The Cloth Diaper Whisperer: BumGenius

Showing posts with label BumGenius. Show all posts

Showing posts with label BumGenius. Show all posts

We're only 9 days from Black Friday and I promised that we'd have some special offers and promotions all month long. Today we bring you a special bumGenius promotion that only happens about once a year.

The bumGenius 4.0 pocket diaper is our best selling and most recommended pocket diaper that we sell. Why? bumGenius is one of the most reliable brands on the market. It's one of the most well known. The quality is consistent and most users rarely experience any problems with the durability of the diapers. They fit most babies from 8-10lbs through potty training; eliminating the need to purchase additional diapers later on. For our family, this was the brand we started with and one that I still recommend to our friends, family, and customers.

For a limited time, when you purchase any 6 bumGenius 4.0 pocket diapers, you'll receive one FREE! This offer is valid while supplies last at Kelly's Closet. Please note that you may not use coupon codes in combination with this offer and that the Albert print is $2 more per diaper. The offer excludes any limited edition/Genius Series prints.

Why did your family decide to use bumGenius 4.0 pocket diapers? Leave a comment below so others will know why you love them.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Stock up on bumGenius 4.0 Pocket Diapers - Buy 6, Get 1 FREE at Kelly's Closet

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A friend of mine asked me how much my baby weighs. A mother should be able to answer this question very easily, but I am an American expat living in Germany. I know how much she weighs in pounds, but a quick mental math conversion is too much while I am trying to keep a wiggle worm from grabbing at my carelessly placed fork.

“Well, which diapers do you buy? You have to know how much she weighs.”

1. Grasping the opportunity

There it was. Which diapers do I buy? I would love to talk about how I like the way my bumGenius Freetimes dry so quickly after hanging them, and that I just heard there was a limited edition coming out! But I know that where I live cloth diapers are for hippies. And by hippies I mean old-fashioned, hairy-legged, hemp-wearing moms.

2. Introducing the modern technic

“Diapers!?! I use the modern bumGenius cloth diapers from America.”
There it is. That is the trick. If they are from America, then they are new, modern, and most importantly COOL! If I just said I use cloth, Germans would look at me like I am crazy and move on. So I say the brand name as if they should know the name -- as if it is famous.
I was able to use the same idea with my American family.

“Disposables? I use the these cute bumGenius diapers. Cloth diapering has come so far. This is 2014! “

At this point one or two of the following flows out of my mouth:

“And they are so easy!”
“And they come in so many varieties!”
“And they are so cute!”
“And there are no stinky chemicals.”
“And she never gets diaper rash”
“And they are so cute!”

3. Showing the product -- you know you want to

Did I tell you how cute they were? By then I had to show them. It happened to be a bright green diaper. What am I talking about? She always wears bright diapers.

“Honestly, I don’t even use them because they are cheaper, but because I think they are cute!” (which is completely true)

4. . . . talking about being honest

I am not trying to sell cloth diapers, and I really don’t care so much about others using them, except for the fact that it hurts the environment. However, I always feel a need to explain and defend my use of cloth. So before I have to defend my cloth diapers, I like to show my genuine excitement for them.

That being said, I was also honest and said that I do have an extra load of laundry every few days, but it doesn’t bother me.

"I enjoy the extra load of laundry more than I do going to the store, buying disposables, bringing them up to my apartment, and then taking the trash back down. I enjoy hanging brightly colored diapers in the window to dry. And I enjoy picking out the diaper I use for my daughter."

5. Leaving it up to the momma

The main reason I think it is important to be honest and not look like a hero is that there is too much mommy shaming out there. And I don’t think we do it on purpose. I think each momma tries to be the best she can be by showing perfection to her own child. It is not to shame others, it is just that the other mother feels shamed, or imperfect.

Therefore I left it open with my friend.

“I love using cloth diapers. There are so many new and modern ones available. Check out kellyscloset.com and let me know if you need help.”

6. Offering help

The last part is the most important. We all know how it was. Although I absolutely love bumGenius, I know I love them because they fit my lifestyle and my baby. Now that I have tried a few, I can help a friend wade through the new terminology and brands and help her find what is best for her baby. And maybe she just doesn’t want to make the change. I have to accept this quite often. In that case the knowledge is what matters, so that moms know their options. But more importantly she needs to know that she can come to you for help -- and not just help related to cloth diapering.

BIO: Jennifer Teich is an American girl who moved from the Ohio river to the Elbe river in Hamburg, Germany. Along with trying to figure out the German culture, she is now navigating motherhood with her husband and six month old daughter.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Unveiling the Underpants

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For people who cloth diaper, there are a few things that always seem to be shocking to friends and family who do NOT cloth diaper when they find out that you’re a little… well.. different… Who washes them?! How do you wash them?! WHAT THE HECK DO YOU DO WITH THE POOP?!!!?!

Every time this comes up, someone inevitably thinks I have to somehow wipe the poop out of the diaper with my bare hand or something! They are APPALLED that I come within 10 feet of a poop-sicle! Of course, who could blame them? They are used to dealing with disposable diaper poops, which I swear somehow makes an easily plop-able solid poop turn to a mix between peanut butter and sticky tack (remember that?!). They don’t quite understand that most poops can be easily dropped into a toilet where it belongs. But even in cloth diapers, we have those rare occasions when the normal solid poos turn into butter tack, and for those times, we are so thankful to have found the bumGenius Diaper Sprayer!!!!

The bumGenius Diaper Sprayer has to be one of the best things ever invented for those in the world of cloth diapering! Luckily, we bought one as we were starting out, so only a handful of times have we had to ‘dunk and swish’. One of those rare times, we were at my in-laws and my son, who was 1 at the time, had easily one of the biggest explosions of his life.. It was pure butter tack – and it was up his back, down his leg – I swear it was coming out of his nose!! (You’ve been there – you know what I’m talking about!).. The worst part was we were away from home – and without our basic tools.. We swished… and dunked… and flushed… over and over again – it was TERRIBLE!!! We ended up just putting it in the wetbag the best we could and opting to deal with it once we got home. Later, mind you it had been a while, we pulled it out and one go around with the sprayer, and we were back to white!! It was glorious!

Sometimes you don’t appreciate the little things until you’re made to do without them! Best. Invention. Ever.

Bio: My name is Allison Reid and I stay home with my two-year-old little boy, James and my four month old little girl, Finley. My husband and I recently packed up our family and left NY and are now transitioning to the great state of South Carolina! Howdy Y’all!

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

I’ve Got That Loving Feeling - With my Diaper Sprayer

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My favorite cloth diaper accessory is the bumGenius Flannel Baby Wipes. These wipes are soft and efficient in handling many duties; No pun intended. As a mother I am worried about the chemicals in our environment and how I can minimize these chemical on or around my baby.

It may seem daunting at first to use cloth wipes, but once you try them you will see how easy it is! I throw all my wipes in the wash with my cloth diapers and wash them exactly the same way. It’s that easy! I have had my wipes almost two years and not one of my bumGenius wipes have a stain. I do rinse them before putting in wet bag. They have not shrunk on me and I use the dryer to dry them. They are cleaned perfectly every time in a normal wash. It also gives me piece of mind that I know what I am using on my baby. I make my own wipe solution. I can either soak all my wipes in my solution then put in the wipe warmer. In the wipe warmer they stay very moist and do not dry out.

When I am out and about I have a small glass BPA free spray bottle with my solution and I spray and wipe! They are also a good size not too big and not too small. They are great to travel with since they do not take up a lot of room as other commercial wipes do. They are great at getting the cleaning job done, I think in the midst of a major blow out I have only needed to use 2 wipes 3 tops. For quick changes 1 wipe suffices. The fact they are thin as opposed to other wipes make it easier to wipe babies more efficiently. These wipes are single ply, which makes them easier to handle when cleaning up messes. Another trick I have learned is if I notice my baby is getting a rash from teething, I will put some coconut oil on the baby then cover with a bumGenius wipe and it this gives her added protection and works every time. Coconut oil is safe to use with your wipes.

They have also been a lifesaver for my sick babies; I use these wipes to keep up with runny little noses. They are so soft that it does not cause added irritation under their nose.

I also find these wipes are also great for little ones hands and face with the same solution, especially when your out and about and do not want to use harsh chemicals like antibacterial hand sanitizer.

I have also ordered pack for myself and this saves me money on paper towels! I also use them to wash my own face or to remove make up which I rarely wear. If you and your family really want to take the plunge these wipes are a great replacement for family cloth.

A big plus for me is that they are unbleached cotton and the price is right!

Bio: My name is Kathleen Garcia I am a doula and I am a mommy of 4. I have cloth diapered and cloth wiped my two youngest children.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

Everyday Uses for bumGenius Wipes

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I have been cloth diapering my 6 month old from the time she was 2 weeks old. I have tried many brands including GroVia, Tots Bots, Kawaii, Blueberry, bumGenius, Fuzzibunz, Bottombumpers, Rumparooz and more! My favorite cloth diaper after using so many of them is the bumGenius 4.0. It is awesome! It comes in such beautiful colors and prints – which are changing all the time. It did take a little bit for my girl to fit into them. Maybe not until she was about a month and a half old. But once she was able to wear them, they are my go-to diaper.

The 4.0 has a microsuede inner, which I like better than fleece for some reason. This is a must as my daughter needs the wetness pulled away from her as much as possible with her sensitive skin. The 4.0 comes with two inserts – the newborn size and the larger one-size insert. We have always used the one-size insert, even when she was new, just folded down. Using that insert, we have never had a leak. Never! 4.0s are our nighttime diaper – most of the time anyway. I know if I put her to bed in a 4.0 she’ll wake up dry and happy. At some point I’m sure we’ll add the newborn insert as a doubler but right now, it is totally unnecessary. I will add, though, that my daughter is not particularly a “heavy-wetter” so that is also why we only have to use one insert. My 3 year old even wore the 4.0 diapers before she potty trained.

We have snaps in our 4.0 cloth diapers and we love them. They are easy to do and even folded down are still relatively trim fitting. As bumGenius diapers go, I find that the 4.0 is the trimmest diaper, especially when compared to the BG Freetime. We have almost every color of the 4.0s and I just recently had to buy a few of the colors we were missing because they are being discontinued!

A few things that could be improved upon, I guess, would be that they are a bit bulky on newer or smaller babies. The diaper did look huge on her at 1 month old but so did every other one-size cloth diaper. I did not invest in any newborn sized diapers so one-size diapers are what I had to go with. The may have been huge at first but she is rapidly growing into them. Like I said, they fit her great now and we have never had them leak on us. Even though many people don’t like microfiber, I think these inserts are the best microfiber inserts I’ve tried. Other diapers that come with microfiber have leaked on us in a matter of an hour or two. While the microfiber is getting a tiny bit dingy looking, it still works great and I expect it to keep working. Lastly, they are on the slightly pricier side. However, there are frequent deals where you can buy 5 and get one free, which makes them a little more reasonable. And, while other more inexpensive diapers might wear out sooner, I’m thinking my 4.0s will last for at least two babies! I will be investing in even more 4.0s – especially with all the new prints out! If you want a fool-proof solution that has worked wonders for us, give the bumGenius 4.0 a try! I hope it works as well for you as it has for us!

Bio: I'm Valerie Redfearn, a qualified librarian and current stay-at-home Mom with two girls - Lily who is 3 and Violet who is 6 months. My family currently lives in Blacksburg, VA where we love to go to the park, read books and engage in general silliness.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

I Feel Like a Genius!

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We’re cloth diapering our second child. We learned a lot with the first, and even more with the second. We’ve tried just about every diaper under the sun, really thrifty versions that felt like sand paper after the first wash, to super expensive diapers that shot sparkles across the room when the baby pooped. One thing that remained constant between children was our favorite diaper, bumGenius 4.0!

One of the things that intrigued me about the brand is the founder’s story. Jennifer Labit founded Cotton Babies with $100 and a dream. The company created the cloth diaper brands, bumGenius, Flip, and Econobum, cloth diaper brands. After hearing that, the diaper could have been made out of plastic grocery bags; I was going to buy at least one. My first purchase was at a local store, just as I was learning about cloth diapers. It didn’t appear to be very special just by looking at it, but I happily made my purchase in support of a mom that was trying to do what she believed was best for her family.

Honestly, the diaper wasn’t one of the first we put on our baby. It sat, waiting patiently while we used what I thought would be superior diapers. When my husband grew tired of folding down rises and figuring out snaps, he reached for the bumGenius 4.0 with aplix and we never looked back. No struggles to figure out the diaper. No leaks. No blow outs. No outlandish washing instructions. It just worked. The inserts were simple to figure out; a newborn size and an adjustable one come with the diaper. We used only the newborn insert and it fit great on our 8 lb. 9 oz. newborn. Now our super diaper soaking toddler does quite well with both the adjustable insert and the newborn insert combined. We built our stash slowly, purchasing one to three diapers a month from Kelly’s Closet, and our current stash includes just about 75 diapers, with more than half of them wearing a bumGenius tag. The colors and prints are awesome; they wash well, colors do not fade, and have successfully made it through two children, over the course of three years, with only three needing minor repairs. Just in case you need them, we purchased repair kits from Kelly’s Closet, too!

bumGenius is our “go-to” diaper whenever we leave the house because we can count on not needing to use the extra set of clothes in the diaper bag. Our family travels quite a bit and it is our absolute favorite diaper on vacation, and is especially cute when paired with a matching sundress in tropical climates. When we use them at home for ourselves and send other brands with the baby to the sitter, and she reminds us of our selfishness. If my mother-in-law stops by to babysit, bumGenius diapers are the first ones she grabs from the bin. Whether they are ours or a part of another family, we’re interested in finding out how many more children our favorite diapers will triumph against!

By Lottie

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Our Favorite Diaper

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Cloth diapering can be intimidating. With terminology like covers, snaps, prefolds, inserts, liners, stripping, all-in-one, pocket, one size, etc. it’s enough to make even the most interested mom or mom-to-be hesitate. There are a lot of brands and types of cloth diapers out there, but bumGenius cloth diapers remain to be my diaper of choice for my ten month old son.

Below I outline the reasons why I love bumGenius diapers.

Affordable: Cloth diapering can get expensive, but in the long run, cloth diapering will save most families hundreds of dollars (this of course depends on the number of children the diapers are used for.) bumGenius diapers are extremely affordable, and range between $20-25 per diaper. This may not seem like an affordable option, but bumGenius diapers are adjustable. This means that as your baby grows, you won’t have to buy diapers in a bigger size. Instead, you can adjust the diaper as necessary. bumGenius diapers are designed to fit babies 7-35+ pounds. With these adjustable settings, you can make sure the diaper fits just right.

Reliable: bumGenius diapers are very high quality diapers made by Cotton Babies. Many parents use the same set of bumGenius diapers for multiple children. I personally have diapers with the snap closures, as I’ve read that the snap versions last even longer than the hook and loop versions. Not only do bumGenius diapers last, but they do what they are designed to do. As a newborn, my son had many blow outs with disposables. As soon as we started cloth diapering him around 5 weeks of age, we no longer had any issues with him blowing out of his diapers. And best of all, his bum actually stays dry. The stay dry lining allows all the moisture to soak into the microfiber insert and therefore wet fabric doesn't sit against his sensitive bum in between diaper changes. This means less chance of diaper rash, too! The stay dry lining is so soft, and my son has never become irritated as result of wearing cloth diapers.

Easy: Many people are afraid of cloth diapering, but bumGenius diapers are truthfully extremely easy to use and care for. The process of changing a bumGenius diaper is equally as easy as changing a disposable. Not only that, but the washing and assembly process of bumGenius diapers are just as easy. Anyone who knows how to operate a washing machine could successfully wash and care for bumGenius cloth diapers. Even my husband agrees: cloth diapering is much easier than he anticipated.

Variety: bumGenius offers many varieties. For people who do not want to mess with inserts, bumGenius offers an “all-in-one” diaper. For people who don’t mind inserts, they offer a pocket diaper as well (which is also nice, because then you can add extra inserts if extra absorbency is needed.) They even have organic options. You can also choose between snaps and velcro.

Cute: Let’s face it, almost nothing is cuter than a baby in a cloth diaper, and bumGenius diapers are no exception. bumGenius diapers come in a variety of colors and patterns. While there are some that are catered specifically to one gender, plenty of colors are neutral friendly and could be used for either a boy or a girl.

So there you have it. I have been cloth diapering for over 9 months now, and I continue to recommend bumGenius time and time again. If you're thinking of trying cloth diapering, bumGenius is the way to go!

Bio: Rachel is a wife, teacher, and cloth-diapering mom of one who also writes her own blog, Baby Blythe Blog.

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

bumGenius: My Go-To Cloth Diaper

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I have been cloth diapering my son for coming up on two years and in that time, I’ve had the great pleasure of trying many different types of diapers and brands. However, at the end of the day, I continuously find myself reaching for my tried and true diaper, the one that is consistent, flexible, customizable and rarely fails me. To that end, I would like to share this diaper with you and the ‘why’s as why it is our go-to diaper.

BumGenius Freetime- the top 10 reasons why it’s amazing:

10. It’s all in one.
Easy peasy. Just grab ‘n go.

9. Quick Dry
I hang these to dry before bed and when I wake in the morning they are dry and ready to go.

8. One-size
So many diapers are one-size so this isn’t unique, but it’s still great.

7. Adjustable
The flaps have fold marks on them to adjust where you would like some extra protection, front for boys, middle for girls. Or, you can be like me and simply leave them down the entire time.

6. A-dor-a-ble
The colors. The prints. The NEW prints. So many options.

5. Coordinating BabyLegs
If you love babylegs, they coordinate so well. If you aren’t a fan, may I recommend the BabyLegs socks. A peek of color out of the top of pants to coordinate with a peek of color at the bottom of the pants.

4. Snaps or Aplix?
They come in both styles, so you choose. My favorite? Aplix.

3. Stretchy Tabs
I never realized how much I loved the stretchy tabs until I had a non-stretchy tabs diaper to use. It leads to a great fit around the waist.

2. Stay Dry Flaps
While this isn’t for everyone, I love how the diaper is a stay-dry diaper to let my baby feel dry even if the diaper is wet.

1. Customizable
Even though it is an All-In-One, the flaps lift, allowing you to put a doubler, such as a Hemp Babies doubler, underneath to add extra absorbency if needed. For a long car ride, I’ll just quickly plop one in, flip the flaps down and go. It’s quicker than stuffing a pocket to me.

By Joann

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Freetime Love

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We have been successfully cloth diapering for six months now! During these past months, I have fallen in love with the BumGenius brand. The majority of my stash consists of the 4.0 pocket style diapers with a few Freetimes. I also have several Flip covers and the stay dry inserts, which I found surprisingly easy to use.

At first I thought I would only want aplix, but I decided to try some snaps out, too. I was surprised to find that both my husband and I prefer the snaps. A big plus for the snaps, not having to worry about fastening the laundry tabs, and they seem to be holding up slightly better as well. I also get the same fit every time because I always use the same snaps. There are times that I prefer an aplix diaper. For instance, I always grab one for an emergency middle of the night change, or the first morning change when I still can’t quite keep my eyes open. I prefer using an aplix diaper for nighttime when we stuff the diaper a little more and can get a snuggly fit easier. Aplix diapers also make cloth less intimidating for babysitters and relatives. I always pack aplix when my daughter is staying with her grandma, and she can put them on just the same as a disposable. Easy as can be!

I adore the prints that the BumGenius and Flips come in. Our favorites are the Lovelace and Maathia. It so easy to coordinate the colors and prints with any of my daughter’s outfits, and most days she doesn’t even wear pants!

I have been using mostly the microfiber inserts that come with the 4.0. They wash easily and the sun takes out any stains that they might get. I started using the 4.0’s when my daughter turned one month and was around 10 pounds. She is now six months and approximately 16 pounds. We are now on the middle rise setting, and I couldn’t ask for a better fit. One “trick” I did figure out is even though the diaper is on the middle rise setting; I still snap the microfiber insert on the smallest setting to stuff. It seems to give it a more trim fit.

Another amazing fact is we have never had a blow out! No matter how much my daughter goes, all the mess is contained in the diaper. Even when using a Flip cover with the stay dry inserts nothing has escaped. Occasionally the cover does get dirty, but I love being able to reuse the covers throughout the day when they are just wet. I also like packing a few covers and inserts for daytrips. They take up slightly less room in the diaper bag and make traveling with cloth easy.

I alternate between the 4.0 and covers and inserts during the day. Sometimes I get behind on the diaper laundry and haven’t had time to stuff pockets, so grabbing a cover and insert makes it convenient. For nighttime, I love the Flip organic nighttime inserts either stuffed into a pocket or folded into a cover with a stay dry liner. They seem to hold a ton of pee, and I haven’t had to change wet sheets once.

I am happy I decided to try this popular brand. The versatility of the different styles of diapers has made it easy to find a routine that works and takes the guesswork out of cloth diapering. I have become much more confident in my cloth diapering ways, and I credit that mostly to this user friendly diaper.

Bio: Jamie is a Marine wife and mom to her six-month-old daughter. She enjoys crocheting and reading in her free time (if she ever gets any).

Would you like to be a contributor on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer? We're always looking for creative writers who would like to share their cloth diapering tips. To find out more Contact Us

BumGenius: The Best Everyday, Versatile Diaper System

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Two years ago when I made the decision to switch to cloth diapers, I had no idea how it would change other aspects of my life. I remember back to when I was pregnant with my second son and was asked on a pregnancy forum if I was going to use cloth or disposable diapers. I quickly replied disposable and went on with life without really thinking about it. At the time, I was completely unaware of today’s cloth diapers, as I’m sure many women are. When I thought of cloth diapers, the old school prefolds and flats with pins and plastic pants came to mind. I wasn’t going to deal with that – along with all the poop. Yuck! However, my mind changed quickly soon after Brendan was born and I began to see the cute cloth diapers that other babies from that forum where wearing. I followed a link to Kelly’s Closet and to the bumGenius pocket diaper. I was intrigued by how simple it looked, and liked the idea of a reusable diaper that would eliminate the weekly trips to the store to buy diapers for two children. Upon the arrival of my first fluffy mail from Kelly’s Closet, a bumGenius one-size sample pack, I was 100% on board with cloth diapering. Little did I know how this decision to purchase my first fluff would change my life.

After using cloth diapers for a few months I began to think about why I was using cloth on my children, but continuing to use disposable products for myself each month. I began doing a little research into women’s personal hygiene products and was alarmed at some of the things I read. Again on the same forum, I followed a link to a WAHM who makes cloth menstrual pads or “momma cloth” and fell in love with the beautiful fabrics she had available. I placed an order and haven’t used a single disposable product since then. I shouldn’t have been so surprised, but several of the things I had read about switching to cloth were true for me. My cycles really did seem lighter, and I was much more comfortable using cloth. I really wish I would have discovered momma cloth before I had children. It sure would have made the post partum period much more comfortable. As for cleaning my momma cloth, I simply store it in a small wet bag and wash it with my cloth diapers, or if it’s not fluff wash day, I’ve been known to wash them with towels now that I use Rockin Green detergent with all of my laundry.

Speaking of Rockin Green…that’s another product that has changed life in our home. In the past I was oblivious to all the additives in laundry detergent. I was far from living a green life. It’s not that I didn’t want to; I was just unaware of how I could make a few changes in order to live a greener, healthier life. After trying a bag of Rockin’ Green with my fluff, I feel in love with the detergent. If it was able to get the diapers clean and smelling so fresh, I just had to start using it on all of our clothing, towels and sheets. Even with Brendan’s sensitive skin, we haven’t had any problems at all using either Classic or Hard Rock in a variety of scents. (I just LOVE the new Smashing Watermelons and Rage Against the Raspberry!)

Cloth diapering also led me to discover my new favorite hobby – yarn. I love crocheting wool shorties and longies for both of my sons. My oldest son still has accidents some nights and beautiful, breathable wool is our answer to keeping his bed dry at night. As much as I enjoy crocheting in the evenings, I shudder to think that I may not have discovered this wonderful new hobby, had it not been for my decision two years ago to switch to cloth diapers. It’s kind of amazing how one small decision affected my life in so many ways. Have you ever stopped to think about how has cloth diapering changed your life?

By Katrina W.
Originally posted on 7/19/2010

How Cloth Diapering Changed My Life

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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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This blog post originally posted on September 11, 2010. With the recent after-math of Hurricane Sandy we thought we would re-post for you:

The renewal of hurricane season and active storms has made me re-evaluate my emergency plans and preparations. I have given thought to water supply, food, batteries, important documents, and more...but with my decision to use cloth diapers exclusively, and the disappearance of the very last disposable diaper, I have new plans to make. Part of my preparation will no longer include picking up an extra pack of disposable diapers. It is important to me to find an environmentally safe emergency plan.

How will I wash my stash if we were to lose power and water? What happens when I run out of clean cloth diapers? Do I really plan on washing everything by hand with a limited water supply? Many questions began spinning through my head, and I realized I hadn't planned for conditions without a washing machine.

In formulating my plan, I slowed down and asked myself the following questions:

How many diapers does my child use in a day?
How often will I wash diapers? (As a load, or individually?)
Do I have enough diapers to rotate clean/dirty diapers in time for them to be dry and ready?
Where will I wash the diapers? (In a bucket? The sink?)
Do I have extra needed accessories (diaper rash cream, laundry detergent, wipes, liners)?
Where will the waste water be disposed?
How will the process maintain sanitary conditions? (Hand-washing/disinfecting?)
How long will I be prepared to be without power/water?

My stash of cloth diapers includes mostly One Size FuzziBunz and bumGenius, with a few Rumparooz, and Thirsties. I also have 3 Bummis Whisper Wrap Covers which I use with a Kissaluvs Hybrid One Size Contour (I really need to get more inserts!). I have enough diapers to last 3 or 4 days, but from experience realize that it is necessary to plan for a week or more in an emergency situation. My planning decision revolved mainly around the question of hand-washing diapers that I already have (counting on enough extra water to the supply to enable this), and/or finding an alternative solution. Standard disposables for me will be an absolute last resort, and I won't stock them.

Kelly's Closet offered me a very appealing solution: GroVia Bio-Soakers! With this option, I can reuse a cover multiple times and replace the insert as needed...without a significant water resource impact (I'll only need to clean covers). I will always have my other cloth diapers and inserts, as additional options available in my emergency kit. Even if I ran out of Bio-Soakers (my first choice for avoiding a heavier wash load), I will still have a wonderful supply of fluff to wash and reuse. GroVia also makes Bio-Diapers, an alternative to disposable diapers that may be another option.

Cloth diapers are actually a perfect solution for emergency situations. Long before washing machines, cloth was THE only option, and mothers (and fathers) made it work. Granted, emergencies can be slightly different without a known unlimited source of water, but the same principles apply. Reliance on modern convenience is not necessary to making cloth diapers effective. The biggest added bonus is not having the worry of a panicked sell-out of all disposables at the grocery store...my cloth will always be right there.

I'll be ordering some GroVia shells and Bio-Soakers to test drive this solution. In the meantime, I may come up with other ideas, but at least I'm on the right track for being prepared in an emergency with cloth diapers. Are you?

By Julie G.

From The Cloth Diaper Whisperer Archives: Cloth Diapers in an Emergency

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We are a proud family of spontaneous triplet boys born prematurely at only 28wks in Dec 2010 who are now thriving 16-mo-old toddlers!

What is the #1 reason you cloth diaper your baby? We use cloth mainly because of the cost savings. Diapering three little tushies is expensive!

Who has been your biggest cloth diapering supporter/cheerleader? When I announced I would be cloth diapering triplets I was met with much skepticism and doubt from everyone around me. Most of my initial support came from online strangers but since we began my family has grown to embrace the cloth lifestyle.

What is your favorite diaper and why? We currently love the ease and convenience of our bumGenius Elementals. They are a super soft fabric, one-size to grow with our boys, and the fact that they are AIO makes it easy for our helpers to be as comfortable with them as they are with disposables.

If you had one superhero power, what would it be and why? The power to make my children sleep when they are supposed to!

Describe your parenting style using three words. Passionate, efficient, elmo

What is one product you absolutely can't live without? Fleece Liners

How do you think being a mother has changed you? Becoming a parent has made me see that God's plan for me is so much greater than any plan I ever had for myself. My kids are amazing little miracles and as hard as it is to parent triplets, its ever more rewarding!

Meet May's Spotlight MOM: Christina Probeyahn

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The first time I tried cloth diapers, I used a Gerber pre-fold with a snapi under a size one Thirsties cover. It worked perfectly. There were no leaks and changing was no big deal. What I was not prepared for was the wet prefold. I know it sounds silly, but at the time I was at the changing table with a wet prefold and nowhere to put it. Like many of us, I am a “googler”. Yet for some reason I did not turn to it to answer this question. Was it baby brain? All I knew was that my mother used disposables. My mother in law used a diaper service and I remembered her stories of hauling a wet pail downstairs. I did not like the idea of having to produce a wet pail that instant. I thought: “What is a wet pail? A bucket of water and soap?” In any case, I changed my baby into a disposable diaper and I wrapped the wet prefold in a used grocery bag and threw it out. Yes, people. Guilty as charged. In my defense, I washed the Thirsties cover.

Fast-forward one year and I am pregnant with baby number two. Due to many breastfeeding problems and hormonal issues, I know baby number two will be formula fed. Baby number one is a toddler under two years old and not potty trained. I will have two babies in diapers and one that needs formula! The idea of spending that kind of money every month was just terrifying. I started researching cloth diapering in earnest. Paying most attention to what to do with the poop and the wet diapers. Thankfully, the wet pail is mostly a thing of the past (phew!) and a dry pail is just fine. I bought a Planet Wise liner and a “tall” plastic trash can with a lid. Now I would not throw out a wet prefold! The poop is not a problem, since a toddler’s poop rolls out of the diaper into the toilet. No need to rinse most of the time. I am sure this will change with a newborn, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

A local store stocks cloth diapers. After much pondering, I bought two Flips with stay dry inserts and three Econobums with hemp inserts. I went home and prepped the diapers. By the time I was done, it was nighttime. We were having a lot of trouble with my son’s disposables leaking overnight. In fact, we were using disposables a size larger and yet sometimes he would soak through the diaper! I read everywhere that hemp absorbs very well so we tried it. Why not? I was dealing with leaky diapers at least once a week. Another one would not be a big deal. That first night, my son used a Flip cover with a stay dry insert over an Econobum hemp prefold. The next morning I had a happy toddler that had not leaked! And to my surprise he was dry. I could not believe that the stay dry insert actually stayed dry! Call me skeptical, but I just could not believe that cloth could do that. The inserts went into the dry pail (not the trash). I wiped the Flip cover and put on another hemp prefold. I was back in the store that day and bought more Flip stay dry inserts. I have even added cloth wipes!

I quickly supplemented my growing stash with new bumGenius pocket diapers and bought some used Happy Heinys. This way I don’t have to wash every day. The dry pail does not smell like I thought it would. Pregnant ladies out there, you know how the nose changes! I cannot smell a thing with the lid closed. My husband does most of our nighttime routine therefore, we use the bumGenius pocket with two inserts overnight. I have no leaks to report. Gladly, by now I know I could also use a Flip or an Econobum with two stay dry inserts get no leaks either.

I find cloth-diapering fun and I wish my son was younger and that the weather was warmer so that he could run around in his cute diaper. Soon a new addition will come home and I will be able to do just that! That reminds me I need to get her some coordinating baby legs!

Bio: Sofia M. is currently a SAHM to a toddler and is expecting her second child.

I Once Threw Out A Wet Prefold

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Fluff Friday: 2 bumGenius Freetime diapers
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fluff Friday 160

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Fluff Friday:

2-bumGenius 4.0 One-Size Cloth Diapers in new colors (solid colors only)

Fluff Friday 157

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This week's Fluff Friday winner is Emily Gray!

She will receive:
2-bumGenius 4.0 One-Size Cloth Diaper (your choice of color/closure)

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

Fluff Friday 153 WINNER!

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Fluff Friday 153:
2-bumGenius 4.0 One-Size Cloth Diaper (your choice of color/closure)

Fluff Friday 153

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This week's Fluff Friday winner is Cara Staten!

She will receive:
1-Changing Diapers & bumGenius Shower Gift
(includes 1-Changing Diapers Book & 1-bumGenius 4.0 Cloth Diaper)

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

Fluff Friday 152 WINNER!

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Fluff Friday:

1-Changing Diapers & bumGenius Shower Gift
(includes 1-Changing Diapers Book & 1-bumGenius 4.0 Cloth Diaper)

Fluff Friday 152

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Earn Free Cloth Diapers

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