I haven’t given a good “cloth diapering update” in a while and I wanted to let you all know that I’m still here and going strong!  While my daughter’s rash isn’t 100% gone, it’s not near as bad as it was.  I’m thinking it just had to run it’s course, though I did whatever I could to keep the redness down.

Evie is still 100% cloth diapered.  At this point, I don’t think I would dream about putting a disposable on her.  We don’t even have any in the house that would fit her any longer!  Her “stash” is still pretty small and I would love the opportunity to grow it someday but there just hasn’t been a good opportunity to do so.  Plus, whenever I get the chance I just want to buy fancy, expensive stuff instead of something practical.  Bad mama!  Here is our stash:

• 6 bumGenius diapers (three of these are generally worn by Liam part time, however, and Evie only wears them very occasionally.)
• 10 5 unbleached Indian prefolds (whoops, miscounted) (I have found I prefer the softer Indian prefolds)
• 2 prorap covers
• 1 WAHM-made PUL cover that I love so much it hurts. (it’s lavender and is lined with cozy fleece and is a side-snapping style that I am finding I HEART so much)
• 4 fitteds including 1 Bagshot Row Bamboo (BSRB) apre-fitted style fitted, 1 goodmama (GM), 1 Sammy One Size (SOS) and 1 Muttaquin 3 step rise (Mutt 3sr).  The BSRB has a very low rise and I generally use it when I want Evie to “air out” or when we’re sticking around home.  It’s very trim but not very practical.  I still don’t really care for the Mutt.  Too many snaps!  I am finding I kinda enjoy the SOS, even if the print isn’t especially fabulous and my favorite fitted is the GM.  Go figure!
• 5 prefitteds (3 tinkle traps and 2 of another brand that I’ve forgotten the name of already).  A prefitted stands for a “prefold fitted”.  It’s essentially a prefold that has been cut and sewn to resemble a fitted diaper but usually lacks the closure (I use a Snappi to close them).  I LOVE these and use them all the time here at home.  They have elastic in them to contain messes and fit the baby better and they are the right price!
• 5 Rumparooz (RaR) pocket diapers. I have two prints, one solid and two minky.  My favorite BY FAR is the one with snaps that I just recently got off FSOT.  I now wish all my RaR diapers had snaps because I had the Aplix on the RaR diapers.  I WISH I had a snap press or knew someone with one so they could convert the RaR for me.

And there you have it. 33 28 diapers.  Wow, that’s a lot more than I would have thought I had.  I guess because at least three of those diapers aren’t generally worn by my daughter that I think I have less?  I still do diaper laundry every 2-2 1/2 days.  And I still want more diapers!  I want more fitteds and prefitteds as well as more snap RaR diapers.  Maybe some more bumGenius too, if I got lucky enough to find them at our local Target (had you heard that some Targets now have bumGenius diapers??).  Or come in on another seconds sale, because that was a great deal.  I do wish I had more diapers so that I could use them on Liam more, help him gear up to potty training.  I don’t think I want to try to do prefolds on him.  I’m not THAT brave.

So what’s up with you all?  What do you think is missing from your diaper stash?  m

Tags: Diaper Covers, Fitted, my stash, Pocket Diapers, prefitted, prefolds

I haven’t been around much lately, and I think I owe you an explanation. Back in May I started having some problems with odors in my bumGenius diapers. Eventually I started having the same problem with my prefolds. I was a sad, sad mommy, and to this day, I haven’t found a solution. I’ve tried all of the manufacturer’s recommendations for odors. Boiling seemed to help a little, but they need to be boiled between every wash, and that’s a lot of work.

In addition to stink woes, there was also the problem with fit. All of Nicky’s diapers, regardless of brand, give him scabs on his thighs. I think it’s a mixture of pinching and having the velcro rub him. I paid very close attention to how I put them on him to see if I could fasten them in a way that would prevent the rubbing, but the sores never ceased. I think the problem is that the diapers are too snug (he wears them at maximum size). I spoke with another mom who used BGs, and her little boy is bigger than Nicky, and his BGs fit him fine. I looked at her BGs and noticed that the elastic in hers is a little more worn. I think that since I started CD-ing Nicky at an older age, our diapers didn’t get the chance to “wear out” enough for them to fit him at his current size.

This is where I currently stand:

• I’m temporarily using disposables
• I’m going to try Bac Out on my bumGenius diapers even though the manufacturer says not to
• I’m also going to switch to an all natural detergent instead of a free & clear detergent
• Then I’m going to put all of my pocket diapers and AIOs away until I have another baby
• I’m going to try prefolds on Nicky again since I can buy larger diaper covers
• I have three new diaper covers on the way
• I’m going to pray night and day that Nicky will hold still while I diaper him so I can justify the $50 purchase I just made

If all goes well, I’ll get a few more covers. Unfortunately, I’m addicted to cute colors and prints, and they cost a little more than white proraps (of which I have none). Have any of you tried dyeing proraps?

Also, have any of you tried Bumkins diaper covers? If so, let me know if I should buy one or not because I’m in love with this print:

Skulls on a diaper. Isn’t it awesome? I’d love to take it in the baby room at church and see what kind of response I get from the other moms.

This paisley print is adorable for a girl:

I don’t know how anyone can have a girl and not cloth diaper. Oh my gosh! So cute!

Tags: Bac Out, bumGenius, Bumkins, detergent, Diaper Covers, diaper stink, prefolds, red marks

Wow, it’s sure been a long time since I’ve posted to this blog!

After our camping adventures, we went to visit my husband’s family in Elko.  It was supposed to be a weeklong vacation but ended up lasting a week and a half.  And my husband ended up needing emergency surgery while we were there.  Oy!  And through it all?  I (drumroll please) cloth diapered!

The hardest bit was when we had to take my husband into the emergency room.  I had figured we were going to breakfast that morning and I haven’t even taken a shower yet that day!  Evie’s diaper bag was woefully understocked, with only one diaper and outfit change inside.  Both of which she used up fairly quickly.  Luckily, my sister in law was happy to stop by the house and pick up more diapers.

My in laws have hard water at their house, a challenge which I had yet to be confronted with.  However, I just did some studying up on the Diaper Swappers board and learned what best to do to counteract the hard water.  Thankfully, Walmart carries Calgon and I picked some of that up.  I didn’t have my Simplicity dryer sheets or my dryer balls there, so the diapers did get a little crunchy by the end of our visit, but the diapers stayed clean and smell-free.  And that’s what I wanted most of all.

I’m convinced now, if I can cloth diaper while camping and while out of town for a week and a half?  I’m in it for the long haul!

Now that we’re back home and adjusting to life again, I’m realizing that my chunky little lass is quickly outgrowing her prefolds and covers.  Since they make up the bulk of my stash, this means I need to find a new solution soon.  Do I want to buy more covers and some more prefolds (she’s outgrowing the covers more than the prefolds at this point)?  Or do I want to get some fitteds (and I would still need covers)?  Something else altogether?  Decisions, decisions!  I’ll keep you all posted.

And hopefully I won’t disappear for such a long time this time!

Tags: Diaper Covers, Fitted, hard water, laundry, prefolds, vacation

One of my latest CD purchases arrived in the mail this week. May I present our Swaddlebees diaper cover in all it’s glory:

So far I like it. It’s a little big, but that’s great because Nicky’s bumGenius diapers are almost too small. I’ve been using a Snappi to hold the pre-folds in place under the cover. I know this isn’t necessary, but I prefer to secure the diaper because they start sagging really bad when ‘accidents’ happen. My only complaint with Swaddlebees so far is that they don’t have gussets. There’s a lot more potential for poo to escape, but so far, we’ve been solid and A-OK. Also, it was pretty expensive so probably won’t buy more covers from this manufacturer.

I have a really hard time using prefolds on Nicky because I can’t keep him on his back long enough to fold the diaper, secure it, and put the cover on. A lot of extra effort goes into using prefolds at my house. I wish I could use them more because I like being able to only replace the prefold and re-use the cover. It makes me feel like I’m not wasting a clean diaper.

This morning, while trying to get the diaper on Nicky, I suffered a Snappi injury. Man, the teeth on those things are vicious. They went right into my thumb and literally removed a chunk of flesh. I almost took a picture for you, but it was pretty gross. You may thank me for sparing you.

Tags: Diaper Covers, prefolds, Snappi, Swaddlebees