Tag Archives | getting started cloth diapering

Cloth Diapering vs. 4.0?

April 8, 2013 By Faith

At our house cloth diapering has been something that has changed throughout the different seasons of parenting. What works for us has changed, many times.

When we were awaiting sweet Aiden’s adoption we made the decision to start with cloth as soon as we could. We wanted something that would grow with him, and my husband was adamant that there only be one brand or style of diaper. Hey, if he was willing to jump in I was okay with his “conditions.”

I honestly wanted to go old school with flats, pins, and covers. My husband laid down a nightmare scenario of him changing a diaper of that “difficulty” complete with him loosing the diaper pin he just removed. I laughed at the absurdity and began my research.

We settled on an all in two diaper that met all of the requirements we had set forth. We were both happy with our choice and we began the great adventure of cloth diapering shortly after returning home with our sweet son.

That’s merely where the adventure started however. It’s been 3.5 years and 2 kids since we began, we now have everything from prefolds and covers to all in ones, plus lots of variety in between! I have discovered that our diapering needs have changed for each kid in varying seasons of their lives. I have also discovered that its a very personal choice, in that what some Mommas love others can’t stand! I highly recommend a cloth diaper trial as you start using cloth, you can find several companies that make them available with a quick google search. We did one right before our second was born and discovered a few things along the way!

If I was starting all over I would buy flats, newborn doublers, and double gusseted covers for all the time use. I would also buy a few one sized all in one diapers for nights and running errands since they are just easier when time or location is limited. A diaper pail for at home, and a wet bag for on the go, oh and don’t forget the diaper sprayer!

That’s just one Mommas opinion

Read full story · Comments { 0 } in Cloth diapers, flats, Getting Started, modern cloth, Newborn, Stash

Diapering Today Review and Giveaway

December 13, 2011 By Jeniffer

When Catherine from The Willow Store contacted us about reviewing the Diapering Today DVD, we were thrilled. Both of us had been curious about this DVD since the Twitter party release, and we weren’t disappointed.

Before I share my thoughts with you, here’s some information about The Willow Store from their website.

Generations after generations have lived on our Earth, with the understanding that all things will return to the earth, all things are reusable.
Recently in our history, our people have gotten off track, and have forgotten our future. We have created single use materials that cannot be returned to the Earth, that disrupt this natural cycle and change our future. We cannot continue to treat our planet as though it is single use. We must care for our planet, preserving it for our children.

Now is the time to move forward with this basic principle. Catherine Bolden, founder and mom behind The Willow Store, created this company in 2005 to share her dedication and respect our Earth, for our children and our reusable future.
We will not compromise on our beliefs. All of our products are ethically manufactured in the US, we strongly support small business, and living wages. We choose only the highest quality materials, and organic whenever possible, sourced in the US whenever possible.

This DVD is a one-stop resource for any mom or dad who is interested in cloth diapers. While it doesn’t cover everything in the cloth diapering world, it does share several details about the basics. For anyone who has had to research cloth diapers on their own, you know what a pain it can be to figure out the basic terms that everyone seems to know, much less figure out a washing routine or what on earth a wet bag is. Diapering Today covers all of this with ease while also including product samples as well as cute fluffy bums.

I love that the chapters are so well organized and that you can watch one without watching several at one time. It helps to keep the information separated, too. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or nap time didn’t last as long as you wanted, you can save the next chapter for later on. The chapters include Why Cloth, How to Use, Types, Getting Started, Tips and Tricks, Washing, Terms, Accessories, Potty Training, Cloth on a Budget, and Resources. There’s also an interesting Evolution of Diapers chapter that was fun to watch. And while both DVDs combined are about 2 hours long, there is most definitely no reason why you would have to watch them all at once.

Another thing I really appreciate about the DVDs is that the women and men featured are real parents. They’ve used cloth diapers with their children, and they know what they’re talking about. They weren’t condescending at all, and I heard several times that switching to cloth doesn’t have to be an all or nothing deal. I love that these men and women are passionate about cloth diapering but still understanding enough to make even the newest convert to cloth feel comfortable. When I was finished watching Diapering Today, I felt like I had talked to several friends at home. I have a feeling that anyone even remotely interested in cloth diapering would enjoy watching these DVDs and learning from the amazing people on them.

Now, I will say that this isn’t a Hollywood production. The sound bounces from loud to soft depending on who is speaking, where the mic was, and of course any other background noises. But while this affected my attention at times, it didn’t affect the overall message or the point of this video. Honestly? I like that it isn’t perfect. It makes the women behind the TV screen seem more real, and it levels the playing field a little bit for people who are new to cloth diapering.

Overall, I’d definitely lend this or buy this for a friend who wanted to know more about the cloth diaper world. It’s a great introduction into cloth, and I could also see it starting conversations about cloth diapers, too. It would, of course, also be great in a class setting where the teacher could explain or answer questions after watching a chapter or two. Because it balances the harder work of cloth diapers with the many benefits and joys of using them, it’s definitely a resource that I will be sharing.

Buy It:

You can buy a copy of Diapering Today for yourself or a friend for $17.95.

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Read full story · Comments { 1 } in Cloth Diapers, Giveaways

I Want to Cloth Diaper…. Now What? How to Get Started with Cloth Diapers

October 17, 2011 By Melissa

This post was inspired by a question we received recently on Twitter, and that I see repeated fairly often. The gist of it is, “I want to start cloth diapering, but I’m just not sure where to start! What should I get?” This is an extremely hard question to answer, especially in 140 characters! That’s because cloth diapering, like so many other aspects of life, is very individual. Some people adore pockets and are terrified of flats and prefolds. Some people swear by only fitteds and wool. Some people love the simplicity of their flats and pockets and hate the stuffing and trouble with build up that can often come with pockets.

Still, if you are new to cloth diapering, and not sure where to start, or how to figure out which type of cloth diapers you want, maybe I can help you a little bit with this post.

My first suggestion is to read our Cloth Diapering 101 page, Types of Cloth Diapers, to be sure you understand the terminology and the different types of cloth diapers available.

Once you’ve done that, you need to decide how much money you are willing to invest in a stash. Any type of cloth diapering will save you money over disposables (unless you get really crazy with cute “collector” diapers and wool) but if you’re wanting to do it as frugally as possible, you may want to focus on flats, prefolds and covers (and be sure to check out 5 Ways to Cloth Diaper from Birth to Potty Training for Around $100). If you want to do cloth diapers as conveniently as possible, you may want to focus on pockets or all-in-ones. Figuring out why you’re cloth diapering and what’s most important to you can help narrow your focus as you start looking at your options.

If you are flexible on how much you spend upfront, and just want to find what works best for you, then I recommend getting a trial package that includes a variety of types of diapers, with the option to return the package and get a refund to use on your favorites. Trlal packages are available at several different retailers, such as Mom’s Milk Boutique, Jillian’s Drawers, Cotton Babies, and many other online retailers.

Once you decide what type of diaper you prefer, you have another choice. Brand, and brand loyalty! Some people choose to buy an entire stash of their favorite brand of diaper or cover. The advantage to this is that your stash is very streamlined, making laundry, sorting, and storing your diapers very easy. Others prefer to have an assorted stash, choosing different diapers for different moods, needs (some brands are trimmer under jeans, while others are bulkier but more absorbent for naps and bedtime), prints, colors, or just because they like variety! This can make laundry day a bit more confusing, particularly if you are using pockets, as you sort through a large pile of inserts and shells, attempting to figure out which one goes where. You may also have different washing and drying specifications to try to remember, as not all brands recommend the same wash routine.

If you’ve made the decision to cloth diaper, but haven’t been sure where to start, I hope I’ve given you some direction for the next step. I started cloth diapering three years ago with a bare bones, super cheap stash of flats, receiving blankets used as flats, and six covers for two babies! Since then I’ve been blessed to add a variety of pockets and all-in-ones, and currently I use pockets most of the time. I’ve cloth diapered several different ways, but I’ve enjoyed each of them, so whatever you do, don’t stress! There is no “perfect” stash, and no “wrong” way to cloth diaper. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find your groove! And feel free to ask me for help anytime – but I may have to answer you in a blog post, not 140 characters