to 15 lbs" size for a month. Also note, they will never be as soft as they are when you buy them. 

Pockets.
*Tots Bots 5
My absolute favorite diaper. I knew they would be from all the reviews I read before buying one on amazon during a sale. They are pretty expensive (in my opinion), but totally worth it...though I'd hold out for a sale and buy several. The insert is connected and easily doubled over inside. The velcro is amazing. The fit is PERFECT and there have been no leaks. This is a quality diaper imported from Scotland. Very soft too. BUY BUY BUY!
*FuzziBunz 4
Great option, very popular. The model I have doesn't have double gussets and that's my only complaint. It's very easy to stuff and add extra hemp inserts into. They fit very well--I like the double rows of snaps. Good middle of the road option.
*Happy Heiny's Mini One Size 2
These were a complete disappointment!!! I bought two and wish I hadn't. They leaked a lot! I think it had to do with G's shape, but still. They didn't fit great and after a few wet leaks and a few unfortunate dirty leaks, they're out of rotation. They may work well for some babies, but not ours. The positives were the size options and the very sticky velcro. They were absorbent, but the leaks came out the leg holes.
*Rumprooz 4

I thought I would like this diaper more than I did, but it is still a great diaper. It is super absorbent and contains practically all messes. We did have one dirty leak--but it was user (re: daddy) error. I really like the double gussets and the option to use one or both inserts it comes with. The inserts are very absorbent...the manufacturer calls them 6-r soakers because each insert is 6 layers and can typically handle even the heaviest of wetters. I also really like the double rows of snap closures. It didn't receive a 5 because it is pretty bulky when stuffed with both inserts. Also kind of pricey! 

All in One's.
*Lil' Joey's (by Rumparooz) 4
Very handy for little newborns and tired moms & dads who want to cloth diaper with no added hassle. This diaper requires no stuffing and even has an umbilical cord snap-down feature. It washes and dries pretty easily, but didn't really fit G very long. It says it goes up to 10 lbs, but seeing as how she was born almost 9 lbs, this was an expensive, short lived diaper. We have two that are in perfect condition for our next newborn ;-). Though they seem costly, if you don't give birth to large(r) babies, I think the ease may justify the price.


Miscellaneous.
*Thirsties Hemp Insert 4
Many, many layers of absorbency. Add to any pocket or prefold diaper...not perfect because it NEVER gets dry in the dryer when everything else does.
*Baby Kicks Hemp Insert 5
"Body shape" style insert, very absorbent and fits perfectly into most pocket diapers.
*Hemp Babies Little Weeds Insert 5+
This is a large wash cloth size, fold-able hemp insert. Perfect option to add absorbency for overnight. Add this to a Thirsties Hemp Duo and you've got a no-leak-guaranteed option for night time heavy wetters. My husband tried to use it a stand-alone prefold, but it didn't wick away moisture at all, so I wouldn't suggest it.
*Bum Genius Microfiber Insert 3
Compared to hemp inserts, these just aren't as absorbent. They do great at pulling moisture in and away from baby, but I wouldn't put it directly next to her skin. Use these to stuff pocket diapers or add absorbency to cotton prefolds.
*Kissaluv Pail Liners 4
The only reason these aren't perfect is because the inside of the liners seem to attract detergent in the wash and not rinse completely (so I take them out and rinse separately so the diapers aren't affected). Keeps pail dry & fits a kitchen size trash can (I use the step-can kind with a lid).
*Planet Wise Wet Bag 4
I use this for my on-the-go bag. I've never had anything leak through and the prints are really cute. The zipper is nice to close everything in. It hasn't seen a lot of use, but so far, so good.


Disposables.  
*Huggies Pure & Natural 4.5
These are the only disposables we've ever used (except the Pampers Swaddlers they used in the hospital) and the only ones I ever care to use. They are better for her bottom and better for the environment because they biodegrade faster and are made with more natural ingredients that typical disposables. They are, however, still a disposable diaper. That does mean, though, they are very EASY to use and get rid of. They are a pretty good fit. G is long and lean, but has chubby thighs (she got it from her momma). The tabs are very easy to apply and quite stretchy. I also like the 'wetness' indicator. I've only had one through-the-diaper leak due to heavy wetting at night. She has had a few blow outs in these diapers that got ALL over her clothes and anything near them...but I honestly don't think any other diaper could have contained those bombs. You will pay for the Huggies name brand, but if you are trying to find a 'green' disposable, you will pay more anyway...I highly recommend these.


Wipes.
We've not made the switch to cloth wipes. Perhaps with the next baby I'll suck it up and go for it!
*Huggies Natural Care 3
My biggest complaint is that they tear easier than expected. There are just better options out there, but they do their job.
*Kirkland's Signature (Costco Brand) 4
We received these as a gift and I liked them a lot. Hypoallergenic/unscented. They come in a big box, but each pack of 100 inside has its own reseal-able, travel-like package.
*Pampers Sensitive 5
My favorite wipe, especially the thick type.
*Up & Up Hypoallergenic (Target Brand) 4
Very good economical option.


I'll write more about the actual process of cloth diapering in another blog, I think this is plenty of information for one post :-)

One month old in her fuzzibunz

Laundry

Dear washer,

Thank you so much for not crapping out on me (knock on wood) despite the 2-7 loads of laundry done everyday. Yes, we are using cloth diapers, but I never thought I'd have so much other laundry too! Thank you for keeping G clothed, burp ragged, bibbed, diapered, blanketed, and an array of other things. Of course, there are towels, whites, colors, dress clothes, sheets, jeans, etc that Justin and I appreciate you cleaning too. This particular morning I thank you for cleaning G's rock and play (very useful infant seat / bed of sorts) cover...as she threw up all over it after a very gross cough. I think she has some congestion issues going on the past few days. I expect it is a cold, but seeing as she's breast fed, I'm hesitant to jump to the worst conclusions. Perhaps she has allergies like her Grammy? I would say like her mother, but surprisingly my allergies are essentially nonexistent this spring! Could it be the chiropractor (voodoo doctor according to my husband)? Might it be my hormones affected by pregnancy or breastfeeding!? Perhaps it's my renewed immune system after giving birth naturally. Whatever it is, I'm thankful to not be suffering this spring.

G in her Rock & Play and cloth diaper, about a month ago

So, yes, maybe G has allergies, a cold, or is just stuffed up... But I've seen yucko mucous in her poop and throw up, and Justin sucked a little bit out of her nose around 5 am. She doesn't have a fever and her coughs and sneezes are few. She looked sick this morning but after a gross diaper and an inclined nap near the humidifier, she is definitely in better spirits...which is great because I have an appointment this afternoon and we have a dinner date tomorrow. So, thanks again washer for the diaper laundry done earlier this morning, the r&p laundry you just finished and the baby laundry you're about to do. Sheesh!

Original Diaper Post

DISCLAIMER: Written before actually having a baby! My updated diaper information is posted here!

So the diaper information is a little farther down, I had to write some prefacing information before I delivered my research.

Because I have spent hours...probably DAYS...of my life researching cloth diapering, I thought I would lay out what I have learned from reading reviews, shopping around, feeling/handling diapers, price-comparing, talking to other moms, etc...
However, since little bear is not here yet... I can't profess to be an expert at cloth diapering. I will edit my information if anything changes, but I am pretty confident that I have supplied myself with the best options and hopefully none of my purchases will let me down. I don't like to buy CRAP and I don't like to be WRONG, so I tried to only buy the best, but most budget-friendly options; and I made every attempt to get a well-rounded opinion so that I feel completely confident. I did not go into this blindly, and I did not go with the 'fads.'

Why am I cloth diapering? Well, it's honestly a combination of being environmentally friends and also being on a pretty tight budget. First, did you know that over 18 million TONS of diapers are thrown away each year? They just sit in landfills for years and years. Gross. Secondly, did you know disposables are still supposed to be dumped out into the toilet before throwing away so that poop isn't contaminating landfills...do you know anyone that actually does that? I don't. Third, Justin is going to be the sole bread winner for our family for a good amount of time, and I am the budget lady. (Can I just say I really miss channels like E! and TLC?) Cloth diapering will save us over 1000$, with just this baby...and because cloth diapers can be used with future children, especially if I wash them with care, the potential savings is upwards of 4000$. We could save even more money by using cloth wipes...but I just can't handle that. In case you were concerned with the additional environmental strain by having to wash the diapers...please note it is so minimal. More water is used to make a package of disposables (the biggest consumption of water in America is manufacturing). Also, I plan to line dry a lot of my diapers...so that saves dryer energy.

Another fun fact: when washed properly and changed as they should be, cloth diapers don't cause diaper rashes. They can also help potty train easier (motivating to YOU and also to baby, since disposables are so "super dry" that with just pee, babies often don't know they are wet until way later).

If you don't get the Pure & Natural, or organic brands of disposable diapers, they have chemicals/ingredients that can cause serious rashes on your baby's butt...not to mention pampers drymax has been found to actually EAT AWAY at baby's skin (not all moms have noted this problem, but you can google it and find lots of news reports about this situation...I saw it on our NBC channel's "Call to Action" report and had to read more...couldn't believe it!

Okay, here's the stuff you really wanted to read:

Types of Diapers:
Flat- this is a big piece of cloth that you have to fold many MANY times to make it into the 'shape' of a diaper that will be absorbent and fit a baby (I don't recommend these, they are hard to find-people usually make them themselves, and they are way more work than just buying prefolds).

Prefold- this is basically a flat diaper that is already "prefolded" (hence the name) and sewn up before you buy it. It is thicker in the middle part, since that is where most of the absorbency needs to be. There are newborn and baby sizes. They are often 100% cotton, but many are a cotton/Hemp blend (which is more absorbent). This is one of the most economical routes to go. Prefolds are not waterproof, therefore they require the use of a cover. They are also not "disposable diaper shape", so you use a "Snappi" (rather than the old school pins).
Brands I have: Thirsties, Econobum
Don't get: Gerber, just don't, I know you can find it at Target or Wal-Mart for cheap...but there is a reason.

Fitted- these are "disposable diaper shape" and often have snaps (but some may have velcro -also called aplix). These fit babies without needing snappi's, and are sooo soft (at least the kind I have are). They are not waterproof, so you use a cover with these, but they are really easy and Dad friendly. Most are cotton/polyester blend, but some are Hemp blends.
Brands I have: Kissaluv


COVERS: You would need covers if you were using flat, prefold, or fitted diapers. Covers are what make those diapers leak proof (or leak resistant). You can chose to use those diapers without covers, but I'd really only do that around the house, where you can catch a wet baby before it leaks all over the place. Not using a cover would be good when their butt needs to "air" out. There are many different types of covers. The main two I have are wool covers and PUL (slick, waterproof material). Wool covers are nice because you don't wash them as often and they look super cute. They are also really breathable, even in summer. PUL covers are nice because they have a more fitted look and resemble disposable styling. They can be wiped off if the diaper was just pee and didn't get everywhere. You can usually go 2-3 diapers before the cover needs washed...It's advisable to switch covers at each changing, though...as in, rotate them out. An important note-don't machine wash wool covers and you must line dry both types or else they lose their waterproof-ness. Covers come in super cute prints, colors, etc. They can be pull-on type, snap, or velcro type
Brands I have: Woolybottoms, Thirsites (double gusseted), Econobum

Pocket- these are pretty popular now. They are "disposable diaper shape" and have snaps or velcro/aplix. The inside is almost always fleece and there is a space in the back (between the inside part and the cover part) where you "stuff" an insert (or two) into the pocket. The insert is either microfiber, hemp, cotton, or a blend of those. The insert is needed to make the diaper absorbent. If you used a pocket diaper without an insert, it'd be useless. All pockets come with inserts, but you usually want to buy some "doublers" (those are usually more absorbent and offer to a way to double up for nap time or heavy wetters). The outside part of a pocket diaper is waterproof, so you don't need an extra cover. Hemp doublers or inserts are thinner, so they help the diaper have a trimmer look. These are really Dad friendly, because you can "pre-stuff" them-that is-prepare them in advance, and all you have to do during changing time is put it on the baby like a disposable. You need to remember to pull out the insert before washing though. Some brands claim to have inserts that come out on their own in the wash, but that doesn't really happen very often. These are more expensive than the above options.
Brands I have: Rumparooz (I highly recommend, they are the only brand that has "double gussets" in the leg to contain poop better), Fuzzibunz, Kawaii (received free), Happy Heiny's
Brand I will be buying, they are just really expensive: Tots Bots (best reviews of all pocket brands I've found)

All-in-One- These are especially recommended for newborns. They are pretty much as close to the disposable diaper convenience as you can get, but you pay for it because they are the most expensive option. There is no pocket stuffing to do, you just put the baby in it and snap/velcro it up. These are less easy to "double-up" on absorbency because you have to add a "doubler" on top of the inside, so the baby might get material bunched up. Whereas with a pocket diaper, there's the top layer with the "doubler" smoothed underneath in the pocket. AIO's are also less desirable in the area of washing/drying. They take longer to get clean/dry and they might build up smells easier than other types because you can't remove any part of them. Very Dad friendly though.
Brands I have: Little Joey's newborn's

Hybrid- These, I am not using, but what they are is an outside part (cover) that is washable/reusable, with an inside part that you typically flush down the toilet (or throw away, but that'd be silly...except at like a park or something...or if the liner is not biodegradable/you have a septic tank that might back up). It's like the name says, a blend between disposables and cloth diapers. They can be a little pricey, just because you have to buy so much of the inside parts...but it can be pretty convenient if you don't want to hassle with the messes. I don't know too much about the absorbency/leak issues with these types of diapers...so that's something you'd definitely want to look into.

Sizes of Diapers:

One Size- This sizing option applies to many brands of prefolds/covers, pockets, and all-in-ones. These are supposed to "grow with baby." They have snaps down the front that allow you to adjust how tall/wide the diapers fit. They typically last from 8-35 pounds (so usually, you need newborn sizes anyway...especially because even on the smallest snaps, they are really bulky on a little baby). It is often suggested to save these size diapers for once baby gets around 12 pounds and then continue using them thru potty training.

Perfect Size- Applies to prefolds/covers, pockets, and all-in-ones. This sizing option is like a "small, medium, large" kind of deal. Different brands have different weight/length recommendations. Usually, through 10 lbs is 'extra small,' 18 lbs is 'small', etc, etc... They only fit for that size and don't grow with your baby. They are a little cheaper than "one-size" because the company knows you'll be buying the next size up, and they don't have the extra snaps/material. Perfect Sizes fit a little snugger, so that's nice for fitting under baby clothes (rather than having to put baby in a bigger size clothes just to fit a bulky diaper - often happens with "one-size" diapers when used on little babies).

"duo"- This is mostly, from what I've seen, a "Thirsties" brand thing. It is the best of both worlds. It fits in between perfect sizes, it's like a two-for-one size. It has two size options (through the use of snap-down/ups). For instance, size 1 fits 6-18 lbs...instead of a size 1 perfect size diaper that would fit only until 12 lbs... They have duo covers and duo pockets type diapers.

Main things to note:
You have to find what works for you. The main deciding factor will often be cost versus convenience. Prefolds/Covers and then Fitteds/Covers are often the most cost-effective way to diaper your baby...but they take a bit more work, although once you get it down, it may seem easier, since they wash/dry easier and you can get a better fit on your baby. All-in-Ones and then Pocket Diapers are the more convenient ways to diaper your baby...but they take longer to wash/dry, and you may find your baby doesn't fit into certain brands as well as others.
It is suggested to try a few different types early on, so that you can see what you like best and what your baby likes best...but if you know for sure something will or won't be liked by you/husband, that's your call.

Another things to consider:
How often do you want to do laundry?
The less often you want to do laundry, the more diapers you need.
Will you only use cloth, or will you use disposables sometimes?
If you plan to use disposables more often, you won't need as many cloth diapers.

Brands to consider that I didn't mention above:
Green Mountain Diaper prefolds
BumGenius (I personally haven't read great things about them, so I didn't go with them, but they are really popular)
Motherease (variety of options)
Babykicks (I only have an insert by them, so I can't say much about it)

Accessories you'd probably need:
pail liners (I have Kissaluv brand)
diaper pail (I have a kitchen size trash can with a step-lever and a lid--don't fill it with water...my mom said that's what she did, but things in the cloth diaper world have changed and all my instructions/tags say to store dirty diapers in DRY pails)
diaper sprayer (or you could do the old-school swirl in the toilet method that I am not willing to attempt)--I have a bumGenius one after reading a million reviews, it seems to be the best. If you are exclusively breast feeding (Please DO!), you don't "technically" need a diaper sprayer because BF poop is apparently water soluble, but you'll definitely want one if you are formula feeding and once baby is eating solid food. I am going to exclusively breast feed, but just can't imagine throwing excess poop in the wash, so I'm going to spray them anyways.

Detergent/Washing: Again, this is something you have to find what works for you. Many websites/moms will tell you that you MUST use Charlie's Soap/Rockin' Green/etc...but those are kind of pricey and harder to find in some areas (order online). You can use regular brands (Tide/All/etc) but may end up having to strip your diapers due to build-up of detergent residue. Build-up is bad because it leads to less absorbent diapers and SMELLY diapers before your baby even pees/poops. You may also find that your baby gets a rash or irritation from certain ingredients in certain brands. You would need to do your own research into this, because I can't really advise you one way or the other. It is often variable based on how you do laundry/how much detergent you use/what kind of water you have/etc...
I will tell you that through a lot of research/reading/budgeting... I will be using Purex-Free & Clear.
The main thing to note: use LESS than what the bottle recommends--this helps with reducing build-up on the diaper. Unless you use a brand like Charlie's or Rockin' Green, then use what it recommends.

This is my washing diapers method, first do a cold cycle with only a little bit of detergent. Then, do a HEAVY cycle on HOT with about half the recommended amount of detergent. Then do an EXTRA rinse in WARM water. Again, you can figure out what works best for you. You really want to be sure to rinse the diapers at least 1 extra time, though, because that helps insure that excess detergent gets rinsed off because you don't want that on baby's butt.

Links:
Buy diapers: Kelly's Closet
Also: Trusty Amazon
Buy diapers in person (you can buy from her online, but prices in store are cheaper): Happy Bottomus
Detergent Chart & other good info: Diaper Jungle
Get other advice: Cloth Diaper Forum