Catching Up

I came to this blog this week to reference something that I wrote a while ago, and only then did I realize how long it had been since I last posted here.  I was really excited about this blog when I started, and have simply run out of time to write.  There is lots that I want to post here, so I am hoping to write a little bit every week or two.

I know that there are several girls following here that started cloth diapering after we did.  Several months ago I wrote two posts (found here and here) about our cloth diapering experience until that point.  For those with inquiring minds, here is a little update on our fluff.  :-)

I wrote in March that we had found a wash routine that worked for us.  As it turns out, I was wrong, wrong, wrong about that.  Shortly after I posted in March, we started having significant stink issues with our inserts.  The problem was so persistent that I spent hours stripping inserts every 3-4 weeks for several months.  It became so ridiculous and frustrating that I almost threw the towel in completely on cloth diapering.

After doing a ton of reading on some CD forums and talking to lots of other CD mothers, I decided to ditch the Rockin Green detergent and try something else.  I switched to Thirsties pre-wash and super wash solutions, and had better luck.  Despite the better results, I kept looking for something to replace the Thirsties stuff because it is even more expensive than the Rockin Green, and I desperately wanted to find something a little cheaper.  I finally decided to try Soap Nuts, and I am SO glad that I did.  Before putting the soap nuts into use, I spent a ridiculous amount of time stripping inserts again so I could start with a clean slate.  That was Independence Day weekend...and I haven't had to strip inserts since then!!!  That was almost 4 months ago, which makes life good and really makes me a super happy girl!!!

Overall, I have learned quite a bit about the washing process.  The most important thing that I've learned is that it's all about trial, error and patience.  Just as important is the understanding that what works for 200 other moms might not work for the next 50.  I have discovered, specific to our wash routine that more water is not always better, contrary to what I had read over and over.  I wash every 2-3 days, so I don't come close to filling the washer with diapers.  I really think that my loads and water level were so disproportionate that I completely lost all friction between diaper inserts during the agitation phase of the wash; without stuff rubbing together, it doesn't get nearly as clean.  As a result, I have stopped filling my washer tub completely and I only fill it to the 1/2 mark for my normal diaper loads.

I have learned more than I ever wanted to know about how hard and soft water affects the laundry process, especially when it comes to getting detergent and dirt residue out of what you are washing.  Along with this, I have learned that most of the water in the U.S. is on the harder side of the bell curve.  (If you want to know more about this, there is a TON of information to read...just google it!)

I read over and over again that hotter is better when it comes to washing diapers, yet so many people use cold water pre-wash rinse cycles.  After reading about the hard and soft water, and finding that hot water helps to flush 'dirt' and 'residue' from clothing, I decided to do a hot pre-wash rinse cycle instead of cold.  Based on our results, I am willing to pay a little more to use hot and warm water instead of the cold. 

I have learned that more suds doesn't mean cleaner.  Seriously.  And...I have learned that I (the tree hugger) will probably never own a front loading washer.  Ever. 
 
I cannot guarantee that it will work for anyone else, but our wash routine has been as follows for almost 4 months:

• Hot pre-wash rinse cycle using about 1/3 cup of home-made soap nuts liquid.
• Hot wash cycle with warm rinse (I have to manually change the temp dial from hot wash/cold rinse to warm wash/warm rinse once the washer fills) using about 2/3 cup of home-made soap nuts liquid and 1/2 scoop of OxiClean.
• Extra rinse cycle after the wash cycle - warm water (I can set the extra rinse to run automatically after the wash cycle)
• A second extra rinse cycle using warm water.  
• I still dry everything on the very cool drying rack that I got at the beginning of the summer, and I try to get stuff outside to dry as much as possible.  The plan for winter is to dry stuff next to the wood stove, then put it all outside to air out a little bit and catch a little bit of sun light here and there.  

In terms of diapers, we still stand by our pocket diapers.  Although we have multiple brands, our mainstays have turned out to be RumpaRooz, Fuzzibunz and Applecheeks.  Since writing a mini-review of everything we were using a few months ago, I have the following to add...

• Our Bum Genius has been in use for several months fewer than our Thirsties diapers, but the velcro on the Bum Genius seems to hold up much better than the Thirsties (I ordered the BG in velcro by mistake - I definitely prefer snaps!)   We only use the BG during the day, but I like it.  Next time they run a really good sale, I might get a couple more, but with snaps.  **Spring 2012 update - the velcro on the BG is just as lousy as it is on other brands.  Totally prefer snaps.
• Thirsties hemp/cotton inserts are still our go-to 'doubler' inserts.  They are definitely slow to dry, but they are really absorbent for such a thin insert.  We have started adding a small Thirsties insert to our RaR at night (3 inserts total), since Jenna started consistently peeing out of them when she started sleeping 12-14 hours. 
• I would really like to try some Kawaii diapers (other than our overnight diaper), but they are always out of stock on the sites that I shop on. 
• KangaKare seems to be a decent company to work with if you have a problem.  I recently found that one of my RumpaRooz diapers was delaminating.  After contacting them, I found that the diaper was a second quality diaper that had somehow made it into one of my orders a year ago.  I explained to them that I had never knowingly purchased a second quality diaper, and they replaced it for me.  
• Sadly, I'm starting to think that KangaKare might use questionable elastic.  Our diapers have all been in use for less than one year, and all are evenly used in our rotation.  The gusset elastic and leg elastic are completely shot in one of our RaR; this caused me to check all of our RaR and come to the conclusion that the elastic in most of our RaR is on its way out.  None of the other brands we use are demonstrating any elastic issues.  So...I haven't decided what I am going to do with this, especially since they replaced the above diaper (after lengthy conversation) even though they didn't have to.  When they replaced that diaper, they wanted to know about my wash routine; they did promptly point out that I have never used one of their 'approved' detergents, and that using other detergents has caused problems with their diapers.  Despite the fact that soap nuts are as natural as it gets, I suspect that they would quickly argue that the elastic has been negatively affected by not using their 'approved' detergents.  

If you are also a relative newbie to CDing, how are you doing so far???

Who Knew?

I read an interesting blog post today and thought that I would pass it along for anyone interested in reading.  It's about proper 'processing' and discarding of disposable diapers.  As it turns out, a majority of U.S. parents are doing it wrong.  I never thought about it before, but it does make sense.  (When we used gDiapers, the instructions said that urine-only inserts could be composted, but they stressed over and over and over that poopy diapers must not be composted.)  Perhaps it wouldn't have really caught my eye or my interest if I didn't live 4 miles from a large landfill...  One of the comments at the bottom of that post linked to another site with similar information.  Food for thought, especially in terms of soil and water contamination wherever your waste ends up...

My Fluff Experience So Far...Part 2

So, I love my fluff.  No question about it. I am kind of saddened to know that there are so many people out there who are turned off to cloth diapering by myths and misconceptions.  I do not have any real life family or friends who cloth diaper, with the exception of the couples who attended our Brad.ley birthing class and the class instructor.  I show off Jenna's fluff any chance I get to do so without being pushy about it.  Generally, all I have to do is change her diaper in front of someone with half a brain and they want to know more about it.

Most people ask me why we decided to cloth diaper, and most of the ask me how in the world we ever found these diapers.  My answers are quite simple.  * We decided to do cloth diapering because we feel that it is better for baby; it eliminates the 24/7 contact with chemicals that are found in disposable diapers.  * We decided to do cloth diapering because it is better for the environment.  We use disposable diapers during the first couple of months with Jenna; we had to empty the trash can in her room at least twice a week.  Since switching to cloth diapers, we empty the same can not more than once a month.  This is a huge deal for me since we live about 4 miles from the landfill where all of our trash ends up.  I have watched this landfill grow and grow and grow...and grow since I was a little girl.  I think about the amount of non-biodegradable trash we sent out in just the first two months of Jenna's life, and then start picturing the amount of trash we would be responsible for during the entire time that she would be in disposables, and it makes my stomach turn a little bit.  There is a part of me that is absolutely proud to say that I am doing my part to slow the growth of the landfill.  * We decided to do cloth diapering because of the long term cost benefit.  Granted, the savings is different for every family based on location, preferred brand of disposable diaper, use of disposable diaper coupons, number of diapers used daily/weekly/monthly, the preferred method/brand of cloth diapering, whether cloth diapers are purchased at full retail price or on sale/with a discount...but all things considered, the savings can be tremendous, especially if cloth diapering more than one child. 

I have heard so many arguments against cloth diapering.  * Moisture breeds diaper rash.  Fast.     * How much do/did these diapers cost?  Wow.  That's expensive.    * That's too much effort for me.  I'd never have the time to do that.    * I couldn't deal with those dirty diapers.  I'd rather toss the really messy diapers in the trash and be done with it.    * I wouldn't be able to send those to day care.    *It's not really any cheaper when you consider the cost of washing and drying.  And remember, time is money. 

The only one of these arguments that might possibly hold water is the day care argument; but I am told that if you approach day care providers in a calm, rational method and show them how easy pockets/AIOs can be, that they are more than happy to put them on, take them off and throw them in a wet bag for you to deal with later.  As far as the time requirements, I have been so pleasantly surprised by how little time and effort is really wrapped up in cloth diapering, at least for us.  When the diapers come off, we pull the inserts out and just lay them inside the diaper;  if the diaper is poopy, we shake/spray the poop into the toilet after the inserts are pulled.  The diaper and inserts go into a wet bag in the bathroom; the whole process takes 1-3 minutes at most.  We wash every 3-4 days, whenever we fill 2 Rum.paR.ooz wet bags.  Some people do a cold water pre-wash soak; we do a hot water pre-wash without detergent.  I have found, through trial and error, that this works better for us.  After the 'pre-wash', we wash again on hot water with Rock.in Gr.een detergent; we rinse with cold water and do the extra rinse with cold water.  I don't put diaper stuff in the dryer; I use a drying rack that holds 4 days worth of diapers and let the stuff air dry.  Generally most stuff dries overnight, especially if I put it in front of the wood stove.  Hanging stuff on the rack and then stuffing inserts back into diapers take a total of about 45 minutes at most (usually about 20 minutes to hang stuff up and 20-25 to stuff 3-4 days worth of pocket diapers).  It's not bad at all. 

So, I know that there are a couple ladies out there that have been waiting for me to finish this post, so I will get to the good stuff.  Here is how the love for my diapers breaks down...


Unbleached Indian cotton prefolds
What I like...ease of use when used as an insert, pretty quick drying, soft.

What I don't like... They hold moisture against Jenna's skin.  A fleece liner certainly solves that problem, but that is an extra step...and something else to explain and justify to the grandparents.

I don't use these as prefolds, but instead we use them as inserts in g-pants.    Because of  the moisture issue, we use the prefold/G-pants method sparingly...primarily just when the grandparents are babysitting. 


Hemp prefolds
What I like... Very absorbent, easy to use as an insert, quick drying for hemp

What I don't like... rougher than cotton prefolds, especially when air dried.  Hold moisture against skin.

We don't use these as prefolds, either, and because they are not at all soft, even when dried in the dryer, I don't use them in the g-pants.  Right now, we use them only as inserts or doublers.



Thirsties Duo Diaper

What I like about it....  It has an inner gusset system, of sorts, which is wonderful for containment of all things not pee.  The velcro makes it easy for the grandparents to put the diaper on without feeling overwhelmed by snaps.  The inserts can be removed from the front or the back of the diaper, and there is room to add additional inserts.  With the exception of when baby first moves from size 1 to size 2, it's a relatively trim fit...especially compared to some other diapers. 

What I don't like about it...  It's a two-size system, rather than a one-size system, so it's more of an expenditure if you plan to use it for the duration of CDing your child.  I'm not such a huge fan of the velcro, but so far we haven't had any issues with the velcro on these diapers.  The microfiber insert is a little wimpy, but the hemp insert more than makes up for it. 

The first time I used this diaper on Jenna, it leaked pee all over.  Not a good way to start our relationship.  But I was bound and determined to try each of my new diapers several times before I made a concrete decision about whether or I liked them.  So we tried the Duo a few more times, and I am glad that I did.  At this point, this is a daytime diaper for us.  That's not to say that it would not hold up overnight; we simply haven't used it overnight.  We reserve it for daytime because of the trimmer fit, and because the grandparents can handle it without major issues when they are here babysitting.  Aside from the leaking during our first use, there have been no containment issues with the Duo.  I would definitely recommend this diaper!


Fuzzi Bunz One-Size pocket diaper

What I like about it...  I like that it is adjustable in size and will grow with my babes.  It comes with replacement elastic, which I am sure we will need to use at some point.  We have had no problems with leaks.  The fit is pretty good around Jenna's chubby legs, as well as her waist.  Snaps.  :-)

What I don't like about it...  The elastic can be difficult to adjust - I should note that it is far more difficult to adjust on my original diaper than it is on the second one.  It's a little lacking in insert space compared to the FB perfect size diapers...it just feels like a crowded diaper to me sometimes.  

I bought this diaper because of the overwhelmingly good reviews that I read.  I received a second one as a freebie with a later diaper order.   I replaced one of the microfiber inserts with a hemp insert about a month after we started using cloth (I did this with several diapers).  This boosted the absorbency a bit.  Overall, it's not my favorite, but this is a good diaper.  We use it only during the day.  I wouldn't tell anyone to not buy it.


Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size pocket diaper
What I like...  Snaps.  The inserts are bigger than the FB one size diaper - substantially bigger.  Good fit around the waist and Jenna's chubby little legs.

What I don't like...  Nothing, really, except that the mediums I have will not fit Jenna's younger sibling(s) in the early days, and I'm not sure I want to spend the money on the smalls.

I have two of these - size medium.  I bought them on super sale for less than $10 each, otherwise I probably wouldn't have purchased them.  I am so glad that I did.  I really like this diaper.  I like it better than the one size.  The medium has plenty of room for expansion, and I don't think that Jenna will outgrow it anytime soon.  I read somewhere that the medium will cover the middle 2/3 of cloth diapering for most kiddos (in terms of size/fit), so I am hoping that that holds true.  I use the large FB microfiber insert and a large Thirsties hemp insert with these diapers and they are quite absorbent this way.  This is our backup for overnight.  I would definitely recommend the perfect fit diaper for those who can afford them (as opposed to the one-size)!

**Spring 2012 update... we are 18 months into cloth diapering with Jenna and the Medium perfect size are still going strong on her little booty with no signs of outgrowing them any time soon.  Love, love, love these diapers.  


Rump-a-Rooz one size pocket diaper
What I like...  I cannot say enough about the inner gussets on this diaper.  Seriously.  Cannot say enough.  No leaks of any kind so far.  Sadly enough, right now, we use this diaper as our overnight...and Jenna does not usually poop at night.  Since we just recently started solids, we are still figuring out her poop, but I think we will probably end up using these during the day, as well as at night.  This diaper is super absorbent, even more so with the hemp inserts.  We have snaps on all of our RaR, and I like them.  Inner fleece is super soft. 

What I don't like...  The rise on this diaper seems to fall a little short.  I kind of expect that Jenna will outgrow these diapers before I want her to.  They are a little pricey.  The hemp stinks in the morning when I take the diapers off of Jenna.  I am not sure if it's because she has them on all night...we haven't tried them during the day, and we haven't really used any other hemp with any regularity at night, so this might not have anything to do with RaR brand. 

I have 7 of these.  I love them.  I bought 2 sets of hemp inserts and pair them with the microfiber (so I have 4 diapers with half hemp/half microfiber insert).  The gussets are amazing.  The fleece on the inside of the diaper is super soft.  Great diaper that I would totally recommend unless your little one starts life on the right-hand size of the bell curve with respect to length/height. 

** Spring 2012 update...  We have discovered that KangaKare might use an inferior quality elastic in their diapers.  I have had to replace elastic in four diapers over the last 5 months, and have a few more lined up for replacement.  As anticipated, Jenna will likely grow out of these sooner than other brands.  She is 20 months and still relatively tiny - only about 23 pounds and 30-31 inches, and the RaR are fully open and starting to look just a week bit short on the rise.  Otherwise, we still use these heavily overnight.

AppleCheeks envelope/pocket diaper
What I like... The name - I think it's just cute.  It's a trim fitting diaper, due in part to the fact that it's a two-size system (as opposed to one-size).  The AppleCheeks inserts are absorbent; I love hemp and bamboo inserts.  Snaps; I love snaps!  Good fit around Jenna's legs.

What I don't like...  I don't like that I have to buy two sizes, but truthfully, I see on a daily basis with most brands in our stash, the sized diapers and two-size systems fit a little better than the one-size diapers.  The size-one diaper did not get Jenna even close to the end of the advertised size range; I had to buy a set of waist extenders.  If you buy the 'cover', the insert and a booster insert, it's an expensive system...about $27 if you don't get it on sale.  (If you have prefold diapers lying around, you can easily use a prefold folded around a random insert.  We have done this with a hemp prefold and a Thirsties hemp insert and it works just as well as the Applecheeks insert system. 

I have two of the size-one covers and one size-two cover, as well as two inserts and three booster inserts.  I use a hemp prefold with a booster insert in the size-two cover, and it works just as well as their 2 and 3 layer inserts.  The waist extenders work really well, but I'm just a little peeved that I had to spend $7 to get a set of extenders to get her through to the of the size range of a $27 diaper.  Otherwise, we have had no fit issues.  No leaks.  I would recommend this diaper if cost is not an issue for you.



Doopsy SD one-size pocket diaper
What I like...  Snaps.  The hemp/bamboo inserts are quite absorbent.  Good rise for tall babies. 

What I don't like...  This diaper did not fit Jenna well at all.  It came with a microfiber insert in addition to the hemp/bamboo, but I cannot use the microfiber because the bulk that it adds kills the fit of the diaper around Jenna's legs. 

There is a new fit of Doopsy that recently hit the market.  I believe that what I have is now being marketed as the 'trim fit', which could be our problem.  Jenna is not a trim fit kind of girl.  Overall, this diaper just doesn't work the greatest for us.  We still use it, but without the microfiber; using it without the microfiber makes it a daytime only diaper.  I would be interested in trying the newer size/cut/fit if I didn't have to pay for it, or if I could trade in the 3 that I have now, but based on my own experiences so far, I would not recommend this diaper for a kiddo shaped like Jenna.  

** Spring 2012 update - Sold two of our Doopsies.  The one that we kept fits much better now, but we don't have much room left for expansion around her waist.  (I think only one set of snaps to go to expand the girth).  Planning to size this diaper back down and try it (again) as a newborn diaper when her little sister arrives. 


Katydid one-size pocket diaper
What I like...  Snaps, adjustable inserts

What I don't like... The large insert is size-adjustable, but the two inserts don't fit together that well; the overlap just seems like it would be a little uncomfortable for baby to lay on.  When Jenna was about 3 months, this diaper didn't fit her very well, no matter how we adjusted it.  After another month or so passed, the fit was a lot better; not really sure what the problem was. 

The large insert with this diaper is adjustable like the RaR large insert is, but I just don't like how it fits together with the little insert.  Overall, this diaper is okay.  I can't really find anything specific that I don't like about it at this point, but there's not a lot that I love about it.  We haven't had any leaks or blowouts when wearing this diaper, and we use it only during the day.  I wouldn't recommend against it, but it's not my favorite, so I won't buy any more.  Katydid is now marketed as Oh Katy after some changes.  I wouldn't mind trying one of the Oh Katy diapers if I could win one in a giveaway or get one thrown in on a trade.

** Spring 2012 update - This diaper has been great for us over the last six months, and I don't dislike it anymore.  I guess it was just not compatible with her chunky little body when she was younger.  We use this as a daytime diaper and have no complaints at this point. 

Kawaii Overnight one-size pocket diaper
What I like... Nice big, thick, super absorbent inserts.  Snaps.  Good fit around Jenna's chunky legs, as well as her waist.  Room for a hemp insert, if needed, even with the two microfiber inserts.   No leaks yet!  Super soft fleece inner.  Room for growth.  Affordable pricing, especially when compared to some of the other diapers on my list. 

What I don't like... Not much.  I wish this diaper had inner gussets.  Bulky, but it's intended to be an overnight diaper, so bulk is okay.

I really like this diaper.  It is our only non-RaR overnight diaper, and at some point, I will probably buy more.  The two microfiber inserts that come with it are generally enough for us to get through the overnight hours; this is one of the only diapers that comes with two microfiber inserts that I have have left alone - I usually replace one of them with hemp, but I have not done that with this diaper.  There is plenty of room to add a third insert without changing the fit, so if we ever need extra absorbency, I can throw in a thin hemp insert.  If we have to start using our RaR during the day to take advantage of the inner gusset system, we may end up buying more of these to take the place of the RaR during the over night hours.  They do make it with velcro, but I just like snaps better.  I would like to try some of the regular Kawaii diapers, too.  I would definitely recommend this diaper to anyone looking for a good overnight pocket diaper. 

** Spring 2012 update - still really like this diaper for overnights.  Have started using both microfiber inserts and boosting with a third insert (you guessed it - the Thirsties hemp) over the last few months to prevent wet pajamas.


Go Green Pocket Diapers - The Champ
What I like...  Snaps; they are different colors, so no counting snaps when putting the diaper on (as long as you can remember what color snap you are on!),  room for growth, inserts can be removed from front or back of the diaper.  Good fit around Jenna's legs and waist. Cheaper than other 'national' brands. 


What I don't like... Inner surface is micro suede instead of fleece; I just like fleece better.  When the rise is sized down, the inserts don't fit terribly neatly under the micro suede, they just kind of stick out the end. 

I have two of these.  They are marketed to have an inner gusset system, but I find that it's not a beefy enough system to compete with RaR, nor does it seem to work as well as the Thirsties brand's little gusset system.  Each Champ diaper comes with two microfiber inserts that are deceivingly absorbent.  Each insert has a snap on one end to attach it to the inside of the diaper.  I think that this is supposed to help with positioning of the insert, but the two inserts don't attach to each other; I personally think it's a little odd to anchor one and not the other, but that's just me.  Overall, this diaper is pretty good, but I honestly wouldn't miss it if it disappeared from my stash and was replaced with a FB Perfect Size.  For the price, I can't complain.   



Thirsties hemp inserts
What I like... good absorbency, thin - minimal bulk

What I don't like... they are the slowest drying items in my stash. BUT...they are made to be absorbent and hold moisture, so it should be expected that they will take a little longer to dry. 

I have two sets of size small and two sets of size large.  I use them frequently.  I use them in some diapers that come with two microfiber inserts; I take out one of the microfiber and replace with the hemp.  They are thin enough to use as a third insert in most pocket diapers.  I use them inside of the prefolds that we use with the g-pants for some extra absorbency and to help keep the prefold from squishing up between Jenna's legs.  Despite the long drying time, I love these inserts, and I would definitely recommend them!!



Sigma diaper sprayer
We just started using the sprayer a couple weeks ago, so I don't really have much to say about it, other than it's doing a good job spraying off the poo that needs to be sprayed off at this point.  Hopefully it holds up.  Time will tell.  

When I was investigating what type of diapers to buy, I read lots of reviews on bum.Gen.ius, but then decided on a bunch of others instead.  BG is currently running a good sale, so I bought one to try it out.  It came in today's mail, so I'll let you all know in a few weeks what I think of it.    **Update on the BG 4.0 - April 20, 2011**  I meant to order it in snap closure, but accidentally ordered it in aplix.  I prefer the snaps simply because every experience I have had with velcro and aplix generally ends with tons of my hair, cat hair, dog hair and fuzz all entangled in the hook side of the aplix.  This time, the aplix kind of worked out, though.  We just added it to the rotation with the Thirsties and gPants that the grandparents are using when they babysit.  Overall, I am pleased with this diaper.  After seeing how relatively thin the inserts were (especially compared to some others), I was skeptical about how absorbent they would really be...but no problems so far.  I'm not entirely sure how many more I will buy...they frequently run 'buy 5 get 1 free' sales, but other than that, they restrict sales and use of retailer coupons.  That's kind of a turn off for me...it just smells like greed.

** Spring 2012 update - we now own 7 bumGenius diapers.  Turns out that the inserts are deceptively deceiving and this makes a great nap time diaper (or great for trips to the store, etc).  Despite my initial resistance to them, I would totally recommend them.   Sadly, I don't think that they will size down small enough to fit Jenna's little sister until she's 2 or 3 months old.

A Few More Giveaways

I came across these giveaways today as I was perusing a my blog roll....

Kissaluvs Pail Liner and Diaper Potion Lotion on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer

AMP Diaper giveaway on Diary of a Devil Dog Wife

Knickernappies diaper giveaway on Diary of a Devil Dog Wife

Bummas wipes on Feelin' Kinda Crunchy

Oh Katy pocket diaper on Susan Heim on Parenting

Wool Dryer Balls on Life as a Global Mom (from the Willow Store)

Tiny Tush one-size pocket diaper on Life as a Global Mom

Change-Diapers.com is giving away a $120 cloth diaper package giveaway to celebrate 1000 followers. 

And if you haven't checked out Cloth Diaper Addiction's 2000-1000 giveaway on FB, head over and do so!!!

My Fluff Experience So Far...

We have been using cloth diapers for just over 3 months now, making the change when Jenna was about 2 months old.  Although 3 months is certainly not a terribly long period of time, I am definitely getting into a groove with our diapering...and loving it!  I know that there are some expectant mamas reading here that are considering cloth, so I wanted to post a synopsis of our experience so far. 

When I was pregnant with Gracie, DH and I had several conversations about cloth diapers, and had decided that we would start with disposables until we got settled in, then switch to cloth after a few months.  We didn't purchase any diapering supplies before she was born.  When we were pregnant with Jenna, we had the same conversations and came to the same conclusion about when we would start.  But I never really figured out what it was that I needed or wanted to buy.  In fact, it was all kind of confusing to me and I had no idea which direction to go.  No one that I come into face to face contact with on a daily basis uses cloth diapers, so I couldn't sit down and just chat with anyone about it.  I emailed a few friends and got a few suggestions, and I also just looked around at some of the online diaper shops and picked a direction.  There are lots of tutorials out there, but I really wish I had come across this three part tutorial on cloth diapering before Jenna was born...  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

I had eyed up gDiapers when I was pregnant with Gracie, and had actually gotten the size small started kit as a shower gift.  We figured that we would start with those as a segway between disposables and cloth, and while we were using the gDiapers we (well, I) would work on getting the cloth stuff ordered.  The gDiapers were okay.  It took a few days to get the hang of opening the inserts to get them cleanly into the toilet, and I didn't like that the inserts basically have the a similar chemical composition as the guts of a regular disposable.  The liners frequently got messy with poo, because the insert didn't hold its shape well in the liner - it tended to bunch up between Jenna's legs.  No big thing - the liners are washable, so we just tossed them into the laundry when they were really messy.  When we switched to the medium gPants, I ordered a case of the med/large flushable inserts, and I think we have used just a handful of them.  I expect that most of them will be left over for the next baby, or perhaps to sell at some point.  Someone had mentioned to me that they used the gPants with prefold diapers stuffed into the liner in place of the flushable insert.  I was intrigued by that, and did a little more 'research' into this.  I decided to buy a dozen prefolds and try this out.  It works okay.

The pros to using prefolds in the g-diapers:

• easy for the grandparents (this is actually their preferred method, since it's less confusing to them than the diapers with snaps).
• washing the entire system is not necessary unless the poo escapes from the prefold
• pretty cost effective - prefolds are cheap in comparison to pockets or AIOs

The cons to using prefolds in the g-diapers:

• poo escapes from the prefold and makes it to the liner relatively frequently.  No big thing, just toss the liner (and the pants, if necessary) into the washer with the rest of the dipes.
• the prefolds tend to bunch up between Jenna's leg the same way the flushable inserts did, which aids in the escape of the poo as noted above.  I have found that putting a small hemp or microfiber insert inside the prefold helps to maintain its shape, and obviously, it also helps with absorbency. 
• unless we use a fleece liner, the prefold holds moisture against the skin. 
• I don't care for velcro, but so far it's holding up with no issues.  

After reading a ton of information about various types of diapers, I narrowed it down to pocket diapers or all-in-ones.  I narrowed it down to these options primarily because I wanted a diaper that was lined with microfleece or microsuede to pull moisture away from baby's skin without having to add liners on top of prefolds or other diapers.  After narrowing it down to pocket diapers and all-in-one diapers, I debated and debated and finally decided on pocket diapers.  I picked pockets because I felt that there were far more options in pocket diapers (more brands and designs to choose from), I liked having the option to adjust the absorbency level by adding or removing inserts, and I liked that the inserts were removed for washing and drying (in my mind, it just seems like the inserts would come cleaner if they could be removed from the diaper structure for washing).  Before purchasing any of our cloth stash, one friend suggested that I investigate some of the cloth diaper 'trial' programs that are out there before ordering.  I did not, but really wish I had.  Here is a list of some of the more popular trial programs; Fluff Envy also has a Love 'Em or Leave 'Em program.   When I finally placed my first order, here is what I got:

• One dozen unbleached Indian cotton prefolds
• One size-1 Thirsties Duo diaper (as opposed to the cover/wrap) 
• One one-size Fuzzi Bunz pocket diaper
• One one-size Doopsy SD pocket diaper (I believe what I have is now marketed as the 'trim fit')
• One size-1 AppleCheeks envelope/pocket diaper
• One one-size RumpaRooz pocket diaper

Since then, I have added to my stash...

• one one-size Katydid pocket diaper
• two perfect size Fuzzi Bunz pocket diapers
• one one-size Kawaii overnight pocket diaper
• two one-size Go Green Pocket Diapers
• 4 hemp prefolds
• two more AppleCheeks - 1 size-1 and 1 size-2
• one set of AppleCheeks waist extenders
• six more RumpaRooz
• one more one-size Fuzzi Bunz
• two more Doopsy SD pocket diapers
• two more Thirsties Duos diapers - both size-2
• two sets each small and large Thirsties hemp inserts
• 2 sets of RumpaRooz hemp inserts
• two RumpaRooz wetbags
• Sigma diaper sprayer

The first store I ordered from (Bellalojo Baby) closed a few weeks after my second order.  Since then, I have done most of my ordering from Abby's Lane, Fluff Envy and Kelly's Closet. 

Check back later to find out what I think about all of this stuff!!

Loving my Fluff

"When she gets a raging diaper rash, you'll know exactly what it's from.  And I'm telling you, it will be raging.  You might as well save yourself the trouble, and her the discomfort, and just go back to disposables now."  That is the comment I got a couple days ago from someone (a man, no less) that saw me changing Jenna's diaper at the fire house and felt the need to sound off on our decision to use cloth.  This man has no problem speaking his mind......to anyone...about anything...at any point in time...ever.  He is never without an opinion about my 'crunchiness'.  He is intelligent and very educated, and 99% of the time doesn't go into a conversation without the ammunition to back his opinions up, but this time I knew he was shooting from the hip and I jumped on it!  :-)   I asked him why he thought this, and he said "Moisture breeds diaper rash.  Fast."  So I schooled him. 

I pulled out the pee soaked diaper and a spare clean pocket diaper.  I told him to feel the inside of the pocket diaper - the fleece was dry.  I showed him how it worked and told him that we had to use butt paste on Jenna with each disposable change during the first 2 months, but that we haven't had any problems with rash since we started using cloth.  I told him that her skin is almost always dry when I open up a wet pocket diaper, as opposed to being damp with a disposable diaper.  All he could say was "Huh.  That's kind of neat.  But it seems like a lot of work."  I told him that over the course of a week it takes up about 60-75 minutes of my time, depending on whether I do it myself or have DH help (Somehow, it always takes longer when I have DH help, because he messes up my system.  Some day I'll learn).  After that, he didn't have anything else to say.  He couldn't come up with a single point to argue. 

We have been using cloth for 3 - 3.5 months now, and I love it.  I have had the opportunity to talk with a few expectant moms over the last month, and offer up some of the things I have learned along the way.  I have started a post about that; hopefully I can get it posted this weekend!

Another Cloth Diaper Giveaway

I found a new blog that I love ... and they are doing a cloth diaper giveaway with a diaper that I have been considering trying for a few weeks.

The blog is Go Long, Go Green!... much of it is dedicated to green parenting, which is right up my alley!!  I love it!!  She is giving away a diaper from GoGreen diapers.   Specifically, she is giving away the new and improved Champ diaper.  I would love to win one of these, but in all honesty, if I don't win, I am very likely going to order one or two to try them out!!  To enter the giveaway, go here.

Tutorials for Cloth Diaper Beginners

One of the cloth diapering blogs that I follow posted a wonderful cloth diapering basics tutorial yesterday.  I was one of those confused and bumbling preggos not too long ago, and this post would have been tremendously helpful reading at the beginning of my journey to begin cloth diapering.  If you are considering undertaking cloth diapering and don't have a clue where to start, check out this post!

Update to this post....  two other sections have been posted under as part of the tutorial series at Doable Diapers.

• Part Two 
• Part Three

Wet Bag Giveaway

Hi Ladies!  Doable diapers is giving away a Rumparooz wetbag or pail liner on their blog!  Even if you don't cloth diaper, having a wet bag in your diaper bag can be invaluable!!!  I have two Rumparooz wet bags and love them!  I would love to win a third!!!  Head over to their blog and check out the giveaway and other fabulous things related to cloth diapering!!

Doable Diapers Wet Bag Giveaway

Simple Laundry Secrets...Who Knew??

Jenna is 3 1/2 months old now, and for the last 5-6 weeks we have been using cloth diapers.  We have been using a combination of various pocket diapers and prefold diapers inside little gPants (using disposable/flushable gDiaper inserts if necessary when outside the house).  I am quickly becoming a fan of the pocket diapers (and the amusement that can be found in watching my husband try to figure out which insert 'matches up' with which diaper!), and I will very likely touch on specific diapers at some point down the road.

Since beginning our use of cloth diapers, some of my laundry habits have been transformed.  We have switched to a 'free and clear' detergent, which seems to be working well on all of our laundry.  Exit artificial perfumes and dyes!!  I have started using the soak/pre-wash cycle on my washer, which is something I have never used in the past.  I started doing this before washing each load of diapers, using cold water.  Later I started doing it before each load of whites.  I cannot believe what a difference this simple step can make.  It's obviously not a cure-all, but I have not had to use Biz or bleach on our regular laundry once in the last 5 weeks.  Yipee!!

I decided that I wanted to try to cut down on my use of dryer sheets, so I started doing a little bit of research.  I read about wool dryer balls, but I also found several sources that recommended use of 3-5 tennis balls in the dryer.  We have an overabundance of hand-me-down tennis balls that were intended for our dogs, so I figured I would try the tennis balls before investing money in wool balls.  Insert 4 tennis balls here.  While they didn't cut waaay down on the static, they did help a little bit.  I was also able to reduce my drying time by about 10 minutes when leaving the heat setting on high, or leave the time alone and reduce the heat setting to medium.  After doing a bit more reading, I found several sites that suggested using vinegar in a Dow.ny ball during the wash cycle.  I figured that it was worth a shot, and YEP, it works!  I use 1/3 cup of white distilled vinegar with each load of laundry (diapers NOT included); between the vinegar and the tennis balls, no static!!  :-)

It's all so simple...kind of makes me wonder sometimes how we ended up with all of these other products in the first place!!