Cloth diapering 2

Some people thought it was crazy to attempt to cloth diaper two children, but it's been a lot easier than I suspected it would be. We're still using our sort-of hybrid system I described last year which includes cloth diapers during the day, and a disposable at night -- for both girls. For wipes, we use cloth (little fleece rectangles) with a homemade wipe solution (baby oil, baby wash, and water) for #1 and disposables for #2. Rounding out our "half and half method" is our diaper pail set up -- one disposable diaper pail, and one cloth diaper pail. It might seem crazy and/or redundant, but this works well for us and I can't tell you how much money we've saved not having to buy case after case of disposable diapers. We don't use a sprayer, but have opted instead for flushable liners. I do diaper laundry once every 3 days and use Rockin' Green detergent.

What is particularly awesome right now is that Aurelia is no longer in Newborn and smaller-sized diapers, so she and Carina are sharing the exact same diapers, even on the same rise/button setting. Some may fit a little more snugly on Carina's tiny and lean waist while others better flatter Aurelia's chunky rolls, but we can pretty much use them interchangeably. They take up almost two entire drawers in our changing table. Our top drawer contains everything except the BumGenius 3.0/4.0 and extra inserts:

And the middle drawer includes the Bum Genius 3.0/4.0 and our disposables -- Luvs Size 4 (and some miscellaneous baby outfits).

A few of the diapers have emerged as the best because they fit both girls so perfectly without necessitating any changes to the diaper settings or stuffing levels. One of those is our Kung Poo.

Kung Poo Diapers is a new company in the cloth diaper world. Their diapers are manufactured here in the U.S. and are sold individually, or in packs of 12 or 24. The one-size-fits-all pocket diapers have snap down rows so they will fit from birth until potty training. The diapers also boast a "smart sleeve" that has openings on both ends, which contains the microfiber insert. The diapers come in an variety of colors (or belts - ha!) We received the "black belt". I thought this would make a wonderful addition to our stash since the majority of our diapers are pastels or prints.

Carina in the "Black Belt"

Okay seriously how can you see that label on the bum and not laugh?

Features we like about the Kung Poo diaper:

• There is no need to remove the microfiber insert when you take the diaper off of baby; it agitates out in the wash
• The edge of the insert is threaded with color so it's easy to match up after washing. Since I can't figure out which of our inserts go with which diapers for the rest of our stash, this is clever!
• The crossover and rise snaps make for a perfect fit, and they are easy to snap and un-snap
• It's trim and fits really well in Carina's jeans (it might look a little bulky in the photo above, but that's because it's actually not on the setting we usually use...the husband unsnapped some snaps and I didn't realize it!)

Aurelia in the "Black Belt"

The diapers are 100% Polyester with a soft Alova Suede Cloth inner lining and each comes with a Microfiber insert. We haven't had a single leak or blowout and we've been using it on both girls since New Years' (yeah, I'm a bit late on this review). I've also been washing and drying it (in the dryer on low -- I'm lazy) and the insert is still fluffy and absorbent. This is one of the few diapers I can dry quickly and use right away instead of line drying.

Inside, outside, and insert

Blue Belt

Shop:

At only $9.95 per diaper, Kung Poo are the cheapest diapers that work well for us, and additional inserts are only $1.95. If/when we determine we need additional cloth diapers, I WILL be purchasing them from Kung Poo. Kung Poo also offers free shipping on every order, and has a 30 Day Risk Free Guarantee.

Win:
Kung Poo Diapers is offering one of my readers the diaper of their choice.

How to Enter:

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. Make sure to click "Enter!" after you complete each entry. All currents count! The giveaway is open to residents of the US only and ends at 11:59 PM EST on Saturday, April 13th.

The first entry is mandatory - Visit Kung Poo and tell me which color -- er...belt -- you like best! Once you complete this entry, the widget will give you the option of completing the rest. Complete more steps for more chances to win!

Cloth Diapering Aurelia and Swaddlebees - Review & Giveaway! CLOSED

Well, we have largely struck out again when it comes to newborn cloth diapering. Mike and I must make babies with really odd shapes because the majority of our diapers just don't work well on our wee ones. Leaks here, blowouts there, it just wasn't worth the frustration and piles of poopy laundry so we have mostly used disposables on Aurelia. Until...we received the cutest cloth diaper ever from Melissa of Bubalooch: modern cloth diaper parties!

You might be wondering, what's a Bubbalooch? Or you might be thinking OMG a cloth diaper party sign me up! Here's more about Melissa and Bubbalooch:
Melissa was the earliest Bubbalooch; the moniker was used endearingly by her mother when she was young. Years later, after a post-graduate degree and success in the retail and private business world, Melissa had a Bubbalooch of her own when Aubrey Elizabeth was born. Melissa and her husband Jon launched Bubbalooch - modern cloth diaper parties with three goals in mind:

• Tell the whole story: Teach about the performance benefits, and help dispel the notion that cloth diapers are difficult and messy!
• Offer A Hands-On Approach: Bubbaooch parties give parents a chance to see modern cloth diapers up close and learn about all the different systems. Newbie Kits are available to let parents try a few diapers before deciding which systems best fit their lifestyle. 
• Make It Easy: The selection of cloth diapers can be overwhelming. Some are great and others are to be avoided. Bubbalooch only partners with the best brands.

Melissa sent us this Swaddlebees Newborn Simplex All-in-one in the cutest giraffe print that is somewhat reminiscent of my old blog design (ha!)

Swaddlebees Newborn Simplex All-In-One

See the resemblance? ;)

Since Aurelia was 4 weeks old (she's 10 weeks now) we have tried a total of 6 brands of cloth diapers. This Swaddlebees Newborn Simplex AIO is/was:

1. The only cloth diaper that didn't leak after 1 hour. It actually didn't leak at all even at 3.5-4 hours during the day (I dared not test it beyond that).
2. The only cloth diaper that didn't experience a massive blowout.
3. The only cloth diaper that could actually fit in her normal clothes. The other brands required that I put her in 6 Months instead of her usual 3 Month outfits. This diaper is really trim compared to the others.

OMG the rolls! ;)

A little bit more about the Swaddlebees Newborn Simplex:

• The Newborn Simplex is designed to fit the unique body frame of newborns & smaller babies (6-16 lbs). Aurelia is over 14 lbs. and we just moved to the last row of snaps. It looks like it will continue to fit her until close to 16 lbs.

• It is a unique diaper that combines the convenience of an all-in-one while providing the absorbent flexibility of a pocket diaper. It has a "tunnel-like" design that allows you to increase the absorbency by adding extra inserts, if you want to. This also enables any extra doubler or insert to agitate itself out in the wash. The result is a diaper that is thoroughly cleaned and dries fast. We haven't yet needed to add any inserts; the diaper as it is has worked just fine for us (no leaks with either #1 or #2) every time.

• It is made with a waterproof outer layer and 11 layers of 100% cotton birdseye fabric in the wet zone. Before we ever used the diaper, I questioned how on earth it would be able to handle a newborn's wrath. The fabric and diaper in general is so trim compared to our other bulky diapers. But? Somehow, it has managed to be our only leak-free and blowout-free diaper. Props, Swaddlebees.

• If baby still has his/her umbilical stump, you can use the snap in the center (top right) to keep the diaper away from the sensitive area. Obviously Aurelia doesn't have her cord stump, still, at 10 weeks, just wanted to show you what it looks like ;)

Above left: interior of the diaper with the attached insert outside of the diaper. Top right: interior of the diaper with the attached insert inside the diaper. Bottom right: exterior of the diaper.

Bottom line: I love this diaper; it's the first one I reach for when selecting a diaper for Aurelia. It's trim, it's absorbent, it has CUTE GIRAFFES. Done deal.

Shop
Bubbalooch offers a number of cloth diapers, diapering accessories, and more! Free shipping on orders over $75 as well. If you're in the LA area, you can even host a cloth diaper party with Melissa.

Win
Melissa of Bubbalooch is SO GENEROUSLY offering one of my readers their choice of either the  Newborn or Essentials kit in boy, girl, or neutral colors.

Newborn Kit includes:
-Swaddlebees Newborn Simplex
-Swaddlebees Mini Nappi (pocket)
-Bottombumpers One Size AIO

Essentials Kit includes:
-Swaddlebees Simplex
-Blueberry One Size Bamboo Deluxe (pocket)
-Bottombumpers One Size AIO

How to Enter:
This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. All currents count! Giveaway is open to residents of the US. Ends at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, December, 11th.

The first entry is mandatory - Visit Bubbalooch and tell me what product you'd like to try! Once you complete this entry, the widget will give you the option of completing the rest. Complete more steps for more chances to win!

Breaking my irrational fear of prefolds: Real Nappies - Review & Giveaway! CLOSED

It seems fitting to talk a little more about cloth diapers after this week's Toddle Along Tuesday post showing off our stash. Until now, we had exclusively used pocket and All-In-One diapers, mostly due to the fact that I was irrationally terrified of prefolds. Why? I have no idea. Maybe I was thinking of pre-historic diapers and envisioned accidentally stabbing baby with safety pins. Or giant poopy explosions that I couldn't imagine a single rectangle of cloth could possibly contain.

Well, I got over my fear when my pack of Real Nappies diapers arrived. I must not have been paying attention when I said that I would love to try them, because I honestly had no idea that they were prefolds and covers until I opened the box. And then I panicked.

Then something amazing happened; we tried them, and we loved them. Here's why:

1. In my opinion they are even easier than pockets. You don't stuff them, you just fold the diaper - I fold ours in thirds - and lay it right inside the cover; they are designed to fit perfectly.

2. They take up less space in the diaper drawer, and diaper pail. I usually double-stuff our pockets in order to attain the same level of absorbency as the Real Nappies diapers, so I'm sure you can imagine that our pail fills up quickly. 6 prefolds and 2 covers are nothing compared to 6 double-stuffed pockets.

3. With 6 diapers and 2 covers for between $30-40 (depending upon the size), they are much cheaper than our pockets and All-In-Ones, which can run $15-$25 for a single diaper.

Okay now for some diaper details. The prefolds! Real Nappies diapers are made of premium 100% Indian cotton that has stayed soft and absorbent through numerous washes so far.

Folding in thirds - easy!

And onto the covers. Real Nappies PUL diaper covers repel moisture to keep baby dryer and are fastened with velcro tabs at the waist. There isn't much give to the fabric, but it fastens easily enough. There are also velcro laundry tabs.

Bottom left: diaper itself inside cover. Bottom right: all fastened up!

The fit: Carina kept trying to grab the camera lol

The fit is a little bulky, but Carina is on the very low end of the weight range for the Crawler (18-31 lbs.) size. Even so, we haven't had any issues with leaks. As she {hopefully} continues to grow, I imagine that these will become our favorites. They have even passed the husband test! When I asked him to change her diaper the other day, she emerged from the nursery wearing her Real Nappies. That means Mike - on his own - selected them from amongst all of her other diapers and deemed them easy enough to use ;)

I don't even know what she's doing here (Yoga of some sort?) but it makes for a nice diaper view

All Real Nappies products products are are backed by a unique warranty that extends across two children and applies to both diapers AND covers. Awesome. I plan on picking up another pack to {relatively cheaply and easily} add to our growing stash for two babies!

Shop
Real Nappies come in 4 sizes; Newborn (6-13 lbs.), Infant (11-20 lbs.), Crawler (18-31 lbs.) - which we reviewed for Carina, and Toddler (29-40 lbs.) In addition to the top-up packs which include 2 wraps and 6 prefold diapers, there are sets of other sizes and various accessories as well.

Win

A top-up pack in your choice of size is up for grabs! Includes 2 wraps and 6 prefold diapers.

How to Enter:

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. Make sure to click "Enter!" after you complete each entry. All currents count! The giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada and ends at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, July 25th.

The first entry is mandatory - Tell me which size of Real Nappies you'd like for your little one! Once you complete this entry, the widget will give you the option of completing the rest. Complete more steps for more chances to win!

Let's Talk "Poop Sacks" - Toddle Along Tuesday

Mike still affectionately refers to Carina's diapers as "poop sacks". I'm guessing there's no shaking that at this point. After a year of disposables, we have now been using cloth diapers for almost 7 months.

But, after a bit of trial and error we've fallen into a sort-of hybrid routine. We use cloth during the day, but put Carina in a disposable (Luvs) at night due to her leaking through every cloth diaper we've tried (even with double inserts). While traveling, or if we're going to be out of the house for the bulk of the day, we stick with disposables, too. It's just easier for us that way.

Our stash includes mostly BumGenius, and then a few each of FuzziBunz, Thirsties pockets and AIOs, Smartipants, Sposoeasy, Rumparooz, Kawaii, and our newest addition - Real Nappies. More to come on Real Nappies later this week! (I've done a formal review for the brands/types with links, above, if you'd like more info)

Most of our stash - the rest is in the diaper pail ;)

This hybrid system has also led us to doing the same thing for wipes! If we're out and about, or for #2, we use disposables. If it's just a little pee, I spray some diluted California Baby Diaper Area Wash on one of our cloth wipes - just rectangles cut from fleece - and use that instead.

Cloth wipes

It's like the best of both worlds, in my opinion. We still save a ton of money by buying fewer disposable diapers and wipes, but have the convenience of using them when we need/want to. We also use Bumkins liners ripped in half so plopping is easier, if you know what I mean ;) The one issue we're having right now, though? Diaper pail stinkage. Whether you use disposables or cloth, please share what you use for a diaper pail!

If you find all talk of diapers boring or otherwise "meh", feel free to check out my Classification of Poop Severity Levels and Poopocalypse 2011. I should probably give you a disclaimer but eh, I think the titles say enough.

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My co-host for Toddle Along Tuesday this week is Natalie from Growing Up an NJ Wife and the topic is diapering! If you cloth diaper, show off your stash! If not, share what you use, your routine, or any funny diaper stories. Feel free to be creative. There are no rules here, except that you link up a relevant post (old or new) rather than your whole blog.


Next week's topic is occupations! What do you do, or what did you do in your former life? Or what is your dream job?

If you like advance notice for TAT, check out the bottom right of my blog - topics for the next couple months are listed. Would you like to submit a topic idea and/or volunteer to co-host one week? E-mail me!

Thirsties Duo All In One - Review & Giveaway! CLOSED

I don't think there has ever been a more appropriate time to talk about cloth diapers than Earth Day! In addition to the many other benefits of cloth diapers (saving money, super cute, often fewer rashes, etc.), they significantly reduce the amount of garbage headed for landfills. For our family, using cloth diapers has really been a win-win. Okay, now onto the fluff!

We love our Thirsties Duo Diaper so much, I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to try out their brand new Duo All In One. The Duo AIO comes in two sizes: 1: 6-18 lbs. and 2: 18-40 lbs, and two different closure styles: snaps and aplix. We opted for Size 2 in Orchid. So far, almost all of the cloth diapers we have are gender neutral colors. I was so excited to get a girly purple one for Carina this time. Love the color.

Duo AIO in Orchid

My favorite feature of the Thirsties Duo All In One is the fit. The tabs are stretchier than our other diapers, which makes it much easier for me to fasten them snugly. It also seems a more comfortable fit for Carina. I was afraid that this AIO would be bulky, but to my surprise it is actually just as trim, if not trimmer, than some of our pockets! It has become one of my go-to diapers to wear under leggings or other tighter pants.

Tunnel for stuffing!

If you need to add absorbency (like we often do), the Duo All In One has a unique tunnel design that gives you the {sometimes much needed} ability to bulk up. We have fit a number of different types of inserts in the tunnel. Most of the time, we don't need them, though. The absorbency of the AIO by itself has been quite impressive for both #1 and #2. The built-in three-layer microfiber terry soaker actually absorbs seven times its weight! We experienced one leak, but it was when we first received the diaper and silly Mommy used the middle set of snaps instead of the bottom set. Once I adjusted to the correct-for-Carina's-size bottom snaps, we have been leak free.

There are a couple other benefits to the design including more thorough washing and quicker drying (compared to All In One diapers without the tunnel). One con is that it takes a little longer to dry than our pocket diapers, but that I was expecting. Other awesome features of the Duo All In One include gentle elastic around the legs and waist (no red marks on Carina), and a durable waterproof exterior.

Like the Duo Diaper, the AIO will grow with Carina until she no longer needs diapers. It boasts 3 rows of snaps to allow for the perfect fit now, 6 months from now, and even a year from now or more. I'm hoping that she will be ready for potty training sooner rather than later, but it's comforting to know that this diaper will fit up to 40 lbs. Crossing my fingers she will be using the potty before then ;)

Potty training?  I'll stay in these forever, Mom!

I think this diaper is a fantastic choice for both cloth diaper newbies and enthusiasts. I think it will be one of the few we leave when we have babysitters watch Carina, just because it is so easy to use and no disassembly is necessary. Just unfasten and throw right in the diaper pail.

Thirsties doesn't just make fantastic cloth diapering products, they are also a really cool company:
-They are committed to greener parenting and Eco Friendly solutions. Their warehouse is 100% wind powered.
-The diapers are made right here in the USA by work at home mothers who are very close to their warehouse, reducing carbon output.
-The customer service reps are experienced cloth diapering moms, and offer knowledge to retailers and customers alike.

Adorable prints!

Shop
Thirsties diapers can be found at many retailers throughout the world! Find the location closest to you. You can also request or download a catalog. Check out Thirsties on Facebook for news of discounts and other giveaways!

Win
Thirsties is generously offering one of my readers a Duo AIO! The winner can pick what size and color/print they would like.

How to Enter:
This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. All currents count! Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada. Ends at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, May 1st.

The first entry is mandatory - Visit Thirsties and tell me one feature that you like about the Duo AIO, and what color/print you would choose if you won. Once you complete this entry, the widget will give you the option of completing the rest. Complete more steps for more chances to win!

Smartipants cloth diapers - Review & Giveaway! CLOSED

Our cloth diapering adventure continues with this adorable reusable one size fits all pocket diaper from Smartipants. I had heard about Smartipants from Kristin, a fellow blogging Momma, and had them on my list of diapers to try for quite some time now. We received the diaper in Cool Blue, and it has snap closures. All of the Smartipants diapers are constructed with breathable fibers, are free from any chemicals or irritants, and are made right here in the USA.

Trying to escape from me and the camera

Smartipants was the vision of Jessica, a mommy of four, who was constantly looking for an economical, yet easy to use cloth diapering system. When she couldn't find what she was looking for - convenient, easy to care for, and comfortable diapers - she designed and made them herself!

This was the first diaper with snap closures that we have tried. In all honesty, I was a bit nervous to try them because I was afraid we wouldn't be able to get a good fit around Carina's tiny waist and chubby thighs. Well, I am happy to report that this diaper actually fits her more snugly (without leaving any red marks) than any other diaper we have! It also doesn't tend to bunch in the front like many of our other aplix diapers.

We were fortunate enough (if you can say that, lol) to experience both a pee and a poo with our Smartipants diaper. I usually double stuff our pocket diapers because Carina is quite the heavy wetter, but the single patented smart-sleeve insert does the trick every time! The unique Leak-Guard Technology keeps moisture contained, and she stays perfectly dry.

In addition to its fantastic absorbency, I also am in love with the smart-sleeve insert because you can stuff it from either end of the diaper and you do not have to remove it after baby goes potty. It agitates right out in the wash! No need to go digging and get your hands all dirty. I wish all cloth diaper makers would follow this cue!

When M does the diaper changing he grabs for our Smartipants diaper first because he loves the cute color, and the fact that the whole diaper (insert included) goes straight into the diaper pail. I think he hates getting pee (or worse) on his fingers more than I do.

Fit and closure up close

The snaps on the Smartipants diaper are unlike any I have seen yet. Not only are there multiple rows of snaps to allow for the rise to grow with baby, there are multiple overlapping snaps at the closures! This allows the diaper to accommodate wee babes (7 lbs.) all the way to 35 lb. toddlers. I am very excited to try this diaper early on with our baby on the way.

So many snaps for the perfect fit!

Shop
Smartipants diapers and accessories can be purchased online! A 3 pack of reusable diapers is only $36.95 - I cannot get over what a great deal this is. Check out the Smartipants Facebook page for news and blog posts as well!

Win
Smartipants is generously offering one of my readers one of their fantastic pocket diapers. The winner can pick whatever color they would like.

How to Enter:
This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. All currents count! Giveaway is open to residents of the US only.

The first entry is mandatory - Visit Smartipants and tell me one feature that you like about their diapers, and what color you would choose if you won. Once you complete this entry, the widget will give you the option of completing the rest. Complete more steps for more chances to win!

Thirsties Duo Diaper - Review & Giveaway! CLOSED

After a year of not being able to use our cloth diapers for various reasons, we were so happy to get back into the CD groove over the last couple months. I cannot tell you how happy we are to be using cloth diapers instead of disposables.

I was very excited to be given the opportunity to try out Thirsties' Duo Diaper. The Duo Diaper comes in two sizes: 1: 6-18 lbs. and 2: 18-40 lbs, and two different closure styles: snaps and aplix. There are also a number of nice colors and cute patterns. We chose a Size 2 diaper in Blackbird with Aplix closure.

Duo Diaper in Blackbird

Oooh I like this diaper!

I LOVE this diaper. First, it has my favorite fit of any cloth diaper we have used so far. Carina has rather chunky thighs, and some of our other diapers have caused little marks at the top of her thighs due to pinching, and have not held up too well against the dreaded #2. The Thirsties design is a bit different. It has larger and more generous side flaps, for what appears to be a more comfortable fit. The double leg gussets also guard against #2 infiltration.

Second, the sleeve design features openings on both sides of the diaper between the microfleece and waterproof layer. This means that there is no need to remove the soiled inserts before you throw the diaper in the wash. Leave them be; they'll come out on their own!

Third, two inserts are included! Carina is a bit of a heavy wetter (LOL she is seriously going to kill me when she reads all this someday), so we really appreciate having some extra stuffing. The 1st insert is 55% Hemp, 45% Cotton and the 2nd is 100% polyester–microfiber terry. The inserts even snap together. I am very impressed with the absorbency the double insert offers.

Last, this diaper will grow with Carina until she is potty trained. It features 3 rows of snaps to accommodate her now, 10 lbs. from now, and then even 20 lbs. from now. It's easy to find the right fit.

Even cuter on a baby bum ;)

Cute patterns!

Thirsties doesn't just make fantastic cloth diapering products, they are also a really cool company:
-They are committed to greener parenting and Eco Friendly solutions. Their warehouse is 100% wind powered.
-The diapers are made right here in the USA by work at home mothers who are very close to their warehouse, reducing carbon output.
-The customer service reps are experienced cloth diapering moms, and offer knowledge to retailers and customers alike.

Check out Thirsties on Facebook for news of discounts and other giveaways!

Okay, enough pictures Mom

Shop
Thirsties diapers can be found at many retailers throughout the world! Find the location closest to you here. You can also request or download a catalog here.

Win
Thirsties is generously offering one of my readers a Duo Diaper! The winner can pick what size and color/print they would like.

How to Enter:
This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. All currents count! Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada.

The first entry is mandatory - Visit Thirsties and tell me one feature that you like about the Duo Diaper, and what color/print you would choose if you won. Once you complete this entry, the widget will give you the option of completing the rest. Complete more steps for more chances to win!

Update on our poop sacks (aka cloth diapers)

If you've been reading for a long time you might remember how excited I was in anticipation of using cloth diapers. M affectionately dubbed them "poop sacks" early on, and I took advantage of last year's Black Friday sales to build quite the stash.

We tried our newborn diapers shortly after Carina was born, but were less than pleased. We just couldn't get the right fit and became discouraged quickly. Once we became faced with moving to an apartment complex with coin op laundry, we just decided to put cloth diapers on hold until we finally moved to Connecticut.

So we're here, and it was time! I happily put Carina in a FuzziBunz One-Size diaper and crossed my fingers that it would go well. A bit later, I heard a few grunts and then I watched in horror as a tiny spot of baby poop grew and grew...it spread from her thigh to her knee before I could grab her and make haste for the bathroom. Crap. Literally. What did I do wrong?

Oops I crapped my pants

Then we tried a BumGenius 4.0 pocket, this time at night. A number of my Momma friends told me that this one was their favorite. I had high hopes until I heard Carina screaming at 2 AM. I ran into the nursery to make sure she was okay and picked her up out of the crib. Much to my dismay, the front of her pajamas was soaked in pee. So was the sheet. And a few of her blankets. At 2 AM. Perfect.

So again, we gave up. We were about to go visit our families for the holidays anyway, and weren't planning on cloth diapering when we were there. I vowed to give it one more shot after we got home - it was sort of my New Year's Resolution.

Fast forward about 2 weeks to today; I am loving our cloth diapers! In retrospect, the poopsplosion and pee reservoir were my own fault. I didn't realize at first that one size diapers have different settings, specific to baby's size. So yeah I guess I had Carina on the setting for babies who are 30+ lbs, and Carina is closer to 19 lbs. I'm embarrassed. They are working much, much better now, and I am eager to get my hands on some more...

Do you cloth diaper? What is your favorite brand?

Why we aren't cloth diapering

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you might remember that we were so excited to use cloth diapers (or poop sacks, as M calls them) for Carina. We had an entire newborn stash and started using them as soon as they fit, when she was about 2 weeks old. Unfortunately her thighs were too tiny {which is hilarious, because now they are enormous!} so we had a major leakage problem. And shortly thereafter, a major ball was dropped on us; we would have to move out of our apartment complex when Carina was 3 months old...to a new place with community coin-op laundry.

Our stash, just waiting to be pooped in

We decided it would be too costly to continue cloth diapering ($5 total per load x 3-4 loads per week = crazy) so we are currently using disposables, at least until we move again. I'm glad we made this decision, because not only would it have been cost prohibitive, but I think I would have gone insane by now just from spending that much time in our laundry room.

It is the laundry room straight from the bowels of the underworld. There are four washers and four dryers, but on any given day, one of each is broken. Except that there is no "Out of order" sign on them. So I unknowingly load up the washer, put in detergent and money, then press start, only to have nothing happen. Dejectedly, I move all of my clothes to the next washer, put in more money and detergent, and cross my fingers that this one works.

Broken washers make me CRRYYYY

And even better, if someone stops a dryer prematurely and takes out their clothes, it will still only finish the remaining time on that person's cycle {even after you put your own money in it}. In order to tell if the previous cycle was stopped, you have to lean your ear close to a little box in the back of the dryer and listen. A repetitive clicking sound means it was stopped too soon. No clicking means you're good to do. WTF? I seriously have to do this every time before I load the dryer.

Last week I loaded and started the washer, only to have it fill with water but not start spinning. The maintenance guy came to help, deemed it broken, and told me I would have to take my clothes out and move them myself {soaking wet} into another washer. So I schlepped my sopping clothes to another washer, threw them in, and it wouldn't start. F*#% I am so done with this.

Who has a laundry nightmare story for me? :)

P.S. The first topic for the Toddle Along Tuesday blog hop (which will be returning this week) will be "Introduction". Link to an old or brand new post introducing your kid(s). Still pregnant? Have some fun with it and introduce your bump! Feel free to include photos, videos, whatever you'd like.

Diaper misadventures

Many of you may remember that we were planning on cloth diapering.  Unfortunately, most our newborn size diapers didn't fit Carina very well (by the way-if anyone is in the market for barely used Rumparooz Lil' Joeys, BumGenius XS AIO, Thirsties XS AIO, or FuzziBunz XS Pockets let me know), and by the time she was big enough to fit in our one-size cloth diapers, we had to move to an apartment complex that doesn't have in-unit laundry.  And it is coin operated.  Double whammy.  We still plan on cloth diapering once we move in the fall.

In the meantime we've been using disposables.  The hospital had Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive Diapers and we liked them, so we stuck with them.  When Carina reached 8 lbs. we upgraded to Size 1.  Our problems began a few weeks after upgrading.  All of a sudden, we started having blow outs constantly.  My Mommy friends recommended trying Size 2, even though Carina was only 10 lbs.  Again, we were poopsplosion free for a few weeks.  Sadly, they started again.  Up to Size 3 we went, when Carina was only 12 lbs (the recommended size range for size 3 is 16-28 lbs).  And wouldn't you know that after a month the poop nightmare commenced once again.

Moving up to Size 4 would be absolutely ridiculous at this point, as they are for babies of 22-37 lbs...and Carina is roughly 16 lbs.  So we decided to try a different brand.  Maybe we should have done this sooner, I don't know why we didn't think to.  So we have been using Luvs Diapers for the last two weeks with similar results.  They are definitely better than the Pampers, but we still have an occasional blow out.  They are much cheaper than the Pampers as well ($0.11 per diaper with Amazon's subscribe & save as opposed to $0.21 per diaper), so we are going to stick with them for now unless we can find something better.

Are we just diaper-challenged?  Does anyone else have poop problems?  Please, share your stories so I don't feel so alone and oh, recommend your diapers if you like them!  Mama G is super sick of poopsplosions.  And I'm sure Carina doesn't like swimming in poop, either.

We've got all of our "poop sacks"!

Cloth diapers, that is.  M affectionately calls them "poop sacks".  This originated when I was looking at some expensive cloth diapers online and M peered over my shoulder.  "What?", he exclaimed.  "$30 for a poop sack!?!"  Ha.  I love my husband.

I have not spent (and will not spend) $30 on a single cloth diaper.  I have shopped sales and clearances to find the best deals, and had a lot of luck on Black Friday.

So here, without further ado, is our stash.

Newborn diapers:

5 Thirsties XS AIO

2 Monkey Doodles AIO

10 FuzziBunz XS AIO

6 BumGenius XS AIO

1 Sposoeasy XS AIO

8 Rumparooz Little Joeys AIO

Total of 32 Newborn Diapers

One-Size and Size Small diapers:

3 FuzziBunz OS Pockets

1 Kawaii OS Pocket

2 Rumparooz OS Pockets

12 BumGenius 3.0 OS Pockets

3 Thirsties S Pockets

2 Sposoeasy S Pockets

4 FuzziBunz S Pockets

Total of 27 Small/OS Diapers

We may need a few more One-Size and Medium/Large diapers, but figured we'd wait until the time comes.

Do you have any experience with any of these diapers (or any other cloth diapers)?  I'm always looking for recommendations and tips, so please feel free to share.