Posts Tagged ‘cloth diapering’
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013
If you were to have asked me two years ago what a diaper sprayer was, I would have looked at you like you were crazy and said “a what”. Ask me now, and it is my favorite cloth diaper accessory, something that I use each day. While I could live without my diaper sprayer, and have while traveling, I prefer not to because it makes cleaning and rinsing out my diapers super easy! In this article, I will give you a few reasons why you should take the plunge (no pun intended) and get your own diaper sprayer, as well as tips on buying a diaper sprayer.
Why do I need a diaper sprayer?
- It makes rinsing poopy diapers very easy. Simply spray the poop into the toilet and flush away. End of story. I even used my diaper sprayer on breastfeeding poop, as well. Works like a charm! Thoroughly rinsing your diapers after poop will also help to prevent staining.
- It is easily attached to the side of your toilet and does not stick out like a sore thumb. The design is sleek and smooth, yet practical.
- It’s a conversation starter! While I mentioned above that it is sleek and trim hanging on your toilet, I am sure people will still wonder what the beautiful piece of chrome hanging on your toilet is. This is when you introduce them to cloth diapers and just how “fun” it is to use the sprayer!
- It can act as a multipurpose tool. My diaper sprayer is in reach of the bath tub. I have used it on multiple occasions to clean my tub and even my dog. Never underestimate the power of creativity with your diaper sprayer!
Tips on buying a diaper sprayer:
- Don’t skimp out when buying a diaper sprayer! This is an item you will be using on a daily basis for the next 2+ years if you cloth diaper 1 child. Invest in a quality one that will last.
- Make sure you get a diaper sprayer that has an adjustable pressure valve. This adjustable spray allows for even some of the most stubborn poops to be lifted off the diaper at its highest setting. I have seen sprayers that barely trickle out at their highest setting, and this does not help to get the diapers clean!
- I prefer a diaper sprayer that is made of durable materials such as chrome. Not only does it look stylish, but it will hold up to the everyday use.
So what about you? Do you own a diaper sprayer? Why or why not have you chosen to use one? Do you find it as helpful as I have?
Buy a FuzziBunz Chrome Diaper Sprayer – click here.
 Julie Murphy is a stay-at-home mom who was thrown into the cloth diapers when her husband bet her she couldn’t last two months on cloth. 11 months later, she is still cloth diapering…and blogging about it at My Cloth Diaper Stash.
Tags: caring for FuzziBunz diapers, cloth diaper, Cloth Diaper Accessories, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, diaper sprayer, FuzziBunz, fuzzibunz cloth diapers, FuzziBunz diapers, how to clean a cloth diaper, How To Use FuzziBunz Diapers, multipurpose, reusable diapers, washing FuzziBunz diapers
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Wednesday, December 19th, 2012
I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately, as my daughter’s birthday approached. Reflecting on my due date, on the circumstances leading up to her birth, on the pregnancy and then those first few weeks after she was born that just seemed like a blur. It feels as though it is still December 2011, but suddenly here we are, December 2012, and I have a one year old.
My daughter, Penelope “Penny” Ann, was born at 1:05am on December 16, 2011. She was a skinny 6lbs 12oz, though I wasn’t surprised by the weight, and only 18 inches long. You might think she would’ve stayed skinny, but that girl beefed up. Now, at a year, she is about 11lbs and 30 inches tall. My little baby isn’t so little anymore.
I remember bringing her home and having no idea what to do with her. Well, other than feed her and change her diaper, in any case. But what does one do with a newborn? I ended up watching a lot of TV as I recovered from my surprise c-section with her lying on my chest, her favorite place to be. She was a mama’s girl from the start, even if I tried to pass her off as a daddy’s girl. She still is all about her mommy.
Each month on the 16th I would prop her up somewhere in cute clothes and take another photo. One month, two months, three months… I had no idea that one year would sneak up on me like this. I feel like it was just September and my baby had just started crawling. Now I have a walking, talking, one year old. A toddler, in most cases. My baby is a toddler now.
I was never one of those people who was stuck in the past, reminiscing about days gone by and about my baby growing up too fast. I like to live in the present and keep a keen eye on the future. Sometimes, though, I give myself those few moments to reflect on how far we’ve come, to flip through photos of her as a newborn, with her hair sticking out and her skinny legs all over the place. What a doll, my Penny was, and still is.
Here I am now, a mom of a one year old, and proud of it. I am soaking in every moment of this little girl’s life. I am laughing with her father while she toddles around the room blabbering about this and that. I am chasing after her as she is running into the street for the millionth time. I am cuddling with her in the morning when she just isn’t ready to wake up all the way while we watch a show or two. I am letting myself think about the past year with happiness. look how far we’ve come, baby girl, and look how much we still have ahead of us. I am proud to be a mom of a one year old.
Chantal Shelstad, a self-proclaimed “crunchy” stay-at-home mom who lives in Alabama with her daughter, Penny and her husband, a pilot in the Army. Chantal is more than happy to own up to the fact that cloth diapering parents have to face plenty of difficulties, transitions, stigmas (and yes, plenty of poop!) …but it is still worth it in the end.
Tags: baby, birthdays, cloth diaper, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, eco-friendly diapers, FuzziBunz, reflections, toddler
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Monday, December 17th, 2012
As the mother of two sets of twins, both currently in cloth, I feel I have the experience to back up my opinion. There are 3 reasons I know cloth diapering twins is the way to go.
The Cost Savings: Two babies equal double diaper duty. Diapering one baby is expensive, two babies doubly so. Even the cheapest disposables are upwards of 10 cents each; at roughly 170 diapers a week for newborn twins and you’re talking real money- upwards of $18 a week with taxes. Easily double that for “premium” brands. All of a sudden, a cloth diaper stash doesn’t seem like such a huge investment- you quickly recoup your costs. If you live somewhere that you are charged for trash removal, the extra waste created by disposables also comes with that extra expense, which leads me to:
The Environmental Impact: Two babies worth of disposable diapers is not pretty. For us it was an extra garbage can on the curb weekly, just for diapers. Now, I simply wash diapers ever couple days and have a steady supply for our 4 diapered children. Leading me to my last, and perhaps most compelling argument.
The Convenience: Getting around with twins isn’t always easy, especially in the early days. You have two car seats that won’t both fit in a cart; you have the stroller that you can’t pile merchandise in, inclement weather to deal with, and then a steady stream of strangers asking you lots of questions. A “quick” run to the store for diapers isn’t so quick anymore. Which is why, I’m so happy to skip all of that by washing cloth diapers in the comfort of my own home.
Sarah Scales is a mom of five including two sets of twins in cloth diapers! When she isn’t blogging for FuzziBunz you can catch her at Upper Middle Mom.
Tags: babies, celebrities using FuzziBunz®, cloth diaper benefits, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, convenience, eco-friendly diapers, families, green living, save money with cloth diapers, smart parenting, twins
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Monday, November 12th, 2012
BY JESSICA WIANT
After my second son arrived, we’d been home for one night before I happily dove into my stockpile of cloth diapers (even earlier than I planned) and didn’t look back.
But three years ago, things were quite different.
When I brought my first son home, I had an entire closet of all brands and sizes of disposable diapers and wipes. I was so proud of my collection, gathered and assembled over months, bought with coupons or given to us as gifts. It wasn’t that I hadn’t thought of using cloth diapers. I liked the idea. I considered it, briefly. Ultimately it seemed like nothing more than a nice idea that wasn’t actually implementable, so I moved on.
About 10 months later, when cloth diapers showed up on my radar once again, I bought one – a single diaper – and tried it out a few times. It was easy to put on, it worked, and I washed it without a problem, so I got a few more, and, eventually, I was cloth-diapering my son full-time.
Today, I’m using those same diapers, which used through potty-training with him, all over again on his little brother. Thinking back on it now, there were a few key reasons I initially ignored my instinct and avoided cloth diapers.
Here’s are those reasons, and how I recommend overcoming them:
Cost: The first time you see the price tag on a cloth diaper, there may be a bit of sticker shock. This is especially true if you’re pregnant for the first time. One diaper costing what a big box of them does can seem intimidating. Diaper a baby for a few days and you’ll see just how quickly that closet full of diapers is gone. When my second son was a couple of weeks old, I actually took a tally and over 24 hours, I changed his diaper 11 times. Over a lifetime of diapering, one initial investment is beans compared to having to continually run out for more disposables. The deal gets even more sweet if you plan on having more children, not to mention that there’s a thriving market for used diapers so when you’re done, you can make back a good chunk of what you’ve spent.
Laundry: Admittedly, figuring out a wash routine that works can be tricky, but let common sense prevail and it’s soon just a simple chore. I’ve had better luck keeping my cloth diapers clean this time than all the spit-upon clothes we go through!
Function: Get the right cloth diaper and the right fit and you’ll have fewer leaks than with disposables. You’ll also avoid all the creams and ointments that often go hand-in-hand with disposables.
Naysayers: This is the No. 1 reason I passed on the idea of cloth diapers at first. At the time, I wasn’t really friends with other moms, let alone moms who cloth diapered. There is a tremendous online community of cloth diapering parents. Seek it out and participate (and take some of the advice in stride). You’ll find support, and probably a few real friends, as a result.
Day care: I knew my first son was going to spend his days with someone else, and the idea of imposing something on them that I wasn’t sure about myself sealed the deal. After I did start using cloth diapers at home, I became comfortable enough to pitch the idea to my son’s care, too, but that’s a story for another day!
 Jessica Wiant is now a stay-at-home mom of two who was once a working mom with a (cloth diapered!) son in daycare.
Tags: cloth diaper challenges, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, diapering challenges
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Monday, November 5th, 2012
BY SARAH SCALES
The holiday season is just around the corner and when traveling to spend the holidays with out-of-town friends or family, diapering your child(ren) is an important consideration. When you’re traveling with cloth-diapered babies this season, remember that when it comes to fluff, you have plenty of options!
Traveling with Cloth Diapers
If traveling by car, bring as much of your cloth diaper stash as you typically use before washing. For me, that’s two days worth of diapers plus a few extra. Flushable liners can add ease to your diapering routine on the go.
If traveling by plane or other transit, bring as little of your stash as you need to get by to reduce baggage fees. If laundry facilities are easily accessible to you, this would be about a day worth of diapers with one or two spare. FuzziBunz cloth diapers are lightweight and compact compared to other cloth diapering options, making them an attractive choice when dealing with space and weight limitations.
Supplementing with Disposables
Your options: to use cloth diapers or for a short period of time use disposable diapers. The overall positive impact made by using cloth diapers most of the time far outweighs the impact of a few days of using disposables.
There were periods of time during our recent relocation and move that occasionally using disposables was the most practical answer. I have always been one to point out that cloth diapering doesn’t have to be an all or nothing choice.
Washing Your Cloth Diapers Away from Home
Washing your cloth diaper stash at a relative’s home is the best option if they are open to you using their machines. You may want to ask first to make sure it’s okay with them. They will more than likely be happy to help. After a load of diapers is washed, it’s just as clean as any other laundry; a reminder of this can help overcome reluctance. Remember, you may need to alter your laundry routine slightly when using a different machine. The amount of detergent or different wash settings needed may vary.
Washing your diapers at a Laundromat is a good option if you do not have access to, or relatives are not open to you using their washing machine. When my oldest was a baby I regularly washed his diapers at a laundromat. A wetbag will make transporting the diapers for washing easier.
Another option is to bring dirty diapers home unwashed. By bringing dirty diapers home you are able to wash them in your own machine with a routine you have perfected and are comfortable with. This option is most feasible if you are traveling by car and your trip is short.
Sarah Scales is a mom of five including two sets of twins in cloth diapers! When she isn’t blogging for FuzziBunz you can catch her at Upper Middle Mom.
Tags: cloth diapering, fuzzibunz cloth diapers, sarah scales, traveling with cloth diapers
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Monday, October 29th, 2012
We’re changing things up here on the FuzziBunz blog! For the next few months, you’ll be hearing from five real moms who have learned how to make cloth diapering work for them! From diapering multiple sets of multiples (yes, you read that right!) to diapering kids with special needs who require extended diapering, join us to learn about five modern moms and their adventures with fluff! – FuzziBunz Blog Editors
When it comes to cloth diapering, some moms like to pretend it’s all fluffy bums and saving the planet. Not Chantal Shelstad, a self-proclaimed “crunchy” stay-at-home mom who lives in Alabama with her daughter, Penny and her husband, a pilot in the Army. Chantal is more than happy to own up to the fact that cloth diapering parents have to face plenty of difficulties, transitions, stigmas (and yes, plenty of poop!) …but it is still worth it in the end.
When Chantal isn’t caring for her baby, she’s writing one of her numerous blogs, working on her fiction, and enjoying what she describes her “crunchy mom” practices, including babywearing, eating a Paleo diet and keeping her post-baby body fit and healthy.
Tags: chantal shelstad, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, crunchy mom, green living
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Monday, July 16th, 2012
Jackie S. is a stay-at-home mom of four who loves every minute of her time with her “four monkeys,” even when life is mayhem! She and her husband Jeff are raising their children in Virginia and like being green whenever possible, which of course, means using cloth diapers on her eight-month old son. Jackie blogs about her life on Monkey Mayhem
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
I save money. The money that used to go to buying disposable diapers can now go to other things like toys or clothes (or, my new obsession, more cute cloth diapers). Plus my baby’s butt is SUPER cute!
Q: If I could travel anywhere, I would go to….(don’t forget to tell us why!)
This is a hard one to answer. My first initial thought was “everywhere,” qw I’ve only ever been on the East Coast here in the US, never been out of the country and the farthest north I’ve ever been was a trip to Delaware with my dad as a child. I love to see new places and would really like to go to Hawaii, Paris and Alaska. I wouldn’t mind going on a cruise and just visiting a bunch of different places.
Q: What do you think is the best invention of all time?
Digital Camera! I love being able to take picture after picture without worrying about running out of film. I have a DSLR with a speed shot that takes a ton of pictures in 30 seconds and I love it because I can get a shot I may not have been able to otherwise. I’ve caught a picture of my youngest mid sneeze, while on a film camera I would have used a whole roll of film in that 30 seconds!
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be….
PJ pants (or jeans) and a T-shirt. I love to be comfortable and that is what I feel the most comfortable in and wear a majority of the time.
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
Enjoy every minute. You will miss the sleepless nights, you will miss the baby who just laid there, you will miss the baby who just loves to look at your face and smile. I have 4 kids, oldest is 7 and youngest is 9months and there are things for each and every one of them I miss, for the older kids it’s just when they were babies and I could hold them, for my youngest it’s when he would just lay there and sleep in my arms forever. He still sleeps in my arms sometimes, but he’s heavier now!
Also, don’t worry about what other babies your baby’s age are doing…every baby is different. I know a baby who is a week older than my youngest who is doing a LOT more than him and that person is always asking me what Justin is doing and if he’s doing this or that. Even though he’s not, it’s OKbecause I don’t want him to grow up too fast. We know he’s doing things on his own time and everyone just enjoys having a little longer with each stage than other parents get. Once a stage is done, it’s done. Wish I had realized this with my first 3!
Tags: benefits of cloth diapering, cloth diapering, fuzzibunz cloth diapers
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Monday, July 2nd, 2012
Amber R. spent six years working with various non-profit organizations that focused on adult home living support, foster care, youth group homes and family-based services. Now a stay-at-home mother to a baby girl, she blogs at Empowering Ellie to help support women in their roles as wives and mothers, especially by providing practical, application ready and research-based information. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, photography….and of course, cloth diapering!
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
Our family decided to use cloth diapers to save money. Until we started using cloth, we had no idea how much we would appreciate our decision. We enjoy not having to budget each month for disposables. We also never have to concern ourselves with running out of diapers; they are always in the house. Finally, we never get concerned that we are “wasting” a diaper if it is only slightly wet. Having a baby changes your life and budget. This was one way our family eased into the financial transition.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this summer?
This summer I am looking forward to our family “staycation.” We decided that this year we are going to spend a week at home rather than a week traveling. When we travel to new destinations, we feel pressured to “see it all” so a week at home will be magnificently relaxing.
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…
A cash envelope system. Our family doesn’t use credit cards and rarely uses a debit card. Staying debt free is important to us and we pay in cash so that we stick to our budget.
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be…
An Adidas track suit. It’s not too sloppy, but super comfy!
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
Don’t rush the end of your pregnancy, enjoy it. As soon as the baby comes, your world will change. Go on dates with your husband, take naps and go out for ice-cream. You may feel uncomfortably pregnant now, but once a new baby comes you will cherish the time you had before the baby came!
Tags: cloth diapering, Monday Mama
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Monday, June 18th, 2012
Ashley Reynolds, The Reynolds Mom, is a stay-at-home-mom in California who has a son obsess with Disney, trains, balls, Elmo, stars, numbers and letters. Ashley has adapted a natural approaches to parenting, sleeping, diapering and disciplining over the past several years. Though she primarily shops organic when possible, her family believes in awareness and moderation…and of course, cloth diapers!
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
A: We looked into cloth diapering after my son developed a rash from a new version of a popular disposable diaper brand. As a result of making the switch to cloth, we’ve not only saved a lot of money but it also encouraged me to become more health- and safety-conscious when it comes to my son and what I expose him to. It’s prompted me to more carefully evaluate the chemicals and ingredients in the products I choose to buy so that we can make smarter choices for the sake of our health.
Q: This summer I am looking forward to….
A: Moving to a new house!! We’re currently in the process of buying a short sale which might take a longer than we think, BUT, I’m hopeful by the end of summer we’ll be in our new home with a lot more room for our son to play and our family to grow.
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…..
A: Hmmmmm. I just had to look. Actually, I have a kind of candy from Japan called Hi-Chew in my purse. It’s similar in texture to taffy. Since my step-dad lived in Japan for a couple years, he is very fond of Japanese culture and foods so recently he gave me a pack of Hi-Chew! I hope they’re natural but it’s all in Japanese so I have no idea!
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be….
A: My favorite jeans, a basic t-shirt and flip flops!
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
A: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Trust me, you’ll need it and your friends and family are more than willing to give you a hand.
Tags: cloth diapering, diaper rash, Monday Mama, natural parenting
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Tuesday, June 5th, 2012
A friend was over for a playdate last week with her two kids. My daughter’s apple green FuzziBunz was sticking out of her pants, so we got to talking about cloth diapers and she asked the question I think a lot of moms wonder: “Is it too late to start with cloth diapers?”
Her daughter is 15 months and my answer was absolutely not.
At the beginning, when babies are born, cloth can seem very intimidating. Bringing a newborn home from the hospital, nursing around the clock, figuring out sleep patterns (or just struggling to get any sleep). Add to that an older child who also needs mommy, cloth diapers just seems to be too overwhelming. I think a lot of moms think, “I’ll just get through this newborn phase and then I’m definitely going to cloth diaper.”
And we all know what happens from there: life gets in the way and routines (like picking up disposables at the store every week) become our sanity. Pretty soon the baby is six months, then nine, then a year and bagfuls of disposables are still going out to the curb on trash day clogging up our landfills. But as my friend wondered, can you start cloth diapering later?
I think you can. And should. Below are a few thoughts I shared with my friend. If you’re reading this, toying with the idea of cloth on an older baby, hopefully this will push you over the edge. And if you have a friend considering switching to cloth – encourage them! And use this post to open the door.
- It doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. I think one of the biggest intimidators about cloth is that you have to switch over cold turkey from disposables, but you don’t. Ease yourself into it. Get a couple of diapers, see how it goes and build your confidence and your stash from there.
- It only takes five (to start!). In my opinion, an investment in five to eight will get you started, get you accustomed to changing them and washing them and will get you through a full day (depending on the age of your child and how many they go through in a day).
- Start when you’re hanging around the house. As moms of young kids, many of our days are spent hanging around the house, running out for a quick errand and coming home for naps, so why not start by using cloth only on those days? You can get a feel for how long it takes your babe to wet a diaper (its usually shorter than with disposables) and you don’t have to fully switch over your diaper bag just yet (though I would still take a diaper change even when just running to the store…its like asking for a blowout to go without).
- Say goodbye to diaper rash. Diaper rash comes and goes throughout the diapering years, but if you make the switch to cloth, you could very likely say goodbye to nasty rashes for good (and the creams, ointments and crankiness that go with them!). That’s actually the biggest reason my friend is considering switching and I think it’s a great one.
- Borrow or buy used diapers. There are a lot of resources out there to purchase or borrow gently used diapers. Check out CraigsList or DiaperSwappers to get started, but also contact anyone you know who uses cloth. They might have some they aren’t using that would be perfect candidates for a cloth diaper test run in your house.
- Don’t be afraid of the poop. I think that might be the biggest hang-up people have when they think about switching to cloth…the big bad poops. Especially when the “baby” is producing adult-sized excrement. I’ll tell you honestly, there is nothing fun about it, but it’s really not as bad as you’re making it out to be in your mind. It all just becomes part of the routine.
- You can still save money. Let’s take my friend as an example. Even at 15 months, her daughter will likely be in diapers for another 12 months, give or take. Disposable diapering will cost her approximately $500 for that one year. And you can get a heckuva lot of cloth diapers for about half of that… the rest becomes savings for you! If your baby is younger or potty trains later, more money saved.
- Treat them with care. Even from the beginning, take care of your cloth diapers by paying attention to the washing instructions available for the diapers you get. It can save you tons of headaches down the road if you start with a good wash routine – it can be a simple; just remember lots of rinsing in the washer and a use good cloth diaper detergent.
- Don’t wait! Get a couple now and start using them. Each time you use a cloth diaper, wash and reuse, you are saving a diaper from spending 500 years rotting away in a landfill. Add a couple diapers every couple of weeks when you can afford it or when there are great sales at cloth diaper retailers. You will not regret your decision.
Are you on the fence about switching with an older baby? What’s stopping you? Did you start diapering when your baby was older? How did it go? Join our discussion on Facebook and let us know!
Sarah is a mom of two and blogs about her adventures in motherhood, cloth diapering and everything in between. Catch her “Cloth Diapering Unwrapped” series on the FuzziBunz blog every Tuesday.
Tags: cloth diapering, Cloth Diapering Unwrapped, how-to cloth diaper
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