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Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

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Swaddlebees Simplex One Size Diaper Video Review

November 26, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 127 Comments

If you are new to cloth diapering, I want to STRONGLY encourage you to get a few all-in-one (AIO) diapers. They work just like a disposable diaper, except of course for the part where you wash them. There’s nothing to stuff. It couldn’t be easier. With this type of diaper, I firmly believe that you will fall madly, deeply in love with cloth diapering.

But all-in-ones do have a major drawback, which is that they take FOREVER to dry. Throwing them in the dryer for more than a few minutes is a no-no because it could damage the outer part of the dryer. So you have to wait and wait and wait and wait. When I have to line dry inside, I find that it takes my AIO diapers a day and a half to get dry, whereas my other stuff is dry within 8-12 hours.

Swaddlebees One Size Simplex All In One Diapers has all the convenience of an AIO, but provides a few fantastic innovations so that the diaper becomes so much more than an AIO. This diaper is, in a word, RAD! Check out my video review to see what this diaper does that no other diaper on the market can offer. I think you’ll be impressed. Actually, I know you will.

Told you it was awesome! Basically, this diaper has combined elements of my 3 favorite diapers in my entire stash. So I guess you could say it has become the ultimate supreme diaper. Any cloth diapering parent knows that the order in which you use diapers in your stash when they are all clean tells you a lot about your preferences, and the Swaddlebees Simplex One Size gets used pretty much the second that it is dry. Poor thing never gets a break! That’s the price it just has to pay for rocking so hard. I super highly recommend this diaper. It is pricey at $25.95, but totally worth it. And that’s coming from a frugal gal!

Swaddlebees Simplex One Size

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Swaddlebees One Size Simplex diaper! Yay! Yay! Yay!!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of the page.

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: aio diaper reviews, all in one, all in one cloth diapers, all in one diapers, best cloth diapers, cloth diaper, cloth diaper review, cloth diaper reviews, cloth diapering, cloth diapers reviews, giveaway, review, swaddlebee diapers, swaddlebees, swaddlebees review

Fluffy Fourth of July! Cloth Diaper Giveaway Worth Over $415!!!

June 27, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 26 Comments

Welcome to the Fluffy Fourth of July sponsored by Gnome’s Naturals and hosted by Life With Levi!

Whether you’re just starting out using cloth diapers or already a fluffy pro, this giveaway prize offers something for everyone.

Fluffy Fourth Ultimate Starter Pack

One lucky winner will receive the ULTIMATE cloth diaper stash starter pack, valued at over $415!!!

This amazing prize prize pack includes:

  • THREE ones & twos All In One Diapers
  • ONE AppleCheeks Bamboo Little Bundle
  • ONE AppleCheeks Microterry Little Bundle
  • TWO Tots Bots Easy Fit or Tini Fit Diapers
  • TWO Rumparooz G2 Pocket Diapers or Little Joey Newborn All In Ones
  • ONE Bummis Beautiful BASIC Kit
  • SIX Organic Cotton Prefold Diapers
  • ONE Bummis Super Snap Wrap
  • ONE Bummis Super Lite Wrap
  • TWO Snappis
  • ONE AppleCheeks Storage Sac Pail Liner
  • ONE M Monkey Foot Designs Wet Bag for when you’re on the go.
  • ONE KalmSkin Travel Size Cloth Diaper Safe Rash Stick
  • ONE Bag of Rockin’ Green Laundry Detergent
  • ONE Clean Cheeks Wipes Concentrate
  • ONE 6 Pack of AppleCheeks Cloth Wipes
  • ONE Mini Shower Diaper Sprayer
  • ONE Pack of AppleCheeks Flushable Diaper Liners

That’s all the diapers AND accessories you need for 18 diaper changes!!

Gnome’s Naturals is a cloth diaper and natural parenting store owned & operated by Lori Whitlock. As a mom of a toddler, Lori is always searching for great natural products for herself and her family. When she finds products that she loves, she sticks with them. Lori created Gnome’s Naturals to share those products with you. As a cloth diaper blogger, Lori has tried almost every cloth diaper on the market and strives to carry only the best of the best.

In addition to some well known brands that Lori loves, Gnome’s Naturals also carries work at home mom (WAHM) made items in the store. Make sure you check out the WAHM Spotlight section for products that are handmade by moms in North America. Lori is a huge proponent of moms supporting moms and she hopes that by retailing some mom-made items, she can help support them financially as well.

If you’re new to cloth diapering, Gnome’s Naturals offers several different cloth diaper trial packages. Beyond cloth diapers, Gnome’s Naturals also carries a great selection of baby carriers, baltic amber teething necklaces, breastfeeding products, and more.

Ready To Win?

Just enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below.
All entries are optional – be sure to come back often to complete the daily entries, since the more entries you have, the more chances you have to win!

Giveaway open to residents of the US & Canada. Contest ends Friday, July 6th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Featured, Giveaways · Tagged: baby product giveaways, brands cloth, cloth diaper blog, cloth diaper giveaway, cloth diaper giveaways, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, diaper giveaway, diaper giveaways, giveaway, gnome’s naturals, life with levi, life with levi blog, lori whitlock, lori whitlock blog, natural baby, natural cloth, natural parenting store

CoCaLo Reusable Cloth Diaper: The Perfect Bum!

January 25, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 86 Comments

You’ve no doubt heard before about the economic and environmental reasons to switch from disposable diapers to cloth. But today I want to focus on another reason:

THE CUTE FACTOR

cocalo diapers

Cloth diapered tushies are the cutest thing EVER, and they put every single disposable diaper on the market to absolute and complete shame. They come in a rainbow of delightful colors and patterns, not to mention the fact that their material can be downright luxurious. Tell me, would you prefer your underwear to be made of material eerily close to paper, or of organic cotton? Yeah, your baby feels that way, too.

CoCaLo Diapers

Today I’m featuring a well-known baby company, CoCaLo, who has just released their first cloth diaper. And they went all out when it comes to respecting the fashion aspect of cloth diapering! All of their CoCaLo cloth diapers in the line are made with super fashionable patterns (look at the denim cuteness!), and the fashion sets, which I had the chance to review, come with matching t-shirts, too!
cocalo diaper insideWhile I haven’t had the opportunity to put this diaper to the test, yet, I do really like the look of it. It comes with a tri-fold insert that looks highly absorbent. This is the type of diaper where you can simply pull out the soiled insert and put another insert in and then go on about your day, meaning that you won’t be changing your baby out of this super cute diaper cover after just one potty session. Love that! Check out the inside of the diaper for yourself. See how deep the insert holder is? I’ve got a feeling that it is designed to hold up really well against leaks!  These diapers are called Perfect Bum,  and isn’t that the truth? I found that in the winter months, cute cloth diapers like these meant that bloomers weren’t necessary with dresses at all. In fall and spring, I’d just pair something like this with a pair of babylegs an be good to go!

The Perfect Bum is available now at Babies R Us and other specialty stores throughout the country. The fashion set I reviewed retails for $29.99, or you can pick up the diaper with a liner for just $16.99. Edit: They are now REALLY cheap on Amazon! Hurry!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Perfect Bum fashion set just like the one I received!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: baby cloth diapers, best cloth diapers, cloth diaper, cloth diaper covers, cloth diaper packages, cloth diaper reviews, cloth diapering, cloth diapers reviews, cocalo, cocalo baby, giveaway, perfect bum, review

Fleece Diaper Cover from Twinkletoes Diapers

February 9, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Once you get into cloth diapering and sort of get your bearings on all the different types of diapers out there, you may have a favorite type, but you will likely LOVE to try different styles and fittings, just in case you are missing out on something super cool.

Fleece Diaper Cover

fleece diaper cover Today I’m bringing you something cool that just might be new to you! Check out these fleece shorties from Twinkletoes Diapers! Yes, yes, maybe you have seen shorties before…what’s the big deal? These are side snapping!!! This means that they are extremely flexible in terms of all the ways that you can use them. They will pair well with flats, prefolds, inserts or they can be put over fitted diapers as a cover. They also have a super secure fit around the legs, if your baby tends to get leaks there.

fleece diaper cover This is the first cloth diaper item we own that is made of fleece, and we are really enjoying it. Vanessa, the owner of Twinkletoes Diapers uses Malden Mills windpro fleece, which is breathable, waterproof and will keep you warm, yet it is light enough to wear during the day, as well. Darah seems to be very comfortable in her shorties, and I really appreciate being able to lay an insert in the diaper and be on my way. Sometimes I find myself out of cloth diapers (perhaps they are all still drying, or perhaps I just haven’t gotten around the building them, yet). In any case, I find that my Twinkletoes side snapping shorties are so perfect for those situations, as I can literally throw together a diaper in 3 seconds. I can also have confidence that it will work. We haven’t had any leak issues, so far!

Vanessa also recommends these fleece shorties as potty training pants, since a toddler can pull them up and down just like underwear. As we work towards that goal, I’m so glad to have these on hand. How wonderful to find a product that is useful for diapering AND for potty training!

Buy it!: These fleece shorties are available for $14.00 and are listed in red, black and blue, but you can also email Vanessa to ask about custom color options! Woo hoo! I think these are a great buy because they work and they will be useful for your entire diapering AND potty training journey. Also remember that you are supporting a mom! 🙂
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to snag these great fleece shorties from Twinkletoes! The contest will run until February 19th at 11:59pm EST when a winner is selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Show me one other thing in Vanessa’s shop that is catching your eye, and leave the link in your comment:

My answer: Look at this monster diaper! AAAAAH! So cute!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Twinkletoes Diapers on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Google Friend Connect
Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my home page.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: cloth diaper, cloth diapering, diaper cover, fleece cloth diapers, fleece diaper covers, fleece diapers, fleece longies, fleece shorties, giveaway, review, twinkletoes diapers

Eli Monster Cloth Diapers: High Fashion Meets Function

October 14, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

darah from stuff parents need in eli monster cloth diaper I’ve got another fabulous cloth diaper for all my great readers today, and this one is definitely the most fashion-forward diaper I’ve yet to review. When I think of cloth diapers, I think of cuteness, for sure (fluffy butts are to die for!), but I don’t exactly think “fashion-forward!”

Many companies put out really cute colors, but any time I have tried out a diaper with a pattern on it, the material has been cotton, and the result has been that moisture always came right through the side of the diaper and worked its away across the front or back of the outer layer. Those diapers were always officially useless after an hour, max. Uh, no thanks.

But The Eli Monster is a WAHM company run by a great woman named Stephanie with an eye for design and with the desire to not compromise functionality in order to have something SUPER cute. Check out my video to learn more about how Eli Monster combines fashion and function to make one snazzy diaper!

As you saw in the video, we tried out the new pocket diaper in the Eli Monster line, and we totally love it. While I haven’t personally tried the AIO diapers or the fitted diapers, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one because the craftsmanship of this diaper is outstanding, and I’m guessing the same holds true for all the products at Eli Monster.

Buy it!: The Eli Monster pocket diapers are $21.50 and come in the most delightful selection of prints you have ever seen! They can be ordered in Velcro or snap!

Win it!: You have a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to Eli Monster! That means you’ll be able to pick out the item that best suits your little monster! 🙂 The contest will run until October 24th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me about a piece of clothing you or your child wears that combines high fashion and function. For Darah, her Babylegs footless tights are amazing. They keep her warm and are so cute. For me, it’s got to be my purple “leather” flats from Wal-Mart. I got them on clearance for $3.00, they have NEVER hurt my feet and they are such a fun, trendy color!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” The Eli Monster on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to check out my other current giveaways, listed on the side bar of my home page.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: cloth diaper, cloth diaper reviews, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, cloth diapers reviews, eli monster, eli monster cloth diapers, giveaway, review

Moo Moo Kow Cloth Diaper Review

September 24, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

If you are curious about cloth or are already a cloth diaper convert, this is going to be a very exciting post for you!
Today I am featuring a diaper that there’s a good chance you’ve never even heard of before. It’s a cloth diaper brand from Singapore, and while you can buy it directly from the company online, it isn’t yet offered in U.S. cloth diaper shops. All you cloth diaper fans out there know that getting your hands on a “rare” cloth diaper is SUPER AWESOME. And now’s your chance. Read on!

Let me introduce you to Moo Moo Kow! I’ve found that the very best way to tell you about cloth diapers is to show them to you in a video, so first, check out my video review!

Darah from Stuff Parents Need in a Moo Moo Kow diaper

Now that you’ve seen and heard a bit about Moo Moo Kow diapers, I wanted to share a few other things I love about them. I think their diaper color options are lovely. I especially love the seaspray option they offer (an unusual blue-green), that gorgeous royal blue and the white diapers that have either blue snaps or pink snaps. So cute!

I also wanted to point out that the inner lining of this diaper is stain resistant. I haven’t had a single thing set in, and trust me, Darah has tried many different times to do so! 🙂

So my final verdict: Two thumbs up for Moo Moo Kow diapers! They are high quality and they are working wonderfully for us. Moo Moo Kow is one of the first diapers out of the clean pile time and time again! You can purchase them directly from Moo Moo Kow for $21.90 plus shipping, or you can contact your favorite online diaper retailer and tell them to start stocking these diapers!

Edit: this giveaway is now closed

Win it!: You know you want this diaper…here’s your chance to win it! I have a mint green Moo Moo Kow snaps one size diaper for one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader! The contest will run until October 4th at 11:59pm EST when the winner will be selected using Random.org. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household.
Mandatory entry: Tell me anything you know about Singapore!
Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Moo Moo Kow on Facebook!
2. Blogger love: Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need via RSS or email
Be sure to check out my other current giveaways, located on the sidebar of my main page.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: cloth diaper, cloth diaper reviews, cloth diaper singapore, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, cloth diapers reviews, giveaway, moo moo kow, moo moo kow review, review, where to buy cloth diapers

Wet Bags: A Cloth Diapering Necessity (GIVEAWAY!!!)

June 30, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 203 Comments

In our cloth diapering journey, we have discovered that you really need something called a wet bag. A wet bag is like a laundry bag for your cloth diapers. It has a waterproof inner-lining and it zips up to keep those unfortunate odors at bay until it is time to do laundry. Wet bags come in a variety of sizes, from small ones designed to hold 1-2 diapers (great for taking with you when you run errands around town) to a bag that will hold 5-6 diapers, all the way up to large bags that will hold up to 2 days worth of cloth diapers.

wet bag for cloth diapers with dragons on it When I was looking at wet bag options, I knew I wanted to go big first. I got connected with Michelle, the owner of a terrific WAHM (work at home mom) company called Sewing Mom Just Accessories, Etc. (SMJAE). She had some fun prints available on her site, and one, in particular, really caught my eye. Check out this fabulous print with dragons on it! SOOOO cute! Michelle had a small bag advertised with this pattern, but I contacted her to see if she could make a large. She had enough fabric, so we were in business! This goes to show that with Michelle, if you have a special request, just get in touch with her and she’ll let you know if she can do it!

Michelle made the bag in just a few days, and then sent it my way. When it arrived, I was pleased to discover that the fabric had been pre-washed to prevent shrinkage. The bag looked absolutely fantastic. The seams all look tight and professionally done, and the zipper is secure. I have already washed the bag 5 times, and it has held up beautifully. I’ve also loaded it up with diapers, and it has held up against the weight of them just fine.

Right now I am sending this wet bag with Darah to daycare and emptying it out each evening. I will eventually be getting a medium wet bag for daycare, and I’ll be keeping the “dragon bag” (as I call it) at home to hold all the dirty diapers that come back home over a 2 day period (including the diapers we’ll be using on her at home). I think that you can get by with just one wet bag if your child goes to daycare, but it is easier if you have 2 (or even 3…with one for your daytime errands).

We’ve been cloth diapering for a while now, and haven’t had a wet bag. Trust me, it is a big improvement to the entire system to get one! We were just putting the dirty diapers on top of our washing machine in the laundry room, and that definitely made it a stinky place. Keeping your diapers in a wet bag helps reduce the “ick” factor that keeps many people from trying cloth. And I found that the wet bag does a good job of containing the overall odor. I’m not going to sugar-coat it, folks. Dirty diapers smell bad. Just sayin’.

If you are looking for a wet bag, I know from first-hand experience that Michelle offers quality products with cute designs at reasonable prices. Support a WAHM and make a purchase from her. Her small wet bags start at $9.99, and you can email her for prices for larger bags. I am currently obsessing over this wet bag…the print has robots at camp on it. I don’t even have the words to describe how cute this is, folks!

Win It!: Michelle is ready to help one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader get their cloth diapering adventure (or any other adventure with kids!) in check with a small custom wet bag in your choice of prints! The contest will run until July 10th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected. Open to residents of the United States. Only one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the fabric you will select if you win, and choose wisely, as the winner will get what they choose for this entry!(you can scroll over each fabric to see its number, and you can just write that down as the choice).

Additional entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via email, RSS or Google Friend Connect (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe multiple ways)

2. Tell me one other item SMJAE offers that you also like

3. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

4. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

5. If you are a blogger, put my new button on my site and leave me a link so I can see it

6. Tweet about this giveaway (you may tweet once/day, and your entry must include a link to your tweet)

Be sure to check out my other current reviews and giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my home page).

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I paid for this wet bag, but I did receive a discount. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: cloth diapering, Etc., giveaway, review, Sewing Mom Just Accessories, SMJAE, SMJAE review, wet bag reviews, wet bags

Hen and Chick Cloth Diapers

April 20, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 134 Comments

If you are following along with my journey figuring out how to use cloth diapers, then you’ll know that I’ve discovered that there is a bit of a learning curve to using these diapers. It just isn’t the case that you can just whip out a cloth diaper that is always ready to go (as long as it has been washed!) and that fastens on as quickly as a disposable diaper, and that is as thin as a disposable diaper.

Well, that’s what I thought, at least.

I baby wearing a hen and chick cloth diaper (review) t turns out that there are cloth diapers that are remarkably similar in their ease of use and thin design to disposables. They are called All in One diapers (often referred to as AIO). Let me introduce you to Hen and Chick Cloth, a fabulous Etsy store run by a delightful mom named Heather. She makes super cute AIO diapers! If you want to try out cloth, but you want it to be as close to your disposable diaper experience as possible, in terms of ease of use, I think giving AIO diapers a try is a good idea!

Here’s what I loved about my Hen and Chick Cloth AIO diaper that Heather sent me:
1. Bumblebees?! I almost can’t stand how precious this is. I mean, look at that!!!
2. The diaper couldn’t be easier to get on and off. There’s nothing to stuff or snap.
3. Velcro ensures a really nice and snug fit.
4. This diaper is almost as thin as a disposable diaper. This makes it really easy to use in conjunction with any outfit she has (you may recall that I stated earlier that cloth diapering requires sizing up your baby’s pants, but in the case of the Hen and Chick AIO, there’s no need!).

Here are the things that I found to be not as awesome:
1. Darah is just about to outgrow the diaper already. It is meant to be for sizes 10-20 pounds. I’m guessing that Darah is around 16.5-17 pounds, but she won’t be able to wear this diaper much longer at all, so either they run small, or Darah’s thighs are on the roly poly side! This brings me to an important point: cloth diapers, just like disposables, are going to fit each baby differently, depending on their build. So for Hen and Chick Cloth, in my opinion, I would err on the larger side when purchasing these diapers unless your little one has thin legs.

2. AIO diapers take much longer than any other cloth diaper I own to dry. Because the inserts are sewn in, as opposed to being detachable, there are just more layers on hand to dry. This is a problem you are going to run into with all your AIO diapers and is not unique to Hen and Chick Cloth diapers. Heather has a suggestion for this problem, though. She keeps a few towels in her laundry room to throw in with her AIO diapers. She says it really helps cut down on the drying time!

3. Because the diapers are thin, they just aren’t as absorbent. However, this is easy to solve by simply adding an insert. Heather sells inserts that fit beautifully into her diapers for just $1.00 each! So that problem is very easy to fix, I’m pleased to say.

Overall, I think Hen and Chick Cloth offers very cute diapers that are very easy to use! Two thumbs up, Heather!

Buy It!: If you are on the lookout for a slim AIO diaper in a really cute pattern, Hen and Chick Cloth has what you need. Prices start at $10 for small diapers, and go up to $16 for large diapers. The shop also carries cloth wipes and wetbags!

Win It!: Heather wants Hen and Chick Cloth diapers to be on your baby’s bottom! One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win an AIO diaper of their choice from the available listings! The contest will run until Friday, April 30th at 7:59pm CST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Open to residents of the United States. Be sure to leave your email address in your comments or have it in your profile or else I can’t contact you to tell you that you won!

How to Enter:

Mandatory entry: Tell me the diaper you would choose if you won (choose wisely, as you will win what you select if your number is drawn!).

Additional entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (one extra entry total, even if you subscribe both ways)
2. Follow me through Google connect
3. Put my button on your blog (leave blog url)
4. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your TwitterID)
5. Subscribe to Heather’s blog
6. Add Hen and Chick Cloth to your favorites on Etsy (leave your etsy username)
7. Make a purchase from Hen and Chick cloth (worth 5 extra entries!!!)
8. Make a comment that contributes to the conversation at this post (“I like cloth” would not be a good comment, for example) and come back here to tell me you did.
9. Enter any other currently open giveaway on my site (one extra entry per giveaway that you enter)

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed above are strictly my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways · Tagged: buy cloth diapers, cloth diaper reviews, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, etsy, etsy shop, etsy store, giveaway, hen and chick cloth diapers, hen and chick review, review

How to Start Cloth Diapering

April 14, 2010 · by Tiffany Merritt · 18 Comments

A few weeks ago I talked about us cautiously dipping out toes in the cloth diaper lake and figuring out how to use cloth diapers. We decided to give it a try because I won a cloth diaper.

how to tart cloth diapering
My very first cloth diaper came from the company Holden’s Landing. Bonnie, the owner, contacted me to let me know that I won a rainbow cloth diaper (similar to this one). I mentioned to her that it would be my very first cloth diaper, and she responded that the diaper was the type that needs a cover, and that she would just send one to me along with the diaper. She also helped me figure out the best size to buy for my baby (and it turns out that with cloth diapers you need to give it some careful thought and, depending on the specific diaper you get, talk with other folks who use the diaper about how it fits).When the package arrived from Holden’s Landing, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Bonnie sent me the rainbow cloth diaper, a second diaper that had a similar look but that is designed with its inserts to be used overnight, an AI2 diaper (details on what that means later) a wool soaker and a pair of knit pants that also serve as a diaper cover. I haven’t added up the worth of these 3 diapers and 2 covers, but rest assured, this was EXTREMELY generous of Bonnie. She did it simply because she said she wanted to give me a good introduction to cloth diapering and to teach me how to use cloth diapers the right way by giving me several options.This brings me to the primary thing I have learned about cloth diapering: cloth diapering mamas are SUPPORTIVE. They will talk with you at length, make suggestions and display generosity in numerous ways. So I have to say, for that, the cloth diapering community (and Bonnie in particiular) is amazing. When you don’t have other folks around you cloth diapering, it can be really easy to give up, so it is great that you can find a community online to help you work through any difficulties you might be having.

Now onto the diapers. Holden’s Landing diapers are wonderful! They definitely give babies fluffy butts, which was something I wasn’t used to seeing. When I add an extra insert, sometimes Darah struggles to sit up without wobbling, so that’s the primary drawback I see. But the cuteness factor is out of this universe. OH MY! Also, the diapers are very soft. They make disposables seem like the scratchiest stuff out there! Bonnie makes her diapers out of organic bamboo and organic cotton. I have noticed that they don’t quite have the absorbency of her disposables, but I also have to confess that I only pre-washed them once before using them (more on that later).

how to start cloth diapering If you are looking for a top of the line cloth diaper, check out Holden’s Landing. She has so many great things to offer, and she is such a genuinely nice and helpful person! Also, how can you resist this Hedgehog diaper?!

Other Cloth Diaper Tips

Here are a few more things I’ve learned about cloth diapering due to receiving these awesome diapers:
1. Cloth diapers need to be washed a few times in order for their absorbency to increase. This is particularly the case for diapers made with bamboo. I didn’t do that to start, and I think that’s why the absorbency was a little bit lacking at first.

2. Wool soakers only need to be washed once they start to get a little bit stinky. At first I thought you had to wash them every time, and I thought that was disappointing. But I was wrong!

3. Wool soakers need to be washed with a special type of soap. Bonnie also sent me a wool wash bar of soap (it isn’t really soap, but I can’t remember what it is called).

4. Unless they are AIO (All-in-one) or AI2 (all-in-two) diapers, most other cloth diapers need a cover to go over them to help prevent leaks.

5. Extra inserts are like pads that you can either lay in the diaper or, in certain diaper models, you can snap in. They are a great way to add some extra protection, but they do add some bulk!

6. If you cloth diaper, your little one is going to need bigger pants!

Stay tuned, as I’ll be bringing you news about my very first AIO diaper experience, as well as a GIVEAWAY sponsored by Hen & Chick Cloth! Tell me something interesting you have learned about your cloth diapering journey (or lack thereof!) in the comments of this post in order to gain an extra entry in the upcoming giveaway!

Disclosure: I won the original diaper that I talked about in this post, and Bonnie sent the other items just because she is nice, and not in exchange for me telling you about her! I just wanted to return the favor and spread the word about her great diapers!

Filed Under: General · Tagged: cloth diapering, cloth diapers, cloth diapers vs disposable, holden's landing, how to start cloth diapering, using cloth diapers

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Welcome!


Grab your beverage of choice (mine is iced coffee) and let's hang out for a spell! I'm Tiffany, and I've rambunctious little girls and a fierce desire to share any tip and trick I can find to make lives with little ones a bit less hectic and a lot more fun. [Read more...]

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