I never thought about making my own detergent until I started making a concerted effort to go green. Once I started cloth diapering I realized there was a lot I didn't know about detergent! This is a great little recipe (I especially like it with Lavender Oil added) and will clean anything from your cloth diapers to your towels and clothing.
If you desire a fragrance, add two drops of your choice of essential oil to the water before adding clothing
2 cups of Borax
2 cups of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not baking soda!)
2 cups of Oxygen cleaning powder, such as Oxyclean
Mix well. Use 1 Tablespoon (15ml) for small loads & 2 Tablespoons (30ml) for large loads.
Store in recycled, air tight container
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
How Much is That Cloth Diaper in the Window?
In the post testing crazy buying, selling, and swapping days of building my stash, I would have fleeting thoughts of buying one of each of every brand of diaper available. I would fantasize about “fluffy mail” arriving daily, finding the “perfect” fit, and my stash outgrowing its designated cupboard. But I’ve restrained myself. I got deals on new name brands on the swap, allowing for a few WAHM customs. In fact, I bought my first Fuzzibunz from a store yesterday (even that was with discounts and credits, so I paid nothing). The rest of my Fuzzibunz stash was bought on the cheap. But, as I’ve bought my last diaper, my mind wandered back to that fantasy of buying one of each diaper brand. So instead of going off the deep end, I researched and wrote this blog. Now I know how much it would cost to build that dream stash. No, I’m not going to tell you yet.
Before I tell you the cost, I want to let you know my method of calculation. I canvassed online retailers: Amazon, Diapers.com, Kellyscloset, Jilliansdrawers, Nickisdiapers, eBay, and brand websites. Brands offering cloth diapers of any sort on all or one of these websites were included. I chose not to include WAHM diapers (I’m going to do separate research on that one, blog to come). Prices were cross referenced and assigned median retail price or actual retail price where appropriate.
Number of Brands: 75
Total cost to buy one of each brands offered Newborn Diapers: $160.30
Total cost to buy one of each brands offered One Size Pocket Diapers: $443.06
Total cost to buy one of each brands offered Fitted Diapers: $403.35
Total cost to buy one of each brands offered Diaper Covers: $200.29
Total cost to buy one of each brands offered Hybrid Diapers: $108.83
Total cost to buy one of each brands offered All in Two Diapers: $ 64.90
Total cost to buy one of each brands offered All in One Diapers: $240.12
Total cost to buy one of each brands offered Prefold (per dozen) Diapers: $ 772.02
Total cost to buy one of each brands offered Flat (per half dozen) Diapers: $ 134.93
Total cost to buy one of each brands offered Contour Diapers: $ 43.08
Total cost to buy One of Every Diaper type and brand: $2,588.92
That would be 313 pieces:
Newborn Diapers: 9
One Size Pocket Diapers: 27
Fitted Diapers: 21
Diaper Covers: 15
Hybrid Diapers: 5
All in Two Diapers: 3
All in One Diapers: 12
Prefolds (in dozens): 16
Flats (in half dozens): 4
Contour Diapers: 4
Are you surprised? I was a little surprised the total bill would be so high, but even still there would likely be a savings over disposable diapers of about $500. Now, having done all this research, not only am I officially “stashified,” I’m pretty pleased with the amount I’ve spent on cloth diapers. But you never know, there’s always the lottery…
Make your own diaper cream and wipe solution
There's one caveat when using cloth diapers-diaper rash creams are a no no! Certain ingredients in conventional creams can cause repelling on fleece and other fabrics used in cloth diapers. There are certain creams you can buy that are safe cloth diapers, but I went all natural and made my own out of organic coconut oil. It was super easy!
What you need:
Clean and Empty Deodorant Container
Small square of parchment paper
Extra Virgin or unprocessed Coconut Oil*
2 bowls
Hot Water
Coconut Oil is solid up to 76 degrees. Scoop some out of a large jar and place it in a small bowl or mason jar. Float the jar in another bowl filled with boiling water**, wait as oil melts (not sure how long this takes, I put it in and walked away for half an hour doing other things and it was melted when I came back) Make sure the deodorant container is twisted to the full position (the little plastic pusher thingy will be on the bottom). Line the bottom of your deodorant container with the parchment paper. You may need to use a pen or other instrument to get it down in there. Pour melted oil into the container. I put it in a plastic bag just in case it leaked. Place in freezer until solid. Use one per child for sanitary reasons.
I posted the recipe for the Chamomile wipe solution in my Cloth Diaper Review 2 Blog.
*refined or processed oil does not retain the healing properties that unrefined organic EVCO does.
**Do not use a microwave-it will strip the oil of it's natural healing properties.
Cloth Diaper Reviews 4-WAHM and Night Special
Bagshot Row Bamboo (BSRB): I am sad I am only now publishing my review of BSRBs as the maker recently announced that she is closing up shop. These diapers are truly the best and I am so happy I ordered a custom only a few weeks ago.
BSRB Elite Fit AI2: BSRB fully converted me to bamboo. I was already a huge fan of hemp, but bamboo is just as good. These diapers differentiate themselves by NOT incorporating PUL. The waterproofing comes in the form of bamboo fleece. Fleece has natural wicking qualities and encourages the moisture to go back into the bamboo inserts instead of leaking through the diaper. I never have any leaks in our BSRB Elite Fit AI2. The soakers are bamboo with an Organic Bamboo Velour (OBV) top. It is SO plush! I purchased extra soakers so I am able to use it as a true AI2 and Vy just loves wearing it. The fit is amazing. It’s very trim with just one snap rise setting and cross over rounded wings. If you get a chance to purchase a BSRB Elite fit through a swap I highly recommend them. These are our favorite diapers.
BSRB Fitted: The only bad thing I can say about BSRB fitteds is that they’re too cute to cover! Great for summers when you can go coverless! Everything in the review of the Elite fit applies except for the fleece; it is not included in the fitteds we have owned.
BSRB “TIAN” Tucked In All Night: this is BSRB’s night time diaper. It’s a fitted diaper with extra soakers for wetness protection. Ours is a newer version and also came with a fleece insert to put on the bottom to encourage the wetness to stay in the inserts and doublers. I use a fleece liner for a stay dry feeling all night. We go at least 10 hours without a diaper change, these things are bullet proof!
Sustainablebabyish (SBISH) Bamboo Fleece Fitted Diaper: These diapers are a little pricey but I feel like they are worth the price for nights! Very similar to the BSRB TIAN, the SBISH Fleece Fitted (or “Magic”) diaper is a great option for nights. It is made of bamboo and comes with a double insert and a doubler. The insert snaps into the front which I like for nights. I use a fleece liner for a stay dry feeling all night and can easily go 10 plus hours without a change-another bullet proof diaper.
SBISH Terry Snappiable: These are very similar to the SBISH Magic Diaper, it just has a terry snappiable outer with lie in soakers instead of snap ins. It has stayed super soft and is just as absorbent as the Magic diaper. I like how stretchy it is, I can really get a good fit with a snappi.
Kawaii “Goodnight Heavy Wetter”: These are a great night pocket. Since Vy is a crazy sleeper we started having issues with our pockets once she started drinking water and juice during the day. Compression leaks were a problem so we tried these as a stop gap before deciding to go exclusively with fitteds and covers. They have two nice plush microfiber inserts but otherwise don’t really distinguish themselves from other low cost PUL diapers. I haven’t had any leak problems but my dislike of them stems from them being very bulky. Vy can’t cross her leg over to sleep on her side very well when she is in them so they are going to get sold once I get a full inventory of night time fitted diapers.
Fleece Covers (Soft and Sweet Bottoms): I chose fleece covers to use at night instead of using a PUL cover because of the breathability of fleece. I love that I can throw the covers in with the regular laundry and use them several times before needing laundering. Plus they are pretty cheap at $5-12 a pair so it’s fun to get cute patterns; a great alternative to wool if you have allergies.
Cashmere Soaker (Pinkie Lee and Fleurs de Lis): My friend Jessica over at Pinkie Lee upcycled one of my old cashmere sweaters into a soaker for Violette. Since we have wool allergies I was afraid to buy wool longies or a soaker and invite a reaction. To be honest I was also turned off at the thought of having to lanolize the soaker but once I got the right wash product it was too easy, just a soak overnight and then a day to dry. The soaker is beautiful! It is feather soft even after felting and lanolizing and super lightweight. Now I keep looking in my closet to what else I can send to be upcycled! It is very breathable and cooler than you’d think it would be.
Egg Tooth Diapers AI2: I wanted to LOVE these diapers; she always uses such great prints. While I’m not in love with them, they are a great diaper. I NEVER get any leaks with the hidden layer of PUL and fleece inner. The soaker is snake style so there is some customization available so you can choose your own wet zone. I’m not a big fan of snake style soakers so it’s more of pita for me to deal with folding it in. I didn’t get any extra soakers with this diaper so I usually use it as an AIO but I’ve been getting better at folding prefolds so I might try to use it as a cover for those. The soaker is double layered topped with OBV which as stayed nice and soft. This diaper was my first experience with a fold down rise so it took me awhile to figure out how it works. Now that I’m using the fold down rise I get a much better fit. I do still feel like it’s a bit bulky on Vy, but it’s such a cute diaper I reach for it all the time.
Lil Taz Dypes AI2 Tester: I was lucky enough to get the cutest Lil Taz Dype as a tester and I’m really pleased with it. Jessica has great customer service and I ended up buying extra soakers from her to use this diaper as a true AI2. Her soakers are super nice bamboo topped with OBV. She has distinguished herself by making the soaker wider in the back which is nice and extends the life of the shell if number 2s happen. These diapers were designed for chubbier babies, but they still fit Vy great (she’s currently “average” in height and weight according to WHO). The use a snap down rise and have nice long wings for a great fit.
BumGenius Bamboo Fitteds: One of the reasons I rarely used Fitteds and covers during the day is because I didn’t like the hassle of doing up two sets of snaps with a wriggly baby. The BG Bamboo fitteds, although discontinued, are great since they use Aplix instead of snaps. Match with an Aplix closure cover and that’s one fast diaper change! They are pretty absorbent to boot.
Tots Bots Easy Fit Pocket: I bought this with some Amazon points to try and I really like this diaper. It’s a great pocket with a long soaker that you can stuff into the pocket. Since it’s attached you don’t have to pull it out once soiled, it will agitate out during the wash-super convenient. The Aplix is good. The fit is trim, Vy went almost immediately to fully open rise at about 9 months but there’s plenty of room to grow. This is one of our “Nana” diapers since she prefers Aplix.
More WAHM Reviews to come: Little Smudgees AI2, Summer Sky Bamboo (Tester), Bububebe (B4) Fitteds, Holden’s Landing AI2 and Bedbug, and hopefully (KMFX), Bebe Britches (BISH)
BSRB Elite Fit AI2: BSRB fully converted me to bamboo. I was already a huge fan of hemp, but bamboo is just as good. These diapers differentiate themselves by NOT incorporating PUL. The waterproofing comes in the form of bamboo fleece. Fleece has natural wicking qualities and encourages the moisture to go back into the bamboo inserts instead of leaking through the diaper. I never have any leaks in our BSRB Elite Fit AI2. The soakers are bamboo with an Organic Bamboo Velour (OBV) top. It is SO plush! I purchased extra soakers so I am able to use it as a true AI2 and Vy just loves wearing it. The fit is amazing. It’s very trim with just one snap rise setting and cross over rounded wings. If you get a chance to purchase a BSRB Elite fit through a swap I highly recommend them. These are our favorite diapers.
BSRB Fitted: The only bad thing I can say about BSRB fitteds is that they’re too cute to cover! Great for summers when you can go coverless! Everything in the review of the Elite fit applies except for the fleece; it is not included in the fitteds we have owned.
BSRB “TIAN” Tucked In All Night: this is BSRB’s night time diaper. It’s a fitted diaper with extra soakers for wetness protection. Ours is a newer version and also came with a fleece insert to put on the bottom to encourage the wetness to stay in the inserts and doublers. I use a fleece liner for a stay dry feeling all night. We go at least 10 hours without a diaper change, these things are bullet proof!
Sustainablebabyish (SBISH) Bamboo Fleece Fitted Diaper: These diapers are a little pricey but I feel like they are worth the price for nights! Very similar to the BSRB TIAN, the SBISH Fleece Fitted (or “Magic”) diaper is a great option for nights. It is made of bamboo and comes with a double insert and a doubler. The insert snaps into the front which I like for nights. I use a fleece liner for a stay dry feeling all night and can easily go 10 plus hours without a change-another bullet proof diaper.
SBISH Terry Snappiable: These are very similar to the SBISH Magic Diaper, it just has a terry snappiable outer with lie in soakers instead of snap ins. It has stayed super soft and is just as absorbent as the Magic diaper. I like how stretchy it is, I can really get a good fit with a snappi.
Kawaii “Goodnight Heavy Wetter”: These are a great night pocket. Since Vy is a crazy sleeper we started having issues with our pockets once she started drinking water and juice during the day. Compression leaks were a problem so we tried these as a stop gap before deciding to go exclusively with fitteds and covers. They have two nice plush microfiber inserts but otherwise don’t really distinguish themselves from other low cost PUL diapers. I haven’t had any leak problems but my dislike of them stems from them being very bulky. Vy can’t cross her leg over to sleep on her side very well when she is in them so they are going to get sold once I get a full inventory of night time fitted diapers.
Fleece Covers (Soft and Sweet Bottoms): I chose fleece covers to use at night instead of using a PUL cover because of the breathability of fleece. I love that I can throw the covers in with the regular laundry and use them several times before needing laundering. Plus they are pretty cheap at $5-12 a pair so it’s fun to get cute patterns; a great alternative to wool if you have allergies.
Cashmere Soaker (Pinkie Lee and Fleurs de Lis): My friend Jessica over at Pinkie Lee upcycled one of my old cashmere sweaters into a soaker for Violette. Since we have wool allergies I was afraid to buy wool longies or a soaker and invite a reaction. To be honest I was also turned off at the thought of having to lanolize the soaker but once I got the right wash product it was too easy, just a soak overnight and then a day to dry. The soaker is beautiful! It is feather soft even after felting and lanolizing and super lightweight. Now I keep looking in my closet to what else I can send to be upcycled! It is very breathable and cooler than you’d think it would be.
Egg Tooth Diapers AI2: I wanted to LOVE these diapers; she always uses such great prints. While I’m not in love with them, they are a great diaper. I NEVER get any leaks with the hidden layer of PUL and fleece inner. The soaker is snake style so there is some customization available so you can choose your own wet zone. I’m not a big fan of snake style soakers so it’s more of pita for me to deal with folding it in. I didn’t get any extra soakers with this diaper so I usually use it as an AIO but I’ve been getting better at folding prefolds so I might try to use it as a cover for those. The soaker is double layered topped with OBV which as stayed nice and soft. This diaper was my first experience with a fold down rise so it took me awhile to figure out how it works. Now that I’m using the fold down rise I get a much better fit. I do still feel like it’s a bit bulky on Vy, but it’s such a cute diaper I reach for it all the time.
Lil Taz Dypes AI2 Tester: I was lucky enough to get the cutest Lil Taz Dype as a tester and I’m really pleased with it. Jessica has great customer service and I ended up buying extra soakers from her to use this diaper as a true AI2. Her soakers are super nice bamboo topped with OBV. She has distinguished herself by making the soaker wider in the back which is nice and extends the life of the shell if number 2s happen. These diapers were designed for chubbier babies, but they still fit Vy great (she’s currently “average” in height and weight according to WHO). The use a snap down rise and have nice long wings for a great fit.
BumGenius Bamboo Fitteds: One of the reasons I rarely used Fitteds and covers during the day is because I didn’t like the hassle of doing up two sets of snaps with a wriggly baby. The BG Bamboo fitteds, although discontinued, are great since they use Aplix instead of snaps. Match with an Aplix closure cover and that’s one fast diaper change! They are pretty absorbent to boot.
Tots Bots Easy Fit Pocket: I bought this with some Amazon points to try and I really like this diaper. It’s a great pocket with a long soaker that you can stuff into the pocket. Since it’s attached you don’t have to pull it out once soiled, it will agitate out during the wash-super convenient. The Aplix is good. The fit is trim, Vy went almost immediately to fully open rise at about 9 months but there’s plenty of room to grow. This is one of our “Nana” diapers since she prefers Aplix.
More WAHM Reviews to come: Little Smudgees AI2, Summer Sky Bamboo (Tester), Bububebe (B4) Fitteds, Holden’s Landing AI2 and Bedbug, and hopefully (KMFX), Bebe Britches (BISH)
Cloth Diaper Reviews 3
Fuzzibunz OS-I could wax poetic about Fuzzibunz One Size (OS) diapers. These differ a lot from other One Size diapers. Most OS have adjustability in the front rise using snaps. FB OS have their adjustability in the legs and waist using elastic. The elastic pokes tucks into little holes in the fleece anchored by a button. There are two on each side for the leg elastic and two for the waist. I LOVE this option because you can completely customize the fit. Since Vy is has slim thighs (Oh please Lord, bless her with this her whole life!) I can set the legs on size 4 while the waist is at size 3. It took me a little while to figure out (with no leaks while on larger setting), but now the diapers fit trim and snug.
Fuzzibunz Perfect Size-Again with the Fuzzibunz love. These do not fit Vy as well as the OS, but might be perfect for chunkier babies. With the hip snap to fit the legs and double snaps on the waist to avoid wing droop, this is a great diaper. I bought Mediums because I suspect Vy will be in that size the longest. So far she’s still on the tightest settings at 9 months so we’ll get a lot of wear out of these diapers. They also work great with a hemp insert for a nighttime pocket, with room to grow into it’s not too bulky.
Fuzzibunz OS Hemp-These are exactly the same as the FB OS except they only come in a vanilla/khaki color and come with a hemp insert. If you’re using the hemp insert alone this diaper is VERY trim. I had tighten the legs a whole size to stop leak since the hemp insert is less bulky that the microfiber. Now that I’ve done that, I love this diaper! I use it the most when we are going to be out and about or I know she will nap on a long car ride.
Baby Chai-Bamboo AI2- I don’t use these as AI2s very much although I do have extra inserts. These fit great, the serged edges are really soft. The inside of the diaper is bamboo fleece, the insert is bamboo, and the outside is bamboo velour. We love us some bamboo velour in our house! But, with only one snap in insert we have wetness on the outside, so it’s more like sturdy, no cover needed fitted for us. I am going to try doubling up inserts to see if I can eek out two changes out of this for a true AI2.
Happy Heiny OS-These are great if you want an aplix diaper that a toddler can’t get off. We have had troubles with our Bum Genius and our Bummis covers in that department, but so far the Happy Heinys are very hard for my daughter to peel off on her own. I always like an overlapping waist band as well. They come in fun colors (like SUPER hot pink) and the inner fleece is soft. I also like that it has four rows of rise snaps instead of the customary 3, giving you an in-between size for older infants/young toddlers.
Blueberry Pockets-I bought these as seconds, they were a nothing special pocket. The fit was slightly bulky, but not as bulky as BumGenius. Not much to say, but I did get a good deal on a PUL and a minky.
Swaddlebee Pockets-These are great trim diaper. When I first got the medium size I was SURE that I must have misread the sizing information and they were going to be too small. I was very wrong, they fit on my 18lb girl on the tightest snap setting, and they really are cut that trim. These are a side snapping diaper with a microfiber/bamboo insert so they have great absorbency. I ordered two more as seconds in the next size up because I love this diaper so much.
GTD Prefolds-The Clotheeze/Green Mountain Diaper prefolds are great. I chose to get bleached for a classic look. They took a few washes to reach full absorbency, and I still feel like they have more softness coming, however it’s hard to consistently get my crazy daughter to stay still enough for me to use a snappy. We are using red edges which have the largest weight range for fit.
Even MORE Reviews to come! Next time: a WAHM special!
Cloth Diaper Reviews 2
Hello my name is Sarah and I'm a diaper-holic. Not only have I become a cloth diapering advocate, it's become a hobby. I don't know if it's akin to a girl thing-like collecting lingerie, albeit baby lingerie-but I've been enjoying buying new diaper brands to try out as I've built my stash the past few months. I've sold diapers that didn't work for us and bought new or gently used diapers that will work, or just to try. So far I've broken even money-wise when I've used the swap sites, but I admit I bought some with real money. Now that I'm "stashified" I must woefully admit that it's become a sort of game to try new brands, but I tell myself it's ok because I'm giving it up for Lent. So let the fun begin!
Sunbaby 2.0
I bought Sunbaby 2.0 from ebay first. I guess I didn't google well enough to find the main website, but I am still happy with the earlier version of Sunbabys. The 2.0 are great diapers for itty bittys and skinny babies. The elastic is a little bit thin so I did notice some read marks on Vy the first time I used them. I've since adjusted the snap to give her a little more room and I'm able to avoid leaks at the same time.
Sunbaby 4.0
I really like the Sunbaby 4.0. The fleece is soft, the PUL on the solid colors is thick so they do not fit as trimly as the prints, but they are still trimmer than other diapers like the Bumgenious 4.0. The print PUL is nice and soft, I feel like these would make great swim diaper. The fit is super trim and the added hip snaps make a nice fit. The inserts are the same with both Sunbaby 2.0 and 4.0, they have several layers of microfiber serged together into an absorbent insert. I didn't feel like I needed to prep them too many times to get good absorbency. The best thing about Sunbabys are that they are cheap! At $60 for a dozen it's a great way to bump up your stash and give your more expensive diapers a good rotation.
Weehugger Snap Cover-I tried Weehuggers before I found my love for fitteds, but I felt overall they had a great fit. I had some wicking issues when I used a wide insert/prefold, but it was easily remedied by double checking the legs. I think I'd like the aplix version of these covers better, just because Vy is crawling around like crazy these days and does not like to stop for a diaper change.
Clotheeze Workhorse (fitted)-I had tried Dream Eze fitted diapers but didn't like them, but after reading so many raves about the Clotheeze Workhorse (and at $7.95 a piece), I couldn't resist trying them. I've long been attracted to quilty fluffy prefolds, despite only owning Gerber prefolds. I feel like I don't use them enough to buy more, but the Clotheeze Workhorse is a modified prefold so it is the best of both worlds. SUPER absorbancy, even without being properly prepped (I couldn't wait), they work great with Flip diaper covers and Bummi's Super Whisper Wrap. They have made me discover my love for fitteds.
Bummi Super Whisper Wrap-I generally shy away from aplix closures fearing that they won't last until potty training. Although, with no experience to the contrary, I must admit this to be an irrational fear. I have become a bit of laundry tab nazi, but I excuse myself of bad behavior claiming frugalism and protection of our investment. Ahem. Anyway, these covers seem to run a tad large for us, but I like they will have a long life. Bummis are made from TPU instead of PUL and I'm really digging it's softer features. I also like that you can dry them in the dryer in a pinch. I can't wait to try these with aplix closure fitteds (fluffy mail is on its way!).
RockinGreen Detergent-Our laundry sturm und drang is quite impressive: sensitive skin (fragrance allergies), wool allegies, HE front loader machine, and hard water! Whew! While our trusty Seventh Gen laundry soap has been doing the job of washing the diapers just fine, I did notice a few issues with Sticky PUL. When I saw RockinGreen comes in a specialized formula for hard water I decided to give it a try with some cash back points from diapers.com. It made a HUGE difference. After one washing all my diapers feel like I stripped them, nice and clean. I love the scents, my favorites being Lavender Mint Revival and Smashing Watermelons.
Joeybunz Hemp Inserts-What can I say, in the world of diaper absorbancy, hemp is king. I use my old gDiaper inserts as night doublers and Vy stays nice and dry all night, it's amazing. Why I ever thought I needed to use sposies at night the first few months of cloth diapering, I'll never know. These hemp inserts differentiate themselves by being contoured. The hourglass shape really helps reduce bulk in between the legs. While I didn't really NEED them because I have the gdiaper inserts, the contour shape helps turn my Fuzzibunz Medium pockets into trim night diapers.
Imse Visme Flannelette Wipe and Green Mountain Diaper Two Sided Wipes-Cloth wipes you ask? I say YES! It never really occurred to me to use cloth wipes until I started seeing a lot of buzz around them on the Baby Center Cloth Diapering board. While trading in some of Vy's old clothes and gear I saw some wipes and decided, why not? At first I used a store bought wipe solution spray, but Vy didn't have a good reaction to it so I decided to make my own. I love it! I like that I can add a light scent.
My current favorite recipe is:
1 cup brewed Camomile Tea
1 tsp Vitamin E Oil
1 tsp Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser
Mix together and put in a spray bottle or bottle (I use a sitz bottle)
Back to the wipes...I like the flannelette wipes. They are a little thin but they stay soft after washing and do the job. The two sided wipes are great for the big messes. The terry side is great at really getting the diaper area clean and the flat side is getting softer by the wash. I still have a stash of disposable wipes for outings, but I'm coming to really prefer cloth wipes. Here's a great site with lots of wipe solution recipes: Zany Zebra
Wetbags:
Itsy Ritzy Wet Happened Wetbag-this is a CUTE wetbag. Itsy Ritzy does great patterns. The waterproof liner is really thick, I hang dry because it looks like it might crack if dried.
Weehuggers Small Hobo Wetbag: This wetbag has style! With two compartments (one for clean, one for dirty), this diaper does double duty in your diaper bag, or take it on it's own for quick trips.
More Reviews to Come: Fuzzibunz sized and one sized fleece/microfiber and fleece/hemp pockets, Baby Chai Lucky Jade bamboo AI2, Bagshot Row Bamboo AI2, Happy Heiny, Blueberry (regular and minky), and Swaddlebees, and alpaca dryer balls
Sunbaby 2.0
I bought Sunbaby 2.0 from ebay first. I guess I didn't google well enough to find the main website, but I am still happy with the earlier version of Sunbabys. The 2.0 are great diapers for itty bittys and skinny babies. The elastic is a little bit thin so I did notice some read marks on Vy the first time I used them. I've since adjusted the snap to give her a little more room and I'm able to avoid leaks at the same time.
Sunbaby 4.0
I really like the Sunbaby 4.0. The fleece is soft, the PUL on the solid colors is thick so they do not fit as trimly as the prints, but they are still trimmer than other diapers like the Bumgenious 4.0. The print PUL is nice and soft, I feel like these would make great swim diaper. The fit is super trim and the added hip snaps make a nice fit. The inserts are the same with both Sunbaby 2.0 and 4.0, they have several layers of microfiber serged together into an absorbent insert. I didn't feel like I needed to prep them too many times to get good absorbency. The best thing about Sunbabys are that they are cheap! At $60 for a dozen it's a great way to bump up your stash and give your more expensive diapers a good rotation.
Weehugger Snap Cover-I tried Weehuggers before I found my love for fitteds, but I felt overall they had a great fit. I had some wicking issues when I used a wide insert/prefold, but it was easily remedied by double checking the legs. I think I'd like the aplix version of these covers better, just because Vy is crawling around like crazy these days and does not like to stop for a diaper change.
Clotheeze Workhorse (fitted)-I had tried Dream Eze fitted diapers but didn't like them, but after reading so many raves about the Clotheeze Workhorse (and at $7.95 a piece), I couldn't resist trying them. I've long been attracted to quilty fluffy prefolds, despite only owning Gerber prefolds. I feel like I don't use them enough to buy more, but the Clotheeze Workhorse is a modified prefold so it is the best of both worlds. SUPER absorbancy, even without being properly prepped (I couldn't wait), they work great with Flip diaper covers and Bummi's Super Whisper Wrap. They have made me discover my love for fitteds.
Bummi Super Whisper Wrap-I generally shy away from aplix closures fearing that they won't last until potty training. Although, with no experience to the contrary, I must admit this to be an irrational fear. I have become a bit of laundry tab nazi, but I excuse myself of bad behavior claiming frugalism and protection of our investment. Ahem. Anyway, these covers seem to run a tad large for us, but I like they will have a long life. Bummis are made from TPU instead of PUL and I'm really digging it's softer features. I also like that you can dry them in the dryer in a pinch. I can't wait to try these with aplix closure fitteds (fluffy mail is on its way!).
RockinGreen Detergent-Our laundry sturm und drang is quite impressive: sensitive skin (fragrance allergies), wool allegies, HE front loader machine, and hard water! Whew! While our trusty Seventh Gen laundry soap has been doing the job of washing the diapers just fine, I did notice a few issues with Sticky PUL. When I saw RockinGreen comes in a specialized formula for hard water I decided to give it a try with some cash back points from diapers.com. It made a HUGE difference. After one washing all my diapers feel like I stripped them, nice and clean. I love the scents, my favorites being Lavender Mint Revival and Smashing Watermelons.
Joeybunz Hemp Inserts-What can I say, in the world of diaper absorbancy, hemp is king. I use my old gDiaper inserts as night doublers and Vy stays nice and dry all night, it's amazing. Why I ever thought I needed to use sposies at night the first few months of cloth diapering, I'll never know. These hemp inserts differentiate themselves by being contoured. The hourglass shape really helps reduce bulk in between the legs. While I didn't really NEED them because I have the gdiaper inserts, the contour shape helps turn my Fuzzibunz Medium pockets into trim night diapers.
Imse Visme Flannelette Wipe and Green Mountain Diaper Two Sided Wipes-Cloth wipes you ask? I say YES! It never really occurred to me to use cloth wipes until I started seeing a lot of buzz around them on the Baby Center Cloth Diapering board. While trading in some of Vy's old clothes and gear I saw some wipes and decided, why not? At first I used a store bought wipe solution spray, but Vy didn't have a good reaction to it so I decided to make my own. I love it! I like that I can add a light scent.
My current favorite recipe is:
1 cup brewed Camomile Tea
1 tsp Vitamin E Oil
1 tsp Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser
Mix together and put in a spray bottle or bottle (I use a sitz bottle)
Back to the wipes...I like the flannelette wipes. They are a little thin but they stay soft after washing and do the job. The two sided wipes are great for the big messes. The terry side is great at really getting the diaper area clean and the flat side is getting softer by the wash. I still have a stash of disposable wipes for outings, but I'm coming to really prefer cloth wipes. Here's a great site with lots of wipe solution recipes: Zany Zebra
Wetbags:
Itsy Ritzy Wet Happened Wetbag-this is a CUTE wetbag. Itsy Ritzy does great patterns. The waterproof liner is really thick, I hang dry because it looks like it might crack if dried.
Weehuggers Small Hobo Wetbag: This wetbag has style! With two compartments (one for clean, one for dirty), this diaper does double duty in your diaper bag, or take it on it's own for quick trips.
More Reviews to Come: Fuzzibunz sized and one sized fleece/microfiber and fleece/hemp pockets, Baby Chai Lucky Jade bamboo AI2, Bagshot Row Bamboo AI2, Happy Heiny, Blueberry (regular and minky), and Swaddlebees, and alpaca dryer balls
Honerable Mention Baby Items
Ergo Performance Carrier: I have two carriers, the My Baby Nest, which is a wrap style carrier, and the Ergo. The My Baby Nest was great when Vy was little. The Ergo is IT when it comes to carrying her around while we're out and about (she gets sick of the car seat) and when I need full mobility of both arms. The performance is super light and like all Ergo models, it's super comfy for all body types.
Puj Tub: The Puj tub was perfect for bathing Vy when she was littler. It would have continued to be great if she wasn't such a tall baby and our sinks were bigger. As a new mom I felt secure bathing her in the Puj and it was really easy and fast to set up. I think if we had a larger sink with a different faucet I would have used it longer.
Camera: Specifically, a camera with a burst mode or fast shutter. I use my iPhone a lot since I can take several photos at a time to get that perfect picture. But I've been slowly using my point and shoot digital since the quality is better and it has a burst mode where it takes one picture every second.
Water Boiler: We have a Zoshirushi water boiler that keeps water at a boil all day long. Having boiling water is great when you have a little one. Its great for warming bottles, flash sterilizing dropped pacifiers (depending on where they were dropped), and helps the dinner process along.
Baby Nail Scissors: Don't know what's wrong with me but I am a klutz when it comes to trimming Violette's nails with a baby nail cutter. I always seem to leave a jagged end and it's annoying. This weekend I got some Tweezerman Baby Nail Scissor/File set and it is SO much easier to cut her nails. There's safety guard that helps you not cut too short.
Puj Tub: The Puj tub was perfect for bathing Vy when she was littler. It would have continued to be great if she wasn't such a tall baby and our sinks were bigger. As a new mom I felt secure bathing her in the Puj and it was really easy and fast to set up. I think if we had a larger sink with a different faucet I would have used it longer.
Camera: Specifically, a camera with a burst mode or fast shutter. I use my iPhone a lot since I can take several photos at a time to get that perfect picture. But I've been slowly using my point and shoot digital since the quality is better and it has a burst mode where it takes one picture every second.
Water Boiler: We have a Zoshirushi water boiler that keeps water at a boil all day long. Having boiling water is great when you have a little one. Its great for warming bottles, flash sterilizing dropped pacifiers (depending on where they were dropped), and helps the dinner process along.
Baby Nail Scissors: Don't know what's wrong with me but I am a klutz when it comes to trimming Violette's nails with a baby nail cutter. I always seem to leave a jagged end and it's annoying. This weekend I got some Tweezerman Baby Nail Scissor/File set and it is SO much easier to cut her nails. There's safety guard that helps you not cut too short.
10 Favorite Baby Items: The First 6 Months
1. iPad: I spend so much time rocking Violette for naps and I got really sick of watching tv after the first two weeks. At first I had a laptop but it was really hard to type on it. Since the iPad has the touch function it’s super easy to browse the web, read online magazines, play games, and correspond that way. It’s expensive (and mine was a gift), but made my life a lot easier and happier.
2. Anything Aden and Anais: This brand is the best! Cotton muslin gets softer and softer with each washing and retains heat in a way that avoids overheating or getting too cold. Violette has the sleepers (regular weight and cozy), swaddles, cozy blanket, issie, and burpy bibs. The burpy bibs go at the top of my list since they are multiuse: burpies, bibs, and they work great when you’re pumping. They are bean shaped so they nicely right under your breasts to catch any leaks.
3. Good quality glider: In retrospect I would have bought a glider that also reclined, but having a good quality glider is essential. I must have spent the entire first two months sitting in mine. Springing for the ottoman was great as well because it allowed me to keep my feet up after my c-section.
4. Sophie the Giraffe: Sophie is Violette’s favorite teething toy! Ours did smell like rubber at first, but after a few washings and lots of use the smell has gone away. She can be a huge crabby pants and Sophie cheers her right up.
5. Brest Friend: The unfortunately named Brest Friend actually will become your best friend while nursing! I had both the Boppy and the Brest Friend and preferred the latter. It straps around your waist which is nice because it has a little back support section that helps you sit up straighter. At first I used pillows but it made getting set up for feedings a pain in the ass and my back would still burn. Violette nursed in the football hold position exclusively for the first 3 months until she big enough not to get smothered by my breast and I just put the Brest Friend on sideways and it worked perfectly.
6. NoseFrida: Oh the wondrous NoseFrida! This was recommended to me by our photographer who is a new dad himself. It’s the best thing since sliced bread! Violette was very congested the first few months and would SCREAM when we’d put saline drops in her nose and try to suction out the mucous with a bulb aspirator. The NoseFrida is totally hygienic and really gets that snot out of the little one’s noses.
7. Orajel Medicated Swabs: Way easier to get the Orajel actually on the gums using these instead of the gel. Instant relief (for Violette and my ears).
8. Glow Worm (comfort item) for diaper changes: At first Vy didn’t like diaper changes, not sure why. Her glow worm plays a little song and glows. It provided her with a familiar comfort item when being changed. Now that she’s bigger it gives something to play with so during diaper changes. If anything, it’s a roll over deterrent on the high changing table.
9. Baby Bjorn lightweight pack and play: I’ll be honest, we’re freaking spoiled. We have both the conventional Graco pack and play and the Baby Bjorn. The bells and whistles of the Graco are great for home, but it’s really heavy and bulky for trips. The Baby Bjorn packs up very compactly, and like they claim, you can set it up in 20 seconds flat. Vy really likes it, I think the shape makes her feel safe and secure, especially in random environments.
10. King Sized Bed: We co-slept with Violette in a queen bed the first two months or so, but I got really tired of being squished in the middle. The king bed was an essential buy for everyone’s sleep. Vy has plenty of room on her side, she’s safe with the baby guard rail, and I don’t have to worry.
So there are the 10 things I can’t live without! I’m sure I’ll find more as the year progresses and the adventure continues!
Cloth Diaper Review 1
gDiapers All in Two Hybrid http://www.gdiapers.com/
Flushable Insert: I didn't care for the flushable insert. I tried them when Violette was pretty small so I wasn't totally into leaving her to flush the insert for every diaper change, just seemed like a pain in the ass. Many of the inserts ended up in the diaper genie. The paper insert didn't do well with poos, especially blow outs (more on that later).
Cloth Insert: I really love the cloth insert. One side is nice fleecy cotton and the other is hemp. The hemp is ULTRA absorbent. Even with a super wet diaper the fleece stays pretty dry. Handles poos great, but blow outs soil the liner.
I like gDiapers and would recommend them. Going in, I wasn't prepared that blow out poops would leak into the liner (they rarely leak into the little pant-the only time was with the flushable inserts). But I was unprepared for blow out poops at all, luckily they're infrequent. Buying extra liners solved that problem. The absorbency of the cloth insert is the best of all the inserts I've used. Violette has outgrown her first set of little pants and I still use her small size inserts as doublers in her Bum Genius and Flip diapers. I experienced bunching (in the front) with both the flushable and the cloth inserts, usually only when wet. One downside is that gDiapers come in sizes so you'll end up buying at least two sets. They come in Tiny (5-8 lbs), Small (8-14 lbs), Medium (13-28 lbs) and Large (26-36 lbs). We get by with six pairs of little gpants, 12 liners, and 12 inserts (along with other diapers). Now that Violette is in the Med/Larges I don't think I'll buy the next size up, opting for cloth diapers that will span the life of her diaper days although gdiapers has frequent deals and sales, so I'm not totally opposed to buying more.
GroVia all in Two Hybrid (Velcro Closures with sizing snaps)
http://www.gro-via.com/index.php
GroVia diapers have a snap in soaker pad with two layers of cloth and a layer of waterproof cloth. I like all in twos because all you have to do is change the liner. They are a little expensive, the new line just came out so they're hard to find on sale. I like GroVias a lot because they are very slim fitting and the organic cotton in the inserts is very easy to clean with the toilet sprayer. The GroVias come in one size, all you have to do is snap it open as the baby grows. The diaper grows with the baby, although their size chart shows inches, I'm guessing they are similar to the gDiapers in sizing. GroVia also makes a disposable insert, similar to a maxi pad (has a sticky side you adhere to the diaper), but I haven’t tried them yet. These are definitely my favorite cloth diaper for ease of use.
GroVia All in One (formerly Dream Eze)
This review is of Dream Eze, I haven’t tried the new GroVia all in one yet and probably won’t. These diapers have the easy clean up of the all in twos, but instead of an insert have two soakers sewn into the diaper. The back is attached, but the front is not. They take a long time to dry, usually needing two rounds on permanent press in the dryer. They get really bulky if you buy the organic ones without the cover. The soaker pads are a little unruly and bunch up in the dryer. After using the hybrids I wouldn’t go with an all in one again.
Bum Genius 4.0 Pocket, Hook Loop Closure
http://www.bumgenius.com/index.php
Bum Genius have a nice microfleece type covering over the pocket, and a waterproof inner lining. The inserts are plushy terry cloth and have good absorbency. They are one size with snaps for sizing. They come with two inserts: a newborn insert and an insert that also has snaps for sizing. You can use the newborn insert as an extra soaker, and I also use my old gdiaper inserts for this as well. These diapers are great for people who are not used to cloth diapers like caregivers or grandparents since you can have them put together and they look and go on like disposable diapers. The diapers have to be air dried to extend the life of the waterproof lining, but even in cold weather mine line dry in about 16 hours. These diapers are fairly bulky but handle poos like a champ. They clean easily too. I like that they are one size so I won’t have to buy anymore. So far, no stains.
Gerber Organic Prefolds (with Flip Diaper Cover)
It took me awhile to warm up to the idea of prefolds, I thought they’d take a long time to load up while Violette was on the changing table, but that’s not the case at all. I fold them up after washing so I really just have to grab one or two and set them in the diaper cover. You can use them with any diaper cover, I use Flip diaper covers because that’s what my local cloth diapering source carries. They are one size and work great with any insert or prefold.
Bum Genius Diaper Sprayer
Eric installed the Bum Genius Diaper Sprayer on our toilet. It was easy to install, but he had to go back and tighten some of the parts since it leaked at first. If I turn on the sprayer full blast (which I generally don’t need to, it has terrific pressure) it sometimes leaks. The sprayer is almost too good; I have to be careful about aiming it correctly otherwise water will splash around the toilet and the bathroom. Best used with toilet seat up. Super convenient, I’m sure any brand would work fine.
FuzziBunz Doorknob Wetbag
Flushable Insert: I didn't care for the flushable insert. I tried them when Violette was pretty small so I wasn't totally into leaving her to flush the insert for every diaper change, just seemed like a pain in the ass. Many of the inserts ended up in the diaper genie. The paper insert didn't do well with poos, especially blow outs (more on that later).
Cloth Insert: I really love the cloth insert. One side is nice fleecy cotton and the other is hemp. The hemp is ULTRA absorbent. Even with a super wet diaper the fleece stays pretty dry. Handles poos great, but blow outs soil the liner.
I like gDiapers and would recommend them. Going in, I wasn't prepared that blow out poops would leak into the liner (they rarely leak into the little pant-the only time was with the flushable inserts). But I was unprepared for blow out poops at all, luckily they're infrequent. Buying extra liners solved that problem. The absorbency of the cloth insert is the best of all the inserts I've used. Violette has outgrown her first set of little pants and I still use her small size inserts as doublers in her Bum Genius and Flip diapers. I experienced bunching (in the front) with both the flushable and the cloth inserts, usually only when wet. One downside is that gDiapers come in sizes so you'll end up buying at least two sets. They come in Tiny (5-8 lbs), Small (8-14 lbs), Medium (13-28 lbs) and Large (26-36 lbs). We get by with six pairs of little gpants, 12 liners, and 12 inserts (along with other diapers). Now that Violette is in the Med/Larges I don't think I'll buy the next size up, opting for cloth diapers that will span the life of her diaper days although gdiapers has frequent deals and sales, so I'm not totally opposed to buying more.
GroVia all in Two Hybrid (Velcro Closures with sizing snaps)
http://www.gro-via.com/index.php
GroVia diapers have a snap in soaker pad with two layers of cloth and a layer of waterproof cloth. I like all in twos because all you have to do is change the liner. They are a little expensive, the new line just came out so they're hard to find on sale. I like GroVias a lot because they are very slim fitting and the organic cotton in the inserts is very easy to clean with the toilet sprayer. The GroVias come in one size, all you have to do is snap it open as the baby grows. The diaper grows with the baby, although their size chart shows inches, I'm guessing they are similar to the gDiapers in sizing. GroVia also makes a disposable insert, similar to a maxi pad (has a sticky side you adhere to the diaper), but I haven’t tried them yet. These are definitely my favorite cloth diaper for ease of use.
GroVia All in One (formerly Dream Eze)
This review is of Dream Eze, I haven’t tried the new GroVia all in one yet and probably won’t. These diapers have the easy clean up of the all in twos, but instead of an insert have two soakers sewn into the diaper. The back is attached, but the front is not. They take a long time to dry, usually needing two rounds on permanent press in the dryer. They get really bulky if you buy the organic ones without the cover. The soaker pads are a little unruly and bunch up in the dryer. After using the hybrids I wouldn’t go with an all in one again.
Bum Genius 4.0 Pocket, Hook Loop Closure
http://www.bumgenius.com/index.php
Bum Genius have a nice microfleece type covering over the pocket, and a waterproof inner lining. The inserts are plushy terry cloth and have good absorbency. They are one size with snaps for sizing. They come with two inserts: a newborn insert and an insert that also has snaps for sizing. You can use the newborn insert as an extra soaker, and I also use my old gdiaper inserts for this as well. These diapers are great for people who are not used to cloth diapers like caregivers or grandparents since you can have them put together and they look and go on like disposable diapers. The diapers have to be air dried to extend the life of the waterproof lining, but even in cold weather mine line dry in about 16 hours. These diapers are fairly bulky but handle poos like a champ. They clean easily too. I like that they are one size so I won’t have to buy anymore. So far, no stains.
Gerber Organic Prefolds (with Flip Diaper Cover)
It took me awhile to warm up to the idea of prefolds, I thought they’d take a long time to load up while Violette was on the changing table, but that’s not the case at all. I fold them up after washing so I really just have to grab one or two and set them in the diaper cover. You can use them with any diaper cover, I use Flip diaper covers because that’s what my local cloth diapering source carries. They are one size and work great with any insert or prefold.
Bum Genius Diaper Sprayer
Eric installed the Bum Genius Diaper Sprayer on our toilet. It was easy to install, but he had to go back and tighten some of the parts since it leaked at first. If I turn on the sprayer full blast (which I generally don’t need to, it has terrific pressure) it sometimes leaks. The sprayer is almost too good; I have to be careful about aiming it correctly otherwise water will splash around the toilet and the bathroom. Best used with toilet seat up. Super convenient, I’m sure any brand would work fine.
FuzziBunz Doorknob Wetbag
Giant wetbag that has hooks to fit over the doorknob. Has a zipper on the bottom so you don’t have to unload diapers into the dryer, just unzip, dump, and throw it in. I don’t observe any odors.
Hospital Bed Pads
I use hospital bed pads over my changing pad cover and when Violette was very little while changing her in our bed at night. I rarely need them anymore, but I got a bunch on sale so I always have one stocked on the changing pad. I recommend them to first time moms and dads just getting the hang of diaper changes.
Hospital Bed Pads
I use hospital bed pads over my changing pad cover and when Violette was very little while changing her in our bed at night. I rarely need them anymore, but I got a bunch on sale so I always have one stocked on the changing pad. I recommend them to first time moms and dads just getting the hang of diaper changes.
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