A Cloth Diaper Addict’s Dream: Starting a Stash from Scratch

I cloth diapered both my boys. When my eldest, Sullivan, was born, we discovered he was allergic to the chemicals in Pampers. After dealing with horrible chemical rashes, we decided to take the plunge into cloth diapering. My husband was deployed, but he was on board with the move, and happily indulged in my new-found obsession. I spent the bulk of Sully’s babyhood buying and selling cloth diapers by the dozens to find, what I believed to be, the perfect stash. What resulted was a hodgepodge of work-at-home mama diapers, hybrids, all-in-ones, pockets, fitteds, wools, flats, prefolds, covers. Basically, any type of diaper you can imagine, we had it in some form or another. I was a happy camper, but everyone else who helped us with my son including my newly-home-from-deployment husband and my extended family found my diaper drawer a confusing maze of cloth and PUL.

When Arlo was born a mere twenty months later, I continued my cycle of buying and selling. Picking up some new diapers here, selling off ones that I had grown jaded with there, and once again, my stash resembled a patched together quilt of colors and fabrics. Apparently, I had trouble settling, and my family was once again annoyed at my eclectic array of choices. When Arlo potty trained, we decided we were probably done with babies and gave away the vast majority of our diapers. I sold the ones that had a bit of life left, but most were looking less than perfect, but were still useable with a bit of fixing up. They were donated or given to mama friends who wanted to try but not commit to cloth.

Fast forward two years, and SURPRISE! Baby number three is on the way. I have to admit, having been done with diapering for some time, I looked at disposables briefly. Many “eco-friendly” companies are on the market now, and I considered them for a moment. My addiction to cloth had seemingly faded. I have started my Master’s degree program. I’m coaching CrossFit at my local box four or five days a week, and my boys are involved in activities and school that keep us running. However, the pull of pretty patterns brought me back in, and I realized I get to do something most cloth diaper addicts only dream of doing; I get to start a stash from scratch with the experience of diapering two babies behind me. Having truly tried most everything, I knew right off the bat what I wanted to do. I purchased a twelve pack of Grovia All-in-One Newborn diapers, six OsoCozy bamboo blended prefolds, and twelve AppleCheeks size 1 diapers for the newborn stage. I plan on exclusively breastfeeding, and I remember how often diapers have to be changed during that newborn stage. I plan on using the AppleCheeks as their All-in-Two system, and I will be alternating between the AppleCheeks Bamboo 2-ply inserts, and the OsoCozy prefolds. It may not be the most “practical” newborn stash. For practicality, I recommend some nice covers, prefolds/flats, or a newborn rental. But, it’s fun and pretty, and I cannot wait to see a fluffy bum dressed in these diapers.

For the infant/toddler stage, I have revamped my Rumparooz stash (a huge favorite around here), invested in Grovia hybrids with some extra soakers, some Smart Bottoms organic cotton All-in-Ones, and a handful of bumGenius Freetimes that we received with our Kelly’s Closet orders and some Elementals.

So what were my stipulations?

1) Retail only: I refuse to pay over retail for diapers. Additionally, I almost always order from Kelly’s Closet to get the rewards points and to earn the free diapers with certain purchases. I rarely buy used. There is absolutely nothing wrong with used, but I’ve found that everyone’s versions of “excellent used condition” are slightly different, and I am a little particular about the quality of my diapers.

2) A little bit of everything…but stick to what you love: Babies are all sized differently, which means sometimes your favorite diapers won’t fit great for a couple months. They usually fit again once baby grows again. But I learned the first couple times around that having a variety is nice for those awkward growth stages. Additionally, I like having the option of hybrids, all-in-ones, and pockets. I don’t love a stash that is entirely one type of diaper or another, but I also don’t love a stash that is so much of everything that it overwhelms fellow caretakers.

3) Large rotation: As this will definitely (most likely…I think) be the last baby, I wanted a large stash to help the longevity of my diapers. I have about thirty-six newborn changes and thirty-six one-size changes. You can get by with far fewer, but these diapers take a beating. The less they are used, the better quality they maintain. I wanted to have a good quality stash left over when baby is done to donate and sell so that I can get back a great deal of my investment.

And that was that. Some people collect baseball cards or beanie babies. I collect diapers! I love this new stash, and I can’t wait for baby three to arrive in May/June.

Bio: Sally writes at Exploits of a Military Mama. She is wife to a military man, mother to two crazy boys, and expecting a third baby in May/June. She is a CrossFit Level 1 trainer, is currently working on her Master’s degree in Library Information and Science, and stays-at-home with her babies. She loves all things crunchy, Diet Coke, good music, wine, and her family time.


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A Cloth Diaper Addict’s Dream: Starting a Stash from Scratch

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How I went from "Ewww" to Proud

As a young girl I saw my aunt using cloth diapers, long enough ago I don't even remember what style she used but I can only assume that she used flats and plastic pants. My reaction then to cloth diapers was an emphatic "eww, no way I'm EVER doing that!" (Never mind that I have literally been facefirst in... "mud" and jumped back up laughing to continue chasing the cow I was after! )

So, how did I go from "never ever" to #MakeClothMainstream ? It was a journey that actually started with mommycloth!

In the year before I got married I started seeing more and more information about the chemicals in disposable pads and tampons. I also saw a blog post (don't ask me now which blog) where she talked about having a lighter flow after switching to cloth because her body wasn't being irritated by the chemicals!

Well after getting married I finally made the leap. I grabbed some of Cowboy's cotton work socks out of the mending bag and made myself some mommycloth! LOL hey, I'm too frugal (sounds nicer than cheap) to buy something that I'm not sure I'll use! Come to find out, I love them! I change my pad less often, don't get the rash that I thought just came along with "Aunt Flo" and I don't have that embarrassing trip to the store every month! (You know the one, where you search for a checkout with a woman...and hope she doesn't say something about your purchase! )

Then I found out I was pregnant! By this time Cowboy and I were trying to be fairly "Crunchy" so I was researching natural baby stuff. Besides, if not putting those chemicals on MY bottom made such a difference, it only made sense that it would be better for my baby as well! (Never mind my pocket book, have you seen what diapers go for these days?!?) I saw that there were "real" diapers (read, no safety pins required) out there that you could reuse! My first thought was that I'd make the diapers, but then I saw the patterns and chickened out.... I'm not what you'd call very crafty. So I started haunting the preloved diaper pages, as well as buying all the flats (including receiving blankets), prefolds and floursack towels I could find at garage sales and thrift stores.

When Lil Buckaroo got here a friend gifted us with several covers to be used with flats and prefolds, that was pretty easy, "Hey! I think I can do this!" Unfortunately, what fits a 9 pound newborn perfectly doesn't fit for long! Thankfully I found what looked like an amazing deal on some bumGenius diapers! After researching BG (incidentally that's how I found Kelly's Closet! ) I bought what turned out to be a nice assortment, I now had pockets, and AIOs, snaps and velcro to play with! I was then gifted some new BG pockets! My stash was well on its way and I..... well lets just say my stash isnt finished ! (Addicted? Me?!? Neverrrrr! Besides, if Lil Buckaroo is ever a big brother we'll need more diapers, right? Right! LOL)

Cowgirl Mama is a new mom loving life in the country with her husband and son. You can follow her on her blog at: cowgirlmama14.blogspot.com


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How I went from "Ewww" to Proud

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How To Tell When You Have Too Many Cloth Diapers

• When you spend more time trying to decide which diaper to put on the bum then the actual diaper change takes.
• When your mail carrier sees you he says, “No diaper package this week? Have you been sick?”
• You’re looking at your phone and say “OH my gosh, that is so cute” and your husband’s only response is…just get it.
• Your phone added Kelly’s Closet as the only “frequently visited” site in your mobile browser.
• You could pay for a month’s worth of groceries in Diaper Dollars from Kelly’s Closet.
• You have enough diapers to keep two in each car, both parents’ work offices, and maybe a few at Grandma’s house. (However this is a really good idea for emergencies J)
• You find a diaper in a bag from a trip…you took 4 months ago…and didn’t even realize it was missing.
• Your day care provider says, “I thought you wanted to save money by Cloth Diapering” when she sees a new print each week.
• You tell your friends, “don’t worry...they’re his college fund”
• Finally, just kidding because you can never have too many cloth diapers!  Just look how cute they look when they are running away from you:

Bio: Stephanie is a full time work at home mom to her 16-month-old son. She loves trying to live as crunchy as possible while enjoying her Starbucks Americano’s with Heavy Cream. She’s mildly obsessed with cloth diapers and binging on Friends reruns on Netflix.


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How To Tell When You Have Too Many Cloth Diapers

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Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Addict

My baby has too many diapers again. There. I said it. Admitted the cold, hard truth that a lot of cloth diapering mamas will only say with a whisper and a giggle: I’ve over-bought for what my daughter really needs…possibly even somewhat substantially.

We don’t have a changing table—not for this fourth baby. She doesn’t need one. We had one, when she was born; and there it sat in the room that she shares with her big sister, unused, taking up space that was really needed for other things, because it was easier to just change her in the living room floor, on the couch, on our bed—wherever we happened to be when we needed to change her. We ditched the changing table and moved her diapers into the living room, where she was changed the most often. They sit in two neat little baskets, easy to access.

And the baskets are overflowing again.

Sure, I have enough diapers to loan out a few if anyone in my circle needs to borrow a starter stash for a few days to check it out; and that sounds great. Really, it does. But the truth is, there’s no one in my immediate circle who is close enough to me to borrow cloth diapers for their baby. Most of my friends don’t have little ones; and the ones who do are fairly set in their disposable preference. Barring financial catastrophe or allergy, they aren’t going to be making that jump.

And sure, I have several different styles and types (again), because different types of diapers work best at different times in your cloth diapering journey, right? I was making it work with a stash made up of all one brand of diapers (bumGenius, for anyone who is interested). We had a selection of their styles—the 4.0 pocket diapers, the Freetime all in ones, the Flip cover/prefold or insert system—but those were the diapers that fit my tiny girl the best, so our stash was completely made up of them. Her brother had a much more varied stash, but he also had a body style that nearly any diaper worked just fine for, so it didn’t matter what we used. He also had a changing table where they could all be corralled.

Then Black Friday happened, and, well, there were some sales that were too good to pass up…and now her stash has a few more styles in it. They’re good diapers. I’m pleased with the ones that we’ve tried. It’s just that she doesn’t need them. The baskets are overflowing. Plus, bumGenius has been releasing all of their Special Limited Edition Prints That Will Never Be Seen Again, and anyone who’s ever been in the Cotton Babies Flash Mob knows that you have to buy them as soon as they’re released if you even think you might like them, because they disappear so fast.

I gave up and added a third basket, but that just makes the diaper pile look messy and cluttered; and then my three-year-old decided to dance on top of one of the baskets, so we’re back to two. I like the way “two” looks much better. Neat and tidy and easy to transport.

But there’s that problem with the overflowing diapers.

The funny thing is, there are diapers in my stash that I don’t care for. She’s reached that stage where she can undo aplix diapers by herself, and we have some that are over a year old that need to either have the tabs replaced or be snap converted. I’m probably capable of doing it, but I neither need nor want to. I could sell them, donate them, move them on out…but knowing that and doing it are two very different things.

So here they sit. Taking up space. Gathering dust, metaphorically speaking.

What started this addiction, anyway? It was just a choice like any other: cloth diapers for my babies instead of disposables. I love my cloth diapers—love not having to drag all four kids out just for diapers, ever; love not having to spend money on diapers unless I want to; love the cute prints and the decision about what she’ll be wearing at each diaper change—but that doesn’t mean that I have to buy all the diapers…right?

Nope. No more diaper buying for us. I’ll just keep the stash that we’ve got. It’s a good stash, filled with plenty of choices. I might even weed it down a little bit, and…

Oh, wait, is that a new print?

By Emily


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Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Addict

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I Want to Try More Diapers!

I almost had my 5 year-old son drawing an armadillo for the Kelly's Closet bumGenius Armadillo contest. He had his pencil ready, intrigued by the real-life photos I pulled up online. Then he asked the fatal question, "What is the prize?" When I explained it would be a cloth diaper for his new baby brother, Ezra put down his pencil and replied in exasperation, "Why do you like diapers so much anyway?"

It's a fair question, especially since we have an ample supply of cloth diapers in storage waiting for our newest arrival in the fall. Ezra is my second child and cloth diaper guinea pig. We used disposable diapers on his older sister and decided to test reusable options through a cloth diaper trial when Ezra was eight months old. We liked the pockets we tried (AIOs were newer, more expensive, and less popular at the time) and ditched disposables.

Practically, I know it's a bit eccentric to want to win (and buy) yet another cloth diaper when our stash is more than sufficient for our needs. Many of our diapers have dutifully kept two babies comfortable and dry in style. Some of my favorites with Ezra made it to the bottom of the pile as I discovered new brands or better-fitting styles for his younger brother.

In truth, I'm intrigued by innovations in cloth diapers, new ways to fit one-size, reconfigured fabric combinations, bold colors, and funky patterns. I don't need to collect one brand or own every new thing, but I love to try and test new diapers. I also love outfitting a baby in an adorable fabric. In all honesty, I superficially hoped for a baby girl mainly to justify the purchase of ruffle bum diapers, an absolutely frivolous notion.

Newborn cloth also proved frustrating with my third baby, full of leaks and tricky sizing on his long, lean frame. I've been slowly, but surely, purchasing newborn diapers "just in case" over the past year and a half and I'm excited to try again. Well, as excited as someone can be to return to diapers after potty training their third child and realizing it was her first time not changing diapers in seven years.

I don't have the budget to purchase every new design or pattern that catches my eye. I do, however, watch Kelly's Closet for coupons and love that customer loyalty equals points toward future purchases. I've been watching my points with a plan to treat myself (I mean my baby) to some new AIOs come this winter. Maybe I'll even find a frivolous diaper to replace my ruffled dreams as well.

By Mindy


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I Want to Try More Diapers!

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Why Does Cloth Diapering Become an Addiction?

There are dozens of different reasons why some families choose cloth diapering. For some, it’s a financial need—the cost of disposable diapers is prohibitive. For others, it’s environmental: they don’t like the idea of leaving hundreds or even thousands of diapers behind in landfills over the course of their children’s time in diapers. Others adore the cute prints and vibrant colors; need the extra protection of quality elastic to help prevent blowouts; need a particular type of fabric to help with a skin sensitivity; don’t want chemicals on their babies’ bums. All to many moms, however, fall prey to the idea that they must have all the diapers. Not a reasonable stash to keep their baby’s bum covered and give them plenty of time between wash days. Not a good-sized stash that will allow for plenty of rotation and prevent diapers from wearing out for a longer period of time. Somehow, they end up with stashes that would diaper triplets and more, stashes that would take a month or more to use all of—and that’s for a single baby, often an older baby who doesn’t require more than half a dozen changes a day.

How do moms go from making a choice that’s environmentally and wallet friendly to an obsession that has them hiding purchases from their husbands and eagerly checking the mailbox in desperate hope that their new fluff has arrived?

I think a lot of it has to do with the community that has sprung up around cloth diapering. Moms have so much to talk about: nighttime solutions; daytime solutions that work for heavy wetters; quality diapers versus the “cheaper” alternatives. There are lots of different types of diapers to try, too: prefolds and covers; fitteds; pockets; all-in-ones; all-in-twos…and then there are hybrid systems like Flip and Best Bottoms that don’t seem to fit into any particular category. As moms cycle through the groups and get excited about each one, the temptation to join in and try out at least one of everything is overwhelming. It gives them something to talk about, something to share with one another, and something to get involved in—particularly stay-at-home moms, who often feel isolated from adult contact throughout the day.

There is also a tendency, within those communities, to assume that if a diapering solution is no longer working, it’s time to try out a new diaper. Are your pockets leaking? Well this pocket works so much better! Can’t seem to get a good fit with your current diaper? This one worked great for one mama’s long, skinny baby. Another diaper worked fantastically well for that mama’s short, chunky darling. Yours is somewhere in the middle, or alternates between the two depending on whether or not she’s in the middle of a growth spurt? Try them both out! You never know what will end up working perfectly. Often, troubleshooting consists more of recommending something new (new detergent…new diaper…new type of diaper) than it does of trying to make your current solution work. Often, old diapers can be freshened up to work well again with the addition of new inserts or a quick repair of the Velcro or elastic; but the cloth diapering boards are filled with moms who are quick to recommend selling them off for someone else to deal with this challenge while you purchase something shiny and new.

Then there’s the thrill of shopping. Most moms will admit that they love getting out and spending a day shopping. Online shopping is, in many ways, double the thrill: there are deals to be acquired, chased from one site to the next; colors and prints to be chosen; choices to be made…and then there’s another thrill all over again when the purchase comes in the mail and you can finally hold them in your hands for the first time. In a day that often doesn’t hold many true thrills and in fact holds a great deal more spit-up, poop, and fussing, “fluff mail” takes on a fascination and importance that it might not otherwise have. It’s not just another purchase; it’s a little treat in a day that might not have had many others.

Retailers and manufacturers also add to the hype. There’s nearly always something new happening in the cloth diaper world. This manufacturer has drastically improved their Velcro. That one has developed a new type of pocket system. Someone has added double gussets, or taken them away, or altered their style. Another one has come out with brand new colors or prints. And speaking of colors and prints, there are often prints that are “limited edition,” lending the feeling that if you don’t buy them now, you’ll be missing out forever! Even prints that you don’t particularly like take on a new level of importance when you consider the possibility that you might not be able to find them anywhere if you decide that you like them later. And hey, that retailer is having a really good sale, or is offering a free diaper with a purchase over a certain amount, or has free shipping….

A fluff addiction is easy to justify, too. After all, it’s something for your baby, right? And babies have to have diapers. Every time a problem with your current diapering solution arises, it’s easier to just replace with something new (especially something that promises to work “better”) than it is to troubleshoot what you have; and besides, the baby needs it. You don’t want them waking up with wet sheets/waking up needing to be changed/leaking whenever they’re in the car seat, right?

Realistically, there’s nothing wrong with a cloth diaper addiction. If it makes you happy and you have the extra money to play with it, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy buying diapers to your heart’s content. Everyone has to have a hobby, and a hobby that helps increase your joy in your new addition isn’t a bad one. However, being aware of what can happen makes it easier to stay wary—and to keep your stash from passing the point of “fun” and becoming overwhelming.

By Emily


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Why Does Cloth Diapering Become an Addiction?

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Organizing a Stash for the Cloth Diaper Hoarder

I consider myself a cloth diaper hoarder. Before my son was even born, I had a stash of about 40 diapers. After he arrived, I increased that to 72. I have officially been put on "cloth diaper suspension" by my husband. Once I laid out all of my diapers and had them all cleaned and ready to go, I was overwhelmed with where to put them all. I didn't want to jam them in the changing table drawer, because they obviously wouldn't fit. I didn't want to put them in the dresser because they would take up the drawers needed for his clothes. So, I recycled an old friend to help me organize my diapers.

I had an old hanging sweater organizer that I was about to throw out when I decided to give it a try to help with organizing my diapers. Once I hung it in my son's closet I knew it was a perfect fit. I started to jam my diapers in the organizer when I became overwhelmed again. What if I can't find the diaper I want when I am changing my son in a rush? So, I decided to organize them a bit more.

I was undecided how to stack the diapers. Should I do it by hook and loop and then snaps, or should I do it be size and style? Instead I decided to organize by brand. I have my Blueberry and GroVia's in the first cube, my bumGenius and Tots Bots in the second, more bumGenius along with FuzziBunz and Moraki in the third, and Kawaii and other brands in the fourth. My fifth cube is for extra inserts. I organized them this way because one day I am in a GroVia mood, when on another day I may just want bumGenius. It seems to work out well. And now that I have a free drawer on my changing table, I have a quick stash of one to two diapers per brand so that I can grab them quickly. I also have a huge overflow pile. I put these diapers on the top shelf of my son's closet. They are my back up diapers in case we need them. I usually switch these out with my other diapers every month so that they are used as well.

Once I do my wash, I rearrange my diapers again. I fill the drawer with diapers that I didn't use the few days before so that they all get equal wear. If there is one diaper that I did not like or am mad at for leaking, I usually put at the bottom of the stash so that I forget about it for a bit. Then when I am switching things out again, I see that old problem diaper and am determined to make it work this time. It is a fun game.

Everyone has their own system, but this seems to be the one that makes me excited each time I use a diaper or do laundry. I feel like a little kid when I am stuffing diapers and putting everything neatly away for future use. It feels like Christmas every couple of days!

Best of luck and happy cloth diapering to all of you!

Bio: I have been married to my husband, Carlos, for 10 years and we are the proud parents of 3 furr-babies. We live in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I am a first time mom to our 5 month old son, Maximus. It took us 8 long years to have him, but we knew our miracle would arrive at some point. Maximus came in to this world at 32 weeks and stayed in the NICU for 8 weeks. He fought very hard to be the healthy and strong baby he is today. I am fortunate enough to be able to stay at home with him full time so I can watch him grow in to an amazing little boy!


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Organizing a Stash for the Cloth Diaper Hoarder

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Cloth Diaper Obsession

Cloth diapering moms get really, really excited about their fluff. No surprise there. And for good reason- they are great for the environment, for baby, and the wallet. What’s not to love? I’ve yet to see anyone “oooh” and “aaaah” over a box of pampers at a baby shower, but cloth is always a crowd pleasing gift. Big name brands roll out more and more cute prints and fun colors, even coordinating snaps and liners, bringing out the collecting/hoarding tendencies in many a shopper. However, much criticism has been given to cloth diapering mommies online in nasty articles and blog posts about obsessions.

One of the main criticisms I have seen is that there is a community, almost a subculture of moms, based on cloth diapers. Other than just the actual diapers, I think many who choose cloth are drawn to it, at least in part, because of this. Not just because it’s the trendy thing nowadays, but because countless online support groups, blogs, and even YouTube tutorials make it so easy to learn and feel connected at the same time. I hear many towns also have cloth diaper meet ups and swaps. I seriously doubt they talk about cloth booties the whole time, but I’m sure the convos last much longer than those about disposables would. Saying that you just got a fluff fairy shipment elicits excitement from friends, while saying a box of disposables came in really doesn’t warrant much interesting banter, and certainly not with fun acronyms and slang, like the phrase “fluff mail” which applies to said shipment.

Another criticism I have seen is that cloth diapering mommies shop for cloth diapers like they are collectibles. Yeah, some moms do collect diapers like Liz Taylor collected jewels, and I envy their rainbow colored stacks. Since I can’t buy every single color and print that I so covet (have you seem Bumgenius’s new color, hummingbird?), I love to browse the fun selection at Kelly’s Closet and daydream about the day they are all mine. Maybe we don’t actually need all of those fun options, but we can certainly justify the spending on decorating our babies’ cute bottoms. I think that’s the best reason to be obsessed, or at the least the reason I am becoming obsessed- that it’s the only baby item where you can buy the highest quality and most beautiful products for a fraction of the cost of the run of the mill, boring option. Buying the most expensive teethers or bottles gives you no financial advantage, but buying a stash of even the highest end cloth diapers saves hundreds, possibly thousands if you resale them or use on another baby.

If you have a baby, you are going to buy diapers anyway. You might as well collect the cute ones since it’s such a fun and stylish way to save money. And it’s ok to get excited about such a wise decision…. maybe even a little obsessed!

By Nicholle


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Cloth Diaper Obsession

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It Starts With Just One Cloth Diapering Mommy

A few months ago, my family and I decided that it would be the best decision for me to become a stay at home mother to raise our then 1 year old little girl. At that point, I was also 3 months pregnant so it made the most sense to spend some quality time with our first daughter, and prepare for the second.

Like any new stay at home mom, there was a little freak out moment trying to figure out what to do with your very active child. So we decided to join a weekly class with other toddlers and mommies. And that’s when it all happened. I met a mom who was cloth diapering her child that was the same age as my little girl. I was in awe of her and wanted to learn more, but was also very hesitant.

I had many questions and one day after class, she did a show and tell. Then this led to her coming over to my house for a play date and she changed his diaper. The fact that she didn’t use diaper cream sold me, besides the fact that the prints were so darn cute.

I was determined to just do a trial, no commitments. So I ordered some cheapo ones online. When they arrived I did the prep wash and then finally put her in them.

Boy that first day was rough. As a disposable mommy, I got so used to the crazy absorbency (because of all the chemicals mind you), that I had so many leaks with my first try at cloth diapers. I felt like a failure.

But the first thing that I learned from that experience was that I was not alone. The support that cloth-diapering mommies have for each other is absolutely amazing. My friend talked me off the ledge and said she felt the same in the beginning. I was determined to get this to work.

An hour of online research led to multiple hours and it became quite the obsession (in the positive sense of course). After posting on facebook about my experience with Cloth Diapering, another fellow mommy told me about Kelly’s Closet. How in the world did I not go there sooner? Well after much time on the site, I placed my first order. Getting fluff mail couldn’t be more exciting, so then I had to place my 2nd, my 3rd, and my 4th order. I’ve never been disappointed with the products and not only did I get what I purchased but also I got free diapers AND reward points. What could be better than that?

Well after growing my stash of mostly bumgenius 4.0s, kawaiis, and other prefolds, I was thrilled to have my toddler in cds. BUT I did hit a few bumps in the road! Lots of rashes! Well lone and behold, back to what I originally learned from my first day of cding – I WAS NOT ALONE!

After joining the Kelly’s Cloth Diaper Facebook Community, I posted numerous amounts of issues regarding my daughter’s bum. Well, guess what? I figured out the problem! I needed to strip my diapers and add a fleece liner to wick away the moisture. I could not be happier to be a part of such an amazing community of strong, determined, and helpful women. I have become one of them – a cloth diapering addict and I’m proud to stand up and say: My name is Kat, and I’m a Cloth Diaperholic! Please excuse me now… I have to log on to Kelly’s Closet to get some newborn prefolds and cover for my little girl who should be arriving any minute! Happy Diapering, Mommies!

Bio: Kat Castro lives in Queens, NY and is a full time stay at home mommy to her 17 month year old toddler. She is expecting her 2nd baby girl in May 2013 and is thrilled to get her in cloth diapers.

It Starts With Just One Cloth Diapering Mommy

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Cloth Diapers Anonymous; Are You an Addict?

Hello. My name is Jen. And I’m a Cloth Diaper Addict.

Admitting it is the first step, right? Although this is an addiction that I’m not sure I want to get over.

Growing up, I always had some sort of addiction or vice, especially when it came to shopping. At first it was cute hair accessories. Then maybe it was jeans. Then…shoes. Oh, yes, I was all set to become the next Imelda Marcos. Then, when I became pregnant, I stopped being able to wear my gorgeous 4-inch stilettos. I suppose it was only a matter of time until my addiction changed.

When I started considering cloth diapering, I spoke to a couple of my friends who were in the middle of doing it themselves. Not only are they an incredible support system, but they also pointed me in the direction of all the great online shops like Kelly’s Closet where I could get amazing deals on diapers. They told me to start “Liking” these different pages on Facebook so I could learn about the fantastic promotions they run.

And that’s how it started.

First, it was the bumGenius and FuzziBunz promos. Then I started seeing all the benefits from the free diaper coupon codes. Do you know how easy it is to find $35 worth of fluff to buy in order to get a free diaper? I could do that with my eyes shut. Then, of course, I’d add a little more in order to take advantage of free shipping – because why would I spend money on shipping when I could spend it on more fluff?

Pretty soon, the orders started piling up. My inbox was full of order confirmations, and my doorstep was full of fluff. I have to admit, it was pretty fun getting all those packages in the mail – it was like a Fluffy Christmas every day! Before I knew it, I had nearly 40 diapers, 4 wetbags, 2 pail liners, a handful of inserts, and a bunch of little accessories.

Oh, and did I mention I haven’t even had my baby yet??

When friends and family members saw my stash, they were understandably surprised. My mom even asked, “Were you planning on only washing diapers once a month?” One friend asked me if I was having twins based on my stash. A couple of my fluffy friends expressed their jealousy at all my fancy new diapers.

I know it’s only going to get worse, too. Once the baby actually shows up, I just know I’m going to love seeing his or her little bum in these adorable diapers. I probably won’t even let the kid wear pants, because I’ll want to see its little tush all the time. And, once I know whether it’s a boy or a girl, I can always add some more gender-specific prints to my stash (as if I needed another excuse to buy more diapers).

So, here I am, with one month to go before the baby arrives, and I’m still as addicted as ever to cloth diapers. I’ve become quite the CD evangelist, talking to anyone and everyone who will listen to me (and some who won’t). Thankfully, my job is in social media, so I can spend my days on Facebook watching all the cloth conversations and waiting to jump on the next great promotion. And, of course, I’m biding my time until my next fluff purchase…it is, after all, only a matter of time.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go fill up my shopping cart – all this talk about cloth diapering has given me an itch to make another purchase…

Jennifer S. is a soon-to-be first-time mom with a full-time copywriting and social media job. She’s looking forward to all the excitement and challenges of motherhood (and cloth diapering).

This post was originally posted on TCDW blog on 10/6/11

Cloth Diapers Anonymous; Are You an Addict?

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The Not So Glorious Moments of a Cloth Diapering Momma!

Ok, I am a fluffaholic and I gladly and proudly admit it. I love my cloth diapers, obsess over how cute they are, make a purchase a couple times a month, and just plain ole’ love cloth diapering. In fact, I will NEVER go back to disposables. But, lets face it, just like mommas who use disposables and have those moments they hate about it…for instance spending money everyday on diapers and pull ups, diaper rashes constantly, lugging dirty diaper trash around, sent their babies to daycare with 12 diapers and coming home with none….cloth diapering mommas also have those moments! The good of CD’ing will always outway the bad, but thinking about my moments give me a good laugh!

I had a poopy diaper (after I started feeding him spinach), and this diaper was so bad, so dark green, and so horrible smelling, that I thought I was going to die!! LOL, Not really. But, I spent 20 minutes using my handy dandy bumGenius Diaper Sprayer!!! And it still wasn’t doing the trick. I wanted to give up, I wanted to put that whole pocket diaper in the trash!!! Like a sposie! That moment, that I was on my knees trying to get that poop out, my husband walked in and said the unthinkable!!!! “Do you ever regret going to cloth?” Ahhhhhh, no he didn’t!! I jumped up so quick, smiling and spraying and said “If this is all I have to do every once in a while to save money, save the earth, and save his bum, it’s fine!”. So yea sposies tempt me, but only after the fact. I slapped some flushable liners in the next diaper though! hahah.


I love washing my dipes, I find it fun for some reason, but I had ammonia stink so bad one day when I opened my 3 day filled diaper pail (shame on me for waiting 3 days), I jumped back and gasped. Left the laundry room for air. I needed a mask, like a medical non-rebreather mask! Hahah. But I held my breath until I could get those desperate dipes in the wash for a rinse. Rockin' Green Funk Rock would have been nice that day. Whew! I think I did 10 ten rinse cycles that day. Stink is gone now, so nevertheless, I still love my diapers.

There are days that I slave over washing diapers. Rinsing, washing, rinsing, washing…..lots of water, but never enough. Yea it’s a wee bit more time consuming than just throwing that dipe in the trash, and letting hubby take it out later (yuck). But, when they come out smelling amazing, I’m happy I did all that between chores!

Lastly, you know, sometimes I wish I didn’t have this itch to buy diapers all the time, but let’s face it I do, I always will, and quite frankly I like getting involved with all the contest and giveaways and conversations about this wonderful hobby! Hopefully, more and more mommas will choose cloth diapering, despite its “glorious moments”, and save the planet, their money, and their baby’s bum!

Bio: Traci is a cloth diapering momma of a 10 month old son. She loves cloth diapering with all of her heart, but there are those days! Just being honest...

The Not So Glorious Moments of a Cloth Diapering Momma!

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I Pimp Out My Diapers

I am a cloth diaper addict. I am also a cloth diaper advocate. I will use any opportunity to talk about my diapers. I have a cloth diaper keychain and I try to take my cutest diapers when out and about where they might be seen.

Occasionally a friend will express interest in trying cloth diapering. Sometimes there are factors that make them hesitate, like the start up cost or a spouse that needs additional convincing. I jump on these opportunities and immediately offer to put together a “Try It” bag. In the bag I try to include a variety of types of diapers to cover at least a full 24 hours of diapering plus some. I don’t want to overwhelm them but not everyone ends up liking the same thing.

Here is a typical “Try It” bag:

• 6 bumGenius sized aplix diapers – some people like sized diapers. And some will prefer Velcro over snaps. These diapers allow them to try both.
• 2 Green Bees One Size Snap diapers – these diapers are inexpensive and available locally. Starting at $6 they are an affordable way to start trying pockets. I try to put a minky and a non-minky. Some people love the soft feel of minky and some think it adds bulk.
• 1 Oh Katy One Size Snap diaper – I LOVE my Oh Katys. I only have 6 so I just put one in the bag. This is the first one size diaper I bought and the first one size that fit my tiny baby girl well.
• 1 AI2 of unknown brand that I received as a hand me down. (There is a big white star on the butt of this black diaper and it has a snap in inner, e-mail me if you know what brand it might be!) – I want to offer the AI2 experience, but I only have a few.
• 1 Flips cover and 3 inserts – I love my Flips and use them all the time. They are often the first diaper my husband reaches for, so I don’t loan all of them out.
• 3 fleece liners. These happen to be homemade, but I have some that I have purchased as well. I use fleece liners at night with a Flips cover and an organic insert. I only have 3 of these, so not enough to loan out, but I often recommend trying a prefold in the Flips cover with a fleece liner over it for overnight if they need someplace to start.
• A couple wetbags, one for the home and one for the diaper bag. These are medium size, I only have 1 large one that I keep in my laundry room and I have a lined diaper pail in our nursery, but these work for someone who is just trying it out.
• My copy of Changing Diapers by Kelly Wels. This might be the most important part of the bag. I have been told it is extremely helpful to first time cloth diaperers. (I had been cloth diapering for a little while before I read it)

Everything packs easily in to a nice reusable tote bag for transport. If they don’t already use a cloth diaper safe detergent (and most don’t) then I also put a baggie of detergent with instructions. Yes it can be risky loaning out and letting others wash your diapers, but generally they agree to follow my very specific instructions or I offer for them to just bring them back dirty and I will wash them.

After they try it for at least a day I ask what they liked and what they didn’t. I ask if there were problems or what barriers they might still have to converting. I offer links to blogs and on-line resources and if they want I will even go with them to either of the local stores that sell cloth. I try and make the transition as easy and exciting for people as possible.

Do you loan out your diapers? If so, what goes in to your “Try It” bag? I am always looking for new ideas. I can’t afford to buy every diaper out there just so others can try it, I really wish I could! I have never sought out sponsorship, but doing this lending really makes me want to, just so I can extend my reach and influence others to try cloth diapering. Every person I can convert to cloth is that many less disposables in a landfill. Every new convert is also another supporter of an industry that values grass roots movements, small start ups and the ideas that some moms take and grow in to wonderful businesses. Just look at Oh Katy and Cotton Babies.

Somer S. Johnson is an accountant in Tulsa, OK who is lucky enough to get to work from home so she can spend time with her new baby girl. She blogs about life, knitting, and her precious little one at http://knit-o-matic.blogspot.com.

I Pimp Out My Diapers

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You May Be A Cloth Diaper Addict If You…

• Like to post pictures of your little one on Facebook, just to show off his or her cute diaper.
• Feel the need to purchase diapers when they go on “buy ___ get one free” sales.
• Check the “Fluffy Deal of the Day” on a daily basis at Kelly’s Closet, just in case it is something you “need.”
• Take time to carefully and artfully craft your argument to your spouse as to why more diapers need to be bought.
• Try to figure out if it is Stacy or Calley writing the post on Diapershops.com’s Facebook page before you see the name –and you can guess correctly more often than not.
• Want to have both boys and girls in order to get to buy diapers for both sexes.
• Have made your spouse as obsessed about them as you are.
• Give cloth diapers as gifts.
• Hear your baby’s first words and they are “triple dollar days.”
• Look fondly and with pride at your diaper stash after everything has just been washed and put away.
• Mainly tried out mama cloth for yourself because of the cloth diapers you use on your little one.
• Could technically go for weeks without washing diapers because your stash is that large.
• Have your computer and camera’s memory card full of pictures of your baby’s padded tush.
• Are envious of people who can make their own cloth diapers.
• Can and do make your own cloth diapers.
• Love talking to people about the benefits of using cloth diapers and your personal experiences using them.
• Have a hard time pulling yourself away from the computer when the Fluffy Deal of the Day gets changed every couple of hours.
• Cannot stop looking at your newly arrived diapers for the next couple of days.
• Find yourself daydreaming about what your next purchase will be, or how to spend your gift certificate.
• Are saddened a bit at the thought of having to pack away the diapers when your little one outgrows them or is potty trained.
• Enjoy reading diaper blogs like The Cloth Diaper Whisperer.
• Diapers and gift certificates to Kelly’s Closet are on your wish list.
• Find yourself taking your time when changing your little one’s diaper when out in public, in order to show off the cute diaper being worn.
• Visit and post on DiaperShops.com’s Facebook page at least once a week.
• Scour the internet for diaper giveaways.
• Enter your tracking numbers into the mail system, hoping your package somehow magically jumps in status from “Electronic Shipping Info Received” to “Out for Delivery.”
• Buy diapers for specific occasions, holidays, and seasons (i.e. Christmas, fall, winter, spring, summer, Halloween, Fourth of July, favorite sports team, etc).
• Coordinate your little one’s Halloween outfit around his or her cloth diaper.
• Look out the window every time you hear a large vehicle drive by when expecting “fluffy” mail.
• Spent way more money than you intended on cloth diapers and accessories between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and you “forgot” to mention it to your spouse!

I am sure all of you have many more that can be added to this list, so please be sure to add your additional ones in the comments below because I would love to read them!  And thanks to those who gave me ideas for the list, it was a lot of fun to compile, and I am guilty of too many of them!

by Rebecca Brown

You May Be A Cloth Diaper Addict If You…

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40 weeks of Preparation for a New Addiction Addition!

Crib, bedding, car seat, stroller, clothes, bouncer, swing, diapers, wipes… Diapers, wipes… Diapers, wipes… Diapers, wipes… Diapers, wipes… (Did someone hit the repeat button?)

You have 40 weeks to purchase one crib, one bedding set, one car seat, one stroller, etc… why is it then that most people get caught hitting the repeat button when it comes to buying disposable diapers and wipes? Why not purchase one set (set being how every many you feel you need for your family) of cloth diapers, one set of cloth wipes and re-use them for the entire duration of your child and future children’s diapering life? Not to say that you won’t become fully addicted to Cloth Diapers and find yourself purchasing some new fluff once in a while, but at least you won’t be throwing them in the garbage after one use!

Well this is our third time around the 40 week block and this time we are doing something very different, we put a stop to the repetitive action of buying disposable diapers and wipes! Our oldest (3) is potty trained and our youngest (2) is still in diapers, cloth diapers! P has been in cloth for 2 months, he wears the One Size Fuzzi Bunz. Upon the arrival of their little sister, we will have not one but two children in cloth diapers, something that myself and my camera are very excited to capture! We plan on cloth diapering her right from birth, my husband has strict instructions to make sure that a nice fluffy bamboo lined newborn diaper is the first thing to hit her bottom, not a chemically filled disposable!

While our One Size Fuzzi Bunz fit our 28 pounder GREAT, I was not sure they would fit a 6-8 pound newborn the same way, especially an EBF baby.

And so started my 40 week preparation for Cloth Diapering a Newborn! I started by googling newborn cloth diapers! Anyone that has ever researched this, oh my wow there is an abundance of information, an overwhelming amount of choices and everyone has a different opinion or thought! I made a spreadsheet with all the different types of newborn cloth diapers and started sifting through the information, reviews, etc. My list changed daily as to what I wanted to try and what I wanted to spend money on. The first diaper on my list was the XS Fuzzi Bunz, just because I love the One Size so much, I was certain my love would expand to this diaper as well. After getting 2 free XS Fuzzi Bunz from Kelly’s Closet, using their fluff mail coupon they were offering at the time, I knew I wanted more of them, I ordered 6 (thank you Kelly’s Closet for such great promotions) and still plan to purchase 4-6 more.

My mother wanted to get us some diapers as a baby gift and asked what we wanted, so I sent her my list containing 15 different diaper choices (I wasn’t sure what I really wanted so I left everything that caught my eye on our list). She was very overwhelmed to say the least. She emailed me back stating “You want me to choose the best one??????”. I knew I had to further my research and find out what I really wanted in my newborn cloth diaper stash, but I was overwhelmed…

Through my initial research I found one item that most moms agreed on, their love for Prefolds! Not necessarily agreeing on the brand/Indian/Chinese/Bleached/Unbleached, but that they loved Prefolds (regardless of the details) for newborns! So I set my focus on Prefolds for about a week, researched the difference between Indian and Chinese, Bleached and Unbleached, and the different fits. I decided that the one’s I like the best were the OsoCozy “Better Fit” Unbleached Prefold Diapers, so I ordered a dozen of them in the Infant size. After receiving the contents of that package, I realized I wanted a few covers for over the tops, I put 3 Thirsites XS Diaper Covers and a 2 Thirsites Size 1 Duo Wrap Diaper Covers on my spreadsheet under the to be purchased column.

I then set my focus back on newborn cloth diapers. After changing the contents of my list a million times it was apparent I was lost! So I decided that I needed to figure out what I wanted in a cloth diaper, not what everyone else loved or hated about it (reviews are great because they give you insight when you can’t touch or use the diaper, but I was using it as my only determining factor), but what would work for our family. I sat down with my husband and picked his brain, what did he want in a cloth diaper? He actually gave me a lot more insight then I expected, he LOVED our Fuzzi Bunz for P, he loved that they had the three snaps and that they are adjustable to get the perfect fit! So from there we made our list of “Must Haves”:

1. A newborn diaper that my husband felt was just as easy as our OS Fuzzi Bunz, snap-snap-snap done.
2. A cloth diaper that would fit greater then 8-10 pounds, so we could go right from newborn cloth diaper to OS Fuzzi Bunz.
3. Other than our prefolds, something that didn’t need a cover! The adorable prints are great on the fitted diapers, but you cover them up with a cover, hiding the print!
4. Something that had a snap down for the Umbilical Cord. (I know the XS Fuzzi Bunz don’t, but they go up to 15 pounds, lasting longer and I just love our Fuzzi Bunz).
5. A pocket diaper, for added absorbency for nighttime, hoping for a good sleeper!

As I went through our list of must-haves, our newborn diaper list suddenly dwindled down. I continued my research confident that there was a diaper out there that could meet our needs and wants. One day I stumbled across a diaper that was not on my list, a diaper that I hadn’t seen, heard or read about, Bitty Bee Changed Diaper. I was amazed by the low price and the company’s mission. I went on Diaper Pin and entered the company name and read the 3 sole reviews that were there (they are a newer company), I was happy with what I read so I ordered 2 of their diapers.

When my Bitty Bee Changed Cloth Diapers arrived I was THRILLED with them, they had the leg gussets, snap down for umbilical cord, inner lining is 100% all natural bamboo fleece, and no cover needed because of the PUL outer shell! They are an all in one cloth diaper, something I was a little hesitant about because of the extra long drying time, but the company suggests snapping the diaper inside out and drying on med heat, I can handle that. I had my husband snap one on a stuffed bear, wanting his approval before deciding if these were the ying to our XS Fuzzi Bunz yang in our newborn cloth diapering system, he said they were easy and looked like they would work great!

With his stamp of approval I sent our now very small list to my mother and told her that she could purchase us a few of either the XS Fuzzi Bunz or the Bitty Bee Changed Diapers. My mother is an amazing woman and graciously ordered us 18 Bitty Bee Changed Cloth Diapers (order placed last week, haven’t arrived just yet)!

Our once long list of newborn cloth diapers now looks like this:

Yet to Purchase:		Have (here or ordered):
4-6 XS Fuzzi Bunz		8 XS Fuzzi Bunz
3 Thirsites XS Diaper Covers		20 Bitty Bee Changed Diapers
2 Thirsites Size 1 Duo Wrap Diaper Covers		12 OsoCozy Infant Prefolds
3 Snappi’s

As our “To Purchase” list gets smaller the anticipation and excitement grows larger! I am relieved that we found diapers that both myself and my husband are comfortable using and have most of the things that we wanted in a newborn diaper, but most importantly that we have turned off the repeat button, my 19.95 can go towards an adorable, reusable diaper instead of box of 56 count one time use, chemical filled diapers! I would consider this part of my 40 week preparation a SUCCESS!

Every person wants/needs different things, my suggestion is to sit down and make a list of things that fit with your personal needs/wants in a cloth diaper, whether it is for a newborn or a 2 year old! It just makes sifting through the diaper choices SO much easier!

Our little girl is not expected to arrive until Dec. 6th, so I can’t give you a review on these diapers just yet, but I will make sure to do so as soon as we have taken them for a few test runs!

Bio: My name is Amanda and I am a mother to two amazing little boys and am expecting a little girl in December! I am on week 30 of my 40 week preparation and looking forward to our new arrival and to dress her bottom in adorable fluff.

40 weeks of Preparation for a New Addiction Addition!

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Yes, I'm a Cloth Diaper Freak. And I Like It.

I remember lunch with a friend from high school. We were ‘all grown up’ and had our first children, who are almost the exact same age. We hadn’t seen each other in years. I remember going to the restroom with her so we could each change our kiddos before getting back on the road. She changed her little girl and it was a CLOTH diaper. I remember what I thought…"FREAK". I didn’t think she was crazy, I KNEW it.

Fast-forward six months and my son started suffering from a re-occurring rash that would. not. go. away. We were using THE major disposable brand…top notch for my kiddo, right? WRONG. His rash got so bad, the skin peeled away. I remember crying because he was crying. It hurt him so much when I changed him. But I slathered him up with some more Desitin and fastened on another disposable, thinking it would surely clear up like the doctor said. I was clueless. The doctor was baffled. Then I caught wind of the ‘major disposable diaper company’ in the news…other folks were having burn-like rashes…and it CLICKED. I remember thinking, “it’s the diaper”... switching to different disposible brands, and feeling like I failed.

Things are much different now. I’m a ‘freak’. I’m happy to declare that we are full-time cloth-diapering folks. I have a mystical diaper sprayer hanging on the side of my toilet. I’m talking tea tree oil. I know the difference between flats, pre-folds, AIO’s, and pockets. I ENJOY doing diaper laundry. I discovered CJ’s BUTTer (love it). And, I’m completely bewildered that I didn’t ‘get it’ in time for my first son…in fact, my second son was a year old when we finally went ‘all in’ with a full cloth stash. But more importantly, I realized that I just didn’t have all the facts before, and I simply shouldn’t have knocked it before I tried it.

Here’s the kicker. My husband was NOT on board. He’s a guy who would be happy to pay $2,000 over the course of diapering years to NOT think of poopy in his washer. He’s a toughie and an engineer-analytical-type. He picked apart ALL my facts and figures on whether or not switching to cloth would save us money. But when it came down to it, you can’t argue with the health of our little guys. He remembers the rash. So, we compromised. He will change cloth diapers, if I will spray them out and wash the loads. I’ve caught him wringing them out and hanging them to dry, so he’s getting into it (don’t tell him I said so). This week, I’m taking the plunge and adding cloth wipes to the mix. I really want to cut out as much exposure to chemicals I can’t pronounce as possible. I’m going to be really ‘crunchy’ here, and make my own wipes solution (water, olive oil, Burt’s Bees baby wash, drop of tea tree oil – EASY). I even started making my own diaper detergent on the CHEAP.

If being a cloth diaper ‘freak’ means doing everything I possibly can to care for my babies, then I’m ALL IN. Late, but I’m in.

Ariel Eldridge is a former art teacher-turned-stay-at-home-momma of two boys, 4 years and 16 mos, living in rural Indiana. “Crunchy” is no longer a meanie term at her house, because it turns out that natural is pretty stinkin’ cool.

Yes, I'm a Cloth Diaper Freak. And I Like It.

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It's Not An Affliction! 12-Step Fluff Program

Step 1. It's not an affliction. It's an addiction.
Step 2. Not all addictions are bad...
Step 3. The baby needs it. Why not?
Step 4. It's good for the environment and your baby's skin.
Step 5. They're just so darn cute!
Step 6. My favorite brand just came out with a 2.0, 3.0 etc. version and with new colors.
Step 7. They have resale value. It's not like these cost much in the long run.
Step 8. The baby will never grow at a faster rate. The diapers are too small. Time to shop.
Step 9. Can you say Kelly's Closet coupons and free diapers?
Step 10. Kelly's Closet Points.
Step 11. Kelly's Closet has another special! Free Diapers!
Step 12. Black Friday Buzzzzz Day!

This was not designed to cure you of your addiction only to justify it. Carry on. For Amber Steiner.

Tiffany Law – Nursing Student from New York City

It's Not An Affliction! 12-Step Fluff Program

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Cloth Diaper Addicts Anonymous (or Not-So-Anonymous)

Hello. My name is Jen. And I’m a Cloth Diaper Addict.

Admitting it is the first step, right? Although this is an addiction that I’m not sure I want to get over.

Growing up, I always had some sort of addiction or vice, especially when it came to shopping. At first it was cute hair accessories. Then maybe it was jeans. Then…shoes. Oh, yes, I was all set to become the next Imelda Marcos. Then, when I became pregnant, I stopped being able to wear my gorgeous 4-inch stilettos. I suppose it was only a matter of time until my addiction changed.

When I started considering cloth diapering, I spoke to a couple of my friends who were in the middle of doing it themselves. Not only are they an incredible support system, but they also pointed me in the direction of all the great online shops like Kelly’s Closet where I could get amazing deals on diapers. They told me to start “Liking” these different pages on Facebook so I could learn about the fantastic promotions they run.

And that’s how it started.

First, it was the bumGenius “Buy 5 Get 1 Free” promotion. Then, it was the FuzziBunz “Buy 6 Get 2 Free” promo. Then I started seeing all the benefits from the free diaper coupon codes. Do you know how easy it is to find $35 worth of fluff to buy in order to get a free diaper? I could do that with my eyes shut. Then, of course, I’d add a little more in order to take advantage of free shipping – because why would I spend money on shipping when I could spend it on more fluff?

Pretty soon, the orders started piling up. My inbox was full of order confirmations, and my doorstep was full of fluff. I have to admit, it was pretty fun getting all those packages in the mail – it was like a Fluffy Christmas every day! Before I knew it, I had nearly 40 diapers, 4 wetbags, 2 pail liners, a handful of inserts, and a bunch of little accessories.

Oh, and did I mention I haven’t even had my baby yet??

When friends and family members saw my stash, they were understandably surprised. My mom even asked, “Were you planning on only washing diapers once a month?” One friend asked me if I was having twins based on my stash. A couple of my fluffy friends expressed their jealousy at all my fancy new diapers.

I know it’s only going to get worse, too. Once the baby actually shows up, I just know I’m going to love seeing his or her little bum in these adorable diapers. I probably won’t even let the kid wear pants, because I’ll want to see its little tush all the time. And, once I know whether it’s a boy or a girl, I can always add some more gender-specific prints to my stash (as if I needed another excuse to buy more diapers).

So, here I am, with one month to go before the baby arrives, and I’m still as addicted as ever to cloth diapers. I’ve become quite the CD evangelist, talking to anyone and everyone who will listen to me (and some who won’t). Thankfully, my job is in social media, so I can spend my days on Facebook watching all the cloth conversations and waiting to jump on the next great promotion. And, of course, I’m biding my time until my next fluff purchase…it is, after all, only a matter of time.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go fill up my shopping cart – all this talk about cloth diapering has given me an itch to make another purchase…

Jennifer S. is a soon-to-be first-time mom with a full-time copywriting and social media job. She’s looking forward to all the excitement and challenges of motherhood (and cloth diapering).

Cloth Diaper Addicts Anonymous (or Not-So-Anonymous)

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