Oct
22
2009
22
2009
Cloth Diaper Fun & Giveaway
Filed under: Cloth Diapering
Cloth diapers are making a comeback…but these aren’t your mama’s cloth diapers. They’re easy to use, adorable, and they save you LOTS of money. Here’s the scoop.
This “modern” cloth diapering business has exploded into a HUGE industry in the last 5-7 years…and it can be quite overwhelming to dive into. But, the best way to begin is to JUST BEGIN! You can spend weeks and weeks researching if this pocket diaper is truly better than that fitted diaper…but in the end, it really comes down to your preferences and your baby’s body type. Each diaper will fit differently. If you just jump in and start, it’s much easier to determine what will work for you.
Instead of re-writing all of the information that is already out there regarding the logistics of cloth diapering, I’m going to send you to my friend Sarah. She is the cloth diapering guru. 
Why Use Cloth Diapers?
How to Cloth Diaper
Is Cloth Really Cheaper?
Now that you’ve read all of the basics and know the terminology…I’ll tell you my personal experience with cloth diapers. Before Bella was born, I bought pretty much one of every type of diaper so that I could see what I liked best. I found that for the newborn stage, I LOVED the Kissaluv Size 0 fitted diapers with a plastic or wool cover (we used Proraps). As she grew out of the Kissaluvs, we transitioned into pocket diapers. I also had a handful of hemp fitted dipes for nighttime diapering and I LOVED the Aristocrat Soaker. Awesome.
When it came to diapering Bella, I was pretty fanatical. It was at least a year and a half before a disposable even touched her skin I took them on airplanes across the country and everywhere else. While I certainly think it can be done (never using disposables)…I don’t want anyone to think that is the only way to do it. This time around we’re a little more laid back. We used cloth and elimination communication with Lucy until we went on the road in July, and then used mostly disposables while traveling. Now that we have a larger RV with a washer and dryer, I’m starting up with cloth again. I am hoping to get going with elimination communication again as well…I LOVED being able to “read” her that way, and it will cut back on how many diapers I have to wash!
I’m super excited to receive my order of pocket diapers from Sarah…I need a diaper that dries quickly (our washer/dryer in the RV is a combo unit and dries slowly) and a pocket diaper stuffed with a microfiber towel fits the bill perfectly. I will continue to use disposables when we are flying home and when we are out and about. When we are “en route”, we don’t always have water and electric hookups…which means to do laundry, I need to run the generator (loud!). When we settle in one place for a little while, it’s much easier to do cloth because we have full hookups.
My personal diapering system looks like this:
- 18 Pocket diapers with microfiber inserts (I get the inserts at Costco)
- Cloth wipes
- Wet Bag (one big one for the diaper pail and a small one for the diaper bag)
- Large stainless steel step can (for dirty dipes)
And that’s it! Pretty simple. I don’t use any sort of special wipe solution…I just run the cloth wipes under warm water. If I am out and about, I might use a spray bottle with a simple solution of apricot oil, Dr. Bronner’s and water…or just put some wet cloth wipes in a baggie. Or you could try Sarah’s wipe solution here.
As far as number of diapers, you CAN get by with just 12. In the newborn stage, that would last 1 day. I like to have at least 12-18 on hand so that I can go a little longer between washing.
When it comes to washing the diapers…it’s just as easy. I think this is the part that scares people away…but it’s really no different than doing another load of regular laundry. I just grab the wet bag out of the step can when it’s full and dump it all in the wash on hot water with natural detergent. If you want to avoid staining in the early poop stages, you can do a cold soak first or “sun” the diapers to get rid of staining.
For more information than you could ever possibly take into your brain in one sitting, check out the Mothering.com diaper forums here. Just be warned…you may feel VERY overwhelmed after reading there. I use it as a tool, but I don’t spend too much time there because it’s information overload!
Once you get into cloth diapering, you might also consider starting “family cloth” or cloth toilet paper. I blogged about it several years ago. We don’t do family cloth while we’re on the road, but I LOVE it when we’re in a sticks & bricks house.
Bottom line…cloth diapering is fun and easy. Yes, it might cost more up front..but you can use them with multiple children, it’s better for the earth, and for their little bums. If you’ve ever been curious about cloth diapers, now is a great time to check it out! If you’re still intimidated, you can always do cloth just at nighttime to try it.
And now for the fun part! The Giveaway!
Sarah, owner of Wallypop, is a friend of mine “in real life” and Lisa, owner of Full Circle Baby is one of my online friends. Both ladies have generously donated some cloth diapering goodies from their stores for me to giveaway. Be sure to visit both of their stores to see a variety of cool natural living stuff!
Here is the giveaway stash:
- 3 tie-dyed premium sized prefold diapers (see photo above…great for a burp cloth or dipes!)
- One dozen cloth wipes
- One medium fleece cover
- 2 Kissaluvs (size 0) or BumGenius Organic (winner’s choice!)
- Baby’s Bottom Butter Cream
If you are local in the San Antonio, Austin, or New Braunfels, TX area and you want to check cloth diapers out in person…you can go straight to Lisa. Same with Sarah for those of you Des Moines area locals. Sarah also has adorable custom t-shirt fitted dipes and other fun stuff at her Etsy store, Boulevard Designs. And she conducts cloth diapering classes…contact her for more info.
To enter yourself in the diaper giveaway…answer one of the following questions:
- If you are cloth diapering already or have in the past, what is your favorite brand or type of diaper?
- If you aren’t using cloth yet…tell me your favorite fall food (I know, not diaper related…but I like to eat!)
I will choose a winner at random October 30 at 12:00 MST. Have a great weekend!
Posted by Sara @ 8:32 pm | Leave a Comment
23
2009
Thanks for all of the information!!! We have not cloth diapered yet but plan on it. My favorite fall food is homemade sugar-free pumpkin butter…and of course the roasted pumpkin seeds!
23
2009
So far, I’ve used one-size pocket diapers with my little guy. We’re about to adopt TWINS and will need lots of diapers, so FREE diapers would be a welcome blessing! Thanks for the giveaway!
23
2009
I have cloth diapered with a few kids – currently way under my laundry, so I am giving myself the gift of disposable. I want to use cloth again with the new baby in March though. I loved Fuzzi Bunz at first but there was no way I could keep up with buying the next size up – just too much money! I ended up being happiest with prefolds and Proraps or Bummis covers.
23
2009
I love cloth diapering my first and look forward to the second (due in 3 weeks!). We are pretty old school here: prefolds and covers. Sarah makes the best nighttime covers: fleece.
I would love to win the stash. Thanks!
23
2009
I LOVE cloth diapering!
I decided to keep my stash simple this time around and am using prefolds, wrap covers and snappis!
My favorite type of diaper is…prefolds! I love that you can customize them for practically ANY size/shape baby and they are cheap.
Cheap is always good in my book
23
2009
Most of our dipes are Bum Genius pockets- pretty dependable for on the go, (just too bad the velcro doesn’t seem to hold up that well anymore.) Happy Heinies are good too.
Another one that we like because they are lighter (not bulky), dry quicker and so darn cute are Soft Bums- made by a local MN mom.
We also have diapers and wipes from Sarah/Wallypop.
23
2009
For the 0-6 months range I like infant prefolds in a prowrap or bummis super whisper wrap cover. Once they get wiggly I like Bumgenius pockets. Never got the overnight diaper down well so its disposibles so we all get some sleep. Great info. and giveaway! Thanks.
23
2009
we use motherease and love them!! but we would LOVE to try something new! thanks for the chance to try something else!!
23
2009
Our baby is still on the way (due in a few months), but I’m definitely looking forward to cloth diapering.
My favorite fall food is apples. Or anything made with them.
23
2009
oh i love my greenkids
because it is mostly cold here i need nappies that dry quick so my stash is made up of mostly pocket nappies
23
2009
I am a mother of 9 month old twins and as soon as we found out we were expecting a multiple blessing I choose cloth. Expecting my twins to be on the smaller side, went ahead and pre-ordered fuzzi bunz size x-small. They were okay, did have leakage issues due to the lack of stuffing. So when it was time to size up I went with Bumgenius pocket diapers and I LOVE them. the bright colors photograph well, and they dry very quickly. Also, they customer service is great.
23
2009
I used disposables for my first two, but I’d really like to try cloth for #3, who is on the way. My favorite fall food is pumpkin cake. YUM! Oct 30 is my b-day, so I’m hoping to win myself an awesome present!!!!
23
2009
My favorite fall food is acorn squash! It is so yummy with some honey or brown sugar!!!:)
23
2009
My favorite fall foods are soups!!
And pumpkin pie!
And Acorn Squash! lol! I love food too ;D
23
2009
oooh tie-die nappies! love love!
great post, i love cloth nappies too – so happy to have a ‘real’ laundry in my house here with a sink and all
my fave naps are the hemp one size i got from here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5023553
23
2009
We’re “paper pregnant” (waiting to adopt), but we have purchased G Diapers. Can’t wait to start using them!!
(And Fall food? Pecan Pie! Yum-o!)
23
2009
How exciting! We didn’t try out too many different types when we started with my first. We settled on using the prefolds with the proraps covers. I would love to try out some of the pocket diapers with our new little one.
23
2009
bumgenius for sure. My friend is from Australia and gave me some absolutely awesome diapers. Not sure on the name of them. My favorite fall food is tofu red curry from the Thai Lady.
23
2009
bumgenius for sure. My friend is from Australia and gave me some absolutely awesome diapers. Not sure on the name of them. My favorite fall food is tofu red curry from the Thai Lady.
23
2009
I’ve been using organic cotton “Bummis” (http://www.bummis.com/us/en/organic-prefolds.php) pre-folds with the classic yellow diaper pins for my now 4 month old daughter. As a cover I use a wool one from Sugar Peas (http://www.sugarpeas.com/)that works wonderfully. I’ve tried plastic diaper covers too but find that my daughter’s bum soon becomes rashy, so I’m sticking with the breathable wool ones. She has just about out-grown the diapers I have for her now so I am looking at trying some different kinds now that she is getting more mobile. It is hard to beat the price of the pre-folds though!
Thanks for the beautiful, inspiring post as always!
23
2009
Our family loves wallypop diapers, they work well and they are super cute!
23
2009
Never tried the cloth diaper thing…but always wanted to. Corn disposables are pretty awesome though in the realm of throw away.
As far as favorite fall food…butternut squash risotto.
24
2009
I’m using the Bum Genius 3.0 one-size pocket on my 16-month old. We were using those for both her and her 27-month-old sister but she decided to start using the potty
Those are definitely my favorite, but I’m really stoked to try the new Thirsties pocket diaper that’s coming out. For smaller babies (like the one we’re expecting in Dec) I’m going to use prefold and duo-wraps and some Thirsties fab fitteds. Love Thirsties and BGs!
24
2009
I have an 18 month old and use disposables…would love to try cloth even if we only have about a 1 yr or so left in diapers (she is my 4th child.
I love a good ol’ pot of chili and corn bread and apple crisp with natural vanilla ice cream or pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting.
24
2009
I would love to get some of these. I’m prego with twins, my first and want to do at least some cloth diapering. Oh, my fav fall foods…umm I think it would be a toss up between roasted butter nut squash in pasta with capers and cheese, and a homemade potato corn chowder. Yummm!
24
2009
I have a little one on the way hopefully arriving in 6 weeks. We are going to try using cloth diapers. Favorite fall food would have to be squash casserole.
24
2009
I loved using cloth!!! I liked little beetle wool covers with kissaluvs and bum genius pocket diapers. yay for cloth diapers!! everyone should at least TRY it… it’s easier than you’d think.
24
2009
I have only used prefolds and Thirstie wraps, and Haute Pocket traditionals. I really like both for different reasons. Prefolds are less expensive, Pockets are a little easier and more convenient. I am always open to try something new, especially if it is given to me.
24
2009
I cloth diapered my kids back in the 80’s with the old-time white rectangles with pins and plastic pants. They seemed fine to me, I didn’t know any different. My daughter is due in January and wants to use cloth diapers this time with her second baby. Would love to help support her in this by winning her some diapers! Favorite fall food is a pumpkin malt with nutmeg on top.
24
2009
Motherease and Haute pocket diapers! Love them!
24
2009
We love cloth diapers, and are due with baby #2 this spring! Can’t wait to use some tiny ones finally!
24
2009
Hey, LOVE your blog and all the great info. I’m really excited to do cloth diapers when we have our next one! My fave fall food has to be all the yummy local apples and all that comes with them, pies, crisp, applesauce, yum!
24
2009
My favorite diaper brands were Bamboozle fitteds with Wonder Wraps. They were the perfect overnight combination, though I used second-hand prefolds most of the time. The Wonder Wraps got my son from about 4 months all the way through potty training and are still in perfect shape!
24
2009
OH MY GOODNESS!!!
I SO need to win this – I have four children and have considered cloth diapers for over five years now but am REALLY overwhlemed with the choices out there. I guess I have let that fear paralyze me and I haven’t taken that leap. Two children are out of diapers and I still have two left in diapers. Thank you for all the information as I still have a chance to take the plunge armed with the resources you have left on your blog. THANKS for writing on this subject… btw, my fave fall food is caramel apples!
24
2009
Perfect timing Sara! I’m due in 5 weeks. I just ordered a bunch of kissaluvs prefolds and one size blueberry diaper covers. I really hope it works well. With dd I used good old Chinese prefolds with wool covers, and although it was bulky, it did the job.
24
2009
I am currently 19 weeks pregnant and considering cloth diapering.
My favorite fall food is awesome breads. I love the process of mixing them, kneading them, smelling them and then baking them.
Elizabeth
24
2009
I would love to win these! I’m 26 weeks pregnant with our first and definitely want to give cloth diapering a try.
My favorite fall snack right now is pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! We are gluten and dairy free and the recipe on this page is awesome:
http://www.geocities.com/bensmum_99/recipes.html
24
2009
We cloth diaper our 4 month old using unbleached prefolds and thirsties duo covers. Actually we are using a green diaper service until mid Dec, when the subscription we have will run out: We asked for used baby items or $$ toward the diaper service for our baby shower gifts, since my hubbie and I are in grad school and we don’t have a washer/dryer. We are hoping to continue cloth diapering on our own but haven’t figured out how we are going to do it.
I know i don’t have to, but two fave fall foods: pumpkin lasagna with a goat cheese and cashew ricotta filling, and rolls stuffed with sautéed swiss chard and my fake feta filling- the baby hasn’t been able to tolerate cow’s milk yet, so i’ve been cooking without it and still eating great.
24
2009
We have used DryBees Hybrid on my 20 month old since he was six months old. We now have a 2 month old little girl and are searchig for a good one size diaper for her that can also be used on our 20 month old.
24
2009
I love Thirsties diaper covers and Green Mountain Diapers Prefolds. Thirsties fit our chunky boy and the size Medium still fit him as he slims out. They come in a wonderful rainbow of solid colors are only 13 bucks a pop! Can’t beat that
24
2009
My favorite fall food is pumpkin bread. I use the recipe here but cut 1/3 of the sugar out and use whole wheat pastry flour. still yummy!
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Downeast-Maine-Pumpkin-Bread/Detail.aspx
I am expecting baby number 3 and would love to give cloth a try!
24
2009
I love Goodmama’s. We primarily use GroBabies but I steering toward prefolds and wool knitted pants…they are SO cute!!!
24
2009
Thanks for all the great information! It is nice to have it all in one place. I haven’t cloth diapered, but am thinking about trying it with our second son who is due in Dec.
My favorite fall food is a good bowl of chili, not too spicy but well seasoned.
24
2009
Oh this is so exciting… I’m four months pregnacious with our first, so I’m trying to find out as much about cloth diapering & which ones to use as possible!
My fave fall food is… pumpkin & lentil soup, with loads of cumin and a splash of chilli
24
2009
Kissaluvs were my fave in the newborn stage, but now we are just using generic prefolds with bummis and imse vimse covers. The imse vimses are really cute!
24
2009
I use old-fashioned prefolds with Gerber rubber pants right now. I am unfortunately stuck in a time-warp with my cloth diapering. All of the modern kinds are too expensive for us right now, and since I have the other supplies I just use them.
I would love some newer styles to try.
24
2009
So far I’m only diapering my almost 4 month old son, but I’m trying to get one of my very good friends to do so also (esp. if I end up baby sitting a lot). Our favorites are prefolds with Thirsties Duo wraps or Kiwipie fitteds.
24
2009
I love my Fuzzi Bunz but our budget makes us mostly a prefold and Bummis family.
24
2009
I am due in about 3 weeks and have been interested in cloth diapering, but honestly, I’ve been a bit afraid!! So, I’ve never used cloth diapers, but favorite fall food??? Hmmm, probably pumpkin breads and buttercup squash!!
24
2009
I love cloth diapers! We mostly use Indian prefolds with proraps or soakers, but I love the few Fuzzy Bunz we have.
We could really use some new diapers! Thanks for a chance at this generous giveaway!