Firstly, I just wanted to say that lately my choices during nap time have been: nap myself, shower, or blog.  Mostly, I’ve been chosing shower, with a bit of Plurk thrown in there.  So I apologize for my absence, and will try to make up for it with a “where to shop” type post.

I’m one of the few lucky ones out there with local shops that carry a variety of good cloth diapers.  I do some of my shopping locally, but to be honest, I do most of it online.  It’s not that I don’t want to support my local economies, but it’s mostly that I live in Canada, and like most things, diapers cost A LOT more here.  Like, $6 a diaper more.  If I know I can get a diaper cheaper (and new, with free shipping) online, there is very little incentive for me to shop locally.

My favourite place to buy diapers is from Leslie’s Boutique*.  It’s a great store, and the customer service is just about awesome.  Hands down, this has been the most economical place for me to buy new diapers from.  Also, I love love love her wetbags.  And?  She has a very fancy new diaper bag that I am jonesing for, but don’t have the cash to buy.  The snap in accessories are making me a tiny bit crazy.  I mean, I can get two bags - one wet one dry?  I can have a matching change mat?  She’ll make a small baggy for treats?  Dude.  I just about have a siezure when I think about all the matchy-matchy I can have.

There isn’t a lot that I have actually purchased from Leslie’s.  I have a small wipes sized wetbag, a Melon (AKA life preserver orange) Thirsties AIO (do not recommend), a Bubblegum Fuzzi Bunz (I’m not crazy about FB, but they’re ok), and a Grasshopper Bum Genius (love!).  My order was shipped reasonably quickly, although it took it’s sweet time getting here (the US to Canada postal system is complete pants and makes me crazy).  I have emailed them to ask them about custom bags, and they seem to be open to discussion (I wanted PUL sandwich sized bags), and were reasonable in their pricing.  I will absolutely be shopping here again.

*Did you know?  Leslie’s Boutique is having a sale on Thirsties stuff!  It’s on for a limited time, so be sure to go check it out!  Also:  Leslie’s is currently stocking the BumGenius Organic Cotton OS.  I don’t know whether to try it - it’s more expensive than the pocket, and I’m afraid that I won’t like it.  I also don’t know if I really NEED organic diapers or not.  Any thoughts?

I have also purchased from DiaperSwappers.com.  All the times I have bought from there, I haven’t had any problems…  Kind of.  I bought one Piddle Poddles which I swear isn’t an actual PP.  It is the same style, but the soaker is different then the other Piddle Poddles I have (which I know is actually a PP), the quality doesn’t seem to be the same.  Regardless, if it IS a PP, then it’s a second, and I paid full price for it.  I guess it doesn’t really matter now.  This is the problem with Diaperswappers - you have to really trust the other person to not screw you over.  I didn’t bother to follow up with this transaction because it didn’t seem to be worth it to me.  I know now that I won’t buy something that doesn’t have tags - so it will be either WAHM stuff with tags, or brand-name diapers with tags.  As a side note:  Make sure that you always always always get pictures, inside and out, of the diaper you are going to buy.  And check feedback.  If the seller doesn’t have diaperswapper feedback, ask for feedback from somewhere else.  When you get feedback from somewhere else, message that user and make sure it’s the person from diaperswappers.  If you chose to buy from someone with no feedback, do so at your own risk:  don’t spend more money than you’re willing to lose.

I have also purchased (accidentally!) from Spots’ Corner on Hyena Cart.  Here’s the catch:  if you press “buy this”, you HAVE to buy it.  Even if you go to the next page and decide, nope, not interested (as I did), you’re responsible for it.  This is how I got my Mutt.  While it’s a beautiful diaper, it’s not my favourite, and I do wish that I hadn’t purchased it.  My paypal money should have gone somewhere else.  Like maybe to a beautiful Fattycakes or something.  So let my experience be a warning - be sure to read what the button says before you click it on Hyena Cart.  Some stuff is “add to shopping cart”, which is no obligation, and some stuff is “buy now”, which means you own that item and must buy it.

If you’ve read any of my posts, you know that I love Piddle Poddles.  And I do.  I still want to try a Goodmama, just because they seem a little different in size (we’re having a bit of a sizing issue with the PP, because we’re in between snaps, but this will not be an issue in another few weeks when Kitten is a little bigger), but I’m really happy with the availability of the Piddle Poddles, and I have always received tremendous customer service from Robin.  The store is stocked every Friday, so you don’t have to worry about “stealth” stockings, or stalking a page.  Granted, if there is something special that you want, you will have to stalk a little to be sure to get it, but the majority of her regular One-Size Organic Bamboo Velour diapers are available for purchase (on stocking days, not just randomly).

So this is where I shop.  Does anyone have any recommendations?  Insights?  Difference in opinion?  Does anyone want to sell me a new (or barely used) Goodmama for $35 or less?  No?  Nuts.