Tag Archives: cloth diapers

by | July 17, 2010

Cloth Diaper Update: Marvels by Kissaluvs

I feel like it’s been forever since my last cloth diaper update!

We’re plugging right along, and I’m still committed to the cloth. It’s so much fun, and there are just SO many adorable diapers out there! I look at new diapers the way I used to look at new handbags! :lol:

It’s so funny to see the reactions I get when I mention it! Here are a few I’ve heard…

“Oh, you’re doing things the old-fashioned way?”

“Ew! What do you do with the…you know…poop?”

“Not me. I don’t have time for that.”

“Must be nice to have that kind of time.”

Um, yeah. I switched to cloth because I didn’t have enough to do. :roll:

Anyway, in my last update, I was all about the Fuzzibunz. I just love them. They are soft, they fit well, and we’ve now used them for several full nights of sleep (which means about 8 hours in my house) with not a leak in sight. I figure, if it ain’t broke, why fix it, right?

Well, because Kelly’s Closet still has coupon codes for free diapers. :D

Is there anything more fun than this at the end of a hard day?

OK, maybe there is, but this is still pretty fun.

So, inside were my 2 new Fuzzibunz, and my surprise Marvels All-in-One One-Size Diaper from Kissaluvs, in a very appropriate blue! (Although I am really not a blue=boy believer. We’re trying to build a collection of all the brighter colors.) 

Hmmm…Kissaluvs. Heard of ‘em, but I didn’t know much. I felt the material…nice and soft. I saw lots of snaps…nice. I noticed these were blue snaps that blended in nicely. The outer layer is 100% PUL, with the inner layer and soaker made of 100% polyester.
I was surprised to see that this new diaper did not come with an extra soaker. Most of the OS diapers I’ve seen seem to come with 2: one smaller and one larger, since the point is to use them on your baby from birth to potty training. But then I looked closer and noticed something different about my new Marvel’s soaker…it’s attached to the diaper! I guess this is so you don’t have to stuff it, or go searching through your laundry pile to match up soakers with the pockets they belong in. I honestly don’t mind stuffing my FB, so this didn’t seem like a necessary feature to me, but I am thinking it might be really convenient if you have a lot of different styles of fluff in your stash, and all your soakers, stuffers and inserts are a little different. Then, it could save you some serious time.

But does it get as clean as the diapers with removable inserts? Yes! And you know why? Because the diaper turns itself inside-out in the washer, so the soaker and the outer cover both get a thorough wash! Really, it works. I don’t know how, but every time I wash mine, it’s inside out at the end of the cycle. Then I just pop it on the clothesline to dry (which does take just a tad longer than my FB, but not much), then I flip it back to outside-in and it’s ready to go! Pretty nifty, I must say.

For anyone who is annoyed by the pad-peek in the back of a FB, you’ll also find this little pocket flap that holds the soaker in…

…whereas the FB lets it pop out the back a little.

I have found, though, that the soaker seems just a bit too long for the diaper, so when I force the end into that flap so it doesn’t show, we get a very puffy bum. (Right at the top, by the waistband…see it?)

Considering how often my boy falls down on that bum, the puff may not be entirely bad…

Here is a side by side (blue Marvel and yellow Fuzzibunz) so you can see the different in width. I’ve heard from some that their FB leak because they are too narrow in the crotch, but I haven’t had a problem with leaks at all. If you do, you might want to try a Marvel, because they are a hair wider.

The elastic on the Marvel feels really strong, and it looks and feels sturdy and durable. That said, at this point, I’m liking the fit of the Fuzzibunz better (especially because they have a unique adjustable elastic system for a personalized leg fit). And I much prefer the tag location on the FB, not that the tag location really matters all that much. The tag on the Marvel just always reminds me of the way it looks when your tag on your t-shirt is sticking out. :razz:

I’m really happy to welcome this diaper into my stash.  Fit is a relative issue, but the functionality seems about equal for both of these diapers—I haven’t had a leak with either! Our new Marvel is serving us very well so far, and it’s in the regular rotation. I’m on the fence, though, for a few reasons:

  • The FB comes with an adjustable elastic system, a replacement elastic to extend the life of the diaper, and an extra soaker.
  • The FB are slightly lower in price, from what I’ve found (correct me on this if I’m wrong.)
  • The FB are available in 15 colors, while the Marvels only offer 6.
  • I really like the fit of the FB (but will it continue to fit that well as my boy grows and changes?)

But the Kissaluvs have the FB beat BY FAR in that they are made in the USA (fabrics, too) by a small, family-owned company that makes it their business to ensure a fair and pleasant work atmosphere. When you consider those points, an extra buck or two doesn’t seem like much (I’m definitely on a tight budget, but I like to feel good about where my dollars go.)  They even donate fabric scraps! Those things are pretty important in my book, so I may consider a few more of these, and I’d love to try some of the other products in the Kissaluvs family (milk pads!!)

Now, if I could just find a diaper that is as cute as my FB, and made like my Kissaluvs, only with natural materials, I’d be set! Until then, I’m pretty darn impressed with the stash I’m building so far. Who knew diapering could be this much fun?!

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On a different note, as much as I’m liking my cloth, I’m having a slight issue with stinkies. I have a front loader, so I’m thinking lack of water might be the issue. I also have well water that has iron, and we have a softener system on it. I am waiting for a sample of Rockin’ Green to arrive so I can rock a soak and see if that works, but I’d love any advice you CD moms can give! I hear natural fibers don’t have this problem as much…

Oh, and if you have any diaper recommendations that you think will work for me, I’d be happy to listen! You mommies (and daddies-you too!) are, by far, my best resource!

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In the market for some new fluff?  How about some Rumparooz? Head over to The Cloth Diaper Whisperer for the Fluff Friday 88 Giveaway! And if you’d like to try Rockin’ Green on your precious stash, head over to Breastfeeding Momma and enter the giveaway!


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by | June 16, 2010

Cloth Diapering Update: Back on the gWagon

Here it is, mamas….your cloth diapering update!

I have some unexpected news on the diaper front...we’re back in action with the little gPants! After some fit issues, red marks, chafing, and pushing the g’s to the back of the closet, I decided to give one of gDiapers’ very friendly and helpful “Diaper Therapists” a call. 

Well, wasn’t I surprised when I took her advice, adjusted the fit, and eliminated the problem! It seems the rise is different on the g’s than it is on a ‘sposie, and once I made sure the velcro and rise were in the right spot, the irritation doesn’t seem to happen anymore. It must move the snaps, which were the irritating offender, to a more comfy spot.

I’ve now been using the gDiapers for about a week (only when Little F is with me, though…Grammie and Dad haven’t switched over yet, but that’s coming soon…), and I haven’t found a leak yet! We even used them all day Sunday for our family reunion, with no problems. The first few days were with the biodegradable refill liners, which are great for on-the-go, and now….my boy is living the high life in pure luxury with gCloth!

As mentioned in my first cloth diapering post, I am committed to the idea of wrapping my son’s little bum in heavenly softness, and that’s exactly what I got when I purchased my first set of 6 gCloth inserts!

I want to wear these! Or sleep on them. Ok, not really, but I am super stoked about letting my son wear them. Who gets this excited about a diaper? I guess I do! I used my Babies R Us coupon to purchase a pack of these at 20% off (I actually had to take a day to drive an hour and a half, baby in tow, to get them, but I didn’t feel like waiting for the mail…).

You would have thought I’d gotten a new purse or a pair of shoes when I got home and ripped into the bag. What’s happenened to my life?

So, for those of you unfamiliar with the gDiapers, this is what they look like…a little pant with a nylon liner.

…and this is the cloth liner that you put into the nylon liner. (The cloth liner shown is new, not yet washed. They do shrink up a bit after washing.)

I was so excited to use the cloth inserts ASAP, but had to wait a few days as they need to be washed 8 times prior to use for full absorbency. :(  I do admit, I only washed mine 6 times before I caved in and used them, and they absorbed pretty darn well! Bonus: The hemp part of the liner keeps getting softer and softer the more you wash them. I haven’t had any issues with the “bunching up I’ve heard about, either. Sure, the insert bunched a little, but it didn’t effect absorbency at all.

Aren’t they just the cutest? I really want some blue ones, and maybe some green. Oh dear…

Here’s a pic of what they look like on a babe. This is from our first attempt, before Mommy got smart and called for help. (I think I had them a little high in the back…)

I had no idea that we’d have such success with the g’s, so last week I placed an order with Kelly’s Closet for some other liners. I’m pretty happy with the gCloth, but I plan to give the other brands a fair shot when I receive them. I’m especially excited to try the super overnight doubler I’m expecting…

If you’re wondering what I’m going to do with the Imse Vimse  and Flip covers I bought, along with the prefolds, I plan to use them! I’m not married to any one diaper yet, and I’m still curious to see what’s out there. Plus, we are having an issue with the velcro on our g’s, although gDiapers has offered to send me replacement velcro at no cost, so I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt for now and hoping there are no other quality issues. If there are, I can’t say I won’t reconsider using them.

I did have the opportunity to use the other covers a few times, and they held the wetness in really well, but the prefolds I got are big and bulky so the fit is a little bit off. My boy’s also really, really wriggly right now and just wants to roll over and go during diaper changes, too, so folding the prefold and fitting the cover over it is really a struggle. The g’s are a little easier to fit and fasten right now, and I happen to have 4 of them already, so they will probably get the most use right now.

Convenience and budget are ruling the roost at the moment….

The Mission:

I had no reference point whatsoever when I first considered cloth, and trying to determine what to buy when you are on a budget (not to mention sleep-deprived) can be overwhelming. My goal is to provide a weekly post chronicling our Adventures in Cloth Diapering–my little way of contributing what I can to all the new moms out there who are looking to save money, help the planet, and treat their beloved babies to a more pleasant diapering experience. 

If you have any questions about any of the diapering products I mention on my post, please feel free to ask! I’m happy to give you any details I can! 

I hope it helps, even if just a little….and don’t hesitate to send tips and advice my way!

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by | May 28, 2010

For the Health of Boobs and Booties

I feel like my blog has been getting a little food-heavy lately.

As the lovely and always-inspiring Miss Katie at Health for the Whole Self would tell you, healthy living isn’t all about food. We make countless choices every day, both big and small, and they all impact where we fall on our own personal healthy scale. I try to look at every day as an opportunity to make new, informed healthy decisions not just regarding the food I eat, but also the way I live my life as a whole. It’s kind of selfish, actually, because knowing I made an educated decision that I can stand behind and be proud of gives me a nerdy kind of high that I can’t seem to find anywhere else :)

Sooo…..

Because I believe it is in the best interest of my child and my family as a whole, I recently made the decision to switch to cloth diapers. Sure, there is a lot of info out there that “proves” that the cloth vs. disposable issue is, well, a non-issue, because what with the water, electricity, detergent, etc. required to wash cloth, it all works out the same. Yeah, I bought that fluff for a while. I also thought it was no big deal because I found really good prices on the disposables. But then I looked a little further into the ingredients used in disposables and that little voice in my head that I’d been ignoring spoke up, “NOW will you please listen to me and do what you KNOW is right?” So I listened, and I agreed, and I ordered a bunch of cloth diapers.

If the environmental issue wasn’t enough for me, what was, you ask? The turning point for me happened when I had to clean a bunch of weird little gel wads off my baby’s bum and other delicate parts.

But that’s not what I want to talk about today.

Today, I want to talk about the fact that the same weird gel is found in the breast pads I’ve been using. I honestly hadn’t thought that much about it until recently, when I realized that if I have a problem wrapping my little boy’s parts in plastic, then I should have the same problem with wrapping some of my parts in plastic, too. 

You see, when a diaper gets really full, the absorbent gel inside expands and little pieces of it fall out and often have to be wiped off a baby’s booty. They are easily missed, but if you look closely, they’re there. The same thing happens with breast pads. But the really disturbing part is that this gel winds up on the same part of your breast that goes into your baby’s mouth. And I don’t know one woman who regularly washes her breast before nursing, especially not in the middle of the night when these things are most likely to be full.

No, thank you.

 

So, after much back and forth (like I do, almost obsessively, with everything), and weighing out all the issues…cost, convenience, comfort, environmental impact, etc., I’m going to give cloth my all, both for my baby and for myself. I’m sure I’ll be challenged on the diaper side of that decision, but that’s nothing new. All other considerations aside, I feel better about cotton, hemp or bamboo next to our skin than some weird, toxic, outer-space-looking material that is stuffed with chemicals to make it smell like “baby.” (What is that all about, anyway? Smells like a yucky chemical cover-up to me.) 

Final verdict: Cloth is just plain better for our health. (Bonus: While cloth diapers are pricey, cloth breast pads are cheaper than box after box of ‘sposies.)

Yes, please.

 


If you breastfeed, or plan to breastfeed someday, please, please consider using reusable breast pads. Once you get good at reading your nursing body, you won’t even have to wear them very often anyway. They are a little bulkier and you can’t just toss them in the trash, but I’ll bet you really don’t want your child latching on for your perfect, beautiful mother’s milk and getting a mouth full of “hydrogel.”

And, if this line of thinking brought you to the next logical question about other feminine products, the answer is yes. I’m making the switch there too.

I only wish I’d done it sooner.

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Hey everyone…speaking of reusable baby goodies….

The Progressive Pioneer is giving away Lusa Organic Products…check it out! One of the items is a baby wipe juice concentrate that you can mix up and use on your reusable baby wipes! Isn’t that the coolest?

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by | May 22, 2010

BC o’D

My alarm went off at 2:45am this morning.

I do believe that is what is referred to as the “butt crack of dawn.”

I have it all worked out: If I set the alarm for 2:45, I actually get up at 3. I throw on clothes, then change and feed my boy if I can stir him enough to nurse (a lot of this depends on him…if he wakes at 1 or 2 and eats then, the whole plan is shot.) Then, I try to pump a bottle before heading off to work with both of my boys snuggled in their beds. This way, I can get almost a full day in at work and they hardly know I’m gone. They get to spend the morning together, and I’m home by 1 or 2pm, ready for a fun Saturday. (What I really mean is nearly comatose, halllucinating and dying for a nap, but whatever.)

Do I have a choice? Yes, but I think it’s best this way. There will come a day when my child has no interest in spending the day with his Mom. I’m gonna take it while the gettin’ is good. 

Breakfast? Doughnuts! ….just kidding. What I meant to say was: Mammoth Oats!

No, there is no actual mammoth in my oats. I’m not a big breakfast-meat eater. Just a mammoth portion of oats, almond milk, PB, raw almonds, cranberries, cinnamon and a fat nanner. (Has anyone posted the Doughnut Oats recipe yet? Come on, people. I know it’s out there.)

It isn’t actually all that big a portion…it’s just in a flat, thin container. :) A little over 1/2 cup of oats with a bunch of junk on top should keep my tank full for a while.

And it’d better, because these are just a few of the choices at the Cafe de la Office Caf:

-Double Pork Chop Sandwich

-BBQ Rib Flavored Potato Chips

-”Big Az” fried fish sandwich

-Every king size candy bar known to man

-Fruit parfaits! Made with pie filling, cake and pudding.

…and there’s a machine that will actually cook and bun up a cheddarwurst or hot dog for you. :| It’s magical.

To their credit, there is a wellness program that points out healthy choices with a lovely, very healthy-looking, little green leaf. Where might one find this leaf, you ask? Why, next to the Lean Cuisine, Twizzlers (!), SnackWells cookies (?) and a lone container of 8 baby carrots for $1.75, of course. Ack!

Pass, please.

So, after a morning in editor mode, I’m ready to switch back to the more comfy and oh-so-much-more-cuddly-and-yummy mommy mode.

On the radar for today: shopping for diapers (we’re making the switch to cloth!), some garden fun, and whatever other adventures that happen to divert our attention (which, at some point, will mean food!! Gotta love Saturday food.)

I’ll fill you in on all the haps, right after I wake up.

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What is the lunch atmosphere like at your office/workplace? Are healthy options offered? Does anyone want them?

What’s the best food day of the week (for you)?

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