Blog — FuzziBunz Diapers

At my first baby shower, there were no cloth diapers in sight. Even though I asked for cloth diapers, nobody got me any. Probably because I wasn't being taken seriously. The looks I received from friends and family when I told them I wanted to cloth diaper matched their most common comment: "Yeah, that won't last long!" (Insert knowing chuckle of naivety here) They - like many - believed that cloth diapers meant prefolds with pins, getting your hands all poopy, and tons of extra laundry. The truth, I soon discovered, was much different (okay, maybe more laundry, but not TONS) than they - and even I - thought! If you are reading this blog post, then chances are you're already aware that there is a plethora of styles, colors, prints, and fabrics paving the glittery cloth diaper highway (picture it being similar to the yellow brick road... only with cloth diapers!), but how do you incorporate them into a baby shower? Easily! Here's a few ideas how: Let's start with the Gift Registry. Many online and in-store retailers of baby goods offer gift registries similar to those found on Target.com or through Babies 'R' Us. With a gift registry, you can make an organized list of everything that you need and want for your new baby (and for you, mamas!), and your friends and family can look up your registry, see what has already been purchased for you, and select what they want to purchase. Here is a list of some of the retailers that offer Gift Registries: Kelly's Closet - http://www.kellyscloset.com/giftregistry_home.asp Cotton Babies - www.cottonbabies.com Thanks Mama - http://www.thanksmama.com/Articles.asp?ID=147 (via MyRegistry.com) Diaper Junction - http://www.diaperjunction.com/giftregistry_home.asp There are likely many others, but these are a few of the most popular, with the largest selections of baby, pregnancy, postpartum and mama products. Once the gift registry is taken care of, you can then focus on the actual baby shower! How do you incorporate cloth diapers at a baby shower? Here are a few suggestions: The Cloth Diaper Cake You've seen the Pinterest images of beautiful "cakes" made up of disposable diapers. Well imagine just how much more beautiful one would be if it was made with fluffy, colorful cloth diapers?!   The possibilities are endless, and can be combined with other New Baby Essentials like blankets, bibs, teeny hats or itty bitty baby shoes (which are not really essential, but so friggin' cute!). Cloth Diaper Games We played this game at my baby shower with disposable diapers, and the concept was totally gross, but pretty hilarious. So you take three or four diapers, melt three or four candy bars separately, then pour the candy (poop) mixture into each diaper. You pass the diapers around and each attendee has to guess what candy bar is in each diaper. As I'm writing this, I'm thinking that maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea to put melted candy bars into new cloth diapers, but you could just grab some "well-loved" used CDs at your local consignment shop, or off of www.diaperswappers.com and go for it! :D There are other games and activities you could incorporate cloth diapers into, of course,  like seeing who can diaper a wiggly  balloon the quickest, "Pin the Prefold," and - okay so this doesn't really have to do with cloth diapers, and it could make you blush, but.... Pin the Sperm on the Ovary! Yes... that really is a game. And honestly, it sounds like hilariously awesome! https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/4f/da/42/4fda42620b3cb723c6603f3ba3a6c1c0.jpg Door Prizes It is common at most baby showers to have some sort of door prize determined by a random luck of the draw. At mine, there were numbers written on the bottom of everyone's plate, and before everyone left a number was drawn out of a bowl and whoever had that number on their plate won the prize. That's fun, but while perusing the vast expanse of baby shower ideas on Pinterest, I found the following which would be way more fun (and too cute)! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/74872412529037722/ "Cut out little diaper shapes from some cloth, smear one or two with a little chocolate, and safety pin shut. Pass out for your guests to wear and have them check their diaper right before they leave. Whoever has a soiled diaper wins a prize!" Have you ever been to a baby shower where cloth diapers were given and/or featured? What kinds of other ideas can you come up with to incorporate cloth? Our Resident Mom -  Lindsay Lewis

It's 2a.m. The house is dark and blissfully silent... The moon dapples her fresh, silver light through your window... You are half-awake, listening to the peaceful breath of your baby, his body rising and falling ever so gently with each inhale and each exhale... You nuzzle close for a mid-night snuggle, warm and cozy in your comfy big bed... when you notice it's a little too warm... but just at your waist... and actually, you feel WET! UGH!!!!! I think most of have experienced that good ol' nighttime leak at least once in our lives, and if you haven't you should! It's really quite the experience! (Insert sarcastic expression of extreme excitement here) Sleep is a precious thing, and most of us parents don't really get much of it until our children are old enough to put themselves to sleep. Which is like, what, 15? So when we have to get up to change a diaper, clothing (our child's and sometimes even our own) and all of the sheets on the bed when we could be sleeping.... well that can make for one grumpy morning to follow. How do we prevent this from happening? I have found that most cloth diapering parents don't like to wake their baby multiple times a night for a diaper change, because... as I said earlier... sleep is precious, and once you wake up a baby, you could be spending the next few hours playing peek-a-boo as you strain to keep your eyes open. Or trying to soothe your now - screaming baby as you strain to keep your sanity. There are a few really great options for nighttime cloth diapering that are worth reviewing, as you may find that one works better for you than the others. Pocket Diapers Pocket diapers - like FuzziBunz - are a great option because you can adjust the absorbency simply by adding or reducing the number of inserts inside of the pocket. I find that with our new One Size diapers I can usually get away with only one insert at night for our 20 month old, but sometimes I will add a cotton/linen insert to the microfiber insert for extra protection. I have heard of a few parents adding as many as three microfiber inserts to their child's nighttime diapers, and while I understand the logic behind this, I can't imagine it would be too comfortable for the child. Not only that, but having that many inserts may cause gapping at the leg openings, resulting in leaks, which would obviously defeat the purpose. Fitteds and Wool This is a favorite of many, because - if prepped properly - is basically bulletproof. Fitteds are diapers made out of natural fibers like hemp, bamboo, or cotton velour (all usually organic) which require a cover. While you can use synthetic covers, most prefer to use wool covers. Wool is a natural temperature regulator, meaning that it will keep you warm in cold temperatures, and keep you cool in hot temperatures. It is also able to absorb up to 1/3 of its weight in moisture, without actually feeling wet! The most "difficult" part about using wool is lanolizing it, which is actually a pretty simple process in which you use lanolin to make the wool water-resistant. This will keep your child's clothing (and your bedding, your lap, your grandma's lap, your sister's lap...etc etc) dry, and the liquid where it should be: in the diaper. As an added bonus, you can let wool air-dry over and over again without ever having to wash it unless it gets pooped on! Prefolds and Covers Thick cotton or hemp prefolds can be another good option, but you will likely need to use two prefolds, or a prefold with a doubler inside in order to last through the night. Using a wool or PUL cover will prevent leaks, and this option works about the same as the fitteds and wool (although you may need to experiment with different folds to find what works best for your child). You can likely make any cloth diaper work for overnights with the right cover and/or inserts. Layering a hemp or bamboo insert underneath a microfiber insert will increase absorbency without adding a lot of extra bulk. Wrapping an insert of your choice inside of a cotton prefold is also a great choice when contained within a wool or PUL cover. The key is to observe your child's "output" during a typical night, and use just enough absorbency to prevent leaks. What do you use for overnight?

It doesn't matter whether you just started cloth diapering, or you're a CDing wizard, there are some fairly common cloth diapering mistakes that even the most seasoned user can make. Below, we'll look at some of the most common mistakes, complete with suggestions for what to do instead. 1. Buying your whole stash before your baby is born. Most of us who have gone through a pregnancy know what nesting is all about (and for those who haven't, it's real): You start feeling the need to prepare and so you buy, wash, and hang/fold all of your newborn, 6 mos., 12 mos., etc. clothing (yes I totally did this). You arrange all of your baby's books, toys, and decorative effects around the nursery, and vacuum, dust, and re-arrange for the sixth time even though nobody but you has stepped foot in it since you began your descent into madness. I mean nesting. It is an exciting and satisfying process to do these things, no doubt about it! When it comes to cloth diapers, however, I would urge you to resist the compulsion to gather your stash months in advance so you can prep, fold, arrange by color and type, and stack them neatly on the changing table. Why? Because most warranty periods begin the date that you make your purchase. This means that if you purchase your diapers in February, but your baby won't be born until June, you've just used up 4 months of your warranty period and your baby hasn't even worn the diapers yet. Hopefully you'll never need to submit a warranty claim for any of your cloth diapers, but if you do, you'll want as much time as possible to submit your claim in case you discover a defective diaper that warrants replacement. Most cloth diaper companies have to be strict with adhering to their warranty policies not only because those policies were set in place for a reason, but also because if you make an exception for one person, then others will expect the same. 2. Not having enough diapers. You may think that having 12 diapers will be enough to get through a day. And if you're giving naked time, and changing every few hours, and your baby rarely poops... then yes you might have (barely) enough. But 12 is really the absolute, bare minimum that you could possibly get away with if you plan to wash every night with no spares for extra changes. I did this for the first few months of our cloth diapering experience, and it.... sucked. Plus I had to handwash so... yeah. Ideally, acquiring 24 - 36 diapers is optimal for daily, or every other day washing. It is enough for newborns and toddlers, and will ensure that even if one day you happen to be changing diapers more than normal, you likely won't run out. It can be pretty frustrating and perplexing to suddenly run out of diapers (especially if you do not have disposables for back-up), and haven't started a load of cloth diapers. You may have to get creative at that point (FYI: T-shirts work pretty well). 3. Not changing frequently enough. Disposable diapers have somewhat skewed the expectation of cloth diapers. Not only do many people expect cloth diapers to be as trim as disposables, but they also expect cloth diapers to hold as much as disposables. Well, my friends, this is just not gonna happen. It's true that there are a few cloth diapers out there which are pretty trim, but most of them aren't going to hold as much pee as a disposable. Why? Because disposables are composed of a myriad of chemicals and materials that allow each diaper to absorb up to 30 times its weight in urine. That's crazy! And hopefully nobody lets their child sit in a diaper long enough for it to absorb 30 times it's weight in urine. Seriously. Most inserts will hold between 3/4 - 1 1/2 cups of water before you start experiencing leaks or wicking, and that covers both synthetic and natural fiber inserts. This means that you will have to change a cloth diaper more frequently than a disposable. While you can sometimes go 2 - 3 hours between diaper changes, ideally you will want to change every hour or two, or double up the inserts to go longer. Once an insert has reached its maximum absorption capacity, there is nowhere else for liquids to go, but out. And that means that the liquid will escape through the leg openings or waist band, or will start wicking at the leg seams. 4. Using the wrong detergent. What detergent to use is one of the most frustrating conundrums for a lot of cloth diaperers because of the misconception that you have to use a "specialty" detergent or else you'll void your warranty or end up with diapers that repel every drop (or gush) of liquid thrown at it. While cloth diaper detergents are usually a safe bet because they were designed specifically for use with cloth diapers, there are a lot of commercially available detergents that are just as safe to use. As a general rule of thumb, you want to avoid any detergent that contains scents, dyes, optical brighteners, fabric softeners, and/or enzymes. All of those ingredients have the likely potential to cause repelling, leaking, bad odors, and/or diaper rash. This includes most "free & clear" detergents, which usually still contain optical brighteners and/or enzymes. I have found the following detergent charts to be very helpful when trying to decide what to use: http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/Articles.asp?ID=263 http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html http://www.maineclothdiaper.com/Detergent-101.html Speaking of detergent, let's take a look at our next common cloth diapering mistake: 5. Not using enough detergent. When using commercial detergents, it is often recommended that you use only 1/4 - 1/2 the recommended amount with cloth diapers. This is because some of the detergent is concentrated and using the recommended amount could result in build-up.  However, most of the time you can use the recommended amount (as appropriate for the load size) without issue. for powdered detergents, generally you would use 1 Tablespoon for HE machines, and 2 Tablespoons for old-school top loaders. For cloth diaper detergents, simply follow the instructions. I have received emails from customers who are experiencing leaking, odors, repelling, etc. and when asked how much detergent they're using they respond "1 teaspoon." This is definitely not enough detergent to get a normal load of diapers clean. If you aren't using enough detergent, then your diapers are not getting clean and they will almost certainly end up repelling, leaking, or smelling like ammonia (or a barnyard, or the monkey house at the zoo, etc).  And this leads us to our next mistake (don't you just love how these flow together?): 6. Not washing frequently enough. While most cloth diaper companies recommend washing every 2 - 3 days, ideally you will want to wash every day. The sooner you wash, the less chance there is for stains to set in, smells to develop, and bacteria to grow. Especially if you live in warmer climates, the diapers shouldn't be left to sit for too long as warm, moist environments are the perfect breeding ground for yucky bacteria. And make sure to always wash the diapers in hot water (up to 145°F) to ensure that you are killing any bacteria in the diapers, and also to help eliminate stains and odors. 7. Thinking you have to stick with only one type of diaper. Finally, this isn't exactly a mistake if you genuinely prefer just one type of diaper (you know... like FuzziBunz), but some folks believe that there is only one type of diaper out there that will work for all of their child's needs. The fact is that different types of diapers can be better than others in some situations. For instance, AIOs can be great daytime diapers, but for heavy wetters, a fitted diaper with a wool cover offer a bulletproof solution for overnight use. Don't be afraid to give a variety of diapers a try. You may find that you love different brands and styles for different purposes! And then you can post photos of your super awesome rainbow stash. ;) What would you add to this list? - Our Resident Mom, Lindsay Lewis

It's time once again for our Baby of the Week!! Let's welcome our Week 2 Baby, Parker, and his mama, Shauna! Parker is 6 months old and still fairly new to cloth, but Shauna tells us about their experience so far. FB: What is Parker's favorite food? Shauna: We have only recently introduced solids, but so far homemade green beans are in the lead! FB: How long have you been cloth diapering? Shauna: Parker is our third child, and the first we have cloth diapered, so 6 months. FB: Why did you make the cloth diaper switch? Shauna: We originally decided to cloth for cost savings and a reduction of trash in the environment, both of which have been wonderful, but our little guy has sensitive skin which is not irritated at all by cloth diapers and wipes so we knew we made the right decision for him! FB: What is your favorite component/aspect of cloth diapering? Shauna: For my husband it is not having to rush to the store when our diaper supply is low. For me, I cannot resist our little guy's adorable fluffy butt! FB: Do you have any tips for moms making the switch? Shauna: Do not commit to one brand straight away. There may be good deals on certain brands if you buy more at one time, but if they do not work for your little one you are stuck with an inadequate stash until you can invest in those that work well. FB: Do you have a "Funniest Cloth Diaper Moment?" Shauna: Well, we haven't had many as we are still newbies, but watching my husband put on a CD for the first time was rather amusing to me!   Discount: Use code BOTW to receive 10% off of the perfect size cloth diaper.