Posts Tagged ‘cloth diaper’

Braden at 29 pounds in a medium long.

Congratulations to Tina Olsgaard who won this giveaway!!!

Monkey Doodlez are giving away a Tuck and Go cover, in the size and colour of your choice, along with one of their super soft bamboo pads.  I will draw the winner on August 20th.  The prize will ship directly from Monkey Doodlez.

It is very simple to enter.  Just read my blog review on the TAG cover and head on over to the entry form and answer the questions there.

One entry per household please.

You can however earn an extra entry by blogging about the giveaway.

Entrants will be put on a list here.  I will reply to your entry to confirm that I got it.  It may take me a day or two to process.

I have a nappy bag that sits in the car all the time.  I prefer not to cart around a diaper bag all the time now that Braden is older, so for the past year I have kept a bag in the car fully stocked ready to go, and we pull it out when we need it.  That way I am not carting it to and from the house.  The bag is actually one that my quilting friends made me.  We are dragon crazy in this house, so it is a red bag with blue dragons on it.  It is a nice large bag.  My husband actually willingly puts it over his shoulder because it’s not girly :)

So what is in this bag?

• It used to contain an empty sippy cup, but now that Braden is comfortable drinking from a straw, we stopped carrying this one around.  I kept it empty because I didn’t want it forgotten and going mouldy.  That way we could fill it as need be at restaurants etc.
• A spare dummy/pacifier.  Yes I know, he should not be using one of those, but well it helps him sleep.
• A spoon.  Never know when you will need to feed him :)  When he was smaller I had a bib in there too.
• 

  I keep GroVia shells with biopads in my bag.

  GroBaby shells. These days they are called GroVia (same thing with a few little improvements).  I have about 3 shells in this bag.  They take up next to no room as they are just covers.

• About 6 GroVia Biodegradable Pads and 4 gDiaper Flushables.  Why both?  Well the Flushables are actually size small, and I fold them in half if I know I cant change him for a while.  I then put the folded one in the front of his diaper over the top of the GroVia Pad, and that gives me the extra time before I have to change him.  Sometimes when you are in the car a long time, it is nice to diaper him like I would diaper him at night.  And yes this combination did work at night for him.  I put this combination on him after the July 4th fireworks and he was asleep when we got home, and we put him straight to bed without changing, and his clothes were dry the next morning.
• A couple of cloth wipes - dry.  I have contemplated adding a bottle of wash to the bag, but I think because he rarely poops when out, it is not needed.  But I would so do this if he was smaller and still fully breastfed, because you need that kind of thing when changing a lot of poopy diapers.  I would then be able to spray the dry wipes and wipe dirty butt.
• 

  These wipes are great for sticky fingers too.

  A packet of GroVia wipes.  I added these to test the product out, and well I really like the product.  You can read Sara Snow’s review of them here.  They are a good size, they are a good thickness, and they are environmentally friendly.  I use them more for sticky hands than anything else at Braden’s age.  (And on his 7 year old brother, Connor, who is always seeming just as sticky as the baby!)

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• 

  More than one wet bag is essential in my opinon.

  A wet bag.  I own about 5 wet bags now.  I suggest having at least two, so you can have one in use while one is in the wash.  One I had to make because it matched the pattern of my other diaper bag (a woman can never have too many bags you know!).  But I keep one in this bag, so I have something to put the dirties in when they happen.

• A receiving blanket.  This is very thin and folds up small, so it makes a good change mat if need be.  Can also be used to wipe up messes and so on.

So what is in your diaper bag?  Feel free to comment below :)

Chances are you have heard of an all in two, which is generally a cover with a pad/insert that is often snapped into place or laid into place.  The Sweet Pea AI3 is denoted such because it’s pad is actually a two part system in itself.  But in reality, I use it like an AI2 when I use it on Braden.

A customer recommended the Sweet Pea AI3 to me, so I decided to try out their diapers, and I like them.  They are a Canadian made diaper, one that to me is better that some of the better marketed brands out there.

It is one size.  We did find it a little big on newborn Rylan (we tried it at around 6-7 pounds), so I don’t suggest it for a tinier newborn.   But then most one size diapers are not the best choice for tinier newborns.  It does have a great rise on it so that it is good for larger babies, and should do well up to the suggested 35 pounds.  Braden is wearing it on the medium setting in the photo below.  Braden is nearly 30 pounds at time of writing.  If I use it at night with an extra insert in there, then I put it up to the larger setting.  Braden is kind of in between the two settings right now.  It is really nice that there is room to grow in this diaper.

It is snap closing, which means no hook and loop diaper trains in the wash, and snaps are more durable.  But it is one that my husband the snap phobe will not use.  However, if you are comfortable with using snaps, this diaper is no different or harder to use than any other snap closing diaper.

The cover is made of PUL and as such can be easily wiped out if lightly soiled.  The cover is designed to be re-used with just the pad being washed most of the time.  The pad doesn’t snap directly on to the cover like most AI2 diapers, but rather on to a flap that is sewn into the seam of the diaper.  It does snap directly at the front where there is extra PUL for the sizing snaps anyway.  This minimizes the risk of snaps pulling through the PUL.

I love that there is a hook on the back of the diaper for easy line drying, and even storage.

The pad is a good one too.  I know my inserts, and I know what fabric combination’s work well together as the maker of the G-Flapper.  I did a lot of testing with Braden when I was trying to make good inserts to work for him as he is a heavy wetter.  I like this insert because it uses the magic hemp and microfiber and microfleece combination.  There is three layers of hemp on the bottom layer of the pad.  The pad is sewn so it is curved.  There is a microfiber pad topped with microfleece pad that snaps on to the hemp pad, so if you didn’t want to use either of the pads, you do not have to.

I have tested this pad system at nap time with Braden and it passes. It passed the night time test too, but Braden is not as heavy at night as he once was, so it might not work for a super heavy wetter.  But that being said, you could always add in a G-Flapper insert to the combination at night.  The pad did shrink a little over time, and I found that it makes the diaper pucker a little when both ends are snapped up.  I solved this by just snapping it in at the front.  It doesn’t shift of anything inside the cover once it is done up.  The pad just gets more absorbent with washing too.

This diaper is pretty trim, of course that comes down to what you put in it.  Add more padding, and you will get more bulk. But when using the pad it comes with, it is nice and trim.

The diaper retails for $18.95 and it comes with the cover and one pad.  You can buy more pads separately.  The cover will also work with gDiaper flushables, Gro-Via biopads, G-Flappers and flip inserts.  I have even put a Thirsties Hemp Pre-fold in it.  Oh and it will work over a fitted too :)

Recently I added the Knickernappies One Size Diaper to my line up on the store.  It is a snap closing diaper that fits from newborn (5 pounds) to 35 pounds.  It comes in a great choice of colours too.

What I really liked about this diaper is the snapping is side snapping rather than front snapping.  So far Braden has not managed to undo this diaper (and he has been stripping off his diapers lately).  He can undo front snapping diapers because he can just rip them undone like an aplix closing diaper.  But because the side snaps require being pulled in the opposite direction, he has not figured out how to undo it!

Because the diaper is side snapping it doesn’t suffer from “wing droop”.  The wings are tucked inside the diaper so they don’t slip down like some diapers I have tried that are front snapping.

The other thing I really love about this diaper is the pocket is a good sized, so it can be stuffed with a couple of inserts for night time.  This diaper has passed the night time test, and is now one of our go to diapers for night time.

Braden wearing a chocolate One Size Knickernappies Diaper. It is on the largest setting. Braden is around 28 pounds.

I only stock them with the loopy do inserts.  This is a great insert.  It is a mix of hemp and microfiber, which to me is one of the best combination’s for heavy wetters. It comes with two inserts, a small and a large.  I use the two of them in combination at night.  During the day, I can get away with just the big one as Braden is wearing the diaper on the biggest size.  These inserts do need to be washed a few times before they are at peak absorbency, but I still use them in the mean time, I am just prepared to change him sooner than normal.

I also love that everything Knickernappies makes is made in the USA! The owners still work from home for the most part (they do have a warehouse).  So when you buy a Knickernappies diaper you are supporting the economy in the best way and getting a great diaper as well!

Braden and the double wet bag we use for Mothers Day Out. He knows what it is for as while I was taking this shot he was saying "Nappy".

I have been stocking the Mama Pouch by Baby Bug Creations for some time now, and when I was sitting with a couple of cloth diapering friends, we were talking about wet bags … and it came up, that wouldn’t it be great if we could have the double bag system of the mama pouch combined with the size of the Nappy Shoppe Large wet bag. One of the mums had her little one in part time day care, and she said she would love such a bag for that.  Another took her two babies to work with her for her part time job, and she wanted a bag that would last the day, and divide up the two babies diapers.  So I said, well let me see what Ashley of Baby Bug Creations says .. and as I am writing up the email asking if she would make this bag for Nappy Shoppe, they are saying things like.  Make sure it has a nice big handle, oh and make the zippers different colours, so you know which side is dirty and which side is clean, and choose cute fabrics!

The double wet bag has two inner bags made of PUL that are waterproof, different coloured zippers, and a cute outer cotton fabric.

So the large double wet bag for Nappy Shoppe by Baby Bug Creations came about.  And this has been a huge hit and has recieved great feed back.  So much so, I had to buy one myself when Braden started going to Mothers Day Out, 2 mornings a week a couple of weeks ago.

So yes, the mum of the baby in part time daycare did buy one.  And after she had been using it a week or so, she posted the following to facebook.

“I am in love with this wetbag. I got it just about a week ago and love it. It fits all my diapers and even wipes. It was great at the park yesterday, I just snapped it onto my stroller and I had wipes, diapers, my keys on one side and dirty diapers on the other. My DD school loves it too, they clip it by the changing table and don’t have to worry about her diapers getting seperated anymore. Thanks Sharni for stocking this, I will be getting more!”

It was these comments about daycare that had me getting one of these for Braden despite the fact I own several wet bags already (I do make them after all for Nappy Shoppe :) ).  So we rock up to Braden’s first day of Mothers Day Out.  I am carrying the wet bag.  It is so pretty, that no one even knows what it is.  They think it is a really nice diaper bag.  And then I explain it to the teacher.  I point out that Braden’s clean diaper, clean wipes, and a change of clothes were in the side with the blue zip.  The brown zip side is empty right now, but it is for the dirties.  Just throw them in there.  No other child is cloth diapered at the Mothers Day Out program (for now …).  I have kept it simple, just a couple of AIO diapers (Thirsties, Monkey Doodlez and Drybees have all been used with ease by the teacher).  Braden’s sippy and lunch box are in a small starwars back pack that he wears in himself.  It all works very nicely.  I pick him up.  Ask the girl, “Did you have any issues?”  She said, no the diapers were really easy to use, the bag was great.  So the bag was a huge success, and made the cloth diapering process of not throwing things away so much easier for the staff at the center.

So if you are looking for a great wet bag for day care, a long day out, or even a day at the beach for swim suits etc.  Then I am sure this one will work for you.  And you don’t need to hide it.  It is great for showing off!

Braden wearing a Monkey Doodlez AIO diaper

Congratulations to Lisa Savitz who won the Monkey Doodlez AIO give away!

Would you like to win a Monkey Doodlez AIO diaper? It is very simple to enter. Just read my blog review on the diaper and then go here to answer a couple of question and submit your entry. Correct answers will go into a drawing to win the diaper on May 3rd, 2010.  One entry per person.

Many thanks to Monkey Doodlez for providing the diaper prize.  The winner will be able to choose colour and size and the diaper will ship from Monkey Doodlez direct.

So this is the change table I bought for my middle son when I was pregnant with him 7 years ago.  I set it up in his nursery, and then never used it to change him on!  He was in our room in the pack and play and it was easier to change him in our master bathroom.  And then he refused to sleep in the nursery, so he finally moved out of our room, to share a room with his older brother.

Recently a friend came to stay with us while her husband resolved a bad lack of job situation, and she had a 1 year old and baby on the way.  She stayed in our 1 year olds room. So space organisation was premium, with 2 cribs, her blow up double bed.  We needed to fit another crib for the newborn and allow her space to change the baby.  So I dragged out the old change table.  I figured once she moved out, I could use it to store Braden’s clothes and toys anyway even if I never changed him on it either.

This change table is a solid piece of furniture.  It is designed to be one that can be a TV stand or the like after it is no longer needed as a change table.  We did actually use it for our TV and VCR in our room for a while before we got something that matched our bedroom furniture better. But for a while it sat in my walk in closet and stored sheets etc.

So here is what Ashley did with the change table after we moved it into the room with her and the babies.

Shelves above store cloth diapers, then the change space below that. A shelf below for my storage, and then a cupboard with a shelf in it for hidden storage.

Ironically as soon as we set up this system, her husband found work and it looks like she will not get to use it for the new baby, but hopefully be in her own place when the new baby is born.

A beautiful Armoire hides away the cloth diapers

Joy C uses a beautiful piece of furniture to store her cloth diapers in.

Joy writes “I share my cloth diapers with my books and baby albums/cards in the armoire in our room. I like this method because it is nice to close it and and not see all this (the diapers used to be in baskets in the changing table but it was too crazy looking, too much stuff jumping out at you!  I change the baby on my bed which is right across from the armoire.

Top – wipes and wipe solution, extra inserts, books.
Bottom – my favorite ones (Thirsties DUO) then the other 3 baskets are organized by thickness (how many inserts). 2 are day (1 inserts) and the last is night (2 inserts).”

Joy has been entered into the drawing for a wet bag and gift certificate.

Kristy T uses a shoe organiser to organise her diapers.

A shoe organiser is a great diaper organiser too.

Kristy writes “In an effort to organize the house, I purchased a “Shoes Away” Shoe Organizer to help with clutter in the bathroom, mainly for diapers. This holds so much and it’s just great! The prefolds hang over the side a little, but I’m okay with that. The pockets with fit a stack of wipes, wetbags, prefolds or inserts, 3-6 trainers, 3-4 pocket diapers, 3 folded flats and misc things as well. The greatest thing was that my husband said it would be easier for him to find what he needed to put a diaper on the baby!  It was so great to be able to spend less than $14 and have organization like this. The best part is, it takes up no extra space in the house, PERFECT for small spaces!!!  I’m putting these organizers all over the house!!”

Kristy has been entered into the competition for a wet bag and gift certificate.

Sara H has a great storage shelf for her diapers, but her true confession is shown further down.  Sad to say I store my diapers like that a bit too … read on …

Shelving makes for great organised storage of cloth diapers.

Sara writes “We found these storage cubbies on sale at sprawl-mart for about $3.50 per unit.  There are 2 units stacked in the picture. 

 The top shelf holds some prefolds, hemp/cotton/microfiber gFlappers, and a couple homemade inserts from nappyshoppe DIY fabrics.

 The 2nd shelf is for my older daughter’s diapers.  Until a recent order brought us some Thirsties, she was exclusively in g’s.  

The 3rd shelf is for my younger daughter’s fluff.  She wears BG Organic AIO’s and pockets, Thirsties, gDiapers and grobaby.

 4th shelf houses the basket of wipes.  There is also a box of sposie wipes hidden back there behind the basket.

 gLiners and a spare wetbag are in the 5th shelf, and some receiving blankets are on the bottom. 

 The biodegradable refills are stacked next to the cubbies.

Lets be honest now, how many of us store our diapers like this?

 This 2nd picture is a more accurate picture of how my diapers are normally stored….in a pile on the couch or in the dryer.  I hardly ever get them all actually put away, and had to remember to get them put away and take a pic just for the contest! :)

 Please excuse the paint job on the walls.  I am painting the whole house and have to do the trim in there still.”

Sara has been entered into the contest for a wet bag and a gift certificate.