Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Cloth Diaper Series Day 2: Cloth Diaper Lingo


Cloth diapering basically comes with its own language and abbreviations. If you are just starting to look into cloth diapers you could become easily confused by all the different terms cloth diaper websites or Facebook groups use. It really wasn't until recently that I learned pretty much all of the cloth diapering terms. So I am going to give you a little glossary of all the terms/abbreviations you may come across in the cloth diapering world so to say! :)
Cloth Diapers (CD): diapers made out of natural or synthetic material...duh ok I really just want to give you the abbreviation for cloth diapers which is CD because that is on a lot of Facebook groups and that way you won't be confused like me and think they are talking about compact discs. 

Pocket Diaper: This is a diaper that has a pocket in the middle of the diaper where you can stuff an insert in. Usually the opening of the pocket is in the back. 

Pocket opening in the back.
All in One (AIO):This is a diaper that requires no stuffing. It is all one piece. These are typically the closest option to a disposable diaper. 
The inserts or flaps are sewn onto the diaper making it all one piece.
All in Two (AI2) or Hybrid Diaper:These diapers are a two part system. Generally you have a diaper cover and then an insert that you just lay inside the cover. After use, you would remove the insert, wipe the cover, and replace with a clean insert. They are called Hybrid as well because you can use an insert made out of cloth or a disposable/flushable insert. 
Part 1: Diaper Cover
Part 2: Insert
Flats:These are like the diapers our grandparents used to use. People still use them today because they are tried and true. Some options are Birdseye cotton, bamboo, or hemp. 
Prefolds:These are basically flats but already prefolded. These come in all kinds of varieties from bleached to unbleached. There are organic options and prefolds made of different materials such as cotton, bamboo, and hemp. 

Fitted:This is a diaper that is already folded up like a diaper. Most have snaps on them, but they still need a cover over them. So you would put on the fitted and then put on a diaper cover. 


PUL:This is what makes diapers and diaper covers waterproof. It's the shiny slick lining inside your diaper.  If this is cracked anywhere on your diaper it could cause leaks. 
Snappis:These precious babies are what have replaced diaper pins. They are rubbery and stretchy and have plastic claws to hold together a flat or prefold. They are safe and comfortable for your baby. 

The plastic claw
Doubler: This is an insert that you would stuff in your pocket diaper in addition to the normal insert to give you more absorbency. These can be made of microfiber, bamboo, hemp, etc. 
One Size (OS):This is a diaper that fits from birth to potty training. Generally 8-35lbs, but if you ask me they really don't start fitting good until 10-12lbs. 
Velcro, Aplix, or Hook and Loop:This is a type of closure on a cloth diaper. You either have snaps closure or Aplix closure (Velcro or hook and loop). All three of those terms can be interchangeable. 
This is an Aplix closure.

Now I'll give you some abbreviations commonly used on the Facebook buy,sell,trade groups because that's a language all its own!
ISO-in search of
FSOT-for sell or trade
FSO-for sell only
FTO-for trade only
PPD-paid postage domestic. This means shipping is included in the price of you live in their country so someone may price something $10ppd. 
HTF-hard to find. This is a diaper print or color that is hard to find. Generally these go for above retail. Yes cloth diapering for some is like collecting baseball cards.
BG-bumGenius 
CB-Cotton Babies (cottonbabies.com)

Hope this helps you guide your way through the cloth diaper websites and understand the terms being used!

-Hannah

*Disclaimer: I am in no way compensated or affiliated with the products, brands, or websites mentioned in this post. These are simply my personal favorites and opinions. :)

Monday, December 29, 2014

Cloth Diapering Series Day 1: An Intro To Cloth Diapers


I decided to switch things up a bit and do a series. When your a stay at home mom (and for me I literally mean stay at home) most days go about the same. So today, I am introducing a series on cloth diapering based off my most popular post "The True Cost of Cloth Diapers". I have come a long way since writing that post and I feel like I have some wisdom I'd like to share for someone who may be thinking about cloth diapering to someone who may be wanting to try something new, but want a little more info about it first. So, during this series I will be reviewing every type and brand of cloth diapers that I own and also my cloth diapering accessories. I will also be doing posts on troubleshooting for different issues that may arise with your cloth diapers and basic to advanced "how to's".

We started cloth diapering Maddox (now 2 years old) when he was 6 months old. I had seen Charlie Banana diapers when I was in Target one day and I thought those are so cute! So I purchased one with the idea that he could wear this one every once in and a while,but I never dreamed it would actually be the start of a completely different lifestyle we live today. After I realized how cute he looked in it. I began to research more about them and I talked to a friend that had just started cloth diapering as well to get some advice of where to begin. Because of the plethora of info there is out there, I was overwhelmed, but my friend thankfully pointed me in the right direction. You can see my full story and first stash of cloth diapers in this post.

So now almost 2 years and 2 kids later, I am ready to lay out all I know about cloth diapers to hopefully encourage anyone thinking about using cloth diapers or are having a hard time with the ones they have or just looking to try something new because we all know no stash is ever really complete! ;)

Question #1: Where do I start?
The first question to ask yourself when you are considering cloth diapers is "What is my budget?" This is a huge factor in determining which way to go next. I had an initial budget of only $200 for everything (diapers, wet bags, laundry soap, etc.) and with that budget I was able to get 20 Alva brand diapers, 2 Wet bags, and all the laundry supplies I needed. If I had to do it all over again I would pay the extra money up front and go with either all Bumgenius or all Best Bottoms diapers and a few more accessories, just for simplicity because they will last through 2-3 kids. To do this would run you in the neighborhood of about $500 new for everything. Keep in mind the average person spends approx. $2,000 per child on disposable diapers from birth to potty training at age 2. So $500 for 2 to 3 kids from birth to potty training is a good deal!

Question #2: Where do you buy cloth diapers?
This depends on what diapers you are wanting to buy and how you feel about buying used diapers. I hope by the end of this series I will have reviewed a diaper or diapers that you think you will like. So I am just going to hit the high spots of where to buy cloth diapers, but I will go into greater detail of where to buy specific diaper brand when I review that diaper. So, first place I would look to buy diapers if you are on a tighter budget like I was is on eBay. They definitely have the cheapest diapers that are new. Other places to buy new cloth diapers are Kelly's ClosetDiaper JunctionCotton Babies,or Nicki's Diapers. Those are just a few of my personal favorite websites to buy from. Some of those sites have reward points or reward dollars where if you spend so much you get so many point/dollars which will translate to real dollars to spend on their site! If you don't mind buying used diapers (which I was opposed to at first, but it really saves alot of money and there is a way to sanitize used diapers at home when you get them so you know they are safe to put on your baby) then I suggest Facebook Buy, Sell, and Trade groups. Just about every brand of cloth diapers have at least one if not more groups on Facebook where moms from all over the United States, Canada, and even parts of the UK buy, sell, and trade their diapers. Just search "cloth diaper bst" or "Bumgenius BST" or whatever brand your looking for. I will make a post that goes into greater detail about buying diapers on a Facebook group. This is where the majority of my stash today has come from. You know my motto I go by, "buy used and save the difference" :).

Question #3: How many diapers do I need and what kind of accessories do I need?
If you are only cloth diapering one child, I personally recommend 20 one size diapers and 24 diapers specifically designed for newborns (if you plan to cloth diaper from the start). With cloth diapers you do have to change a little more frequently than disposables just because they are not filled with that gel made of who knows what that can hold a gallon of urine. I have used the "two hour" rule ever since I started cloth diapering and have rarely had a issue with that. Obviously, you would want to change sooner than two hours if they have had a bowel movement just as you would in disposables. So with this rule of thumb, you can expect 8-10 changes in a 24 hour period because you most likely won't change every two hours at night when they are able to wear one size diapers. As far as accessories, the options are limitless. My personal recommendation is at least 2 wet bags, a diaper sprayer (I will make a post that goes into more detail about this), Snappis (if you plan to use flats or prefolds), cloth wipes or baby wash cloths, cloth diaper safe rash cream, a diaper pail, 2 pail liners, and hemp doublers for night time.

These are just a few questions I get asked alot and will get you pointed in the right direction, but I hope by the end of this series you will feel confident in making the decision to cloth diaper or if you already cloth diaper will learn something new and/or be encouraged. Tomorrow we will dive into the world of cloth diaper lingo and all the different cloth diapering options you have in today's time. Cloth diapering doesn't have to involve flats, rubber pants, and safety pins anymore! ;)

-Hannah

*Disclaimer: I am in no way compensated or affiliated with the products, brands, or websites mentioned in this post. These are simply my personal favorites and opinions. :)

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Diligence Is Not My Strongest Quality

 Hello again! So things like this remind me of how diligence is not my strongest quality. I have the hardest time staying dedicated to things. I guess my attention span plays a good role in that. I had a friend in high school who literally carried the same Coach purse the whole 4 years we were in high school and I really admired her diligence to that purse. I think how many times you change purses says a lot about your diligence or attention span because me I switch purses/diaper bags ALL the time. So, anyway I'm back, but I can't make any promises as too long or frequent I'll post because life happens and I'm easily distracted! 😊 

I always feel like when I take breaks I spend a week just trying to play catch up, so I'm just going to make this update brief!
Natalie: She is now 3 months old, chunky, and teething. She is such a little blessing to our family and is definitely the calm child. She still sleeps soo good which I am so very thankful for. 

Maddox: He has just blossomed into this little boy that just says everything that's on his mind. The things he says just blows my mind sometimes because he just talks about things that I didn't even know he knew anything about. He has highs and lows everyday. He is definitely a two year old. He is such a good big brother. He likes to rock his sister while singing "Rocking my baby" (Aka Rock-a-bye Baby).  
Hopefully I can get back in the swing of my daily updates because that is so fun to look back on. I've contemplated getting into some vlogging too, but I have the worst country accent and can't stand to hear myself talk on video so that might not be a good idea haha. We will see! 

-Hannah