DDT 3 -- Free Cloth Diaper Patterns

Here are free downloadable patterns for anyone who wants to try their hand at make a few diapers.  Everything from AIOs, pocket diapers, contours, fitteds, and covers!

All-in-One Pattern (Medium)

Rita's Rump Pocket Diaper - (patterns for covers, AIOs, contours, and more also available)

Ottobredesign Fitted Diaper

Goodness Gracious Fitted Diaper

Little Comet Tails Not so Flat Wrap (I have personally used this pattern as a contour diaper and used it a starting point to create my own covers and AIOs.  It has a very generous cut, which is great as a contour.  For covers and AIOs, I have to trim it down in the crotch and/or lengthen the pattern for the best fit.)

Wee Weka Pocket Nappy (My personal favorite.  It didn't start fitting that well as a pocket diaper until my son was about 4 months old as the rise was too high.  Now that it does, it's a very nice slim fitting diaper even with night time stuffings.  I did, however, use the pattern to make a diaper cover with an adjustable rise, and it was the only cover I had the fit well for newborn use.  It still fits great even now.)

Come back next week for my favorite DIY cloth diaper supplies and suppliers!

Print Coupons from Cool Mom's Blog!

Just when you thought this blog couldn't get any cooler, my website was selected to host a new beta program that allows my readers to print coupons from my blog.  Now you can save money every time you read my blog by printing coupons from my new coupon banner.

New coupons available daily!  Just look for a banner like this one in my sidebar:

Thrifty Thursday: How to Save the Planet and your Wallet on Laundry Day

It's summer and the heat is on.  Or should I say the air conditioner is on?  While the air is on full blast, everyone could use a few tips and tricks to keep their energy bills down. Here are a few hopefully new ideas from me to you that will save energy, money, and wear and tear on your washer and dryer.


1)  This is probably a no brainer.  Use the coolest temperature setting possible on both the washer and dryer.  This will decrease the work done by the water heater and the dryer heating element.  Less heat in your appliances also means less radiant heat in your home which translates into less work for the air conditioner.  It's a moneysaving snowball effect!

2)  Wait until you have enough for a full load before doing laundry.  No matter what size load you wash, your washer and dryer use the same amount of time and energy to operate.  You'll save electricity, water, and time in the long term.

3) Use a residue free soap or try reducing the amount of regular detergent you use in the wash.  In many cases, you can decrease the amount of detergent by 25-50% without compromising cleaning power because of the caustic surfactants used in most detergents.  If you are washing an extra dirty load, agitate then let it soak overnight to loosen the grime before running a full wash cycle.  This will reduce or eliminate the need for an extra rinses when you do laundry.

4) Harness the energy of the sun to double task drying and disinfecting.  If you use high heat settings in the washer or dryer for disinfecting purposes, try an old fashioned clothes line.  The UV light emitted by the sun which causes sunburns is also a powerful antimicrobial death ray.  You'll decrease the amount of heat needed on laundry day, which will keep your home cooler and your wallet fatter.

5) Make your dryer faster by putting a dry towel or two in the dryer.  This is especially good for thick clothing and cloth diapers that dry more slowly than regular laundry.  The towel will wick water out of the wet clothes, allowing them to dry more quickly.  Since the towel is dry to begin with, the heat of the dryer will evaporate moisture almost immediately so that the towel can draw out wetness continuously.  A word of caution:  don't get too excited about this idea and overfill your dryer.  The wet clothing needs to be able to tumble freely in order for this to work.  Also make sure you don't use this method on clothes you want to keep lint free.

Photo by mattox courtesy of stock.xchng

DDT 2 -- One Size Cloth Diaper Options for Newborns

It's Diapert Duty Tuesday again!  This week's topic is cloth diapering for newborns.  Newborns don't have much of a bottom and their legs are on the spindly side so it can be tricky finding the right diaper to fit properly without leaks and blowouts.  As previously mentioned in my other diapering posts, the best way to cloth diaper for the first 1-2 months are to use a separate diaper and cover to achieve the right fit for the newborn baby shape.  I primarily used prefolds, which are the most economical choice, but I also had a few homemade contour diapers that I still use.  If you can afford them, fitted newborn diapers are great because they're specially designed to sit low on the belly as to not irritate the umbilical chord and you can easily adjust them to create a custom fit for your baby.  I personally couldn't justify spending that much money on a lot of diapers that I would only use for 2-6 weeks, and I folded down the tops of the prefolds and contours to achieve a similar effect.

As I've been looking at cloth diapers to get ideas for my little boy who is on the cusp of moving to the toddler size diapers, I've seen a lot of great options for newborns that I'm definitely keeping in mind for any future children.  New companies are popping up with innovative, less cumbersome one-size designs, and established cloth diaper makers are revamping their diapers to stay competitive.  It's a win win for all of us tree hugging, planet saving, green living, cloth diapering moms!  Here are two of the one-size choices that interest me the most in terms of durability and sizing options.


Sprout Change One Size Diaper from The Willow Store

This diaper boasts a 5-40 pound weight range, making it the closest to a truly one size fits all diaper that I've ever seen and the only one that should fit just about all newborns even most preemies.  The cover is also reversible with two colors, so it's actually two covers in one.  The sleeves are made of your choice of microfleece or organic cotton and the inserts are made of organic hemp/cotton blend.  All this and made in the USA!

How it works:  The cover uses a series of snaps for the waist and adjustable elastic for the legs to create the right fit for your child.  You put the insert (basically a prefold) into the sleeve and lay it in the cover.  Looks very simple.  The sleeve helps wick moisture to keep baby feeling dry, is supposed to be easy to wash off, and keeps poop off the actual diaper.  You can double up on inserts for extra absorbing power.

These are on the pricey side at $24.95 for a complete 1 diaper system (1 reversible cover, 1 sleeve, 1 insert).  But you can customize your own package because all components of the diaper system are available for individual sale.  Individual covers are $16.95 for those who already have diapers but are looking to try a new cover or like the idea of a reversible.  Extra sleeves are $4.95 and may be used with your own diaper covers if you are excited by the thought of an easy rinsing layer that keeps poop off your diapers or allows you to use ointments and creams without diminishing absorbency.  The organic hemp inserts are $6.95 and may be used alone as prefolds or doublers with your existing diaper system.

Save 10% at checkout with the code CHANGE 





FuzziBunz® One size Diapers 

FuzziBunz is the company started by Tereson Dupuy, who is considered to be the mother of modern cloth diapering with her invention of the pocket diaper.  She has done some exciting new things to her one size diapers.  Gone are the unsightly rows of snaps that used to be the system for changing the size of one sizes--just one set of snaps for the waist and adjustable elastic in the legs for up to 8 different size settings!

FuzziBunz fits from 7-35 pounds, so it should fit most newborns right away or as soon as the umbilical chord falls off (usually within 2 weeks, about 10 days for my son).  The fleece lining is highly absorbent even during night time use and for older babies according to most users.  The adjustable elastic will give a better fit for your new baby than the snap adjustments in older styles of one size diapers.  The elastic is also easily replaceable without sewing or ripping out any seems.  The durable snaps, ease of elastic replacement, and high quality of materials means that these diapers will last for 3+ years even with heavy use and frequent washing.  If you plan to cloth diaper through multiple children, this is a solid and long lasting investment!

Individual diapers are about $19.95 though I've seen them for a little less at some places.  FuzziBunz diaper packs start at $59.95 for 3 at stores like Kelly's Closet, and Amazon has a 9-pack that includes a breast milk alcohol test kit for $175.

Free Shipping at Kelly's Closet for orders over $49
Free 2-day shipping on all orders for Amazon Prime members (30 day free trial available)

Freaky Friday: Future Baby Generator

Not my permanent Friday theme in case anyone was wondering.  But I did get curious last night if a baby generator would actually make a baby that looked like my son if I put in a picture of me and his father.  My virtual baby is not as fat, but it actually does kind of look like our son down to the hair type and eye color.  I think it's more what he'll look like as a toddler.  Freaky!

See the resemblance?

Like I said, not exact but pretty close for a computer generated image using some sort of photo manipulation software and a bit of probability to determine the actual features.  But it has the same whispy hair, same eyebrows, same eye color, same lips, similar eye shape, similar nose, and the same overall head shape minus the fluffy, fat cheeks.  When he loses the baby fat, he'll probably look more like the generated image.

How Does It Work?

Face detection technology like FBI uses in investigations is what makes this possible.  Boy have we come a long way!  At the particular website I went to (www.MorphThing.com), you can upload your own photos, pair one of your photos with something from the celebrity image library, or use two of their celebrity pictures to morph.  For a bit of twisted entertainment, you can morph two people to make an adult face or you can try their beta baby maker.  They even have a random morph selection for those who can't help themselves. Random morphs available for viewing during my visit included Saddam Hussein + Munch's The Scream, Gollum + Angelina, and Zhang Ziyi + Michael Jackson.  More freakishness.

The process involves mapping the general outline of the face and important distinguishing features including the eyes, nose, lips, hair line, and jaw.  If you upload your own pictures, you must do this yourself.  Photos from their library are already prepared for morphing.  If you choose the baby maker, it will ask you the race of the parents before generating the final image.  I started from scratch with two photos and it probably took me about 10 minutes from start to finish including the wait time while the software "morphed"my baby.

There are a few websites that do this, but most of them require a fee or subscription.  MorphThing was free though.

And now.....

I know you're thinking it.

I know you just have to find out.

Ok...here it comes....

Are you sure you're ready?

Brace yourself.....

All I have to say is that I hope this isn't accurate, or my son may end up with a complex.  It's Friday.  Go have some fun.  Fun Friday...get it?

Great Coupons for Moms and Babies

From now on Thursdays will be Thrifty Thursday, the I'll blog about any coupons, sales, and discounts that I've found.  In an effort to simplify and organize the way I do my blog posts, I'll be devoting each day of the week to an ongoing topic.  So far we have Diaper Duty Tuesdays and Thrifty Thursdays.  If you have any suggestions or requests, leave a comment or send me a message.

Now without further ado....

Head to Coupons.com for printer-friendly savings on the following and more!

$3 off Huggies Snug and Dry diaper pack (60 count or larger)

$1.50 off Huggies little swimmers

$2 off Huggies wipes (320 count or larger)

$2 off Huggies Pure & Natural Diapers

$2 off Goodnites jumbo pack or larger

$1 off Desitin

$1.50 off Aveeno hair products

$2 off Aveeno lotion

$1 off Campbell's soups

$1 off Listerine

$1 off Opti-free contact solution

$1 off Renu contact solution

$1 off Organyc feminine products

$1 off Burt's Bees toothpaste

$.40 off Nature Valley granola bars

$1 off Nature Valley granola nut clusters

$1 off All brand Oxi-Active detergent (28 loads or larger)

Free Sears portrait collage + 20% off entire purchase + no session fee

2 pair glasses $88.99 at JCPenny

Smartsource.com has a coupon for $4 off 2 Huggies Little Movers/Little Snugglers diaper packs.

Here are some coupons and discounts from Diapers.com.  Check their website for even more coupons on Tide detergents, Bounty paper towels, and more.  Additionally, you can use manufacturer's coupons and formula checks by sending your coupons and packing slip for the eligible purchases to Diapers.com, P.O. Box 483, Jersey City, NJ 07303.  They'll give you a credit on your next order.

Free shipping on all orders over $49

$10 off any diaper order for first time customers

$2 off any one case of Huggies Diapers with coupon code HUGGIES3

$3 off any one case of Seventh Generation Diapers with coupon code 7NTHGEN2

$2 off any Avent, Born Free, Dr. Browns 2 or 3 pack feeding bottles with coupon code BOTTLE3

$4 off any single 14 oz. or larger jar of Desitin, Boudreax's, or Aquaphor diaper rash ointment with coupon code RASHJAR2

These coupons are available for one-time use per household and expire on 12/31/2010.  If you are a first time Diapers.com customer and you appreciate the savings I just passed on to you, let me know by using this referral code at checkout NBDE6587.  Once you place your first order, you'll receive a referral code too and you'll get a $5 credit for every new customer you send their way.

Convertible Car Seat Update

My son turns 5 months old today (yay!) and was 19.5 pounds last time I held him on the scale with me.  His great grandparents and great aunt stopped by today and marveled at how fast he's grown, and one of my best friends is developing an inferiority complex about how "undersized" her 7 month old is next to my son.

I'm still researching car seats, and the clock is ticking on my decision.  He is quickly approaching the 22 pound weight limit on his Chicco Keyfit Infant Car Seat, which by the way is one of the top rated infant car seats by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  They also make a newer model that has a 30 pound weight limit if anyone is looking for a great, easy-to-use car seat or travel system.  The Chicco Keyfit 30 also has a lower minimum 4 pound baby weight, so it's an ideal choice for preemies and small babies.  Just throwing that out there for my mommy-to-be readers!

So far, my favorite is still the Recaro convertible car seat.  Based on my continued research, they are by far the most safe, comfortable, and compact convertible car seat on the market; they have some of the highest weight limits available (70 pounds in the convertible car seat and 120 pounds in their other safety seats); and their new ProSERIES child safety seats are made right here in the USA and include a convertible car seat, a combination harness to booster seat, and a booster seat.  You can find a lot of discounts for their previous Signo/Signo G2 and Como/Como G2 convertible car seat models because they are closeout items.  The primary difference between the Signo and the Como models is that the Signo has an infinite adjust knob for the head rest and no re-thread shoulder harness, but the Como required manual adjustments.  The new ProRIDE convertible car seat has the infinite adjust and no re-thread harness as default features.

Be careful if you are purchasing a Signo or Como because there was a recall on car seats manufactured between February 1, 2008 and February 16, 2009.  The central harness adjuster had a manufacturing defect that caused it to sometimes slip and possibly not maintain the desired tightness.  Car seats not affected by this recall will have a green dot above the bar code on the model number sticker.  This problem was corrected in the G2 models, but I assume they changed the name completely in order to distance their newest model from the recall.

Despite the recall controversy, I'm still a dogged fan, especially since it wasn't a major flaw like harnesses that comes unbuckled under pressure, parts falling off, and things like that.  The price point, however, is always the issue with the Recaro.  Given how tall my son is and how ahead of the curve his weight usually is, I will most likely need to purchase a booster seat if only to give him more leg room in my Toyota Corolla.  I'm not sure I can justify the expenditure when I'll just need another seat in a couple years.

Some have suggested going straight to a toddler car seat, which would be front-facing.  But my son is so young that I want to keep him rear-facing for now, and Georgia law requires that all children 6 and under must be in a child safety seat appropriate for their age and height.  They go by the NHTSA guidelines, which say children must be at least 1 year old and 20 pounds before switching to a front-facing seat, toddlers 1-4 years old and under 40 pounds must be in a car seat, and children up to 12 years but under 80 pounds and 4'9" must use a booster.

For the sake of my immediate budget, I'm also looking at some convertible car seats by Evenflo.  They are the only convertible car seats with a weight limit over 40 lbs (it's 50 in the models I'm looking at) that I can consistently find under $100.  If I go this route, then maybe, just maybe, he'll slow down growing and stay in this seat long enough to transition straight into the ProBOOSTER, but that's probably just wishful thinking.

In order of price from lowest to highest the Evenflo contenders are the Titan Sport, Titan Elite, and the Triumph Advance LX, DLX, and Premier.  The main differences among these models is that they get plusher and cushier the more high end you go.  The higher end Triumph Advance models are usually over $100 but still much less expensive and more compact that than their competitors.  I've found really good sales and discounts at various places including Ebay.  Many Ebay sellers are even offering free shipping, so it's worth a look because I've found several auctions for the car seats mentioned  here brand new and cheaper than at other stores after shipping.

The main issue that's keeping me from being a huge fan is that many of the reviews for Evenflo car seats have stated that the children outgrew the height way before the manufacturer's stated limit.  My son is on the tall side, so that's a big turn off.  The maximum height is 50 inches on all of these, but I've read several reviews that complained of their children outgrowing the seat with heights in the 35-inch range.  It may be user error, but that means the seats may be difficult to adjust if that's the case.  At any rate, I find it hard to imagine a user error that would result in an infant or toddler outgrowing a car seat 15+ inches before the manufacturer's maximum height capacity.

Because my son is a big, fat, giant-sized baby (and I mean this in the most loving and adoring way possible), it looks like I'll have to go with the more expensive Recaro ProRide in order to save money long term.  For those of you who don't struggle with the issues of having a toddler-sized infant under 6 months old, be glad!  Meanwhile, it looks like we'll be going to the store to try out car seats before making a final decision.

Win a Smartipants Pocket Diaper from Diapers Etc

Yet another Smartipants giveaway!  Contest ends 7/8/2010.

http://meandmyboys-abby.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-of-fluff-diapers-etcsmartipants.html

Smartipants Diaper Giveaway

I know some of you are thinking about trying cloth diapers.  Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a Smartipants O/S pocket diaper.  Deadline July 16, 2010.

http://cirtandtamara.blogspot.com/2010/06/smartipants-diaper-review-and-giveaway.html

DDT 1 -- How to fold prefold diapers

This is my first installment of Diaper Duty Tuesday (DDT) where I'll be discuss cloth diapering how-to's, tips, patterns for sewing your own diapers and covers, and everything else related to cloth diapers!  Today I'm tackling the mysteries of the prefold which is simultaneously the simplest and most intimidating cloth diaper, but they are a wonderfully economical cloth diapering choice that can be adjusted to fit a wide range of sizes regardless of the size of the prefold.  In fact, I'm still using preemie size prefold diapers on my 20-pound, 5-month old son, and he still has some use left.  The biggest issue with them now is not the fit but that the amount of cloth is becoming insufficient for his super soaking capabilities.

Many people, especially grandparents and other part-time caregivers, are turned by prefolds because they don't understand how to make them fit the baby.  There are a few different approaches to putting on prefold diapers, and I've tried several.  Of the methods I've tried, this one gives the slimmest fit and most protection against dirty diaper blowouts.  I've leakage problems with other fold styles, but the only time I've ever had a mess with this one is when  he decided to go for round two during the diaper change!

Folding prefolds with a fastener

1)  Lay the cloth diaper flat under the baby with the top edge at the desired waist height.

2)  Fold the portion in front of the baby in thirds so that the hugs baby's bottom snugly.

3)  Lift the folded part over the baby's front.

4)  Fan open the top of the diaper over your little one's belly.

5)  Fold down if there is too much excess cloth at the top.  If it's a little too high, you can tuck it down under the diaper cover.

6)  Fasten with pins or Snappi if desired.

7)  Put on the diaper cover.  Make sure all the diaper is tucked inside the cover or you'll end up with leaks.

It looks like a lot of steps, but it goes quickly once you've done it!

Folding prefolds without a fastener

It's easier to lay the cloth diaper and cover under the baby at the same time if you aren't using a pin.  Make sure the edges are even before you place them under baby's bottom (refer to picture #2 above) and follow the same steps as outlined above.

16 Hilarious Home Remedies

16 Hilarious Home Remedies - Nursing Link

Some interesting alternative treatments for common summer time ailments that are sure to bring a chuckle or two.

Finally-a natural shampoo I can love!

I'm one of those people who's been wanting to love an organic or natural shampoo and body wash for a long time.  But they made my hair and skin feel funny or didn't clean the way I wanted.  On closer inspection, many of these so called "natural" body products contain harmful chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), or sodium myreth sulfate (a newer derivative of SLS and SLES that companies use to get away with the "SLS-free" label).  SLS is a cheap, readily available chemical that makes soaps, detergents, toothpastes and other products foamy.  It is also valued as a commercial cleanser because of it's ability to strip oils from surfaces including skin and hair.  This is why sodium lauryl sulfate and other chemicals related to it are known to cause eye and skin irritations in concentrations as small as .5% and are considered dangerous in concentrations of 10-30% which is the level commonly found in many household products.  One of the other negative aspects is that dioxane, a known carcinogen, is one of the byproducts of creating SLES so dioxane contamination is possible in products made with SLES.

Since I couldn't find anything better, I was using the 365 brand of "natural" shampoo, conditioner, and lotion from Whole Foods.  They are inexpensive, dye free, paraben free, and use essential oils for fragrance, but they still contained SLS/SLES or related chemicals.  But I ran out about two weeks ago, and decided to give all-natural bath products another chance.

I stumbled upon a great shampoo at Vitacost that doesn't make my hair crazy, smells great, and is free of all the major toxic chemicals used in personal care products.  The chemicals mentioned (ethylhexylglycerin, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate) are preservatives with antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties that are either plant-derived, kosher, or naturally occuring, cause irritation/allergies only in rare instances, and are among the last on the ingredient list, which means they are the smallest concentrations.  The line is the Beauty Without Cruelty shampoos and conditioners.  For those interested, they also make facial cleansing products and cosmetics.

Another all natural bath product I'm loving is the Hugo Naturals shower gel in the Vanilla Orange fragrance.  It has a relaxing vanilla undertone, and the only ingredient I didn't immediately recognize as coming from nature was decyl glucoside.  It's an SLS alternative made from vegetable oil and sugar.  The Hugo Naturals line of products includes hand soaps, lotions, body scrubs, shower gels, and more in a variety of fragrance options including unscented.

I haven't decided on a final product for the baby, but here are a few I'm considering.  The Weleda Baby Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash, Burt's Bees Tear Free Shampoo and Wash, and Nature's Baby All Natural Shampoo and Body Wash are all economical choices that pass initial inspection.  They also all make natural baby lotions.  A few days ago, my aunt and uncle gave me the Aubrey Organics Natural Baby & Kids Body Lotion to try.  I used it on my son this evening after his bath.  It smells good, moisturizes well, and meets my expectations for an natural/organic product.  The downside is that it is on the more expensive side, a little greasy, and the fragrance is stronger than I like for a baby lotion.  I will probably try something else when this bottle is gone.

Other alternative household products free of harmful chemicals and additives are Earth Friendly Ultra Dishmate, Mrs. Meyer's Liquid Dish Soap, Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder, Tom's SLS-free Toothpaste, Kiss My Face Aloe Vera Toothpaste, and Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder.  For you Seventh Generation and Avalon Organics users, sorry!  They didn't make it to the "clean" list.

To learn more about the effects of sodium lauryl sulfate and its derivatives, click these links:

http://www.health-report.co.uk/sodium_lauryl_sulphate.html

http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.html

How to Wash Cloth Diapers

Now that you've learned about the different kinds of cloth diapers available to modern moms and gotten ideas on how to choose the cloth diapering system that's best for you, you're wondering what to do with them between wash days and how to deodorize, disinfect, and keep them looking clean and bright.  Even after all the research, it was still a fairly lengthy trial and error process for me.  Here are a few insights and suggestions based on my experiences.


Supplies

• Gloves
• Diaper bucket or waterproof bag
• Cloth diaper friendly detergent
• Diaper sprayer

You'll need a place to store dirty diapers between washes.  I have used 5 gallon paint buckets from the hardware store and a small, lidded trash can as my diaper buckets, but there are many other alternatives out there that may work better for you.  The Safety 1st Simple Step Diaper Pail is an affordable option with a handy foot pedal operated lid for hands free use, and this Swaddlebees Diaper Pail Liner is a multitasker that can also be used alone as a wet bag, laundry bag, or travel diaper pail.

The diaper sprayer and gloves are optional, but very useful to have.  I don't actually have a diaper sprayer because I have a "dirty" sink with a sprayer.  For those who don't have that luxury, my cloth diapering mom friends swear by their diaper sprayers because it allows them to spray the mess directly into the toilet before tossing the diaper in the pail or the wet bag.

Your choice of detergent is very important to the life and functionality of your diapers.  Most detergents leave a residue that will eventually build up on your diapers and cause skin irritation, interfere with the diaper's ability to wick away wetness, or both.  Cloth diaper makers do not recommend using regular commercial detergents such as Tide or Dreft, but some people have had success using 1/4 - 1/2 the recommended amount in their diaper washes.  I personally use Charlie's Soap because it is an all natural, residue free laundry powder.  I love that it's made in the USA and that I'm supporting American made products every time I purchase it.  It's also very economical.  Even though I do all my regular laundry with it in addition to the diapers (for diapers I usually double the amount of soap), one bag lasts over 3 months.  It is also not necessary to use fabric softener or static cling sheets with Charlie's soap as it is the chemical residues that stiffen clothes and cause static in the dryer.


Location, location, location!


When considering places to keep your dirty diaper pail, keep in mind that even with pre-rinsing, baking soda, and all the diaper odor tricks out there, it has been impossible in my experience to completely eliminate diaper bucket odors.  If you have space in your laundry room, I would recommend keeping the dirty diapers there since it will be out of the way.  If this is not an option, use a diaper pail with a tight fitting lid or a wet bag with a drawstring to seal in as much of the odor as possible.

To keep diaper odor to a minimum, I've found the rinsing all diapers, including the ones that only have pee, greatly reduces diaper pail smells.  You can also sprinkle the inside of your dirty diaper container with baking soda.  While I have had the best results using a dry diaper bucket, some have had success by keeping the diapers in water with a tablespoon of vinegar, but do not use bleach as this ruins the waterproof layers in your expensive AIOs and your waterproof covers.  If you do use bleach for your prefolds and other coverless diapers, make sure to rinse them thoroughly as the bleach residue can irritate your baby's skin.


The Wash Cycle


Pre-rinse wet diapers and remove solids from dirty diaper before putting them in the diaper bag or bucket.  Make sure all velcro tabs are secure so they do not snag other items.


Run your diapers through a rinse cycle first to get rid of any remaining solid waste.  This may be done with cold water.  You may do a short soak if you desire, but don't overdo it as this will breed bacteria.

After the pre-rinse, wash your diapers with your cloth friendly detergent on a cycle that uses hot water.  Hot water will serve to disinfect your diapers.  For extra whitening or deodorizing, you may add 2-4 tablespoons of baking soda.  If you are using a regular, commercial detergent for laundering your diapers, I would recommend using a bit of baking soda in the final rinse because it will help to remove the residues.  The added benefit is that baking soda is a natural fabric softener.

If you are laundering items with a hook & loop style closure such as Aplix or Velcro, make sure it is secured or it will stick to other garments and create snags and pulls or even ruin some fabrics.


Drying Cloth Diapers


Either line dry your cloth diapers or put them in the dryer on high heat WITHOUT fabric softener.  Fabric softener will make them less absorbent and cause repelling issues.  Using high heat or the sun will further disinfect your diapers for healthier reuse.  Drying in the sun is an energy efficient way to launder cloth diapers without increasing you utility bill that also naturally deodorizes without artificial fragrances that only mask unpleasant odors without treating the cause.  Line dried items are easily fluffed up by placing them in the dryer for a few minutes on a heatless setting.


Prewashing Pointers


All cloth diapers regardless of style or brand recommend prewashing up to 5 times before use in order to bring out the maximum absorbency of the fibers and fully preshrink the fabrics.  For most diapers prewashing with your regular laundry is fine as long as you use the appropriate detergent, remember to avoid fabric softener, and wash with like colors.

Certain fabrics, however, must be laundered separately.  The two main ones are wool and hemp.  Check the laundering instructions on your wool diaper covers to see if they're machine washable.  Most will be hand wash and line dry only.  Those items will shrink up to 50% or more if machine washed and/or dried.  Hemp has naturally occurring plant oils that will interfere with wicking, so it must be washed several times before use.  Do not wash hemp diapers with other fabrics until they have been completely stripped or the oils will transfer to them.


Up Next...


Now that you know the cloth diapering basics, come back to Cool Mom's Blog every week on Diaper Duty Tuesdays for an ongoing look at cloth diapering tips, how to's, and reviews!

For a look at all my cloth diaper information, go the the Cloth Diapering tab at the top of the page or click here.

Technical Difficulties

We were having some issues with the internet connection.  I think it's fixed now.  The diaper series will resume tomorrow!  And I'll  also be sharing some great coupons for moms and moms to be.

Loveybums Organic Diaper Giveaway

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Choosing Cloth Diapers

What fabrics should I choose?

If you decide to use other types of diapers besides prefolds, you may be overwhelmed by the fabric options available.  Here are some things to keep in mind. 

Natural fabrics (cotton, flannel, bamboo, hemp, etc.) are going to be generally softer, more breathable, and less likely to cause skin irritation.  Flannel, bamboo, and hemp are very absorbent.  Bamboo even has antimicrobial properties.  Bamboo velour is probably the softest and most luxurious feeling while fleece made with bamboo and hemp offer great wicking and help to keep baby's bottom feeling drier.  Terry cloth (make sure it's French terry) is also a very soft and absorbent option.

Synthetic fabrics (polyester, microfiber, etc.) are going to be drier feeling and shrink less when washed.  Many people like to use polyester fleece as a nighttime diapering solution because of how well it wicks wetness away from the skin and how absorbent it is.  If your baby is prone to diaper rash, you may want to stay away from synthetics because they are warmer and may exacerbate skin irritations.

When it comes to waterproof covers, the only way around synthetic materials is to use wool, which is bulky and may be too warm depending the climate and time of year.

Pockets, and prefolds, and one-sizes, oh my!

No matter diapering solution you choose, you'll need more than one type of diaper and more than one size in order to go from birth to potty training.  You will also need a nighttime diapering plan once your little one starts sleeping longer.  Another thing to consider is how you want to approach cloth diapering for caretakers, especially if you're child will be in daycare or with a sitter while you work full-time.  You want to make sure your diapers are user friendly for full-time care takers to keep user errors and leaks to a minimum.

For newborns, prefolds or contours tend to fit the best, especially when paired with a well-fitted diaper cover.  The added benefit is that you'll be able to continue using them as your baby grows.  If you do prefer or need to use an AIO or fitted diaper for your newborn, keep in mind that your little one will outgrow the newborn size in 2 months or less.  Most newborn sizes accommodate up to around 10 pounds.  My son was over 12 pounds by his two-month check up.

For night diapers, be sure to choose something with plenty of room for extra soaker pads.  You want to start with a diaper that already has space because you don't want it to be tight after you add everything, and you want to make sure there's still room to grow.  Pocket diapers are usually best for this, but some AIO diapers can handle extra padding.  A handful of one-size diapers reserved for overnight use on a larger size setting can also be a good solution.

Soaker Pads, Liners, and Doublers

If you let a cloth diaper go too long without changing, leaks will be unavoidable no matter how well-fitted and absorbent your diapers are.  Most diapers will need a little something extra to hold the moisture.  You will definitely need more absorbency when your little one starts sleeping through the night no matter what you use.  Also, if you use petroleum based creams and ointments or any other treatments for baby's bottom that aren't made to be used with cloth diapers, the build up will make the diaper less absorbent or even repel moisture which will cause leakage.  Always use some sort of liner with these products.

You may need to add a liner to make diapers fit the newborn shape better.  My son's legs and bottom were too skinny at first to fill out his diapers, so we had a lot of leaks.  Adding extra padding helped.  When he plumped up, I was able to stop using them in some things.  In others, I had to keep using them because he started peeing a lot more.

Whether or not you choose soaker pads, liners, and/or doublers, will depend mainly on two things.  The first is what brand and style of diaper you are using.  Many diaper makers have a liner or soaker pad that is made to fit their specific diaper, and you will probably want to use these until you get a feel for what you can mix and match and how your preferences run.  The other thing that will influence your choice is the purpose of your extra lining.  If you are using it as a barrier for creams and ointments, a light liner will do.  If you are creating a nighttime anti-leak solution, you may need up to 3 additional inserts and might choose any combination of products in order to find what works best for you.

Snaps vs. Aplix

You may be wondering what kind of closures are best for your diapers and diaper covers.  The two main methods of self-fastening diapers and covers are snaps and Aplix.

Aplix closures are like velcro but softer.  Some people say that Applix doesn't seem durable, but I haven't noticed any problems with it so far.  It holds up well and hasn't lost its grip even though I have 2 diaper covers that I prefer and get almost daily use.  The one thing that does cause an issue is that my son is in a reach and grab phase.  He likes to pull the tabs on his diapers.  He's never actually undone his diaper yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did one day soon.  This is only an issue with certain closure styles.  I am able to leave him in just his diaper without problems in most styles.  When laundering, be careful about what you mix with Aplix fastened items.  If your diapers and covers don't have laundry tabs, you may find them sticking to other clothing items and causing snags.  This is also something to watch out for in bibs that close with velcro.

Snap closures are the most secure and most durable.  It is rare for baby to be able to open these by himself, but they lack the infinite adjust quality of Aplix.  Your baby might be best served by an in-between snap setting, and you will either have to wait until he grows into the next setting or let it be a little snug whereas you can make an exact fit every time with Aplix.

Diaper Fasteners

If you choose to go with prefolds and contour diapers, you will probably want to use some kind of fastener.  Diaper pins are still the most secure and durable options, but I can understand the aversion to trying to use a sharp pointy object on a wiggly baby.  

For those who don't want to use pins, there are Snappi fasteners.  They grip the fabric by rows of teeth on a plastic plate and stretch to fit.  They come in infant and toddler sizes.  The downside is that they don't grip certain fabrics like bamboo velour or birdseye because of the tight weave of the cloth.  Avoid Snappi knockoffs.  They don't have the same grip or durability.

Once you get used to cloth diapering, you may find that you don't even need a fastener anymore if you have a well-fitted cover.  I personally no longer use fasteners except on larger prefolds that require extra folding in front due to their size.  The fasteners keep them from shifting too much if my son is in an active mood.

Coming next...

Be sure to stay tuned for the next cloth diaper installment about cloth diaper care!

Miss the previous posts?  Find them and my growing collection of cloth diapering information by clicking the "Cloth Diapering" tab at the top of the page.

Summertime Fun with Baby in Tow

Summertime Fun with Baby in Tow

Building Your Diaper Stash

When getting ready to stock your diaper stash, there are many things to consider.  Are you diapering part time or full time?  What is your budget?  Will you be cloth diapering mostly in your home or with caregivers?  Do you travel often?  The answers to these questions will have an impact on the solution you ultimately choose.

How many diapers do I actually need?

This is probably everyone's first question when they make the decision to use cloth.  Diapers can be expensive, so you want to make sure you're making the most of your investment.

Most other sources claim that 8-12 diapers a day is sufficient.  I this is a gross underestimate.  As a point of reference, my son uses 20-25 diapers a day.  This is more than twice the figures most give for daily diaper usage.  That means if I want his diapers to last without having to launder every day or two, I have to have at least 60 in my diaper stash for full time cloth diapering.

I have a small budget.  Can I still cloth diaper full time?

Absolutely!  If you start slowly building your diaper stash from early in your pregnancy, you can have a sizeable collection by the time your little one is born, especially if you start baby registries at your favorite cloth diaper stores or ask for cloth diaper gift certificates.

If you choose to go with prefolds, you can cloth diaper full-time for about $100.  For a current price reference, I just built my ideal prefold starter kit (2 newborn Proraps covers, 3 small Proraps cover, 50 preemie size Indian prefolds, 1 infant Snappi fastener pack) for $105.50 at HeinyKing.com, and they offer free shipping for orders over $100.  My son is 19 pounds and still wears preemie size prefolds.  I have seen babies over 20 pounds who are still able to wear size small diaper covers, so don't worry about your infant outgrowing these too quickly.  The weights given are general guidelines and every baby is different, so you may be surprised at how far you are able to go with a particular size.

For those who decide to move into the one-size or AIO diapers, starting with prefolds will give you more time to build your stash and allow you to use cloth while they grow into the other diapers.

If your budget is larger, I would still recommend starting with prefolds or contours since it can be difficult to get the right fit for a newborn in the AIOs and pocket diapers.  Most one size diapers don't even start fitting until about 10 pounds.  The prefolds and contours are also good to have around for those days when you put off laundry because your little one kept you awake all night.

Other Considerations

Most covers do not come in a one size option, and some people choose not go with one size diapers since it can be hard to get the right fit.  Honestly, there is no true "one size fits all" diaper because they do not fit very small or very large babies and there differences in body shape/type that affect a diaper's fit even when your little one is in the optimal weight range to use one size diapers.  If this is where you find yourself and you're trying to decide what sizes should make up the bulk of your diaper stash, your baby will wear mostly smalls and mediums during the course of his or her diaper wearing days.  Another option to consider if you're not a fan of the one size diapers is the Thirsties Duo line of diapers and covers.  They have a nice selection of color options and are specially designed for maximum adjustability so that you only need two sizes from birth to potty training.  I made a diaper cover that works similarly to the Thirsties Duo, and it is the cover that has fit best ever since my son was a newborn.

I would stay away from fitted diapers regardless of your budget because they are like AIOs but without the built in waterproof cover but not significantly less expensive.  In fact, they can actually be more expensive than AIOs when you factor in the added cost of diaper covers and the fact that you can get such great bulk discounts on AIOs.  With the bulk pricing of an AIO set, you might be able to get them for less than some fitted diapers.  Spend the extra couple of dollars and get the AIO or save a lot with prefolds/contours and buy a good set of diaper pins or Snappis.  If you're handy with a needle and thread or own a sewing machine, you can even add your own Aplix closures to your contour diaper collection if it's the convenience you're after.

Next time...

I'll be covering how to choose your cloth diapers and decide which features and styles are best for you.    If you haven't already subscribed, be sure to do it now so you don't miss any of this series!

To read more about cloth diapers, go to the "Cloth Diapering" tab at the top of the page or click here.

Cloth Diapering 101

As promised, this is the first installment in my cloth diapering series.  In this post, I'll cover the basics of cloth diapering including the different styles of diapers and pros and cons of each one.  For quick reference, you'll find links to this series and future articles in the "Cloth Diapering" tab.

Prefolds

The most simple and basic way to approach cloth diapering is by using prefolds.  They come in different sizes from preemie to toddler, launder easily, and can be bleached as needed.  Obviously, you need a separate waterproof cover in order to use prefolds.  You may also want to use some type of fastener to keep it in position, especially if you have a looser fitting style of diaper cover.

As far as sizing, I have been using the preemie size (9.5"x13").  The suggest weight range is 4-10 pounds, but when I first started using them my son was over 10 pounds and I still had to fold the tops down so they wouldn't stick out of the diaper cover.  He is now 19 pounds and they still have a lot of use left in them.

There are two main kinds of prefolds--Chinese and Indian.  Both are 100%  cotton twill, highly absorbent, and easy to use.  Indian prefolds are softer, fluffier, slightly smaller, and tend to shrink a bit more on the first wash.  Chinese prefolds are more durable, handle the frequent laundering better, and are less bulky.  I personally use Indian prefolds because I like the softness.  I've used both kinds on different babies, however, and they both work well.  

There is a third type of prefold that is harder to find in bulk but that many like to use for traveling, camping, and outdoors activities because they are absorbent without the bulk of Chinese and Indian prefolds and dry quickly for those on the go.  This is the cotton birdseye flat weave prefold.  It is much larger in dimensions than Chinese or Indian prefolds.  Your mother or grandmother probably used used these.  Because most people don't use these as their primary diaper option, I will not discuss this type further in this article.

Before you begin using your prefolds, wash and dry them on high heat a few times to fully shrink and fluff them.

Pros

·      Inexpensive--Preemie size is $14/dozen at several suppliers

·      Can be bleached

·      Can be used as inserts in All-in-One or Pocket Diapers

·      May be used from birth as there are sizes to accommodate the smallest babies

·      No special laundering needs

Cons

·       Need for separate covers and diaper fasteners

·      Takes time and practice to figure out how to fold and fasten them

·      Hard to teach others how to use them

Contour Diapers

Contour diapers are the descendents of prefolds.  They are a basic coverless diaper that have been contoured to fit baby without having to fold them first.  They can have leg gussets or not.  The gusseted version will have a more tailored fit and hold in messes more effectively.  Some contour diapers come made with built in fasteners or in one size fits all options.

Pros

·      Easy to make your own

·      Can be bleached, depending on type of fabric

·      No special laundering instructions depending on fabric

·      May be used as inserts for AIO/pocket diapers

·      Fit  a wider weight range than prefolds

·      Bigger selection of fabrics than prefolds

·      More user friendly than prefolds

·      Sizes for newborns available

Cons

·      Much pricier than prefolds starting around $5/each when not on sale

·      Not usually as absorbent as prefolds and may need additional inserts 

 All-in-One/Pocket Diapers

All-in-One (AIO) diapers and pocket diapers have a built in waterproof shell and soaker pad for added absorbency where you need it.  They are very easy to use because they work like disposables.  If you need extra absorbency, you can lay an extra liner inside of it. of either style

AIOs come in a variety of colors, patterns and styles so you can coordinate outfits and baby accessories with your diapers as well as choose gender specific color schemes.

Unless you invest in a one size fits all style, you'll need a full set in every size as your baby grows.

Pros

·      Easy to use

·      No separate cover or fasteners needed

·      Many colors and styles to choose from

·      Easy to add extra absorbency without too a lot of extra bulk

·      Premie size prefolds are the perfect size to add absorbency to pocket diapers

Cons

·      Expensive--AIOs and pocket diapers are anywhere from $15-30 a piece

·      Must be replaced as your baby outgrows each size

·      Cannot be bleached as it will destroy the waterproof lining and/or ruin the colors

·      Must use care when laundering the velcro/applix fastened styles

·      May not fit newborns right away even in the smallest sizes

One Size Fits All

Many cloth diaper manufacturers offer a one-size fits all style of AIO/pocket diapers/diaper covers.  These are an attractive option because it removes the necessity to restock for each size as your baby grows and they still come with many color options.

There are several one-size kits  and multipacks on the market right now such as the Econobum diapering system which is a prefold and diaper cover solution or the package sets by Fuzzi Buns, bumGenius, and others.  The kits and multipack sets are the most economical solutions, but they will be bulky on babies at the smaller range of the spectrum.  This is especially true of the Econobum since larger prefolds are included in order to accommodate baby's growth.

I personally couldn't afford to invest upfront in the amount of one-size AIOs needed for full-time use, so I use them as my night time solution and stuff a prefold into it for extra absorbency.

Pros

·      Most economical way to cloth diaper with AIO/pocket diapers

·      Grows with baby

·      No separate fasteners or covers required for the one-size AIO/pocket diapers

·      Requires less diapers over time

Cons

·      Don't fit newborns

·      Can still be quite costly

·      Cannot be bleached

·      Must use care when laundering the velcro/applix fastened styles

·      Bulky on smaller babies, especially the Econobum

Up Next...

Stay tuned to my diaper series by subscribing to my feed.  Tomorrow we'll be covering how to stock your cloth diaper stash!