The Cloth Diaper Whisperer: swaddlebees

Showing posts with label swaddlebees. Show all posts

This week's fluff friday winner is: Shelby Perkins!

She will receive the following:

2 Swaddlebees Newborn Diapers in the New Monster and Elephant Prints (1 Each)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Please, contact us here ASAP so we can get your winnings out to you!!!

Fluff Friday 205 WINNER!

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This week's Fluff Friday winner is Amy Gindin!

She will receive:
New Swaddlebees Capri cover and insert (1 of each)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Please, contact us ASAP so we can get your winnings out to you!!!

Fluff Friday 169 WINNER!

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Fluff Friday:
New Swaddlebees Capri cover and insert (1 of each) a Rafflecopte r giveaway

Fluff Friday 169

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This week's Fluff Friday winner is Jenny!

She will receive:

2-Swaddlebees Simplex AIO Cloth Diapers

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Please, contact us ASAP so we can get your winnings out to you!!!

Fluff Friday 145 Winner

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Fluff Friday

2-Swaddlebees Simplex AIO Cloth Diapers

Question of the week:

How do you dry your diapers (dryer, line dry outside, drying rack) ? Please respond by Thursday, September 1st at 7pm EST. (You can only answer the "Question of the Week" ONCE PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY.

Other ways to enter:

Head on over to the Swaddlebees Facebook page. Leave a comment on their wall that The Cloth Diaper Whisperer sent you.
Being a follower of our blog or subscribing to our blog, gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower.
Commenting in other posts during the week will give you ONE EXTRA comment PER EACH comment that you make. Simply post a comment on this one saying the title of the post where you wrote your comment. So, what are you waiting for?? Participating in other posts pays off!!! You must have your Blogger profile accessible to be selected as a winner.
Advertising the giveaway in a forum or other blog gives you ONE extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a advertising and where.
Using our button on your blog (or starting to) gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are using it and where.
Being a fan of our Facebook group gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Post a comment with your facebook id as a comment to this post.
Being a follower on Twitter gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower and your Twitter ID.
One entry for signing up for our newsletter at Kelly's Closet. Post a comment when you sign up or if you are already signed up.
Tweet Swaddlebees fluff friday #clothdiapers giveaway Enter at http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/. Then come back and comment that you tweeted AND the exact tweet (not tweet id status).
Tweet any unique tweet with @kissaluvs #clothdiapers. Cut and paste your tweet (not tweet id status) and post as a comment. You can get 1 entry for EVERY unique tweet!
Being an affiliate of Kelly's Closet. Please post your affiliate id in your comment.
Place an order at any DiaperShops store between 8/26-9/1. Post your order # and order date in the comments.
Leave a product review at Kelly's Closet and return to the blog and comment which product you reviewed.
Start a thread about our giveaway or comment on a thread that is about or giveaway on any chat room (http://www.diaperpin.com/, http://www.diaperswappers.com/, etc) . Post the name of the thread AND the url of your comment.
Start a new discussion (or respond to a current discussion) on either DiaperShops Facebook or The Cloth Diaper Whisperer Facebook. Come back and leave a comment with the title of discussion AND which Facebook page you posted on as a comment to this post.

Have questions?? Visit our FAQ's.

How? We will draw one winner randomly with an "Online Number Generator" and will make a post with the winner on Friday, September 2nd. It is the responsibility of the winner to contact us to claim their prize.

Good luck, and don't forget to tell all your family and friends about the giveaway! In case that you don't win, what a better person to win than a friend of yours!!

Fluff Friday 145

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Saying that anyone can cloth diaper by using flats and hand washing the diapers is one thing, doing it is another. I’ve collected all of the things that I think I am going to need for the Flats Challenge.

First off, birdseye flat diapers:
I am using twelve Swaddlebees flats and six OsoCozy unbleached flats. I bought the Swaddlebees because I am a sucker for prints, even if they are going to end up under a diaper cover. To add extra absorbency for naps and overnight, I am going to use the OsoCozy flats pad folded as doublers since they are a little bit smaller than the Swaddlebees.

Next up the covers:
I have no shortage of covers but since I had to choose just five, I wanted the ones that have proven to work the best. I am choosing a Bummis Super Brite wrap, a Thirsties Cover, a Kissaluvs kissa’s one size cover, a Blueberry one size, and a Hiney Liney Versa cover. The Hiney Liney is my wildcard cover. I just recently found out about them and bought a cover specifically for the flats challenge.

Hand Washing
I really love the idea of the camp washer so I ran out and bought all of the supplies to make it. A friend was even able to find me a plunger at the Dollar Store, thus making it even less expensive to make the camp washer. Once it was made, I did some test runs with mediocre success. The rubber plunger has such a strong smell, I couldn’t figure out if I was getting the diapers clean. Somehow I can’t tell the difference between the smell of ammonia and the smell of cheap rubber. So I have decided to do a cold rinse in the camp washer, dump the water, add hot water, agitate the diapers with Rockin’ Green in the camp washer using the smelly plunger and then do all of my final rinsing in a basin in the kitchen sink. I’m rinsing in the sink to make sure that all of the soap is out and also to rinse off the smell of the plunger. Since my hands are going to end up touching very hot water (we have our hot water heater set dangerously high) and freezing cold water, I am using my Blue Meanies. (My fancy dishwashing gloves that I registered for when we got married and never used).

Once washed and rinsed, the diapers are going on to my drying rack. I just have a simple drying rack from Target so the diapers don’t fit perfectly. I need to use backs of chairs, towel bars and the dishwasher and oven handles for additional space. There will be diapers all over my kitchen while they are drying.

Strategy
I plan on washing the diapers every other night after the kids go to bed. This will leave enough time for the diapers to dry before they wake up in the morning. Some of the diapers on the inside of the drying rack are still going to be damp by morning, so I am just going to put the whole drying rack on my kitchen island until they are dry.

Extra Credit
The extra fun and excitement portion of the flats challenge is that we are traveling from Boston to Philadelphia for Memorial Day weekend to visit a friend. So we will be traveling with flats and washing somewhere else. I think I will have to boil water to use in the camp washer outside and rinse the diapers outside with a hose while we are visiting because I don’t want our hosts to feel uncomfortable that dirty diaper water would end up anywhere in their home.

About the writer:
Emily is a work from home mother of two little girls. She has been cloth diapering since the birth of her older daughter in 2008 and co-founded Giving Diapers Giving Hope to offer cloth diapers to families in need and educate the public about cloth diapering.

Flats Challenge Accepted

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Fluff Friday

2-Blueberry One-Size Diaper Covers

1-Swaddlebees Flat Cloth Diapers 6pk

Question of the week:

What is your favorite on-line parenting community? Please respond by Thursday, May 19th, at 7pm EST. (You can only answer the "Question of the Week" ONCE PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY.)

Other ways to enter:

Head on over to the Swaddlebees and Blueberry Facebook page. Leave a comment on their wall that The Cloth Diaper Whisperer sent you.
Being a follower of our blog or subscribing to our blog, gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower.
Commenting in other posts during the week will give you ONE EXTRA comment PER EACH comment that you make. Simply post a comment on this one saying the title of the post where you wrote your comment. So, what are you waiting for?? Participating in other posts pays off!!! You must have your Blogger profile accessible to be selected as a winner.
Advertising the giveaway in a forum or other blog gives you ONE extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a advertising and where.
Using our button on your blog (or starting to) gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are using it and where.
Being a fan of our Facebook group gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Post a comment with your facebook id as a comment to this post.
Being a follower on Twitter gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower and your Twitter ID.
One entry for signing up for our newsletter at Kelly's Closet. Post a comment when you sign up or if you are already signed up.
Tweet @flipdiapers fluff friday #clothdiapers giveaway Enter at http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/. Then come back and comment that you tweeted AND the exact tweet (not tweet id status).
Tweet any unique tweet with @swaddlebees #clothdiapers. Cut and paste your tweet (not tweet id status) and post as a comment. You can get 1 entry for EVERY unique tweet!
Being an affiliate of Kelly's Closet. Please post your affiliate id in your comment.
Place an order at any DiaperShops store between 5/13-5/19. Post your order # and order date in the comments.
Leave a product review at Kelly's Closet and return to the blog and comment which product you reviewed.
Start a thread about our giveaway or comment on a thread that is about or giveaway on any chat room (http://www.diaperpin.com/, http://www.diaperswappers.com/, etc) . Post the name of the thread AND the url of your comment.
Start a new discussion (or respond to a current discussion) on either DiaperShops Facebook or The Cloth Diaper Whisperer Facebook. Come back and leave a comment with the title of discussion AND which Facebook page you posted on as a comment to this post.

Have questions?? Visit our FAQ's.

How? We will draw one winner randomly with an "Online Number Generator" and will make a post with the winner on Friday, May 20th. It is the responsibility of the winner to contact us to claim their prize.

Good luck, and don't forget to tell all your family and friends about the giveaway! In case that you don't win, what a better person to win than a friend of yours!!

Fluff Friday 130

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This week's Fluff Friday winner is Megan!

She will receive:

2-Swaddlebees Simplex AIO Diapers

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Please, contact us ASAP so we can get your winnings out to you!!!

Fluff Friday 127 WINNER!

Read the full story here...

Fluff Friday
2-Swaddlebees Simplex AIO Diapers

Question of the week:
How do you dry your diapers (dryer, line dry outside, drying rack) ? Please respond by Thursday, April 28tht at 7pm EST. (You can only answer the "Question of the Week" ONCE PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY.)

Other ways to enter:

Head on over to the Swaddlebees Facebook page. Leave a comment on their wall that The Cloth Diaper Whisperer sent you.
Being a follower of our blog or subscribing to our blog, gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower.
Commenting in other posts during the week will give you ONE EXTRA comment PER EACH comment that you make. Simply post a comment on this one saying the title of the post where you wrote your comment. So, what are you waiting for?? Participating in other posts pays off!!! You must have your Blogger profile accessible to be selected as a winner.
Advertising the giveaway in a forum or other blog gives you ONE extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a advertising and where.
Using our button on your blog (or starting to) gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are using it and where.
Being a fan of our Facebook group gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Post a comment with your facebook id as a comment to this post.
Being a follower on Twitter gives you one extra comment PER GIVEAWAY, NOT PER DAY. Simply post a comment saying that you are a follower and your Twitter ID.
One entry for signing up for our newsletter at Kelly's Closet. Post a comment when you sign up or if you are already signed up.
Tweet Swaddlebees fluff friday #clothdiapers giveaway Enter at http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/. Then come back and comment that you tweeted AND the exact tweet (not tweet id status).
Tweet any unique tweet with @diapershops #clothdiapers. Cut and paste your tweet (not tweet id status) and post as a comment. You can get 1 entry for EVERY unique tweet!
Being an affiliate of Kelly's Closet. Please post your affiliate id in your comment.
Place an order at any DiaperShops store between 4/22-4/28. Post your order # and order date in the comments.
Leave a product review at Kelly's Closet and return to the blog and comment which product you reviewed.
Start a thread about our giveaway or comment on a thread that is about or giveaway on any chat room (http://www.diaperpin.com/, http://www.diaperswappers.com/, etc) . Post the name of the thread AND the url of your comment.
Start a new discussion (or respond to a current discussion) on either DiaperShops Facebook or The Cloth Diaper Whisperer Facebook. Come back and leave a comment with the title of discussion AND which Facebook page you posted on as a comment to this post.

Have questions?? Visit our FAQ's.

How? We will draw one winner randomly with an "Online Number Generator" and will make a post with the winner on Friday, April 29th. It is the responsibility of the winner to contact us to claim their prize.

Who can participate? US Residents are welcome!

Important note about the winner: If we haven't heard from the winner by the closing time of next week's giveaway, we will choose another winner that will be published TOGETHER with next week's winner.

Good luck, and don't forget to tell all your family and friends about the giveaway! In case that you don't win, what a better person to win than a friend of yours!!

Fluff Friday 127

Read the full story here...

Warning-if you're a veteran, there is nothing earth shattering here. I wanted to write this, though, because I remember having so many basic questions when I was considering whether or not to make the switch to cloth. And, while I certainly don't consider myself a pro, after almost 2 years of cloth diapering three little ones, I feel I have some answers. Cloth diapering experiences vary widely. You should read all you can on the Diaper Whisperer, and retain that which resonates with you.

When we started this journey, we had a 4 year old, a 2 year old and twin 3 month olds. They are now almost 6, just turned 4, and twin almost 2 year olds. Through these changes, I've learned some simple and basic truths of cloth diapering.

Truth #1- There is no one 'best cloth diaper'
Chances are if you've considered cloth diapering, you've done a google search for 'best cloth diaper'. I certainly did. And, while there are absolutely some superior diapers out there, what I know to be true is that 'best' when it comes to cloth diapers, is personal, and relative.

One of my very best girlfriends cloth diapers, as well. When her daughter potty trained, she let me try her favorite diaper. Not only did I not love it, I actually didn't like it. It was just a personal preference.

Even my own 'best' cloth diaper has varied from stage to stage and child to child. It has so much to do with a child's build and tendencies, and where you are in your cloth diapering journey. As our needs change, so to, do our preferences. Here is an example of a relative preference:

Initially, I could not gush enough about the Bum Genius 3.0 One Size Diaper.   Loved, loved, loved this diaper for my then 3 month old twins. It was soft, sweet and used much like a disposable, in that it has a velcro closure. It was an easy transition for my slightly-reluctant husband and new-to-cloth-diapers family members to use when they were watching the kids.

And, at the same time, I loved my Fuzzi Bunz for my then 2 year old because the snap closures seemed to fit her build better. (And stuffed with a loopy-do insert sandwiched between 2 large inserts, my super heavy wetter's pi's and sheets stayed dry through her 13 hour nights). No small miracle.

So, I had 2 'best' cloth diapers at the same point in time.

(As an aside, those same Fuzzi Bunz, double stuffed for night time, now work the same miracle for my youngest two heavy wetters).

Truth #2- 'Best' Diapers can turn to Worst Diapers in the blink of an eye AKA Velcro Closures and Naughty Toddlers do not mix for naps-
Now fast forward about a year. This is where I learned two lessons that I will carry with me always:
1) Never use velcro closure diapers on mischievous 14month olds for nap time (even with pants with a snug waistline).
2) And never, ever dress said mischievous 14 month olds in a 'boys will be boys' t shirt (you're just asking for it).

I won't go into all the details but I will say that event involved a naked baby, in a crib, covered in something you never want your baby covered in, and that same 'thing' was thrown not only around the room, on every crib spindle but also somehow made it into his sister's crib.   That was the last day I professed love for velcro closure diapers. A few were given to my daughter to use on her baby dolls. The rest were promptly retired to a bag, in a closet, in my washroom, where they can receive my dirty looks.

Now, to be fair, I would use velcro on babies. The less spicy child kept her diaper on (and he would have no doubt done the same thing in a disposable), but I'm not taking any chances. Also, they honestly did not hold up as well as my snap closure diapers. Over time, the velcro tabs rolled back and did not stay fastened as well, especially when the little ones became mobile.

I probably did get what I deserved by dressing him in that t shirt. Self fulfilling prophecy? Who knows. What I do know, is snap closures are wonderful for busy-bees. This is just a personal preference.

Truth #3-Cloth Diapering can be simple
This one really is a matter of necessary verses useful. Just because something is useful, does not make it is necessary.

When we decided to go cloth, I was limited in what I could afford to purchase. While I worked to build a basic supply that would see us through, I always secretly believed (hoped) I would continue to add to it. I would read about people being so excited when their newest fluff shipments would arrive. I saw pictures of stacks/rows of beautiful, sweet fluff, usually bathed in sunlight. And, I had dreams of one day being the proud owner of such a collection.

So far, it has not panned out that way, and I truthfully have no real complaints.

I have placed a total of two orders in these past two years. My first order(for then two 3 month olds, and a 2 year old) included:
• 12 one size Bum Genius 3.0 Diapers
• 12 medium Fuzzi Bunz Diapers
• 3 Large Fuzzi Bunz Diapers
• 1 Jam Tots zippered wet bag
• 1 Large Swaddlebees Pail Liner/Laundry Bag
• 6 Baby Legs
• Bummis Unbleached PreFold Diaper (6 pack)
• 2 Thirsties Diaper Covers
• 12 Bum Genius MicroFiber Inserts
• 4 Loopy-Do Pre-washed Inserts by Knickernappies.
Ten months later I ordered 4 Bummis Training Pants (for my then 3 year old daughter, who was only wearing something for naps and night time).

My tried and true stash (that I use day in, day out for twin almost 2 year olds and a just turned 4 year old- night times only)) now includes:
• 10 Fuzzi Bunz Diapers, (Random #, I know, we've had a few PUL casualties. I still have the damaged ones and use them in a pinch.)
• 4 Bummis Training Pants (caution-these really are a training pant and do not hold much)
• 1 Jam Tots zippered wet bag(still use and love this for out and about. Its folds up so small when not in use, yet easily holds as many soiled diapers as my kids have been able to throw its way when on the run. The zippered function is a must. No one wants to have the smelly diaper bag).
• 1 Large Swaddlebees Pail Liner/Laundry Bag (still where I store my dirty diapers when we're home. It has a draw string closure, which I use for hanging the bag on a nob in the laundry room. It does a wonderful job at containing any smells.

Notice the difference in the lists?   Granted, I'm no longer cloth diapering little babies and my older daughter now only wears a diaper for nighttime, but still, it is much simpler. And, with four little people, simple is a gift I give myself.

For one year I have been getting by, with 5 diapers (Fuzzi Bunz) for each toddler, and 4 training pants (Bummis) for my older daughter (for night time). I do foresee one final order for the youngest two, in the way of a few wool covers (I'm thinking 2 a child-still in the researching stage). And, if we do have any future children, I will have to replenish a few diapers.

Admittedly, five diapers per child does not leave a lot of wiggle room, and I'm washing everyday, but our needs are met. Albeit, just met…some days I'm sweating it out.   Hence the 2 wool covers per child-that I'm looking to order. I think 8 diapers a child would be ideal for my needs. Maybe even less with wool…i'll have to wait and see.

Let me be clear. I would LOVE more fluff, and do still hope to add to our collection.   But, it is possible to successfully cloth diaper with even the most basic of supplies. So, more cloth diapers would be useful, but for the past year they've not been truly necessary. If you're thinking of making the switch to cloth, don't shy away if you aren't able to build a huge supply, initially. You can always add on down the road using your diaper bucks :-)

Truth #4-I did not need a sprayer
I do not have a sprayer.

I did want one, but when I placed my first order, I was trying to stay fairly basic. What? I said fairly basic, and I maintain that Baby Legs fall under that category.

I was planning on purchasing a sprayer at a later date, after I had gotten my footing as a cloth diaperer. I soon realized, though, that I really didn't need one. I became quite happy with my simple system for soiled diapers.

Wet diapers go straight into the laundry bag. Soiled diapers go out into my garage. I have a little bin (think dishpan), that I place the diapers in until I can get to them. (In the winter the low temps help loose soils solidify and I notice no smells even in the summer).

At night, after everyone has their nighttime diaper on, I begin my washing routine. All solid soils get plopped into the downstairs toilet (no swishing, I promise). More stubborn soils get rinsed in my sanitary tub, in the garage.   I simply remove the inserts, set them aside, hold the diaper by the top and run it under the hot water from the sanitary tub. I find the force of the water is more than enough to get the diapers wash-ready. Next, I take care to rinse out the sink (very well) and spray the sink quickly with a cleaner-that I don't even rinse.

If I did not have a sanitary tub, though, I'm not sure I would be as content.

Truth #5-Our budget is in love with cloth diapers
All of my estimations and projections about cloth diapering, regarding cost savings, proved fairly accurate. Which is good, considering this was my initial motivator (not to mention, how I swayed my husband).

While I do think how much a family saves will vary from family to family (as all of our diaper needs/uses are different), I think every family that switches to cloth will see substantial savings. As I stated in a previous post, my diapers paid for themselves in eleven weeks. I get that was accelerated by the fact that three children were being diapered…but still, that's pretty amazing.   While we've supplemented our original stash once and will add on one more time, there have been no other real out of pocket costs. Love that.

Before, disposable diapers were coming out of my weekly grocery budget. Now, every penny can actually go towards our food.

Truth #6-I can use cloth with Diarrhea
Stomach bugs are no walk in the park regardless of your diapering habits. Before I began cloth diapering I worried that cloth diapers (or more aptly, cloth diapers and I) wouldn't be able to stand bouts of diarrhea…times three(because we all know how kids love to share their germs). I needn't have worried. Perhaps we go through more diapers in a day, but otherwise, its really kinda diaper business as usual. I've never had a leak. I do give the diapers an additional 2 part rinse on extra hot (no soap) for good measure, though, and they come out beautiful.

I can see that some stomach issues are worse than others, and would not be opposed to temporarily using disposables if the need was there. Its about what helps you be the best Mama you can be in your given situation.

Truth #7-I can buy disposables without feeling guilty
While I have never bought disposables to give myself a 'break', I have bought them since we've switched to cloth.

My mother-in-law is one of those wonderful women who respects my choices and never voices objections. So while I know she wouldn't choose to cloth diaper (and if we're being honest, may think I am a wee bit looney to do so), she never seems put out by my choice. But, once a year, my husband and I are are fortunate enough to go on a work trip for 5 days. My in laws watch the 4 children. I would never ask her to watch my four small children for 5 days AND cloth diaper them. I always leave her with a box of disposables. And I never feel bad about it.

I've also used them on vacation once. The first year we went while cloth diapering, I wasn't sure if the washing machine (VERY old) at the place would be able to withstand the washing process.   But, it turns out it can. So, now we bring our cloth with us for our family vacations.

Truth #8- It really has cut down on our garbage
Truth be told, I hadn't really been appalled by our garbage output before switching to cloth, but it is amazing how much is has cut down on what we produce. For the 6 of us we really only put out 1 and a half bags a week. Which makes sense, since we were able to stop putting 210 diapers in our garbage each week. Thats 10,920 fewer diapers in the landfill in just the first year that we switched.    This comes with minimal effort and much payoff. I'm proud of that.

Truth #9-They can stay amazingly clean and white
I guess I kinda thought, based on the nature of the beast, that cloth diapers would dinge over time. Not the case for us, yet. They have stayed remarkably white and fresh. Every so often if they're not seeming as clean (hint-slight odor), I find that a simple added warm rinse with vinegar does the trick every time. Also, in the dead of winter I've found it necessary to bump my hot water heater's thermostat up a bit. The water wasn't getting hot enough to clean them. Once I did that, the diapers were back to their white appearance and beautiful smell of nothingness. (Warning, though, that means that all of your water sources will get hotter. So if you have wee ones who wash their own hands supervise and advise them until you're sure they've gotten the message).

And never forget that the sun is your friend. My diapers are always hanging outside to dry if there is sunshine to be seen. Even in the winter, if its above freezing, they're out there. It really does help in the natural bleaching and antibacterial departments.

Truth #10-Cloth Diapering makes you feel so, so good
It is pure and sweet and wholesome. Its a back to the basics approach to parenting you can be proud of.   Its empowering because of its sustainability. You don't need a store to supply your baby with diapers every week. With one purchase, and your loving care, you're able to do that for your child.   (And they can be passed down from sweet one to sweet one). You feel good wrapping those plump little rumps in the softness of fluff. Childhood should be simple and sweet and chemical free, and cloth diapers are all of these.

So, in closing, I can say this: Cloth diapering is a lot like nursing in that perhaps, it may be a bit more work than its alternative, but once you settle into your rhythm, it truly doesn't seem that way. I love cloth diapering and will absolutely cloth any future bambinos.

And, in case you were wondering…Baby Legs were worth every penny.   They're still edible and though my son has graduated from them, I'm looking forward to using them again, in early spring, under dresses.
I hope you take from this that cloth diapering, like any parenting decision, can be tailored to your circumstances, means and preferences; and can be as simple or complex as you desire.

Best of Luck! -Mary D.

(My) 10 Basic truths about cloth diapering...

Read the full story here...

This week's Fluff Friday winner is Jenna. Follow her blog here:

This week's Twitter winner wins:

2-Swaddlebees Econappi One size diapers

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Please, contact us ASAP so we can get your winnings out to you!!!

Fluff Friday 42 PLUS Twitter Winners

Read the full story here...

I started cloth diapering in November 2008 on my daughter Madysen, our first, who is now a very spunky 18 month old. At first I wasn't very organized, but I realized very quickly that in order for my husband and myself to enjoy cloth diapering and to stick with it through the other children that we would like to have (I am currently due with our second child on August 26!), I knew that I needed to figure out some way that would work perfectly for my life and the set up of my daughters room.

I am a stay at home mommy who is running a work from home all natural health & wellness business. Keeping up with my home, life, our activities, and very active daughter can be a huge challenge for me some days. So one day early on in my cloth diapering experiences I decided I needed to get my cloth diaper stash organized!

My daughters room isn't very large, so I needed to work with the space that I have. I also needed to make sure that it be easy access for me while my daughter is on her changing table, I didn't want it to be unsafe for my daughter while I was grabbing for the diapers.

Here is what I did:

I measured the two open spaces of shelving on my daughters changing table. I took my measuring tape with me and went searching for the perfect sizes of plastic storage containers that would fit perfectly in the shelving of the changing table. I had some challenges, the first set that I bought was too tall, I must had measured wrong, it just wasn't going to fit. So I re-measured this time putting into account that there was a little lip of wood hanging down on the front drawer of the changing table that I didn't measure the first time. I finally found the perfect plastic containers. I had purchased 6 of the cheapest containers that I could find in the sizes that I needed. All with lids so that my daughter wouldn't get into them and unfold everything!

The largest container for the bottom self with more room was the 50 Quart container (approx. 25" L x 15" W x 10" H), this is where I store all of my clean cloth diapers. After I wash my bumGenius 3.0 one size pocket diapers with Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder (all purchased from Kelly's Closet), I put the one size microfiber insert into the diapers and fold them in half and start stacking them in the container. I can fit 3 stacks into the container and a few in between the stacks. I have approximately 35 of these diapers, but usually not all of them are clean at once, so I can fit all of my clean diapers into the one container. At one time I probably can fit at least 25+ cloth diapers in this size of a container. I like to be prepared and have the inserts already in the diapers when I need them too!

I also bought one 28 Quart container (approx. 22" L x 15" W x 5 1/2" H) for the top shelf which isn't very high, so I was very limited with that shelf. Also, for both the top and bottom shelves I got four 6 Quart containers (approx. 13" L x 7 1/2" W x 4" H), two of those for the top shelf and two for the bottom shelf. Two of the 6 Quart small containers fit all of my newborn inserts that came with the diapers, which I use at night for Madysen's night time diapers. The other 2 small containers and one 28 Quart container I use for miscellaneous items such as disposable diapers for when I need to use a rash cream or for going on extended trips (3+ days), also for my wipes, extra pail liner/laundry bags, diaper liners, and so forth.

On the right side of my changing table I still have my Diaper Champ, since I still use disposable wipes that is where I store any disposable garbage. On the other side I have a 53 Quart waste basket with a lid. I use that with a Swaddlebees/Blueberry Pail Liner/ Laundry Bag for storage of the dirty cloth diapers. I have two of the Swaddlebees/Blueberry Pail Liner/ Laundry Bags so that I have a replacement when one is in the wash.

For organization when I go out with my daughter for a day I like to store a few cloth diapers in the diaper bag or in my purse and I also bring along one of my two Planet Wise Wet Bags. I have one medium Planet Wise Wet Bag and one large for depending on how long I will be out with Madysen.

I have a lot of the cloth diapering accessories from Kelly's Closet, I do everything for my convenience when it comes to cloth diapering so that I won't ever get burnt out or frustrated. Not many of us mom's have extra time on our hands and I just love that Kelly's Closet works so hard for great customer service, product availability, awesome prize giveaways, a blog to keep us all connected and happy!

A Kelly's Closet fan & customer,

By: Kelly M.

Super Organized Busy Mom

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Short description of Blueberry Diapers:

Best known for our Minky Diapers, Blueberry offers a line of high quality, fashion-forward diapers to give moms a viable alternative to today's modern cloth diapers. Established in May 2007, it has grown to be one of the most sought-after brands among those who use cloth diapers. Having diapers made with minky in bold colors and prints, along with a wide selection of unique PUL prints and colors,top quality craftsmanship, anatomically-correct fit and reliable performance helps differentiate Blueberry Diapers from other cloth diapers in the market today.

Why choose Blueberry?

1. Reliability. If all we had were good-looking diapers that leaked, we would have gone nowhere. Beyond the fashionable aspect of our line, there is also a science to making the diapers work. You have to have the best quality materials. The microfleece we use virtually has no problems with any kind of repelling issues. No special detergents needed other than what you can buy from your local grocery store (of course as long as no fabric softener is added). Whether you have hard water or soft water, it's not a problem. The inserts that come with our diapers are extremely absorbent. Where a lot of people have to buy extra hemp inserts or doublers to combine them with the microfiber terry inserts you typically get with pocket diapers, you don't have to do such a thing with ours since we've already combined the hemp and microfiber for you. The minky fabric we use are all laminated. We are the only one in our industry that I know of that uses laminated minky. It is a long and expensive process to do it, but the reason we laminate the fabric directly is to eliminate extra bulk, especially for our one size diapers, and to prevent any wicking issues that may occur when you have an outer layer that is not laminated. So there's your formula for making a diaper that works: a good waterproof outer layer, non-repelling inner layer, and and absorbent core = a very reliable diaper. Plus our diapers fit really really well.

2. Variety & Options. We make both snaps and hook & loop diapers in almost 40 different solid colors and prints (both minky & PUL). It would be so easy for us to just make 1 type of diaper in a handful of colors and only use white snaps. But where's the fun in doing that? People want colors and prints and dots and animal prints and multi-colored-snaps! We cater to the "advanced" cloth diapering mom. We want to add excitement to changing diapers. Only cloth diapering moms look forward to changing diapers when they have something cute in their stash to use next. I don't know many people that get excited about changing another white diaper, much less a disposable.

3. No human was harmed in the production of our diapers. The laminate used for our waterproof fabrics is a non-solvent based type. Other than the fact that it is more environmentally sound, it is also safer for people to work around it because there are no fumes. Even a pregnant woman can safely work in the factory that laminates our fabrics. Same thing with our prints. You don't smell that oil-based ink smell in the factory where our prints are made since they are all water-based. But more importantly, the fact that the very fabric that touches the baby is made in the US also helps assure us that they are made with higher standards of quality.

A brief intro about Blueberry & Me

Making diapers was something I accidentally stumbled into. All my life I thought I was going to be in food service. I had my first food business in high school at age 16. After a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Administration, I went to go to culinary school in San Francisco to earn my "chef" degree. After working in the field and owning 2 restaurants later, I realized I did not want to cook for a living. Why? Because of all the dishes. I hate doing dishes. I don't like cleaning up after I cook. And it bored me to tears to have to cook the same thing over and over again. I make the best Shrimp Scampi in the world...and Tiramisu. But I don't want to have to do it 50..80..120 times a day. Yes there are cooks and staff that can do it for us, but when someone doesn't come in for their shift, me and my husband ends up doing the work. I loved the people we met and the customers we had, but the thought of managing a staff of people that aren't as passionate about the business as I am just gives me knots in my stomach.

I started making diapers shortly after my first son was born. We established Swaddlebees in April 2005, we still had a restaurant back then. But within just 2 years, Swaddlebees sales had already surpassed that of our restaurant with just 2 employees compared to the restuarant's 25. That's when we decided to shut down the restaurant and make diapers full time.

The concept of Blueberry Diapers came about as a way to fill a niche market in the world of cloth diapers. It's all about having fun. It began as a personal project in late 2006 as simply a way to test different designs and fabrics just to see how people would respond to it. I never planned on wholesaling it. Production began in Feb. 2007 and the website was launched in May that year. I already knew there was a huge market for cloth diapers with our experience with Swaddlebees. And I also know that among the moms who are already using cloth diapers, there is that certain percentage that is always looking for something more, regardless of the cost and whether or not they even needed more diapers. Using the best materials possible, and being able to find a high quality US manufacturer meant we will be pushing way beyond the "normal" price limits of cloth diapers. But then again, I didn't intend for it to be "normal". Blueberry Diapers are supposed to be different...fun, fashionable & funky....something you don't see everyday. It's something you will want to pull your baby's pants down to show people what they have underneath....or something you may even not want to cover up.

I've never been the type to try to convince people to use cloth diapers, much less try to push our products on parents. I blush when I have to do that because I feel like a used car salesman. The way I see it, people either get it or they don't. There's no judgment. But if they do get cloth and are looking for something more than what you see everywhere else and what everybody else has, that's where Blueberry Diapers come in. :)

-Written by Margarita McClure-Inventor of Blueberry and Swaddlebees Diapers

Product Focus: Blueberry Diapers

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