Diaper Discussions

Spontaneous Product Review: purEcosheet

2012-01-15T12:57:00.002-05:00

Confession: I love fabric softener and/or dryer sheets. I love the smell. I love the feel of fluffy towels. I think part of my adoration stems from warm, fuzzy memories of my mom giving me clothes straight from the dryer that still smelled like Snuggle :)

Sadly, my love affair with "main stream" dryer sheets and fabric softener had to end when I started cloth diapering my son. Part of it was because I knew that they were bad news for the absorption factor of my stash. The bigger issue was my newly gained knowledge of what is actually in those products. Just a few of the ingredients found in fabric softeners like Downy and Snuggle: alpha-terpineol (causes CNS disorders), benzyl acetate(carcinogen-linked to pancreatic cancer), choloroform(neurotoxic, carcinogenic, anesthetic, ethyl acetate (narcotic), linalool (narcotic). Pretty scary, right?

After learning about the potential poisonous side of fabric softener I went cold turkey. I found that using better detergent like Country Save eliminated some of the static automatically but not completely. I've experimented with Ecover's line of fabric softeners but was not overly impressed. Bayla, our fearless leader here at Soft and Cozy Baby, ordered a product called purEcosheet and I was intrigued.

PurEcosheet bills itself as having "all the advantages of a traditional dryer sheet, with none of the chemicals. The perfume, dye and chemical free way to keep your fabrics soft, natural and free of static". I figure it was worth a shot. Two reusable sheets (good for 100s of loads according to the box) is $14.95 so fairly comparable in price to other options out there. The package gives instruction for how to prep (wash in any load of laundry after their first three uses) and maintenance (wash again every 3 months for best performance). After about a month I can tell you that these really do work! My towels and sheets feel softer and my clothes have less static. I cannot think of a single drawback!

Here are some other great things about purEcosheets:
*unscented
*made in North America
*100% hypoallergenic
*safe for use on infant's sleepwear, cloth diapers, technical fabrics, fine linens and towels
*safe for allergy and eczema and allergy sufferers
*great for baby's sensitive skin
*available from Earth Angels Diaper Company!

Hey Target, What's the deal??

2011-12-28T18:26:00.001-05:00

In case you have not heard, a mother was recently harassed in a Target store while she tried to breastfeed her 4 month old baby under the cover of a baby blanket. Initially an employee of the Texas Target informed her that she should nurse in one of the changing rooms. When she declined another employee told her that she could be cited for indecent exposure. Within minutes word must have spread throughout their staff and several other workers walked by to get a peek and shake their head in disapproval. Disapproval of a woman feeding her baby. Apparently these employees were concerned that her public act of breastfeeding would bother her fellow shoppers. How many customers complained? Not one. After this story had garnered national attention (at least among those concerned with breastfeeding and women's right), Target issued a statement saying that “guests who choose to breastfeed in public areas of the store are welcome to do so without being made to feel uncomfortable".

Unfortunately, I did not find this story very shocking. As a mother that breastfed two babies for a total of 35 months between them I had experienced a fair amount of ignorance and ill treatment. A museum employee once approached me while I nursed my son under a nursing cover and told me that I would be more comfortable in the "mom's lounge" in the bathroom? When I walked into the stale air of the restroom I was greeted by a folding chair. I turned right around and assumed my former position and fed my son. I have several stories like this and they all end in me standing my ground and feeding my baby. Many times I was able to nurse my babies while wearing them and no one was the wiser. Who was I hurting??

What disturbed me most about this incident was reading the comments on articles about the story. Grown men and women referring to breastfeeding as "icky" and "inappropriate". That this woman must have wanted to cause a scene because she refused to be relegated to a stall to feed her baby. Others questioned her fitness as a mother for not pumping bottles in anticipation of his hunger. Still more made rude comments about her body (HELLO, she just had a baby four months before!. I was aghast. Do these same people clutch their pearls when they pass a Victoria's Secret? when they watch cable? Can't they understand that this woman was just trying to provide milk to her baby??

Listen, I know that not everyone can or wants to breastfeed. I feel very strongly that "breast is best" but I know that every mother just wants to raise a healthy baby and has to make her own choices. What I do not understand is why all the moms of the world are not enraged at what happened in Target. Why it is okay for corporate America to use images of breasts to sell clothes, beer, cars and so much more but not okay for me to feed my baby? Nursing moms are not trying to expose themselves, to shock people or to cause a commotion- they just want to feed their babies. They do not want to feed them in a dank public restroom or in the broom closet. Why aren't we more concerned with nurturing these moms so that they can feel more comfortable in their role as a mother? Why are breastfeeding moms being harassed in 21st century America??

My sons are 5 and 2. I have no problem with them witnessing a mother nurse their child. I want them to grow up knowing that breasts serve a biological purpose and are not just there to be ogled. If I am ever blessed with a daughter I want her to know the power of her body and all that it is capable of. I want her to breastfeed confidently without feeling as though she is going to be harassed. I want her to feel as though her rights as a woman are upheld.

Cyber Monday Sales at Earth Angels Diaper Company!

2011-11-28T10:37:00.000-05:00

Cyber Monday is going on now!

Here are just a few of what we've got on sale this Cyber Monday at Earth Angels Diaper Company!

Buy 4 Get 1 Free on Rumparooz!
Tiny Tush Buy 5 Get 1 Free!
GroVia Buy 2 Get 1 Free!
Lollidoos are 40% off!
Econobum Buy 1 Get 1 Free!
EcoPosh are 10% off!
Ergo, Free Infant Insert with Purchase of Carrier!
Boba are 20% off!
Peanut Shell Carriers are 40% off!
Beco Discontinued prints are only $85!

Plus Flat Rate Shipping of just $5 or Free Shipping on Orders over $100!

Cost of Cloth Wipes Solution. Is it worth it?

2011-11-10T11:30:00.001-05:00

I had the opportunity to use Knickernappies’ Baby Bum Drops back in May. I had been making my own solution with water, baby shampoo and oil. I really thought I was saving some money and doing a good thing for my boy’s skin, however, after trying the Baby Bum Drops for two weeks I changed my story.

Now that I have two little ones I can honestly say that one of my favorite things about Baby Bum Drops is how easy they are to use. I really feel like I’m doing laundry 24/7. With cloth diapering, I’m washing diapers every other day now because my daughter is four months old and goodness does she know how to pee! The less work I have to do – like mixing my own wipes solution – the better. I didn’t understand the beauty in the Baby Bum Drops at the time I did my review because I only had my boy. Alas, apparently one little addition does make a huge difference in the amount of time you have during a day.

Let me submit an idea to you: you’re cloth diapering and using clothwipes. You have to wash and dry them. You need to put them together by stuffing them, folding them before you put them on your baby or adding an insert to a shell. Why do everything on your own? You don’t have to. Use Baby Bum Drops and take one more thing off of your “to do” list.

Still not convinced? Here’s the breakdown in price that my hubby figured out (he’s the brilliant numbers man in this household):

Avg. Retail Price of Baby Bum Drops: $13.95

Baby Bum Drops makes 50 8 oz spray bottles

Price of Baby Bum Drops per ounce: 3.5 cents

Avg. Cost of making solution made out of water, shampoo and oil: 2.1 cents per ounce

50 Spray Bottles of Own Solution: $8.40

Price Difference between Baby Bum Drops and the solution I made: $6 per year

If you’re making your own solution as a way of saving money like I was perhaps you should re-evaluate if it’s worth the time and effort. If it’s just one more thing to add on to your day, I think the extra $6 you’re going to spend by buying the Baby Bum Drops is worth it.

Elizabeth (aka Bert) Anderson married her college sweetheart in 2005, and started her journey into motherhood in 2008 with the birth of her son. She started blogging in 2009 as a way to keep track of her thoughts on being a first time mom, especially her struggle with postpartum depression, and as a way of reaching out to other moms who are struggling with the same things. This June, Bert had another first in her motherhood travels - a little girl! Even though she's newly a mother of two, Bert maintains that no matter how many children you have you will always be a "first time mom" because there's a first time for everything! Visit her blog, at FTM. Bert is a contributor for She Thinks Media.

This one time...I thought my nipples were going to fall OFF!

2011-10-25T17:43:00.000-04:00

Breastfeeding, it's not supposed to be painful but is it? Considering that most first time mom's aren't used to nursing a baby, practically around the clock, there certainly is a little room for error and some pain, although not "normal" is to be expected.

I'm an only child and my mother was a La Leche League Leader so when I got pregnant I was going to breastfeed, it just was what you do, for me at least. My mom had some experience, some advice...She said you should sit in the bath, before you deliver, and use a wet washcloth to rough up your nipples. I laughed!

Sure, like that would really work! Ha Ha Ha! Like I'm really going to sit in the bath and use a washcloth to do that! An old wives tale I was sure. Did I do it? Absolutely not. Who listens to their mother anyhow?

So baby came and I was nursing! Yippee, see this was easy, piece of cake. Until....maybe a few days or so into it. I started to feel a burning pain when my daughter nursed, it turned into a searing pain, and then into an eye watering excruciating pain, a very bad I am now totally dreading breastfeeding my new baby pain.

I asked my mom in all seriousness "Is my nipple going to fall off? Can it fall off?" I was really worried. It felt like someone was cutting it off with a razor blade every time my daughter nursed.

Turns out that having a baby gnawing and sucking at the breast takes a little getting used to, a lot of getting used to and there is a learning curve. Sure, baby is getting milk and appears to be nursing just fine but is she latched on properly? It's hard to know, especially since everyone's breasts and nipples are different.

We figured out that she wasn't latching on quite right, not enough of the areola was in her mouth. Using my thumb to gently encourage her to open a little wider seemed to help. It took a couple weeks for the latch to improve and the pain to go away. I'll never know if I had used the washcloth method to rough up the nippples for a couple weeks before the birth if that would have helped but heck, hindsight is 20/20 and when I was in pain I seriously wished I had given it a try.

My advice is...

Make sure you have a good nipple cream. Lansinoh, Earth Mama Angel Baby, Coconut Oil...Something that will help relieve the pain and discomfort you might experience.
Use cloth breast pads.
Ask for help. You may be modest but you just have to get over it. If you're in pain past about day 10 you need to see a lactation consultant, doula or midwife who can take a look and make sure baby is properly latched on.
Stay positive. Once you've got the right latch and you've found your breastfeeding groove, it only takes a little while before you're poor nipples adjust.

Well I hope you're found my post a little helpful. Don't forget, this too shall pass!

Here's a good couple of links if you need to check out latch-on techniques:
http://www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_images_latchon.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/latch-resources.html

Julie, Cloth Diaper Geek

New Product: Charlie's Soap Hardwater Treatment & Laundry Booster!

2011-10-17T12:41:00.000-04:00

Did you know that we carry Charlie's Soap Laundry Treatment and Hardwater Booster? Did you even know that there was such a product? Well we do, and there is!

What exactly is it and how can you tell if you need it or not?

Charlie's Soap Laundry Booster & Hard Water Treatment uses a biodegradable phosphate that leaves no residue on your clothes while softening your wash water.

Certain phosphates can safely eliminate these problems and be environmentally friendly. They're only a problem with overuse.

If hard water is an issue, why not use an environmentally-safe product from Charlie's rather than take a chance with other detergents that put bad things into the environment?

The advantage of using Charlie's Soap with our new Laundry Booster & Hard Water Treatment is that you get the benefit of really clean clothes without a lot of chemicals left behind.

The Charlie's Laundry booster and hard water treatment works hand in hand with our Powder or Liquid to give you the best of both worlds.

How to use it?

Simply add a 1/2 tablespoon per large load with your Charlies Soap detergent! Your laundry will be whiter, brighter, softer and you can rest assured that they'll be clean, even if you have hard water issues.

MSRP, Just $18.99 for enough to treat 80+ large loads

How UnderCover Mama Saved My Baby from Chickenpox!

2011-10-09T08:59:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I noticed 2 itchy spots on my belly and back. I thought it was mosquito bites but had no idea how they got to my belly! Someone suggested it was poison ivy but again, almost impossible. A couple days later it turned into a blistery rash. As we were going out of town the next day, I decided to go to Patient First being that it was quite uncomfortable and I wanted to make sure it wasn't contagious.

The Doctor at Patient First took one look at it and announced, "That is definitely Shingles." Shingles?! I thought that's for old people! She said that she's seen a few young people with it lately. So am I contagious? Only if someone comes into direct contact with the lesions. But I am nursing a baby! She said my baby was likely already exposed so there's nothing I can do about it anyway. Someone can contract chickenpox from shingles, but they wouldn't contract shingles. But my 8 mo old nursling has not had the chickenpox or the vaccine, and he's the only one who has been in direct contact with my belly!

Her only advice was to keep it covered, wash my hands, and take an antiviral. I was taken off work for a week as I'm a midwife and don't want to expose my patients - just in case. I called my pediatrician who wasn't concerned. It's not dangerous for a baby at 8 months to get chicken pox.

So we went on our trip as planned. And my baby never got the chicken pox!

I attribute it to my Undercover Mama! I LOVE the Undercover Mama and wear one all the time! It is great because it just hooks to your regular nursing bra and is much cheaper than a nursing tank. I like that it keeps my belly covered while I'm nursing as I wear a lot of T-shirts. I also wear it to sleep because nursing in bed makes for a cold tummy! I think because my Undercover Mama kept my belly covered all the time, my baby was never exposed to the shingles lesion.

Another great benefit of the Undercover Mama!

Cloth Diapering Boys vs. Girls, How do they compare?

2011-10-08T13:35:00.000-04:00

Guest Post by Bert

You wouldn’t think that there would be that much difference between girls and boys when it comes to cloth diapering. Incorrect. I have learned over the past few weeks that stuffing a nighttime pocket diaper for Lady Bug is completely different than what I had been doing the last two and a half years for Buggie.

You see when little boys pee it fills the front of the diaper. Not rocket science, I know, but I promise you this never occurred to me! That’s the main reason I’m writing this…because I’m thinking that maybe you didn’t realize this either. Anyways, when little girls pee it fills the back of the diaper. And that, my friends, affects how you stuff your pocket diaper if you are using a newborn/doubler sized insert.

With Buggie we stuffed the diaper with the doubler insert in the front. Worked brilliantly with him and as he aged and his bladder grew we simply added more layers. Okay it was only a hemp (I LOVE hemp for a nighttime diaper by the way. It’s not bulky but it holds a lot of urine.) layer but it did the trick for us. So our diaper for Buggie looked like this:

Trust me that did not work for Lady Bug. We’ve had leaky night diapers for about a week and a half. Ben and I could not figure out why this kept happening. We were about ready to contact the diaper manufacturer and ask if other parents had this problem. That’s when it dawned on me. Was the extra insert even getting wet? So I grabbed her sopping wet diaper and pulled out the inserts. Sure enough the back of the diaper was soaked and the front part where the doubler insert was placed was practically dry. No wonder I’ve been changing crib sheets and mattress pads every day this week! It wasn’t the diaper’s fault. It was me! And let me tell you what a relief that was.

For Lady Bug the doubler needs to be placed towards the back of her diaper for optimum pee absorption. Her nighttime diapers need to look like this:

Noticed how the doubler is not in the front? That’s the key my fluffy fanatic mamas! I also will be using a hemp doubler on top of a regular insert. That diaper will look like this:

And as she grows and her bladder grows her nighttime diaper will probably be the same as Buggie’s was. It’ll look like this but with the doubler in the back:

Happy absorbent diapering my friends! I hope this spares you of many late night sheet changes. Don’t worry; I was happy to be the village idiot on this one!

Vinegar, The perfect green cleaning solution!

2011-09-19T11:01:00.002-04:00

Guest Post by Liz

I love vinegar and it’s not only the yummy salt and vinegar chip kind either. (Mmmm and cue mouth watering now.) I love cleaning with vinegar. Let me tell you, if you haven’t started using vinegar as a cleaning agent in your house you’ll soon want to.

It all started when Buggie began crawling on our laminate kitchen floors. He was already into eating solids so our kitchen floor was an absolute sticky mess 90% of the time. I needed to clean it on a weekly basis but the more I thought about it the more anxious I felt about him crawling on the floor that I had just cleaned with store bought solution that was not natural. Then the thought of him using his hands to put everything that was in sight into his mouth made me do a quick search on the ‘net for natural (and cheap!) cleaning products. I happened upon vinegar but a lot of my mommy friends had already been raving about it for months before I too became a convert.

Here are the ways I use vinegar to clean in my house:

Floor washing solution – I’ve already mentioned this but I use it to wash my floors. I simply mix 1 part warm water and 1 part white distilled vinegar into a large spray bottle. Then I simply spray it on the floor and wipe it up with a reusable Swiffer pad and my Swiffer.
Cleaning my dishwasher – I don’t know if this has happened to you or not but sometimes after I’ve run my dishwasher there’s this nasty white chalky film on my dishes. It’s disgusting. Bleh! Even thinking about it makes me want to wash my hands. Well, apparently it’s a calcium build up or something like that (really it doesn’t matter THAT much what it is – it’s gross) and guess what can get rid of it? White distilled vinegar! That’s right. Simply fill a bowl full of white distilled vinegar and place it upright into the dishwasher. Then run your dishwasher for a full cycle. You can do this monthly to help clean your dishwasher of soap buildup and calcium deposits. This can be done with either an empty machine or full of the filmy dishes.
Cleaning my garbage disposal – They get yucky with all that stuff we shove down them. So…I simply pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain and then I add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to that. It makes this lovely bubbling sound. I like to imagine the guck and grime fizzing off. Let it sit for five minutes and then rinse it down with hot water.
Cleaning toys – It’s a safe and non-toxic way to clean toys. Fill the sink with soapy water and add the white distilled vinegar to it. Soak, rinse and that’s it!
Cleaning my beloved coffee maker – The instructions in the manual say to do it! Duh!
Cleaning mirrors, windows and any other kind of glass – I don’t know why but my vinegar solution consisting of water and vinegar is an awesome glass cleaner! No waxy streaks left behind.
Cleaning my stove – I have a smooth top electric range and my little spray bottle does a great job making it sparkling clean!
Cleaning the counters in my kitchen – We eat off of them…enough said there.
Cleaning the funk out of my diapers – Because of its acidity vinegar is a great neutralizing odor eliminator for cloth diapers. I use it in my cold rinse cycle.
Cleaning the microwave and refrigerator – Again, if you eat stuff that touches it why would you not use something natural to clean it?

I hope this sparks the inner June Cleaver in you and you become a vinegar cleaning fool! Do you use vinegar when you clean? If so, what are your uses for it?

Elizabeth (aka Bert) Anderson married her college sweetheart in 2005, and started her journey into motherhood in 2008 with the birth of her son. She started blogging in 2009 as a way to keep track of her thoughts on being a first time mom, especially her struggle with postpartum depression, and as a way of reaching out to other moms who are struggling with the same things. This July, Bert had another first in her motherhood travels - a little girl! Even though she's newly a mother of two, Bert maintains that no matter how many children you have you will always be a "first time mom" because there's a first time for everything! Visit her blog, at FTM. Bert is a contributor for She Thinks Media.

New Product Coming Soon: BumGenius FreeTime Cloth Diaper!

2011-09-17T07:58:00.000-04:00

BumGenius, one of the most innovative cloth diaper manufacturers is a leader in the industry. Constantly innovating and reinventing, they aim to please! Now they're releasing a new product, the BumGenius FreeTime Cloth Diaper!

One step cloth diaper - no stuffing!
Semi-attached inserts dry faster.
3×3 snap down design* adjusts the sizing to fit small, medium and large sizes (approximately 8-35+ pounds).
Trim, snug and comfortable stretchy tabs* provide a custom fit.Available in both snap and hook & loop closure.

Best of all, it takes less time to diaper a baby... we don't think you should have to give up any time in your day.

That's why Freetime has all the features of an all-in-one diaper, with a carefully designed interior that makes one-size diapering simple and fast.

MSRP: $19.95

Coming soon to Earth Angels Diaper Company!

Flip Training Pants and New BumGenius Prints are coming soon!

2011-09-12T15:07:00.002-04:00

Have you heard about the new Flip Training Pants? They are adorable, they look super functional, highly adjustable and comfortable too. Cottonbabies also announced they'll be coming out with some new BumGenius prints as well!

Watch the Youtube Video below for a sneak peek at the new trainers and a glimpse of the new prints!

Is your baby a lazy pooper?

2011-09-02T12:24:00.002-04:00

Guest post by Liz

There are definitely things I thought I would have to do once I had a baby such as: Getting up in the middle of the night multiple times. Doing anything to make the baby happy - singing, bouncing, rocking...Those were the many things I anticipated. I didn't, however, anticipate having to help my baby poop nor did I ever guess that it would become a habit for him. Now, my son is a pooping machine, however that wasn’t the case when he was a baby. The things we do for a kids, right?

Two years ago, my boy went five days (count 'em...FIVE DAYS) without pooping. Now this wouldn’t be of any concern if he hadn’t started solids and was still exclusively breastfed. He wasn't in pain and his stomach wasn't hard. I called my friend, who is a pediatric nurse practioner, for advice on what to do. I tried a myriad of the tricks - juice, movement, massaging his stomach. I was willing to try anything but what would really end up working - The thermometer or worse (da da DA!!!) my finger.

Finally it got down to the wire and I got desperate. So I put on a pair of gloves, Vaselined my pinky up and in it went. Like a little gopher finally escaping its underground home, out it came. I held Buggie's legs up to his chest so he would have a better pushing advantage. Out it all came, gobs and gobs of it. Yuck.

They say that mother's don't mind the smell of their own child's poo. I would have to agree with that. I didn't even notice the smell. I did notice how disgusting the whole event was. When my hubby and I decided we'd get pregnant in2008, I didn't think helping my child go #2 would be one of my caretaking activities.

After that first time, it seemed that Buggie only pooed when I was changing him or taking his temp. He'd be sitting in his Baby Einstein's jumper, grabbing onto the bars, face red and grunting. I would look at him and chuckle thinking, "Finally he's going to do it", only to find that nope, that wasn't the case. This happen many times and then I had an epiphany.

He was lazy. Now don't get me wrong, Buggie was not a lazy baby in other areas of his life. He's always on the go, very social and seemed to press ahead in his development. Except that is when it comes to pushing out his bowels. Yeah, it was not pretty and you bet I'm going to tell him about this later on his life. Perhaps there's a part of him that enjoyed the time spent on his changing table with me. It's a very comfy changing pad, he had a brightly painted fish mobile hanging above him and I'm there talking to him holding his legs up. Who wouldn't want a little help with that?

We talked to Buggie's pediatrician about it at his six month appointment. He agreed with our assessment. Buggie was a lazy pooper. So we were instructed to just let him be. Five days with no pooping? No worries. I mean let's be honest here; I can't go to pre-school or kindergarten holding his legs up in the air so he can relieve himself.

Ah, the joys of parenting.

Elizabeth (aka Bert) Anderson married her college sweetheart in 2005, and started her journey into motherhood in 2008 with the birth of her son. She started blogging in 2009 as a way to keep track of her thoughts on being a first time mom, especially her struggle with postpartum depression, and as a way of reaching out to other moms who are struggling with the same things. This July, Bert had another first in her motherhood travels - a little girl! Even though she's newly a mother of two, Bert maintains that no matter how many children you have you will always be a "first time mom" because there's a first time for everything! Visit her blog, at FTM. Bert is a contributor for She Thinks Media.

Lollidoo Overnight Ecopocket to the rescue!

2011-08-28T10:23:00.000-04:00

All moms suffer from lack of sleep and look forward to a time when their little one will sleep through the night without waking. We dream about it, well actually moms who don't get good sleep don't actually get to dream, but we daydream about dreaming...lol

The heartbreak happens when the time comes, baby sleeps through the whole night, the problem? Well the problem is that you cloth diapers can't make it through the whole night without wicking or leaking and there's nothing like a soaked cloth diaper, sheets and onesie to wake a sleeping babe! I know, it's a sad thing, all you want to do is sleep and finally baby wants to sleep, but you need to find an overnight cloth diapering system that works!

That's where the Lollidoo Overnight Ecopocket comes in! Fleece is a really awesome cloth diapering solution for heavy wetter and overnight and that's why Lollidoo has created a pocket diaper for overnight using it! Fleece repels moisture which keeps the wetness inside the diaper, in the inserts where it belongs.

About Lollidoo:
Made in the USA with recycled and organic fibers, LolliDoo cloth diapers are available in a whole host of styles, beginning with our versatile eco-pocket pocket-style cloth diaper with recycled fleece outer and your choice of certified organic cotton skin liner or recycled StayDry skin liner. eco-pocket diapers are available in Classic or Overnight styles in an array of vibrant colors.

The Overnight Ecopocket comes with THREE absorbent innies/inserts.

Visit Earth Angels Diaper Company today and check out the Ecopocket by Lollidoo! We promise, you won't regret it!

Have your reasons for cloth diapering changed?

2011-08-23T13:14:00.000-04:00

Do you continue to use cloth diapers for the same reason you started?

Families cloth diaper their babies for all sorts of reasons. In the past cloth diapers were the only option, then disposables became the preferred method, and now cloth diapers are making a comeback due to improved design, modern conveniences and the importance now placed on being green.

Depending on your influences, friends, family and online connections cloth diapering may not have even been on your radar. Some look into it because they saw a cute cloth diapered baby on a website or magazine page, perhaps a celebrity used cloth or you've decided you want to save money. Other's consider cloth because they care about the environmental impact and health risks involved in using disposable diapers.

So, we're curious...Do you continue to cloth diaper now for the same reasons as when you first started? Did you start cloth diapering to save money but now you continue because you've become more eco-conscious? Are you addicted to cloth diapers because of the cute factor and the online communities you may have become a part of?

What are your thoughts?

BumGenius, one of the world's most popular cloth diapers, is on SALE!

2011-08-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

If you haven't tried BumGenius One Size pocket diapers then you haven't experienced just how easy cloth diapering can be!

Regularly $17.95each, throughout August you can take advantage of great savings and buy 5 get 1 FREE!

Features:

NEW! Durable snap closures if you prefer snaps over aplix, help keep diapers on older babies.
NEW! Generous sizing accommodates larger babies.
NEW! Easily replaceable elastic keeps your diapers fresh.
3x3 snap down design* adjusts the sizing to fit small, medium and large sizes (approximately 7-35+ pounds).
Trim, snug and comfortable stretchy tabs* provide a custom fit.
Waterproof insert stopper* prevents leaking at the tummy.
Diapers are bundled with two inserts: a newborn insert for newborns and a one-size insert for your older baby.
Wide slot opening makes it easy to stuff and remove insert.
Slot cover* protects your baby from wetness.

All bumGenius One-Size Cloth Diapers include a small, lightweight insert for newborns and a larger one-size insert for your growing baby. When your baby outgrows the newborn insert, it works as an overnight booster or as extra absorbency for heavy wetters.

Visit Earth Angels Diaper Company today!

Benefits of Babywearing for moms and dads!

2011-08-13T08:42:00.000-04:00

Babywearing has been practiced for centuries worldwide. There huge emotional and physical bonds created through babywearing, and the practice of babywearing allows a parent or nurturer to provide for their own needs, the needs of their family, and more while caring for their baby at the same time.

Babywearing is great for daddies too! Often dads are left wondering how they can help and bond with baby, especially when baby is breastfed. Once baby is accustomed to being "worn" you'll find that since daddies who may not have had an active role in feeding baby, if their breastfed, he can now create a close bond with the baby through babywearing.

Here are some other great benefits of babywearing:

The closeness and secure feeling provided by babywearing and keeping your baby close is great for those fussy, hard to console babies who seem like they never want to be put down.
Also perfect for babies or toddlers with special needs.
Great for when your little one is sick and needs constant affection and attention.
Keeps them cozy and allows them to sleep while being worn.
Perfect for breastfeeding. You can often nurse while wearing your baby, depending on the wrap or carrier used.
Ideal for when you have more than one baby, like twins, or when you have other children in the household that require your attention.
Eliminates the need for those bulky baby carseats that you'd otherwise need to place in your shopping cart, stroller, etc.
Many can be used through toddlerhood.
Each provide a variety of styles and methods for use. Different wrap styles, techniques, front carry, back carry, hip carry and more!

The list of benefits to babywearing is endless. It creates and builds a bond with your child while allowing you the freedom and mobility you need to take care of any other day to day activities and family needs.

Earth Angels Diaper Company has a great selection of babywraps, carriers, slings and more! Shop online or visit our store, Soft and Cozy Baby in Baltimore, MD. Not sure which one is right for you? At Soft and Cozy Baby can teach you the different techniques and help you choose the perfect baby carrier to suit your needs!

You use what kind of diapers??!!

2011-08-10T18:36:00.002-04:00

One of the things I love most about cloth diapering (and working at a cloth diaper store) is getting to share my knowledge and passion with others. I love when a fellow mom expresses interest in learning more and gives cloth diapering a try. I get a thrill when a fellow mom notices my son's adorable diaper in the Nordstrom ladies lounge. What better way to spread the word?

That being said, I often run into those that are super skeptical of the whole cloth diaper concept. I hear questions like "You wash that in your washing machine?", "You have to rinse them out?", "You know disposables are so much easier, right??". I wish I knew the perfect way to respond but I am usually at a loss. I generally revert to smiling and conceding that cloth diapering might not be the best choice for everyone... I wish I could express to them how cloth diapering changed the way I look at consumerism, the environment, my budget, my baby's health and so much more!

Have you encountered many nay-sayers?? How do you respond?

Cloth trainers make sense and save cents over disposables!

2011-08-02T13:04:00.000-04:00

Seems like common sense to me, if you want to potty train your little one and get them used to wearing underwear wouldn't you want them to be wearing training pants that look and feel as much like real underwear as possible?

Disposable trainers make no sense at all. Just because of the faux underwear print do they think the child will understand that they're supposed to be "big kid" underwear? No! If your little one is used to disposable diapers then they're going to think disposable trainers are one and the same, after all they look about the same, feel about the same and they can see you getting them in the same plastic packaging from the store, just like baby diapers.

Luckily cloth diaper companies have come to your rescue and provide you with some cloth alternatives to disposable trainers. Trainers that are made to look and feel like real underwear.

One of our favorite brands of cloth trainers is Little Beetle Learners!

Little Beetle Learners provide a wonderful way to welcome your little one into the world of potty learning!

Pull on, snap off. What could be easier?

Two layers of our favorite fair trade organic velour cotton, with a third layer tucked into the wet zone and hidden by some very sporty stitching! Our Learners are 100% natural fibers, that means no PUL or other waterproofing layer. (couple with a wool soaker short for heavy duty needs). Designed to catch an small accident or miss while headed to the potty, the fit is trim yet contemporary. Surprisingly enough, we find these to be almost as absorbent as our diapers and thus can serve double duty if you like (for use as a diaper, add a doubler and wool soaker short)

Not only are cloth trainers much more comfortable for your little one, they save you a ton of money, they're better for the planet and they can be saved and used when your next child is of potty training age!

There will always be regrets...Do all, see all, be all, cherish all.

2011-07-27T14:16:00.000-04:00

Guest post republished from the Cloth Diaper Geek Blog

I know, it's not good or healthy to have regrets in life, but surely it's natural to reflect upon things you wish you'd done differently or more often.

Maybe it's more common to regret things that you know you can't do-over or will not get the opportunity to do again? For example, I'm done having kids and I didn't get into cloth diapering until I had my sons. So I never used cloth diapers on my daughter. Family photos and albums are filled to the brim with her wearing her ugly disposable diapers, ugh.

And babywearing, well I wish I'd done more and known more. There are so many cool carriers and styles. Sometimes you just stick with what you know, I wish I'd branched out more and done more research. With my twins, I honestly had no clue you could babywear with two so I practically wore either of them unless someone was with me like my husband or mother who could wear one while I wore the other.

You can't go back in time and you sure can't beat yourself up over things. "If you knew better you would have done better," isn't that how the saying goes?

All these silly little thoughts, I guess they are sort of regrets, are probably the reason I had baby fever, bad, a couple weeks ago. My irrational mind, and perhaps the minds of others, think of a new baby as a new chance. Now I can cloth diaper again, now I can babywear, have a homebirth, take more photos, cherish them while they're little more than I did before, because now I know how fast time can fly by and how you can't get it back.

My husband is "snipped" so my baby fever was in vain. If we were able to conceive I probably would have been crazy enough to try and convince him. But the above regrets should not be the reasons to have another child, and I knew that.

Certainly there are some who have regrets over more serious issues than cloth diapering and babywearing, but who am I to judge what is and isn't a valid regret. So I'm sharing this brief little story with you to remind you to do all, be all, see all, and cherish all.

They're only little once.

Julie, The Cloth Diaper Geek

Test Drive GroVia and see why more moms love Hybrid Cloth Diapers!

2011-07-19T11:48:00.000-04:00

Hybrid cloth diapers are diapers that can be used various ways. Many contain a onesize outer cover, or shell, that is reusable. They can be used over your favorite fitted, prefold or absorbent cloth soaker pad or insert. In addition to the cloth options, hybrid cloth diapers provide you with the option of using a biodegradable aka "dispsoable" insert as well.

Hybrid diapers are great for traveling, daycares, long car trips or days when you'll be out of the house for an extended period of time. You simply replace the bio insert and put in a new one. As long as the outer shell didn't get soiled then you just reuse it until you feel it's ready for a washing.

The GroVia Hybrid Test Drive Kit is an awesome deal, one that every mama should try.

GroVia Hybrid Test Drive Package is the perfect introuction to our best selling diapering system!
Includes:

50 eco-friendly BioSoaker
2 GroVia Shells

Features:

Soft Cloth Outer Shell, fits 8-35lbs
Fragrance & Dye Free
Plastic & Chlorine Free
Compost, dispose or flush

Use:
Simply lay/spread your BioSoaker® in your GroVia Shell or favorite diaper cover and fasten on baby. Use sticky tabs to adhere to cotton underwear as trainers!

Visit Earth Angels Diaper Co today for a great selection of cloth diapers and natural parenting accessories!

Winner of the Knickernappies OS Pimp Your Stash Giveaway is....Patty (Patricia M)!

2011-07-18T10:12:00.000-04:00

Thanks for entering our Pimp Your Stash cloth diaper giveaway! We were super excited for Knickernappies to sponsor and give one lucky mama a chance to win one of their award winning OS Pocket Diapers!

Random.org did the honors and chose lucky entry #101 as the winner! Entry 101 belongs to Patty, aka Patricia M! Patty we can't seem to find your email address, please contact us to claim your prize!

Thank you to everyone for entering. Please continue to follow the blog for more cloth diapering info and to enter upcoming giveaways!

Pimp Your Stash with a Knickernappies Onesize Pocket Diaper! Giveaway CLOSED

2011-07-05T16:38:00.003-04:00

It's been a while, but now we're ready to get back into the swing of things! We're kicking back off our Pimp Your Stash Giveaways with a great one!

This week's Pimp Your Stash Winner will have their stash pimped by Knickernappies!

One lucky mama will win a Knickernappies Onesize Cloth Diaper in the color of their choice!

These diapers are just amazing and if you haven't already got one then this is your chance. The side snaps are awesome and they provide a comfortable yet trim fit.

Mandatory First Entry
This weeks mandatory task for your first entry is to visit Earth Angels Diaper Co and comment with a link to what item you'd like to purchase besides a Knickernappies Diaper.

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-This contest runs until Wednesday July 15, 2011 @ 11:59pm EST.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* (1) Follow this Blog, Diaper Discussions
* (1) Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* (1) Become a FAN of Knickernappies on FaceBook
* (1) Follow the Knickernappies Blog
* (1) Subscribe to our Newsletter
* (1) Follow Us on Twitter
* (3) Upload a photo of your little one in a cloth diaper to our FaceBook Wall during the week of this giveaway
* (1) Place the DiaperDiscussions Banner on your site or Blog
* (3) Tweet About the Giveaway: Enter to win a @Knickernappies OS Pocket Diaper from the Diaper Discussions Blog #clothdiapers!--->http://ow.ly/5xjfB (You may tweet 1x per day)
* (3) Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it if possible).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

*Thanks to Knickernappies for sponsoring this great giveaway and for providing the winners prize!

Good Luck!!

Test the cloth diapering waters with Econobum!

2011-06-27T09:29:00.000-04:00

Have you checked out the various packages offered by Econobum? They're perfect for those who are on the fence about cloth diapering or using prefolds and want to give it a try without a huge investment.

Prefolds and covers are the most economical and forgiving method of cloth diapering. You don't have to worry about ruining an expensive pocket diaper and you can purchase a kit that will allow you to cloth diaper for a full day for the same cost as purchasing just 2-3 pocket diapers.

Another great perk about the Econobum system is that their covers are a a one-size fits all. Generally speaking, you should be able to use the same covers from birth through potty training.

You can purchase a Single Econobum prefold and cover for $9.95, an Econobum 3-Pack for $11.95 which includes three prefolds and one cover, or a Full Econobum Kit for $49.95 which contains twelve prefolds and three covers.

Econobums are also great for use as gifts. You might want to give the gift of cloth diapers to an expecting mom and Econobum has three choices, one for anyone's budget.

Visit Earth Angels Diaper Co. today and check out our great selection of cloth diapers and accessories plus Flat Rate Shipping of $5.00 on any size order.

How to use and store cloth wipes!

2011-06-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

Guest Post by Laura

I made the choice to start using cloth wipes about 6 weeks after I started cloth diapering. I was sick of sorting the disposable wipes out from the diaper pail before throwing them into the wash, and I just didn’t want a small wastebasket sitting next to our diaper pail with dirty wipes in it.

When you’re choosing to start out using cloth wipes, you should consider buying a couple packs of baby washcloths at your local grocery store. They cost about $4-6 a dozen, and cloth wipes are usually around $2 a piece. It’s worth trying the washcloths because if you don’t like it in the end, you’re not out a lot of money. I purchased 20 washcloths. For us, that’s almost enough for 2 days with 2 of our girls wearing diapers. *Some find that the cotton terry washcloths are too rough, in this case you can purchase cloth wipes made of flannel, cotton or velour from a cloth diaper retailer.

There are 2 methods of using cloth wipes: the dry method and the wet method. With the dry method, your wipe solution (or water) is placed inside a spray bottle and you spray your baby’s bottom and wipe it up with a dry wipe.

With the wet method, you mix your wipe solution in a bowl or pitcher, submerge your cloth wipes and wring them out and store them, wet, in a wipes container until use.

You can buy a pre-made cloth wipe solution, or you can make your own at home. I have tried several homemade wipes solutions and I will share with you my favorite. I don’t like to put any soaps in my wipe solutions because I am terrified that it will cause buildup on my cloth diapers and they will start to have leaking issues. So this one is my favorite:

~2 cups hot water

~1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel

~2 Drops Tea tree oil

~1-2 drops lavender oil

To store my cloth wipes, I use a plastic Huggies brand wipes container. It holds about 16-18 of my cloth wipes.

I also use an accordion style fold. (see photos above) To achieve the accordion fold, place one wipe on top of a flat surface, place a second wipe on top of the first wipe, but only covering half of the first wipe. Next, fold the other half of the first wipe (that is not covered by the second wipe) over top of the first wipe. Place a wipe on top of the top portion of the first wipe and continue on until you’ve used up all of your wipes. Using this method ensures that when I pull one wipe out, another one pops up. It’s much easier to use that way. You can also store them folded or stored flat until use.

It takes a little bit of trial and error to find what works best for you, but once you start you’ll find using cloth wipes is much easier than disposable if you’re already cloth diapering!

Laura’s Bio: Laura is a wife and stay-at-home mother to her 3 daughters. She enjoys cloth diapering, bike riding, reading, walking, and arts & crafts. You can read more about Laura on her blog www.ChaloobyBaby.blogspot.com

Cute Cloth Diaper Storage Solutions!

2011-06-10T20:56:00.000-04:00

Recently we asked our FaceBook Fans to share photos of their cloth diaper stashes and storage. We had so much fun checking out what everyone had and how they stored their diapers. One fans photos stuck out in particular.

April G shared this adorable photo of her child's room and where she stores her cloth diapers. Her photo serves as proof that you don't need an extra large closet or bulky dresser, diapers don't have to be labeled or sorted perfectly. Cube storage like April's with cubbies and pull out totes work perfectly for cloth diaper storage, toys and other miscellaneous baby items.

So what do you think? Isn't April's stash storage super cute? And how do you store your diapers? We'd love to read your comments.

Save BIG with GroVia's Gro-To-Go Summer Kit! June 1-30, 2011

2011-06-04T07:00:00.002-04:00

If you love GroVia cloth diapers then you don't want to pass up this great summer sale event! From June 1-30 you can purchase the GroVia Gro-To-Go Summer Kit!

(3) GroVia Hybrid Shells
(50) BioSoakers
(3) Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent Samples

Just $49.99 at Earth Angels Diaper Company!

GroVia's One Size Cloth Diaper shells are a super versatile cloth diapering system that works with either reusable cloth Boosters/Soaker pads or GroVia's BioSoakers.

Perfect for traveling, for caregivers, as a backup for cloth diapering emergencies or just when you wont have easy access to laundry facilities.

Fluff Stash for iPhone! Finally a Cloth Diaper Addicts iPhone app!

2011-05-25T12:16:00.002-04:00

Fluff Stash
The World’s First Cloth Diaper Addicts iPhone App
Scheduled to hit the App Store today!
Official Press Release

Introducing the very first of its kind, Fluff Stash, an iPhone app just for cloth diaper fanatics! In this easy to use and navigate app you’ll have so much fun snapping pics of all your diapers, categorizing them by brand, color, size, style and more! Sort, organize, and share your stash with the click of a button.

We know just how addicted cloth diapering moms are, not just to their cloth diapers, but to their smartphones and their social networks. That’s why we’re giving you the best of all your favorite things by allowing you to satisfy your craving to talk about cloth, use your phone, and share photos of your entire stash all in one convenient place!

What’s the best part?

It’s totally affordable, just .99 and it’s easy to use! No gimmicks, finally an app that you can use on a daily basis for practical or totally impractical reasons, you decide!

Download Fluff Stash from the App Store today and take your cloth diaper addiction to a whole new level!

Make sure you also “LIKE” Fluff Stash on Facebook where you can connect with other Fluff Stash users, ask questions, participate in promotions and more!

Like what you’re reading?

We need your help spreading the word about this new app! Please copy & paste this press release and post it to your blogs, facebook, twitter, message boards and more! Don’t keep this exciting news to yourself, the more who use it the more fun we all can have!

How to Pack a Cloth Diaper Diaper Bag!

2011-05-23T16:47:00.000-04:00

Guest Post by Samantha

One of the biggest fears when starting in the world of cloth diapers is taking cloth diapers on the go. As a busy mommy-on-the-go, I know how important it is to keep things simple and quick so having a diaper bag at the ready is at the top of my list. Apart from your normal diaper bag necessities (whatever those are to your day to day), here are some things to include in the bag when you cloth diaper:

Diapers!

Obviously, as any mom knows, it’s essential to bring some diapers whenever you take baby out. With that in mind, I personally pack some of my cutest prints, but the diaper selection is entirely up to you! I like to consider the trip I’m taking for the day, mentally calculate how many diapers I think baby will need, and ALWAYS pack one more than I actually think. (My luck usually lands on using all of those diapers!)

For shorter trips (i.e. grocery store, quick errand run, short playdate), I pack about 2-3 diapers (including my extra). For longer trips (i.e. outlet mall shopping, days at the zoo, day trips to the grandparents), I pack 4-5 diapers. Again, this depends on your outing as well as your baby! If you find that your diaper bag is considerably full of diapers (leaving room for not much else), consider bringing prefolds with covers or something like the Flipsystem where you bring inserts with perhaps one or two covers. This can lighten your load while also still adequately covering your baby’s bum!

A wet bag for your diapers!

One of my favorite cloth diaper must-haves is a wet bag. I purchased one from a local work-at-home mom and picked out an adorable print! You are welcome to order one from anywhere, but I find this to be an essential item for the cloth diaper diaper bag. When going to change your baby while out and about, you want a wet bag to store all the soiled cloth AND something that will protect it from the other things in your bag – a wet bag does just that. They have a great lining inside and usually zip up which keeps the wetness & smells out of your way!

Cloth wipes & storage
This step and the next depend entirely on your way of cloth diapering. Some moms will only use cloth diapers, while others will use cloth diapers and wipes. I fall into the second category and so having cloth wipes in my diaper bag is a must. I grab a stack of fresh cloth wipes to take with me. I usually take between 5 and 6 to accommodate messy diapers and any other quick wiping I may need to do while we’re out. I find that storing them in a plastic wipes case (trial-size) works as does a reusuable snack sack or resealable plastic baggie. This depends entirely on your own preference. Either way, be sure to grab some cloth wipes!

Cloth wipes solution

Finally, a cloth wipes solution is not always a necessity. Sometimes, simple water from the sink will do. However, I usually have some on hand already (made up from that morning) and so I’m inclined to grab that bottle and store it in a side pocket. This way, I’m still getting that great soft texture for baby’s bottom and I don’t need to worry about finding water if we’re out somewhere (like at the park or forest preserve).

Packing a cloth diaper diaper bag takes just about as much times as a regular diaper bag. It may seem daunting at first, but you will get the hang of it!

Remember to pack any of the other essentials you may need for your trip, such as extra outfits or onesies, snacks, bottles/water/formula if needed, sippy cup, changing pad, bibs, etc. Be sure to account for more than one child also (especially in those instances where you have more than one in diapers at the same time!) Keep the bag organized and simple with extra room. You never know when you’ll need that little bit of extra space and it makes finding things much easier!

Remembering these four essentials can make packing the cloth diaper diaper bag a breeze!

My packed bag – ready for adventures!

My finished bag includes 3 diapers, cloth wipes in plastic case storage, 1 wetbag, 1 outfit, changing pad, wipes solution, lipstick, small First Aid kit, crayons for my oldest, an extra pacifier and room to grow!

I am happily very close to potty-training with my oldest and so thankfully, packing for one bottom nowadays.

By: Samantha Schultz

I am a mostly SAHM of two boys, Charlie (28 months) and Jack (4 months). I enjoy making the most of my family scrapbook online at The Peanuts Gang (www.thepeanutsgang.com) and sharing our adventures with the world!

cloth wipes: all the cool people are using them

2011-04-04T16:34:00.000-04:00

When I first ventured into the world of cloth diapering I was hesitant about a lot of factors: washing, leakage, practicality etc. I was ultimately won over by the environmental impact of disposables AND their impact on my wallet. Why then was I not as excited to jump on the cloth wipe band wagon? For some reason I held onto that last vestige of disposable diapering. I was happy to ditch the paper diapers but I felt like the wipes practical and inexpensive enough to keep using them. I was so wrong!

After about a month of cloth diapering I realized the disposable wipes were cramping my style. First, I discovered how flimsy they were and just how many I needed to clean up an atomic #2 diaper. Second, I could no longer just wrap them up in the disposable diaper and throw them out (ohhhhhhhhh the landfills........). It actually ended up being MORE work to separate them out without making a mess. I ended up banishing disposable wipes from my house (I do keep them in the car for emergencies!) and making an effort to use the cloth option.

For those that are skeptical (or scared) here is "Cloth Wipes 101".
Lots of cloth diaper makers have gotten in on the cloth wipe action: BumGenius, Fuzzi Bunz, Kissaluvs, the list goes on and on. You can also use washcloths (baby or otherwise- the baby ones tend to be a little softer on the bum), pieces of old textiles- you get the picture. You can use them dry with a spray bottle, wet with plain ol' water, or wet with a diaper wipe solution. There is no wrong way- just what you find that works best for you.

Here is how I "get my wipe on":

I use Thirsties Fab Wipes (and let me tell you, they ARE fab!

For a solution I use Punkin Butt Organic Wipe Concentrate:

I love that one little bottle makes 50 batches!!!

I use a plastic wipes container but any tupperware (or even a wipe warmer) will do. I use an old Huggies tub because I like the opening better for "pop-up-ability". I won't include a picture of that because I bet our readers are super smart and know what one looks like ;)

Now here is where I get kind of fancy. I like my wipes to pop out of the tub like a disposable wipe would. Here is how I make that happen:

Step 1: Lay out the first wipe and put the second wipe halfway over it.

Step 2: Fold one wipe over the other.

Step 3: Lay another wipe over the side you just folded over.

Step 4: Fold the opposite side over the cloth you just laid down.

Continue folding this away until you have used the desired number of wipes and place them in your wipe container. Next, add your wipe solution to one cup of boiled water and pour over the wipes. You're done!! Once you get the hang of folding the wipes this will go a lot faster :) If the folding is not your think you can skip this step. Other mamas prefer to wet wipes as needed or just keep a spray bottle with water or wipe solution on hand to spray dirty bottoms. No matter which way you do it cloth wipes saves you money AND benefits the earth!

Breastfeeding Necessities

2011-03-16T22:59:00.002-04:00

My son is now 8 weeks old and I am LOVING breastfeeding my second time around! Breastfeeding should be simple, right. Just you and the baby. No bits and pieces to take along or wash. You're ready to go whenever baby needs with no cleanup required (except for the milk mouth)!

That is true and makes breastfeeding so much nicer than bottle feeding with all its included preparation and clean-up. But I want to share some of the gadgets that I've been using which is turning breastfeeding into almost as much of an obsession as cloth diapering! I just love all these things that I've found to make the experience that much more exciting!

The first is the Undercover Mama. This awesome invention keeps your belly covered while you nurse. Instead of buying an expensive nursing tank or forfeiting your favorite bra, you can keep your bra and save money with this product. It attaches to your own bra and drops down when you release the clasp on your bra! I am living in it these days! I wear it to bed too because my belly always gets cold when I'm nursing in bed at night!

Next is the Milkies Milk Saver. This thing is ingenious. All you can think about when you take off your soaking breast pads is how much milk was wasted that is now going to be washed out. Especially when you need to pump and every drop counts! It is a little large and I would love one that I could wear all day long, but it's got a great design. You put it in your bra on the other side than you're nursing on. And it catches all the milk with let-down. I once collected 2 oz using this! It even comes with a heavy-duty case that acts as a stand to hold it upright.

My last ingenious invention is Milk Trays . With my first child, I couldn't believe how expensive those bags are to freeze breastmilk in. Were they really necessary? What's wrong with plain old freezer bags? Of course no one had an answer so I used them - protecting my precious breastmilk for my baby. I'd hate for it to get ruined or freezer burned. Then I saw Milk Trays. They are specially designed, made of medical grade plastic, with 1 oz compartments. You pour the milk into the compartments from the bottle that you pump into. Then you freeze it. When they're frozen, you pop out the one-ounce sticks and store them in a regular freezer bag. Date the bag by the week so you use up old milk first. To defrost just put as many sticks as needed into a bottle and defrost in warm water like you normally would. This way you save every drop and don't defrost more than you need and have to throw it away. Then just rinse out the trays and reuse!

Of course, I would be remiss if I failed to mention My Brest Friend as a true nursing necessity. It provides unbelievable support and comfort, even for the new breastfeeding mama with a tiny newborn. At that early stage you truly don't have enough hands and support to keep everything in place. This pillow wraps around your body and is very adjustable both in how high or low you set it and in how snug it fits around your belly. It has a flat surface so the baby doesn't roll in to you and supports your arms and back. The great thing I've found, even with nursing an older (relatively-speaking) baby, is that it comes in very handy when I'm nursing on one side and pumping on the other. I do that to maximize my pumping, which I need to do for work. The pillow completely supports the baby, so I don't need to use 2 hands to hold him, and I can hold the pump and usually still read a book or type on my laptop. For the modern woman!
My Brest Friend comes in super pattern choices, offers a plush deluxe cover option, has slipcovers that can be switched out, and even has a Twin Pillow!

Speaking of the modern breastfeeding mama, check out the Easy Expression by Medela. It comes as a halter or bustier and holds your pump in place so you're hands-free and can get things done! Truly vital if you're pumping at work. I have even heard first-hand of some women who pump in the car on their long commute. Have to be hands-free for that!

Happy Breastfeeding!

2011-03-04T09:23:00.002-05:00

Cat Wearing

One day I was doing my helpful thing at our retail store when an older local lady came in, looking bewildered. She was all the stereotypes of “crazy cat lady” that one can think of, so I was ready for an interesting conversation. She was looking for a baby carrier- a cheap one to wear on the chest, she stressed. I showed her our Moby Wrap and she was instantly overwhelmed. So I showed her the Baby K’tan as the easier alternative, and she said “I’m just worried that her claws will snag that fabric.” Claws, you say? It turned out that she had an ailing cat at home that she would like to wear, because kitty didn’t like to be away from her and could not go up and down stairs anymore.

Ah! Considering that I am no stranger to wearing cats, I indulged her request. I told her to go to any thrift store and pick up a Baby Bjorn or Infantino, as it would be perfect for her to wear her invalid cat. I printed out some examples of a “crotch dangler” and sent her on her way. I love Baltimore!

A few weeks later, Cat Lady stopped by again…with the little black cat strapped to her chest facing out in an old blue and plaid Baby Bjorn, cost $5! She was elated, and the cat was either quite comfortable and happy, or half dead. Another satisfied customer!

And that is the only time I will ever recommend a Baby Bjorn! Why? Because there are hundreds of more supportive and more versatile-not to mention more stylish-baby carriers on the market, for about the same price.

The Baby Bjorn only allows parents to wear their babies on the front, to a maximum weight of about 20 pounds. Many folks won’t even make it to that weight limit before giving up on babywearing because of the Bjorn’s design, which does not distribute baby’s weight comfortably for parent OR baby.

Let’s compare the Bjorn with one of our most popular (and my favorite) soft structured carriers, the Ergo Baby.

The Ergo has a wide, padded waist strap that effectively spreads almost all of baby’s weight onto the hips, which as all mothers know, are designed to bear lots of weight. The Bjorn “hangs” all of baby’s weight on the adult’s trapezius muscles, which are not designed to bear any weight at all.

Furthermore, the Ergo places baby in a comfortable “seated” position, spreading their legs in an ergonomic position (hence, “Ergo”) that also helps distribute baby’s weight evenly onto your hips. The Bjorn causes all of baby’s weight to “hang” from a small strip of fabric between baby’s legs, causing all of baby’s weight to press down on the wearer’s tender shoulder muscles. The small seat on the Bjorn also concentrates all of baby’s weight in that small, delicate crotch area, which is thought to cause spine and genital issues.

The third feature that makes the Ergo and other similar soft structured carriers a much more practical choice than the Bjorn is the ability to wear your child on your back. This allows you to carry heavier children (up to 45 lbs!) for much longer periods of time, as well as be able to do housework or other tasks that require your arms. I have carried a 40-lb five-year-old on my back for several hours in my Ergo with no difficulty or pain at all!

The only thing that the Ergo cannot do that a Baby Bjorn does is allow baby to face outward, but this is not a design flaw. The “facing out” position does not distribute baby’s weight or position baby’s spine ergonomically, so the “facing out” position is not optimal for long periods of comfortable babywearing. Furthermore, it is thought that babies can get stressed and overstimulated if facing out for long periods of time- they can’t see their caregiver or turn away from the stimulating outside world if they need to. But for those who have babies who do like to see what’s going on, there are carriers like the Beco Gemini, FreeHand, and Pikkolo. These carriers are a great cross between the Bjorn and a standard soft structured carrier like the Ergo- they have a supportive waist strap AND allow baby to be worn facing in, facing out, and on your back!

Newborn Picks

2011-02-16T23:01:00.005-05:00

So I am LOVING cloth diapering a newborn. He is now 4 weeks old. I have a lot of my first son's diapers saved but we started with a diaper service so the diapers I had are still too big on my newbie! Plus there are so many fun diapers out there that I needed to try! I consider him a business expense - to try out all my new products!

So Netanel was born Jan 17 weighing in at 7 lb 4 oz - perfect size! But he was also too small for some of the diapers that should fit a newborn. Plus we had the umbilical cord issue - what would fold down and not rub on it. So I'll share my faves!

Lil Joeys are awesome for newborns! They're a bit pricey, I agree. But they really fit perfectly. They're designed for 5-12 lb. We used them from the beginning, as they have a fold down for the umbilical cord. Plus they still fit great a month later, and I except to get at least another month or so use out of them. To top it all off, my 2 year old's favorite diaper is Rumparooz Ladder 6 - so now he has matching diapers with his little brother!

Tini Fits are also designed to fit 5-12 lb. They don't have the umbilical cut out and they were a bit big initially, but we love them now, at 4 weeks. Plus they're stuffable like a pocket!

FuzziBunz Perfect Size in XSmall is another great fit. I love pocket diapers in general as you can stuff them with extra absorbancy, which I've needed to do. Plus if you snap them all the way to the center, at the smallest setting, it pulls down the middle to clear the umbilical cord.

Kissaluvs fitteds in a Size 0 are a well-known favorite for newborns. They fit great, snap down in front and are trim. To go over it I used a Thirsties XSmall cover which fits great. I started with a Bummis Newborn Super Brite but he's basically outgrown that by now - except for very trim diapers. But it doesn't work over prefolds anymore.

Prefolds are also a great newborn option. They're economical, absorbant, and you can customize the fit. They are a bit bulky but fit fine under a onesie or stretchie. Babies look cute with a bubble butt! For overnight diaper changes I like Bummis Whisper Pants - you dont have to deal with pinching and tucking the prefold into a cover. They're not cute, but when you're bleary-eyed in the middle of the night, you just pull it up and you're done!

bumGenius XS All-In-One are also a great, easy newborn diaper option.

And coming soon are GroVia's newborn organic All-In-Ones! Can't wait to try it!

What's your favorite newborn diaper??
Check out our Newborn Diaper page!

Snow makes me love cloth even more...

2011-01-27T12:07:00.002-05:00

Everyone that knows me knows of my love for cloth diapers. As much as I love CDing I sometimes forget the everyday benefits.

For example, this is what I woke up to this morning:

The Baltimore area received around 10 inches of snow between yesterday afternoon and this morning. My car is covered, my sidewalk is covered and the snowplows did only a mediocre job on my street.

The good news is that I have plenty of food and DIAPERS! I never have to worry about being snowed in and running out of diapers or wipes! If I were to run out (which is highly doubtful!) I could just throw them in the wash and be set! I forgot how AWESOME that is! I was scrolling through Facebook this morning and noticed that a number of fellow moms were worried about how they would get to the store to buy more disposable diapers and wipes. Not me! I have a nice fresh stack of fluff waiting for us.

What do you love most about cloth diapering? Is it convenience? cuteness? money savings? environmental friendliness?

Grand Re-Opening

2011-01-26T16:08:00.004-05:00

Hi! I'm Bayla and recently purchased Earth Angels Diaper Co and Diaper Discussions from Julie, who you all know and love! This is my second cloth diaper store and we are located in Baltimore, MD. I'm so excited to bring a TON of new products to EADC. We will be sharing why we love the products we carry and which ones are appropriate for different stages in your family's life. Please contact us with questions, suggestions, or concerns you might have. I'm so excited to reach out and get to know more cloth diapering families! We're here to help you through your journey!

In honor of our Grand Re-Opening, we are offering a 10% off discount (certain exclusions apply)! Use code GRANDOPEN. Plus, we will be giving out random gifts with some orders!

So stop by the new and improved Earth Angels Diaper Co today and see all the new and exciting products we have in stock and ready to ship!

New Baby! New Beginning!

2011-01-19T12:16:00.002-05:00

We just had our second baby Monday morning! No name yet! He weighed 7 lb 4 oz and was born in the water, assisted by my midwife partner (I'm also a midwife). Beginning this new journey with new knowledge of fun baby and mama products is super exciting! I hope to share some of my experiences with you. Postings are going to be sporatic with a new baby but I think I'll actually have more time during my babymoon than I normally do! He sleeps a lot right now, and I know, I should be too!

The first thing you need after giving birth is Mama Pads! I've been using Glad Rags for years now, but after taking off 10 months for a pregnancy and using the paper ones in the hospital, I'm glad to be back to cloth pads!

When your bottom is sore and needs extra TLC, I can't imagine using the paper, itchy, sticky pads. Cloth pads are much gentler and softer. And prettier! Think of it as pampering yourself too! You've got these adorable diapers for your baby's bottom; why not have fun stuff for yourself!

Glad Rags come in fun patterns and prints. Plus they're stuffable so you can add extra absorbancy or decrease how thick they are, depending on your flow. They come in Pantiliners, Day Pads, and Night Pads. The Night Pads are extra long and wide and allow for more absorbancy - perfect for postpartum! The pads also come in 1 packs or 3 packs. http://www.earthangelsdiaperco.com/clothdiapers_9/For-Mama.htm

We also carry FuzziBunz Comfort Pads. They have a PUL daisy-print backing and a soft fleece liner.

http://www.earthangelsdiaperco.com/diapering_347/Fuzzi-Bunz-Comfort-Pads.htm

And then, think of all the money you'll save! These aren't newborn diapers that you'll grow out of and never need again! You will likely use these (and love them!) for years to come! Never send someone to the store in the middle of the night to buy you more pads or tampons!

How to wash: Well now, I just throw them in with my diapers! Pre-husband and child, I used them too and would wash them separately. They recommend soaking them to prevent staining. But since I got married, I didnt think my husband wanted to walk into the bathroom and see a bowl of soaking pads! So I stopped soaking them. They might be a little stained, but they're dark and it doesn't bother me anyway! You can either wash them separately or with your dark laundry. Never had anything get ruined because of it.

Post here if you use cloth pads and what you like about them!

Upcoming posts - newborn cloth diapers, breastfeeding, newborn support group!

Thirsties BRAND NEW Duo Fab Fitted!

2011-01-05T22:05:00.003-05:00

We've been waiting a LONG time for these diapers to make their debut and now they're here!

Thirsties has developed the Duo - 2 size system which I love! Most one-size diapers truly don't fit a newborn or a potty-trainer. So Thirsties developed a 2 size system; Size One starts at 6 pounds - truly a newborn, unlike One-Size diapers which start around 8 pounds. Size Two is 18-40 lbs. Most children are potty-trained by then!

So, introducing the Duo Fab Fitted! A 2 size fitted that works superbly with the 2 size Duo Wrap, or Thirsties original cover. Plus the colors coordinate with the Duo Wraps and are adorable! Don't even want to cover those up!

Super Absorbancy! These fitteds hold up to 18 oz of fluid! That's 7 times their weight! Great for even a heavy wetter.

The Duo Fitted has a sleeve design for extra stuffing if necessary and faster drying.

And it's available in 6 adorable colors and Velcro or Snaps!

For more information, check them out here! http://www.earthangelsdiaperco.com/diapering_380/Thirsties-Duo-Fab-Fitted.htm

25% Year End Clearance Sale on Thirsties, FuzziBunz, Moby, Diva Cup and more!

2010-12-23T11:07:00.000-05:00

25% off Year End Sale!

With the new year come new changes, goals and resolutions! We've got some big things in the works for Earth Angels Diaper Company and as a result we're clearing out our in-stock inventory to make room for all new inventory!

We've moved our in-stock merchandise over to our Hyena Cart location for easy access. Everything has been discounted 25% off regular prices!

Some of our discounted in-stock brands include:

Charlies Soap
Rockin Green
FuzziBunz
Flip
Thirsties
Knickernappies
Wahmies
Diva Cup and more!

Thanks for being a Fan of Earth Angels Diaper Co. I hope everyone's having a wonderful Holiday season so far, and cheers to a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

*To take advantage of this sale opportunity please make sure to check out our Hyena Cart shop!

Top 10 Reasons to buy cloth diapers as gifts!

2010-12-01T10:51:00.004-05:00

From the Knickernappies Blog

1. Because they're cute and they come in so many different styles and prints!

2. Because they save you money, can be reused for future children and can even be resold when you're through with them!

3. Because it's fun getting other mamas addicted to cloth and it gives you another excuse to buy fluff!

4. Because they save you from all those late night diaper runs.

5. Because babies don't need another plastic toy, terry cloth bathrobe, or hooded towel that they'll never wear.

6. Because they're better for baby and more comfortable than disposables.

7. Because they're better for the environment. For every cloth diaper changed you've saved a disposable from the landfill.

8. Because they make changing dirty diapers so much more fun!

9. Because it's fun seeing the looks on peoples faces when they see what "modern" cloth diapers look like!

10. Because nearly all cloth diapers are sold by wahm companies and were invented by mommy inventors and it's great to support family owned and operated businesses!

*Can you think of additional reasons why cloth diapers make great gifts? Leave a comment here or on Knickernappies FaceBook Page!

Are you participating in the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt?

2010-11-10T07:59:00.000-05:00

The 11th Annual Great Cloth Diaper Hunt is going on right now!

The 11th Annual Great Cloth Diaper Hunt has started and is going on now through Nov 30th. Hundreds of stores have hidden the coveted "diaper icon" and only by solving their riddles and finding the clues will you be led to the prize!

Earth Angels Diaper Co. is sponsoring as well. Don't forget that you can also save 10% at EADC with the GCDH Discount Code, take advantage of FREE USA SHIPPING OVER $25 and much more!

What do you need to know about the hunt?

Hunting is open between Nov 1-30, 2010
It is a virtual scavenger hunt where you explore sponsors site to find a hidden icon and then click on them to record your progress.
You must REGISTER to hunt.
Registrants receive a Discount Code that is worth valuable discounts at hundreds of retailers.
There are 71 random prize drawings!
One Ultimate Grand Prize worth over $500.00!
There are Hint Forums where you can look for help if you're having trouble solving the clues and can't find the hidden icon.
You can keep track of your progress by clicking HERE.

So what are you waiting for? Let the hunt begin!

Have you ever had trouble with cloth diapering? Knickernappies needs your help!

2010-10-28T14:11:00.001-04:00

From the Knickernappies Blog

We're super excited to kick off our "Dirt on Diapering" Cloth Diaper Survey! We want to know what the most common reasons are for why families choose not to cloth diaper full-time, why they take breaks, why they quit for good, or just plain feel like throwing in the towel.

The more you share the more you help us help future cloth diaper users. From what types of diapers you prefer, how you got started, to what kind of detergents you use...We want to know it all!

What else? Just for participating in our quick little survey you are entered into a drawing for great prizes. There are also prizes for those who refer the most participants so make sure to grab the code for our survey graphic over on the left side of this blog and start sharing it with your friends. Make sure they tell us you sent them!

So, are you ready to take the survey? Click here >THE DIRT ON DIAPERING SURVEY<

Thanks!
The Knickernappies Team

Winner of the Flings Reusable Pop-Up Recycling Bins is....Jen & Andy!

2010-10-13T07:10:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Jen & Andy, lucky comment #15 was chosen by random.org as the winner of the Flings Reusable Pop-Up bins! A big thank you to all who entered and to Flings for sponsoring this great giveaway and for providing the product for my review, it was definitely a lifesaver on our camping trip and will now be a must-have supply for future trips!

Jen & Andy, please contact me asap with your details and to claim your prize!

Thanks!

Want to try Flings?

Check out their Halloween special! Get (2) Flings Bins for just a PENNY!

Flings is giving away 2 Flings Halloween bins for just a penny! Make your Halloween party the neatest and most convenient ever! Just pay regular shipping and handling of $5.

Take a picture of the bin at your party (perhaps with you and your friends in costume), upload it to your Facebook page, link it to us, and we'll refund your shipping and handling onto your credit card. It's a scary good deal! Check out the Flings site for more details!

Flings Pop-Up Trash & Recycling Bins Review & Giveaway! Ends 10-11-10

2010-10-03T00:01:00.001-04:00

My Review of the Flings Pop-Up Trash & Recycling Bins

Recently I had the pleasure of getting to review Flings. I must admit, I received this product a little while back for the purpose of review and just couldn't decide on which occasion I'd like to put it to the test. When I found out we'd be going camping I decided to hang on to it and review it on our camping trip!

It was actually funny because when we got to our campsite and my husband was setting up our things he exclaimed, "What are we going to put our trash in? I forgot to pack trash bags!" I had given him the Flings bin to pack in the car but he obviously hadn't been listening to me, as usual, when I told him what it was.

We grabbed it from the car and he proceeded to take it out of the wrapper. He looked kind of skeptical, I could tell he was wondering just what the heck I had given him and how was this going to work for garbage. Then, like magic, it popped open and he had an AHA! moment. lol

I can't tell you how easy the bin was to use and how it's design worked perfectly to suit our needs. I immediately took the bin and hung it from it's drawstring on the hook that I thought was intended for keeping your garbage off the ground so that wild animals can't get into it. However my husband insisted that the hook was for lanterns not garbage and so the bin ended up sitting on the ground.

I really loved how lightweight yet sturdy it was and by the end of the first day it was full. We simply placed it in the back of our van and drove to the garbage area where we emptied it and were able to use it all over again the next day.

I know you might be thinking it would have been just as easy to use a garbage bag but I don't think so. Since camping takes away almost all your modern conveniences it was really nice to have a REAL garbage can on our site. It also turned out to be quite wet and rainy and had we used a garbage bag it would have been laying on the ground getting all dirty and wet and we would not have been so keen on driving around with it in our car.

Want more info about Flings?

They retail for approximately $4.00 each and can be found at many fine retailers as well as online. Click >HERE< to locate a retailer near you.
They come in many different prints and colors for any occasion.
They're made of 100% recyclable materials and are 90% biodegradable.
They can be placed out for recycling with your recyclables inside!
I discovered that they can be re-used.

Do they have any practical uses for cloth diapering? Since this is a cloth diaper blog, I figured I'd also include my opinions as to whether or not Flings could be used for cloth diapering. Since the inside bottom of the bin is cardboard I wouldn't recommend placing any soiled diapers directly into the bin. But I would say that if you are traveling to a hotel, camping, or staying with relatives and need a diaper pail that this would work perfectly. Simply place your diaper pail liner inside the Flings bin, which is approximately the size of a kitchen garbage pail, and voila! Instant, pop-up traveling diaper pail!

The Giveaway: One lucky winner will receive (1) Flings Pop-Up Recycling Print Bin & (1) Flings Pop-Up Birthday Print Bin from Flings!

Ends Giveaway Ends 10-11-10 at 11:59pm.

Mandatory First Entry
This weeks mandatory task for your first entry is to visit Flings and comment with which print or style you'd choose.

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-This contest runs until Monday October 11, 2010 @ 11:59pm EST.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified by email and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas in the USA! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

How to earn extra entries:

* (1) Follow this Blog, Diaper Discussions

* (1) Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* (1) Become a FAN of Flings on FaceBook (Please leave a comment on their Wall stating that "Diaper Discussions Blog sent you!)
* (1) Subscribe to our Newsletter
* (1) Follow Us on Twitter
* (3)* BONUS: Tweet about the giveaway during between October 3-11th. (Limit 1 tweet per day.) Provide a link to this giveaway, use tiny url http://tinyurl.com/3ycyqy5 and include @clothdiapergeek in your tweets.

* (3) Submit a photo, or have already submitted a photo to our Monthly FaceBook Fan Photo Contest by posting it to our FB Wall
* (1) Place the DiaperDiscussions Banner on your site or Blog
* (3) Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it if possible).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

*Thanks to Flings for sponsoring this great giveaway and for providing the winners prize!

Good Luck!!

Winner of the Pimp Your Stash 2G Knickernappies Pocket Giveaway is....Maria of Fitteds and Pockets and Snappis, oh my!

2010-09-20T07:50:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Maria! I guess it's true, the early bird gets the worm! Comment #1 was chosen by random.org and that means that Maria, the mommy behind Fitteds and Pockets and Snappis, oh my! is the winner of a brand new Knickernappies 2G Pocket Diaper w/ Micro Insert in the size and color of her choosing!

Swing by her blog and congratulate her!

*Maria, please contact me asap to claim your prize. Thanks!

Support The Cloth Diaper Foundation! Participate in their Dozens Diaper Drive!

2010-09-07T00:01:00.000-04:00

Did you know the Cloth Diaper Foundation relies on donors and sponsors like you to keep their doors open? They are currently super low on diapers and need our help.

The Dozens Diaper Drive is aiming at a goal of 1200 diapers. TCDF sends out diapers to their recipients by the dozen and they'd like to have enough diapers for 100 recipients on hand before they open back up for applications.

According to their ticker located here, they're up to 236 of 1200 diapers collected. Their goal is to have reached the 1200 diapers by the end of September.

For more info on where to send your diaper donations, what they do and do not accept, and how to obtain a receipt for tax purposes please visit the Dozens Diaper Drive website.

Can't afford to send in your diapers? Visit the Cloth Diaper Foundation Website and see if there's a drop-off location near you where you can turn in your diapers. The drop-off sponsor is responsible for sending in the donated diapers.

Don't have any diapers to send? Monetary donations are also very helpful. Click HERE to make a monetary donation.

Sponsorship: For each 60 diapers donated, one recipient's package will be sponsored (no shipping costs to them), and an additional 6 diapers will be sent to the sponsored recipient. If you believe we can exceed this goal, and you would like to participate as a sponsor, please click here.

Pimp Your Stash with a Knickernappies 2G Pocket Diaper! Ends 09-15-10

2010-09-02T00:01:00.006-04:00

In honor of the Knickernappies Twitter Party tonight, September 2, 2010, we're kicking off a new Pimp Your Stash Giveaway!

This week's Pimp Your Stash Winner will have their stash pimped by Knickernappies!

One lucky mama will win a Knickernappies 2G Pocket Diaper w/ Micro Insert in the size and color of her choice! A prize valued at $18.95!

These diapers are just amazing and if you haven't already got one then this is your chance. The side snaps are awesome and they provide a comfortable yet trim fit.

Mandatory First Entry
This weeks mandatory task for your first entry is to visit Earth Angels Diaper Co and comment with a link to what item you'd like to purchase besides a Knickernappies 2G Pocket Diaper.

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-This contest runs until Wednesday September 15, 2010 @ 11:59pm EST.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:

* (1) Follow this Blog, Diaper Discussions

* (1) Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* (1) Become a FAN of Knickernappies on FaceBook
* (1) Follow the Knickernappies Blog
* (1) Subscribe to our Newsletter
* (1) Follow Us on Twitter
* (5)* BONUS: Tweet about the giveaway during the Knickernappies Twitter Party September 2nd. (Limit 1 tweet) Provide a link to this giveaway, use tiny url http://tinyurl.com/2avkadx
* (3) Submit a photo, or have already submitted a photo to our Monthly FaceBook Fan Photo Contest by posting it to our FB Wall
* (1) Place the DiaperDiscussions Banner on your site or Blog
* (3) Tweet About the Giveaway. Use @clothdiapergeek in the tweet and link to this GiveAway using tinyurl of http://tinyurl.com/2avkadx (You may tweet 1x per day)
* (3) Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it if possible).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

*Thanks to Knickernappies for sponsoring this great giveaway and for providing the winners prize!

Good Luck!!

The Cloth Diaper Foundation needs us! Read about all the different ways you can help.

2010-08-06T07:53:00.000-04:00

Remember The Cloth Diaper Foundation, formerly known as Miracle Diapers? Well they are in desperate need of help from the cloth diapering community.

Due to a serious lack of funding The Cloth Diaper Foundation has recently been considering the possibility that they might have to close their doors indefinitely. As with most non-profits, The Cloth Diaper Foundation relies on donations of diapers and monetary help in order to stay in business. They need approximately $300.00 coming in per month in order to stay open. They have currently been averaging less than $20.00 per month.

This is very sad, TCDF has come a long way and helped many many moms and families over the years and now it's our turn to help them.

What can you do to help?

Donate! Donate any amount, even as little as $1.00 by clicking HERE and following the instructions on how to send a gift through paypal. Your donations help keep TCDF running and help families in need get the cloth diaper loans they apply for.
Have a fundraiser! You could host an auction, designate an item/items to sell and give the proceeds to TCDF. Have a local yardsale, car wash, bake sale, sell stuff on Craigslist and more!
Donate diapers. Visit TCDF, view their Drop-off Locations and find one near you. Contact the location and make arrangements to get them your diapers. They'll take care of shipping the diapers for you in the most economical manner possible.
Buy from TCDF! Did you know that they have a store? Spend your money wisely and shop with them, your funds will be going to a good cause and you'll also be getting your shopping fix! Click HERE to shop in the TCDF store.
Become a Sponsor or Member! TCDF Family Memberships are only $15.00 and Business Memberships start at just $50.00! Get free advertising and support a good cause.

Aside from these great ways you can help out, visit The Cloth Diaper Foundation Facebook Page and view their Wall. Make sure you're viewing all the posts from TCDF and others so that you can see all the posts with tons of other great ways you can help. Many retailers and friends of TCDF are having giveaways, auctions and more!

TWO Discount Codes for Earth Angels Diaper Company!

2010-08-05T15:05:00.001-04:00

There are currently TWO great discount codes out for Earth Angels Diaper Co.! Take advantage and get a great deal, especially when combined with out already great savings, low minimum shipping and FREE shipping on USA orders over $50.00.

Use Code FIVEOFF for $5.00 off orders over $50.00 or
Code SAVE10 for 10% off ALL orders.

Currently you can save big when you combine these savings with other sale items like Flip Diapers, Moby Wraps, Thirsties and more!

Happy Shopping!

You could win a ONE YEAR SUPPLY of Rockin Green Soap!

2010-07-13T14:33:00.001-04:00

Have you heard about the Rockin Green Ticket Event? Read the press release below to find out how you could win a ONE YEAR SUPPLY of Rockin Green and some other great prizes!

The Rockin Green Ticket Event!

Here’s all the details:
Throughout the month of July, we are going to be putting special concert tickets inside specially marked packages. There will be 50 tickets in all, and we will then distribute them through our various channels. So, you may find a ticket in a bag in our store, for sale on our website or at one of our retailers! We don’t even know where they will end up!

Once you find a ticket, you can then contact us OR your favorite retailer to redeem your prize. Each bag is a chance to win (though there are other ways to enter too- so check the terms and conditions below) and the contest is open to all US and Canadian residents.

The specially marked bags have landed at Earth Angels Diaper Co. so purchase yours today and see if you're a winner!

Here’s a list of the prizes that will be available:
• One Grand Prize winner receives a year supply of Rockin’ Green (12 bags worth)
• 100 dollar store credit to be used at your favorite Rockin’ Green retailer!
• 10 full size bags of Rockin’ Green – one per winner
• 25 sample size bags of Rockin’ Green – one per winner
• 9 Shake It Up! Pail Freshners – one per winner
• 5 Buddha Bunz Dryer Balls – one per winner

Don't forget to check your specially marked bag to see if you're a winner! Woot Woot!

Will the oil spill cause more cloth diaper converts?

2010-07-10T08:59:00.001-04:00

Just posted to the Knickernappies Blog, thought I'd share it here too!

As the days continue to fly by and the oil continues to gush from the BP oil well, it seems that the decisions we need to make are becoming all too clear. We're dependent on oil in so many ways we cannot even fathom. Can we make a difference by making different choices?

Over the last ten years or so there's been a rise in the "green movement," a rise in the amount of interest in living more eco-friendly lifestyles, making greener choices and attempting to create less waste as we go through life. Not everyone has jumped on board, many saw it as a trend and couldn't see the big picture, how the choices we make day to day can affect our children and our children's children for years to come.

Where do cloth diapers fit in? To many cloth diapering may seem like just a small step towards going green, after all it does still require the use of additional energy and water. Some claim that cloth diapers and disposables each cancel out the benefits and disadvantages of each other and that one is not a clear choice over the other. But in reality, especially today's reality, using cloth diapers can make a huge difference.

According to a recent Huffington Post article, Eco Etiquette,

"Nearly 3.5 billion gallons of oil are used to produce the 18 billion throwaway diapers that Americans toss each year. To put that in perspective, that's more than the amount of crude we import annually from Kuwait."

What's even more shocking? With these statistics disposable companies are stepping it up in order to try and keep families from considering cloth diapers. Now they've come out with designer prints for babies to poop in. The concept seems so absurd it's almost hard to imagine anyone buying them but they will I am sure. They may as well just go over to the garbage can and throw their money in it because that's essentially what they'll be doing.

It is certainly depressing, the situation we've gotten ourselves into with this devastating oil spill, but we've made our bed and now we've got to lay in it. There doesn't seem to be any end in site to this catastrophy and if you're anything like me then you feel absolutely helpless.

So what are your thoughts? Do you think that this crisis will be a wake-up call to more families reminding them that there's no change too small, that even things like reusable baby diapers can make a great difference in the grand scheme of things? Has your family considered making any additional lifestyle changes because of the oil spill? We'd love for you to share your thoughts.

Julia Clark, Earth Angels Diaper Co.

Winner of the Knickernappies OS Diaper w/ Loopy Do Inserts is...Mom of 3 Munchkins!

2010-07-05T00:01:00.001-04:00

Lucky comment #129 is the winner of the Knickernappies OS Diaper! That's Michelle, Mom of 3 Munchkins and fellow mommy blogger! You can find out more about Michelle and follow her Blog over at Munchkin Farm!

Contact me asap to claim your prize! Enjoy!

Save BIG on Cloth Diapers & Accessories July 4th-8th at Earth Angels Diaper Co.!

2010-07-04T07:45:00.001-04:00

In honor of Independence Day we've activated two GREAT Discount Codes for you to use!

Use Code FREESHIP for Free Shipping on all USA orders

Use Code JULY4 for 10% off your entire order

You can only use one code per order so you decide which discount works best for you!

We hope everyone has a happy 4th of July filled with lots of food, fun & laughter!

Visit Earth Angels Diaper Co. today!

Help save the Gulf Coast wildlife! Donate your cloth diapers and inserts!

2010-07-01T00:01:00.001-04:00

As a Florida resident, the Gulf Oil Spill is on our minds daily. Summertime here is beach season and every time we are able to go to our beautiful beaches we are reminded that others on the Gulf Coast, like Louisiana and Florida's panhandle are not so lucky, who knows when they'll ever get to enjoy their coastline again.

You may not know this but cloth diaper manufacturer FuzziBunz is located in Louisiana and has found a way that the cloth diapering community can help with this horrific disaster.

Tereson has started "Cloth for the Coast." After much research and cutting through red tape she has found that donations of new or used inserts, prefolds and other cloth diapers can be used to assist in the cleanup and in rehabilitating the affected wildlife.

While we may all feel helpless to stop this terrible oil spill from continuing to affect our coastlines and wildlife I think that it is awesome that there IS something we can do to help.

Please become a FAN of Cloth for the Coast on FaceBook and send your donations to

FuzziBunz Diapers
Attn: CFC
315 Weeks St
New Iberia, LA 70560

Items that you can send are; microfiber towels, absorbent inserts, pocket diaper inserts of any kind, washcloths, burpcloths, baby blankets and more.

It is preferred that items be free of snaps, elastic and velcro but if needed volunteers will be able to sort the donated items and will be donating the items that can not be used in the cleanup efforts to charity.

This is our chance to help make a difference! Let's show the coast just how awesome the cloth diapering community is!

CLOSED: Pimp Your Stash: Win a Knickernappies OS Diaper w/ Loopy Do Inserts! Ends 07-02-10

2010-06-25T00:01:00.004-04:00

This week's Pimp Your Stash Winner will have their stash pimped by Knickernappies!

One lucky mama will win a Knickernappies OS Diaper w Loopy Do Inserts in the color of her choice! A prize valued at $24.95!

These diapers are just amazing and if you haven't already got one then this is your chance. The side snaps are awesome and they fit up to 40lbs, much longer than other onesize diapers.

This weeks mandatory task for your first entry is Visit Earth Angels Diaper Co. and tell me one other item that you'd purchase besides the Knickernappies OS Diaper, and why?

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-This contest runs until Friday Jul2 2, 2010 @ 11:59pm EST.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* (1) Become a Follower of this DiaperDiscussions Blog
* (1) Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* (1) Become a FAN of Knickernappies on FaceBook
* (1) Follow the Knickernappies Blog
* (1) Subscribe to our Newsletter
* (1) Follow Us on Twitter
* (3) Submit a photo, or have already submitted a photo to our Monthly FaceBook Fan Photo Contest by posting it to our FB Wall
* (1) Follow the Cloth Diaper Retailer Cooperative Blog
* (1) Become a FAN of Cloth Diaper Retailer Cooperative on FaceBook
* (1) Place the DiaperDiscussions Banner on your site or Blog
* (3) Tweet About the Giveaway. Use @clothdiapergeek in the tweet and link to this GiveAway using tinyurl of http://tinyurl.com/25thx2l (You may tweet 2x per day)
* (3) Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it if possible).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

*Thanks to Knickernappies for sponsoring this great giveaway and for providing the winners prize!

Good Luck!!

Just Julie: What's the word on the street about the NEW BumGenius Product?

2010-06-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Cottonbabies officially announced the retirement of the BumGenius 3.0 OS Diapers. Their exact words were that they have been officially discontinued. A new product will be revealed to the public on June 29th.

What are your thoughts on what the new product will be? They have had testers and I am surprised that none of the top secret details have been leaked. So.... what do you know? Someone knows something, they're just keeping a tight lid on it.

My thoughts? Well believe it or not, us retailers are pretty much just as in the dark as the rest of you. I have heard some who simply believe a new BumGenius 4.0 is coming but personally I don't think so. I don't think they would have used the term "discontinued" if just a new and improved version was coming out.

Will there be prints? New colors? Will they ditch the aplix and only offer snaps? Onesize, Twosize, Biodegradable? Please comment with your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you all.

Fabulous Fluffy Father's Day Sale!

2010-06-18T15:51:00.004-04:00

Fathers love fluff too!
We're celebrating fathers day by having a sale! Tons of great items have been marked down plus as always, FREE Shipping on USA orders over $50.00 applies.

Here are just some of what's been marked down-

Thirsties Duo Diapers
Thirsties Duo Wraps
FuzziBunz Onesize
Earth Mama Angel Baby
Flip Stay-Dry Individuals
Flip Covers
Burt's Bees
Moby Wraps
& much more!

Even our Gift Certificates are on sale for a limited time!

Click here for a complete list of what's on SALE.

Winner of the Duo Hemp Prefolds is.....Jessica of Natural Baby Giveaways!

2010-06-13T00:01:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Jessica of Natural Baby Giveaways! She was lucky comment #109 and she will receive two Duo Hemp Prefolds in the size of her choice! Thank you to Thirsties for sponsoring this awesome giveaway!
Want to visit Jessica's great Blog? Visit Natural Baby Giveaways today!

Congratulations....Whitney, Winner of our May Fan Photo Contest!

2010-06-06T12:58:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Whitney for winning our May Fan Photo Contest! This pic of her little one Rory was just too adorable and impossible to resist.
Want your chance at winning our Fan Photo Contest? Submit a picture of your little one in cloth diapers to our FaceBook Fan Wall and you could be the next winner! Each month one winner is chosen and wins a $20.00 Gift Certificate to Earth Angels Diaper Co.!

CLOSED Pimp Your Stash with a FREE Pair of Thirsties New Duo Hemp Prefolds! (ENDS 06-11-10)

2010-06-04T00:01:00.003-04:00

This week's Pimp Your Stash Winner will have their stash pimped by Thirsties!

One lucky mama will win a set of (2) Brand Spankin' New Thirsties Duo Hemp Prefolds in the size of her choosing!

These super-soft and super innovative prefolds will make a great addition to any baby's stash and paired with your favorite Thirsties Cover you'll have a match made in heaven!

This weeks mandatory task for your first entry is Visit Earth Angels Diaper Co. and read about the Thirsties Duo Hemp Prefold. Comment with what size you'd need and also what type/size of Thirsties Wrap or Cover would you'd pair it with.

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-This contest runs until Friday June 11, 2010 @ 9pm EST.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* (1) Become a Follower of this DiaperDiscussions Blog
* (1) Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* (1) Become a FAN of Thirsties on FaceBook
* (1) Subscribe to our Newsletter
* (1) Follow Us on Twitter
* (3) Submit a photo to our Monthly FaceBook Fan Photo Contest by posting it to our FB Wall
* (1) Follow the Cloth Diaper Retailer Cooperative Blog
* (1) Follow Cloth Diaper Retailer Cooperative on Twitter
* (1) Become a FAN of Cloth Diaper Retailer Cooperative on FaceBook
* (1) Place the DiaperDiscussions Banner on your site or Blog
* (3) Tweet About the Giveaway (use @mommy in the tweet and link to this GiveAway)
* (3) Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it if possible).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

*Thanks to Thirsties for sponsoring this great giveaway and for providing the winners prize! If you'd like a FREE Thirsites catalog please click HERE.

Good Luck!!

Fluff in the Spotlight! Thirsties New Duo Hemp Prefolds!

2010-06-02T00:01:00.001-04:00

Some of you may have been around long enough to remember that Thirsties used to manufacture their own cotton prefolds. When they were discontinued the cloth diapering world was heartbroken. Moms scoured the web looking for the last of the last, whatever remained for sale was going to be it.

Since then we've had to pair our beloved Thirsties products with various types of prefolds and fitted diapers from other companies. Inquiring minds asked pretty regularly "When might you all make prefolds again?"

Well the time has finally come and Thirsties has released their New Duo Hemp Prefolds!

These fantastic new prefolds really are unique and innovative.
What are some of the features of the *New* Duo Hemp Prefolds?

Available in TWO Sizes (Size 1 fits 6-18lbs & Size 2 fits 18-40lbs)
Patent pending design is easy to clean, quick to dry, and grows with your baby.
Made from buttery soft hemp jersey custom knit in the USA
25% more absorbent and much more durable than cotton
Maintains a trim and comfortable fit
Naturally anti-microbial
Pair with Thirsties Duo Wraps and end up saving $2000 over disposables

What are some of my favorite features? Personally I love the feel of the hemp jersey. They feel soft like a t-shirt and I can tell baby would love the texture. No more crunchy cotton feeling like some of the cotton prefolds get.

I also LOVE the loop design. It's hard to tell from the pictures so I added to the illustration so you could get a better understanding of where the loop is and why it makes laundry so much easier. It's everything you love about prefolds but the loop design allows for much faster drying times.

What else? You could even put your favorite insert or doubler inside the loop before you fold it to make the prefold more absorbent! No liners would be needed because the baby would still only have the hemp jersey against their soft skin.

Want to win a set of Duo Hemp Prefolds? Come back to DiaperDiscussions tomorrow and enter our Giveaway! One lucky mama will win a set of Duo Hemp Prefolds in the size of her choice, compliments of Thirsties!

If you love small businesses and wahm's you should check this out!

2010-05-30T00:01:00.001-04:00

I am super excited to announce that myself and a bunch of my fellow cloth diapering wahms have united to create a great new cloth diapering resource! Cloth Diaper Retailer Cooperative!

Here's a bit about us:

We are a group of small, family owned cloth diapering and natural parenting boutiques. We pride ourselves in "old-fashioned," personalized customer service. We consider ourselves family-friendly and many of us work from home in order to be able to be close to our children while earning an income.

We also proudly carry a lot of brands that follow this same philosophy and many are still run by the families who founded them.

We believe independent, family-run businesses are the best places for parents to learn about and buy products for their children. We are real parents who have cloth diapered our babies with great success and love to help others do the same. We only carry products that we know, trust, and would use on our own children.

Combined we have over 90 years of cloth diapering experience and between us carry almost every brand of diaper and accessory on the market today.

We have tons of exciting things in store for the Blog! We'll be posting exclusive Discount Codes, Sales, Giveaways & tons of great Cloth Diapering Info and Resources!

Make sure you Follow the Blog and also become a Fan on FaceBook!

Winner of the Pimp Your Jewelry Giveaway is....SimplyMerry!

2010-05-24T00:01:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to SimplyMerry! Winner of the Silver Seaglass with Starfish Charm necklace handmade by my wonderfully talented sister-in-law Waterwaif! Lucky Comment chosen by random.org was #62.

Stop by SimplyMerry's Blog Adventures with Baby and congratulate her! How fun to win something for mama instead of baby for a change.

*Please contact me asap to claim your beautiful necklace!

Follow Friday: Let's Have a Blog Hop!

2010-05-21T07:59:00.005-04:00

Found this groovy Blog Hop over at my SIL's Blog! Follow and be followed back, it's that easy. Add your Blog and grab the code.

My take on the Cloth vs. Disposable war!

2010-05-18T10:01:00.003-04:00

(I had the pleasure of writing this post for the Knickernappies Blog and thought I'd like to share my thoughts here with you all as well.)

There is no end in sight to the battle between cloth diapers and disposables. The use of eco-friendly diapering alternatives is on the rise and the mega-manufacturers of sposies have taken notice. We can not expect them to sit back and watch as our industry grows in popularity, converting one mom at a time from disposables to cloth or hybrids.

The lines have been drawn in the sand and advocates for both sides have been standing their ground, playing defense for their team.

What's the problem? The problem is that it's hard to tell Fact from Fiction, especially when some of the largest companies back their own studies and provide the public with what they want you to believe are un-biased scientific facts.

This post will address some of the most common Facts and try to provide you with enough information and legitimate sources to allow you to make up your own mind about what truly is Fact or Fiction.

Let us first address the topic of resources and energy used in the production and consumption of cloth diapers vs. disposables. Have you read The Great Diaper Debate? It's a great article and makes valid points both for and against cloth diapers and disposables.

It cites studies who have evaluated the energy usage for the use of cloth diapers and claims to have found there to be no real difference environmentally between the two competing daipering methods.

"found no difference between the overall environmental impact of disposable diapers, home-laundered cloth, and commercially laundered cloth diapers."

But they do go on to say that conflicting studies have found the results to be much more complicated.

What's my take? Well to me the difference is obvious. Studies, most likely backed by those large mega-manufacturers, always like to point out the energy used in washing and drying cloth diapers, the resources used by the trucks who work for cloth diaper services as they transport the cloth diapers to and from customers, etc.

But what about that plank sticking out of their own eye? I guess they didn't notice it because they were so busy looking for the speck in ours. The energy used to make the disposables, the resources used to transport millions and millions of diapers to stores across the country and around the globe? I rarely see any mention of it. Comparisons are always made to the diapers that end up in landfills vs. the energy and resources needed to care for cloth diapers. What about where the disposables come from? They don't just magically appear.

Let's take a look at some other facts, really obvious ones, facts that don't need expensive studies to back them up.

FACT: Cloth Diapers are made by humans and not machines, are not made in huge factories that create pollution, and are not made with components that are also made in turn by more machine operated, environment-polluting factories.

FACT: Cloth Diapers are primarily sold by small family owned and operated businesses and mom-entrepreneurs. Disposables are sold in mass quantities by BIG BOX retailers.

FACT: The health risks to your baby are greater when using disposables than when using cloth diapers made of natural fibers.

FACT: According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, one disposable diaper is approximated to take up to 450 years to decompose in a landfill. The RDA estimates that a baby could use approximately 6,00 diapers in their first two years of life.

These facts are not complicated and do not require super in depth answers, they are pretty cut and dry and in my opinion make the clear winner obvious.

Lastly, let me leave you with this sweet video. It will give you a glimpse at all the loving care that goes into the production of disposables.

If you can not view the video here you can follow this link to watch it on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkdAOhnrGyw

Written by Julia Clark

CLOSED: Pimp Your Jewelry! Handmade by Waterwaif on Etsy, Silver Aqua Seaglass with Starfish Charm Necklace

2010-05-17T22:40:00.009-04:00

This week's Pimp Your Stash Winner will have their jewelry stash pimped instead of their baby's diaper stash! I know, this is a cloth diaper blog, but that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun from time to time and try to win something nice for ourselves instead of our babies.

My wonderful sister-in-law Tara, a.k.a. The Waterwaif on Etsy has custom made this gorgeous genuine Aqua Seaglass pendant with starfish charm. It comes on a 16" silver cobra snake chain and retails for approximately $40.00.

This weeks mandatory task for your first entry is Visit Waterwaif's Etsy store and pair your favorite earrings with either a matching necklace or bracelet. Comment with either the names of your two choices or links to them.

Special Offer: Orders placed at Waterwaif's Etsy Store during the giveaway will receive 10% off! Send her a convo on etsy after checkout with the comments "Diaper Discussions Blog" and she'll refund your 10% off.

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-This contest runs until Sunday May 23, 2010 @ 9pm EST.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* (10) Make a purchase from Waterwaif between now and the end of the giveaway
* (1) Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* (1) Become a FAN of Waterwaif on FaceBook
* (1) Subscribe to our Newsletter
* (1) Follow Us on Twitter
* (1) Follow Waterwaif on Twitter
* (1) Follow this Blog, Diaper Discussions
* (1) Follow Waterwaif's Blog
* (1) Add Waterwaif's Etsy Store to your Etsy Favorite Sellers
* (1) Place the Waterwaif's Banner on your site or Blog
* (3) Tweet About the Giveaway (use @thewaterwaif in the tweet and link to this GiveAway)
* (3) Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

Good Luck!!

We're sponsoring a Giveaway! Win a Duo Wrap, Flip Insert & Tiny Bubbles Detergent at The Budget Mommy's Blog

2010-05-17T20:48:00.005-04:00

Earth Angels Diaper Co is sponsoring a giveaway over at The Budget Mommy's Blog.

One lucky winner will receive

Thirsties Duo Wrap Cover in the color/print/size/closure of your choice!
Flip Organic Cotton Insert
Tiny Bubbles Detergent

There are many great ways to enter. Contest is open until June 4th, 2010. Head on over and enter today!

Friday Follow: May 14th

2010-05-14T07:59:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the May 14 Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

Here's how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:

Link up your blog name and URL using the McLinky below. You only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.

Grab the Friday Follow button and include on your Friday Follow blog post.

Follow my blog and the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.

Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you'd like.

Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.

Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Winner of the Cutest in Cloth Fan Photo Contest for April is little Shirley!

2010-05-06T09:21:00.003-04:00

Thanks to all who entered the Cutest in Cloth Fan Photo Contest for April. The winner is Tami, mama to little Shirley! Please contact me asap to claim your prize.

Now it's time to enter for the month of May! Visit our FaceBook Page and upload your picture and you just could win!

Fuzzi Bunz New Colors! Now available at Earth Angels Diaper Co. (Plus Discontinued Colors are on SALE!)

2010-05-01T13:09:00.005-04:00

The FuzziBunz® One-Size Diapers are the most adjustable and innovative one-size cloth diapers on the market today! Adjust the diapers to fit babies 7-35 pounds and get a snug fit every time with the button-adjusted waist and leg casings. The leg casings adjust to 8+ settings and the waist adjusts to 4+ settings. Never before has a pocket-style cloth diaper been SO adjustable!And the great thing about FuzziBunz® is that they always use sturdy snap closures which will withstand 3+ years of use and elastic that is easily replaceable if it ever fails making it a long standing and dependable diapering system for years to come.

*Each Onesize Diaper comes with TWO inserts and a Bonus of replacement leg elastic should you ever need to replace yours in the future!

What else? Remember those adorable colors from last season? Well they've been discontinued and are on SALE! Grab them while they last at only $16.95 each!

Winner of the Earth Day Rockin Green Soap Giveaway is....Kayla! Comment #96

2010-04-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Kayla of Monkey Sew, Monkey Do! She was Comment #96 and is the Winner of a New Bag of Rockin Green Soap! Thanks so much to everyone for participating! Kayla, please contact me asap to claim your prize. :)

TWO Eco-Fabulous FaceBook Fan Giveaways! End tomorrow, check them out!

2010-04-22T11:00:00.001-04:00

Two super cute and super green giveaways going on now over on the Earth Angels Diaper Co. FaceBook Page! Make sure you head on over and check them out! Happy Earth Day!

CLOSED Have a Rockin Earth Day! Pimp Your Stash with Rockin Green Soap! (Ends 4-23-10)

2010-04-22T08:58:00.006-04:00

This week's Earth Day Pimp Your Stash Winner will receive a bag of Rockin Green Soap in the style and scent of their choice and is sponsored by Rockin Green! Rockin Green Soap is a fabulous new product that's changing the way we wash diapers! Available in Soft, Classic or Hard Rock there's a style and scent for everyone.

This weeks mandatory question for your first entry is "Visit Earth Angels Diaper Co and let us know whether you'd need Soft Rock, Classic Rock or Hard Rock Soap?"

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-This giveaway runs from Thursday (Earth Day) to Friday 12:00pm EST.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* (1) Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* (1) Become a FAN of Rockin Green on FaceBook
* (1) Follow Rockin Green on Twitter
* (1) Subscribe to our New Newsletter
* (1) Follow DiaperDiscussions/Earth Angels Diaper Co. on Twitter
* (1) Submit or have already submitted a photo to our monthly Fan Photo Contest on FaceBook
* (1) Follow the Diaper Discussions Blog
* (1) Place the Diaper Discussions Animated Banner on your site or Blog
* (3) Tweet About the Giveaway (use #clothdiapers in the tweet and link to the GiveAway using tiny url http://tinyurl.com/276zles) comment with a url to the tweet.
* (3) Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it).
* (10) Contribute an Article, Product Review or relevant story regarding Cloth Diapering. 10 extra entries are given for contributions submitted during the week of the contest. (Please do not contribute articles that were already published elsewhere.)
* (1) Comment to any post on the Diaper Discussions Blog (one entry per each comment)
* (5) Register (or being already registered) in our Affiliate Program (please specify where you placed your affiliate banner).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

Good Luck!!

My 7yr old daughter demonstrates how to use a Thirsties Duo Diaper and also discusses Earth Day!

2010-04-22T00:01:00.000-04:00

Just uploaded! Watch this cute video of my 7yr old daughter as she demonstrates how to use a Thirsties Duo Diaper, talks about why we use cloth and also discusses Earth Day!

Have a Knickernappies diaper? Enter their 2nd Annual Photo Contest and you could win 6 KN diapers!

2010-04-19T00:01:00.000-04:00

Have you seen this post over at the Knickernappies Blog?
We're are so excited to announce the launch of our 2nd Annual Knickernappies Photo Contest and this year it's bigger and better than ever! The Grand Prize is huge and what's the best part? You're in control of your own destiny. There's no mystery panel of judges who randomly announce a winner, this time you promote your photo and get as many votes as you can.

Here are the details:

When: Contest runs from April 15-May 15, 2010

Where: Knickernappies FaceBook Page

How to enter: To enter the contest you must be a Fan of Knickernappies on FaceBook. After you've become a Fan you need to upload a photo of your little wearing a Knickernappies Diaper. One entry per person please. In the comments for your photo please add the URL to the store where you purchased the diaper. Make sure to include a clickable link to the store, not just the name.

Eligible photos must be uploaded to the Fan Photos between April 15 through May 15. If you already have a Fan Photo uploaded that you'd like to use as your entry then you need to upload it again so that it will have the proper date and also a link to the retailer.

If your photo does not include a link to a Knickernappies Retailer in the comments it will be deleted and you will have to resubmit . If you don't know the store name or didn't get the diaper new just say so.

How do you get votes? Every time someone "LIKES" your photo it is a vote. When the contest ends the photo with the most "LIKES" is the winner. Comments are encouraged as well but do not count as votes.

How do I promote my photo? We've provided a handy "Vote for Me" button on the left hand column of the Blog. You simply grab the code and replace the code/url that says http://www.knickernappies.bogspot.com with the url to your Fan Photo. You can then place the button on your Blog or Website, on Message Boards, Your FaceBook page, etc. and encourage friends and family to vote for your photo by "LIKING" it.

Another GREAT and EASY way to promote your photo is to "SHARE" it via FaceBook. When you are on your photo in our FB Fan Photos you will see a link to "SHARE" it with your friends and family via your FaceBook Page. When you share it you need to make sure to let your friends and family know that they need to click through the link to the Knickernappies FB Page to "LIKE" it. Liking it on your page when you share it is not the same as liking it on the KN FB Page.

What are the prizes?

Grand Prize-(1 Winner) 6 Knickernappies 2G Sized Pocket Diapers with your choice of inserts (Just Hemp, Microfiber, Loopy-Do's), color, and size!
Runner Up's- (5 Winners) 1 Knickernappies 2G Sized Pocket Diapers with your choice of inserts (Just Hemp, Microfiber, Loopy-Do's), color, and size!

But what about the retailers? Knickernappies will match each winners prize as a donation to The Cloth Diaper Foundation (formerly Miracle Diapers) on the each of the retailers behalf!

Have questions? Post your questions here or visit our FaceBook Page where we'll have a discussion in our discussion forums started to answer your needs and help you with any issues you may have.

*This contest is open to participants worldwide!

Just Julie: Ever sent a diaper or diapers to their grave?

2010-04-18T14:15:00.005-04:00

I bet you we've all done it, sent a diaper into the beyond, ended it's career of covering little bums. I'd have to say my first experience in sending diapers to their grave could be considered a mass murder.

I was new at cloth diapering, very new, and hadn't yet got my washing routine down. In fact, I don't think I had any clue how long I could let them sit in the dry pail or what to do. I think I may have even washed some with my regular laundry at first, that was how clueless I was.

Well I distinctly remember going into the laundry room, which was basically part of our garage and not inside the house, and realizing I had a load of diapers in the pail that needed washing and I couldn't remember how long they'd been there. I swore it had only been a couple days but heck, I had twin infants and every day was a blur so I really couldn't be sure.

I dumped them in the washer and did my routine as usual. Fill, Soak, Rinse, Wash, Dry...When it came time to fold and stuff the diapers I realized the black mold of death had set in on them and I was super bummed. They weren't unusable I suppose but looked ugly and I couldn't stand seeing my babies in diapers that had mold stains. In all I think only about three were sent to their retirement and the others survived.

It was honestly the last time I did that. I decided that the whole "outta sight, outta mind" thing was not a good idea with the diaper pail. I needed it somewhere that I wasn't going to forget about it. From then on I pretty much washed diapers every day.

Have you ever sent any diapers to their death? If so, share your story with us I'd love to read them!

December, January, February "Cutest in Cloth" Photo Contest Winners! Better late than never!

2010-04-17T00:01:00.001-04:00

Hey mamas! Sorry I totally dropped the ball on the Cutest in Cloth Photo Contest! I'd like to go ahead and get caught up, announce the winners, and also make a few changes in the details of how I'd like it to work.

The changes are that entries must now be submitted as Fan Photos to our FaceBook Fan Page. Each photo will have a date when you submit it and each month a winner will be chosen. After that month you can either re-submit the same photo if you did not win or submit a new photo for consideration.

So, back to business!! The Winner's are...

December 2009's Winner is Justine M. Her photo of her daughter Kieran was just adorable!
January 2010's Winner is Stephanie S. who also submitted the cutest pic of her little guy sporting what looks like a Meadow Duo Wrap by Thirsties!
February's Winner is Kayla D. She submitted a super cute and very hard to resist photo of her daughter wearing a Thirsties Duo over a flat fold! Gotta love the hat!
Thanks to all who entered and I apologize for dropping the ball. I guess we can thank tax season for that. Always too much to do and too little time to accomplish it.

Earth Angels Diaper Co is swaggin it!

2010-04-16T00:01:00.003-04:00

Did you know we're Swag-a-licious? That's right! You can now earn $5.00 Earth Angels Diaper Co. Gift Cards in the Swag Store! So save your SwagBucks and spend them wisely.

Don't know what Swagbucks is? It's basically a search engine and to encourage more people to use it they randomly give out swagbucks. You can then save your swagbucks and redeem them for great prizes as well as gift cards to some of your favorite stores.

Another quick and easy way to earn is to sign up and then encourage your friends to join through you. Every time you refer a friend you get swagbucks when they earn swagbucks! It's that easy!

I'm sure there are a ton of Swagbucks Mamas out there so if you have any questions feel free to post them here.

Good Luck and may the Swag Force be with you!

The Cloth Diaper Geek Explains it all! Why do my diapers leak ALL the time?

2010-03-29T00:01:00.001-04:00

Recently I was speaking to a cloth diapering mama who was stressed because ALL her pocket diapers were leaking, regardless of the brand. She just couldn't figure out why. She'd tried stripping them, washing, switching detergents, etc. and still couldn't figure out the root of the problem.

After hearing everything she had tried I felt there was only one question left to ask.
What type of inserts are you using and how old are they?

Turns out she's using micro inserts that were previously used when she bought them online. It's my belief that is where her problem lies. Microfiber wears down over time and becomes less and less absorbent. I am sure that you all have inserts, some are older than others, and you can tell the difference. The newer microfiber inserts are fluffy and soft while the older ones seem thin and almost as if the fluffy terry part has worn off, in most cases it has.

While saving money by buying gently used diapers is a great idea, buying used micro inserts does not always work.

Microfiber inserts are actually made of micro-terry. If you're inserts no longer look fluffy then chances are they need to be replaced. It's not a bad idea to try and test their absorbency. Try soaking up some liquid with them and see how much they really can still hold.

So if you've been feeling bad about cloth diapering because of leaky diapers then give yourself a boost! Try purchasing a new stash of inserts and see if this doesn't cure your cloth diaper blues!

Earth Angels Diaper Co carries a wide variety of inserts that can be purchased individually or in bulk. If you really want to treat yourself, we recommend the LooyDo and SuperDo!

Second Hand Stash! Just re-stocked!

2010-03-28T13:51:00.003-04:00

Phew! I've been needing to list stock on the Second Hand Stash page forever and just finally got around to doing it.

Head on over to Earth Angels Diaper Co. and check out the newly listed items. Most are in excellent, like new condition. Some I even had a hard time telling if they were even used.

This is a great opportunity for you to get some great diapers at a deep discount!

Moby Wraps are here! Save 5.00 when you order!

2010-03-26T13:03:00.004-04:00

I am ecstatic to now be a retailer of Moby Wraps! They are such an excellent product and a must have for any mother.

The award-winning original Moby Wrap is the most recognized wrap-style baby carrier on the market. Its simple yet versatile design makes it suitable for any wearer. The benefits of babywearing are many, and with the slightly, but not too stretchy, 100% cotton fabric, there's no better place for your baby to be.

Soft, comfortable and affordable, the 100% cotton Moby^® Wrap keeps your baby close and secure. Machine washable. Includes full color instruction booklet.

Visit Earth Angels Diaper Co today and order your Moby before April 1st and you can save $5.00 off a purchase of $30.00 or more with Coupon Code GREEN at checkout!

Plus, don't forget about FREE Shipping on ALL USA orders over $50.00!!

All your dreams have come true! Thirsties now available in prints!

2010-03-21T09:51:00.002-04:00

So last night we got the notification that Thirsties Duo Wraps were now available in prints! I think it's the best news ever! How about you?

They released FOUR adorable new prints BlackBird, Alice Brights, Warm Stripes & Cool Stripes! They are now available for order and will ship next week when my order arrives! Don't miss your chance to be the first to get your hands on these adorable new covers!

MISSION: Potty training twins! Almost complete.

2010-03-18T00:01:00.000-04:00

Phew! It literally feels like I began potty training my twin sons a bajillion years ago! I told myself when we started that I wasn't going to stress out because there's nothing more frustrating than trying to potty train little ones who aren't ready. Little by little they showed signs of readiness like taking their diapers off right after they peed, wanting to be changed immediately after pooping, and they showed a lot of interest in peeing outdoors in the grass and such whenever they were diaper-less! (I guess that's a boy thing!)

So we got a small potty. I tried it in the bathroom but that didn't work because I keep the bathroom door closed so they won't go in there all day and mess around. So we put the potty in the kitchen where it was more visible and accessible to them and they began to use it much more.

We finally got to the point where they were in underwear all the time at home. So I took the plunge and started putting them in underwear for short car rides. Well, they weren't ready for that. Every time they would just pee in the car seat, regardless of whether they had just peed or not. So we went back to diapers when we were out.

Eventually we tried underwear in the car again recently and they have really taken to it. I do remind them constantly "don't pee in your underwear" and they have really seemed to get it this time.

Now our last and hardest phase is getting them to not pee during the night. Mason has been waking up dry every morning and even wakes up at night to use the potty if he needs to. Spencer on the other hand pees throughout the night and if I don't wake him before his morning pee then he leaks all over the sheets and wakes up because of it.

So far we've tried everything. The latest is keeping him in an overstuffed Duo Diaper and making sure to wake him before he wakes up on his own. I also think I need to cut back on how much liquids I give him the evening before. They both literally drink ALL day long.

Anyhow, it's been a long road but I think we're almost there. They will be 4yrs old in October and by then I am sure they'll be fully trained. (knock on wood)

How's it going for you all? Any advice? I've always heard it's harder to potty train boys than girls and I think that's proving to be true for us.

Feeling the Luck of the Irish today? Enter our St. Patty's Giveaway!

2010-03-17T00:01:00.001-04:00

I hope you're all feeling lucky today! We've decided to honor St. Patricks Day with a 24 Hour Giveaway & Sale!

Head on over to our FaceBook Page and upload a photo of your baby in their cutest green diaper! Two lucky mamas will be chosen to win $10.00 Gift Certificates to Earth Angels Diaper Co.! The cuter the better! Giveaway ends at Midnight tonight and winners will be announced tomorrow.

What else? Order today from Earth Angels Diaper Co and if your order contains anything GREEN then you are eligible to use Coupon Code GREEN for 10% off your entire order!

We hope you're feeling lucky today! Luck of the Irish to ya!

Three Day Sale @ Earth Angels diaper Co. starts now!

2010-03-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I'd like to announce the details of our fabulous 3-day sale at Earth Angels Diaper Co! This Sunday through Tuesday, March 14-16th, we've got some great deals going on.

Purchase $50 or more in Thirsties products and receive a FREE Thirsties Diaper Duffel
All US orders over $50 Ship for FREE
GAD pockets on Clearance
Cloth Diaper Trial Program
Gift Registry & More!

Plus, during our 3-day Sale all orders will ship with a 5 load sample of Charlies Soap as well as samples of Sammy's Wipe Solution!

Diapers made with loving care....by a robot! Not!

2010-03-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

Just had to share that I came across this video on How Disposable Diapers are made. All that kept going through my mind was the thought that at least all cloth diapers are still made by hand. Some may be made in a larger sew shop but at least people are still employed to do the job and in most cases our modern cloth diapers are still being sewn by fellow moms.

This video just gives you that inside peek at all the plastic and polymer that go into the disposable diapers and a glimpse at how much energy is really consumed in their production.

Winner of Pimp Your Stash #19 is......Jill! Congratulations!

2010-03-06T15:55:00.002-05:00

Congratulations Jill, comment #29! You win the Thirsties Booty Luster Duo! One 4oz & one 8oz bottle, perfect for at home and in the diaper bag! Thanks so much for entering and thank you to Thirsties for sponsoring another great giveaway!

Fluff in the Spotlight! Thirsties New Booty Luster Bottom Cleaner!

2010-03-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

Thirsties has done it again! They've managed to come out with yet another fabulous product to add to their already awesome lineup.

Their new Booty Luster bottom cleaner is awesome and the perfect accessory for any cloth diapering mom.

Features:

A completely non-toxic, non-irritating solution
100% biodegradable
Custom formulated by a chemist especially for use in cleaning your baby's diaper area
Designed to help loosen waste, thoroughly cleanse, and gently moisturize your baby's skin
Restores skin's natural barrier against bacteria
Soothes skin and helps prevent diaper rash
Dries completely clean; will not leave residue
Made in the USA

Description:

Thirsties Booty Luster is blended by hand in small batches, using flowers, plants, resins, and high quality organic ingredients. Each component of our wipes solution has been carefully selected to not only clean your baby's diaper area, but to soothe and moisturize, as well. And perhaps most importantly, the properties of Thirsties Booty Luster actually help to restore the natural barrier your baby needs to protect him/herself from harmful, rash-inducing bacteria. Use Thirsties Booty Luster at every diaper change to clean thoroughly--yet gently, to moisturize, and to help protect your baby from diaper rash.

Use:
Shake bottle vigorously and admire the swirling luster! Add 2-4 sprays to your baby's soiled diaper area and wipe clean with Thirsties® Fab Wipes.

For external use only. Keep out of reach of children.

Ingredients:
Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, water-based Extract of Coconut, Honey, Grapeseed Extract, traces of Glycerin, Avocado Oil, Humectant Moisturizers, and other Organic Ingredients.

Thirsties Booty Luster is free of petroleum, alcohols, animal products, parabens, sulfates, DPGs, or any dilutants; nor are any of our products ever tested on animals.

MADE IN THE USA

Want to try some Booty Luster? Enter this week's Pimp Your Stash and you could win (2) bottles!

(CLOSED) Pimp Your Stash #19 - Thirsties New Booty Luster ENDS (03-05-10)

2010-02-28T00:01:00.005-05:00

This week's Pimp Your Stash Winner will receive a (2) Bottles {1-8oz & 1-4oz.} of Thirsties New Booty Luster and is sponsored by Thirsties! Booty Luster is a fabulous new product that makes changing diapers a breeze! Simply spray onto your babe's bum during a diaper change and wipe clean with Thirsties Fab Wipes!

This weeks mandatory question for your first entry is "Do you use cloth wipes? If so, what's your preferred wipe solution or bottom spray?"

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-Each contest runs from Sunday 12am to Friday 9pm.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* (1) Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* (1) Become a FAN of Thirsties on FaceBook
* (1) Subscribe to our New Newsletter
* (1) Join DD on Flickr & add photos! 1 entry for each photo, up to 5 per week.
* (1) Follow Us on Twitter (@mommygonewild)
* (1) Follow Diaper Discussions Blog
* (1) Place the Diaper Discussions Animated Banner on your site or Blog
* (3) Tweet About the Giveaway (use #clothdiapers in the tweet and link to the GiveAway) comment with a url to the tweet.
* (3) Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it).
* (10) Contribute an Article, Product Review or relevant story regarding Cloth Diapering. 10 extra entries are given for contributions submitted during the week of the contest. (Please do not contribute articles that were already published elsewhere.)
* (1) Comment to any post on the Diaper Discussions Blog (one entry per each comment)
* (5) Register (or being already registered) in our Affiliate Program (please specify where you placed your affiliate banner).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

Good Luck!!

Great Cloth Diapering Article at Associated Content!

2010-02-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

Today on Twitter I stumbled across a link to this great little article on AC titled Why I Chose to Switch to Cloth Diapers, by Stacey Paule.

It's a quick read but a good one. I think a lot of mamas can relate to the reasoning behind her decision to switch to cloth. Because of the economy and rise in cost of so many necessities more and more families are switching to cloth simply to save money rather than because they're trying to be "green."

Personally my reasons for cloth diapering were originally to save money because the cost of diapering twins is insane. But once I got started it really felt good to know that I was not throwing hundreds of diapers into the landfills and our switch to cloth ended up inspiring us to try other eco-friendly alternatives as well.

Anyhow, if you're over at AC be sure and check out this great little article.

Thirsties makes your wish their command! Introducing the Snap Duo Wrap!

2010-02-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

The comments and suggestions poured in requesting that Thirsties add a snap option to their popular diaper cover lineup. The result is the New Snap Duo Wrap!

Same awesome features as it's aplix counterpart except for the snapping waist adjustment instead of aplix! Available in all your favorite colors.

Sz 1 fits babes from 6-18lbs
Sz 2 fits babes from 18-40lbs

Features and adjustable rise for extended use to suit your growing baby
Two sizes will fit from birth to potty
Leg gussets provide superior protection against leaks
Pliable and breathable in over a dozen fresh colors
Pair with basic Prefold Cloth Diapers and save $2000 over disposables!
Pair with Thirsties® Fab Fitted Cloth Diapers and save $1000 over disposables!

If you love Thirsties then you've got to try one of the New Snap Duo Wraps! We've placed our order and their on their way! Grab yours today before they're gone! Click HERE to buy now!

Mircale Diapers is now....The Cloth Diaper Foundation!

2010-02-01T02:00:00.002-05:00

~Breaking News~

Many of you are familiar with Miracle Diapers and all the fabulous work they've done assisting families in need. Well now Miracle Diapers will be known as The Cloth Diaper Foundation!

As Miracle Diapers has grown so has the number of families they assist. In 2009, they helped over 450 babies directly, more than 100 babies through sponsorship and local distribution, and assisted other charities with the same mission as well!

To better serve those families Miracle Diapers reaccessed it's structure and practices.

They have:

• New leadership with Roxanna Jolly—CEO and Lisa Johnston—Operations Manager and Board Chair

• Relocated their headquarters to Katy, Texas

• Restructured how they process and accept applications

• Opened a retail store for fundraising

• Founded a new membership program

• Welcomed several new board members from the cloth diapering industry.

In it's fifth year Miracle Diapers wants to continue moving forward and has decided to take on a new name that better describes the organization and it's mission.

Miracle Diapers is now The Cloth Diaper Foundation.

“We felt that a more appropriate name would help the community have a better understanding of who we are, as we have often been mistaken for a diaper manufacturer. Our desire to move forward and build a legacy of support for the cloth diapering community will be reflected in our new name: The Cloth Diaper Foundation.”

-Roxanna Jolly, CEO, The Cloth Diaper Foundation

Monetary donations fell last year do to the economy. Which means there are more families out there for The Cloth Diaper Foundation to help! While diaper donations are always appreciated, we must be able to financially support organizational growth. Let's make this happen together and spread the CD love. Visit http://clothdiaperfoundation.org today to find out how you can help!

Special Offer: To assist in fund raising efforts, in the month of February, Tracy Whittemore and Lisa Adkins from The Cloth Diaper Company have so graciously offered to match, product for product, each Cloth Diaper Company product sold (Drybees, Wahmies, Rocky Mountain Diapers) in The Cloth Diaper Foundation Retail Store with an equal donation to our organization. (Example - Purchase a Rocky Mountain Diapers OS Pocket, CDC will donate our organization a RMD OS Pocket, Drybees for Drybees, etc.)

Pimp Your Stash Winner #18 - The Jacobsen Family!

2010-01-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Comment #60, The Jacobsen Family! You've won Pimp Your Stash 18, a brand new Econobum Onesize Cover & Prefold. Please contact me asap to claim your prize.
Want to learn more about The Jacobsen Family? Head on over to their Blog and see what they'e been up to. Tell them DiaperDiscussions sent you!

Just Julie: It's hard getting back on track!

2010-01-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

I am having the hardest time with motivation so far this year. I have ideas out the wazoo but when I have the time to make it happen I feel like I can't make myself lift a finger. Not sure what's wrong with me but I am working on getting back on track now.

First thing I did, which was not on my list of things to do, was re-vamp my personal blog and get it back up and running. I miss getting to post about personal stuff, recipes, sewing and crafts, etc whenever I feel like it. Here I try to keep the focus on cloth diaper related info and limit myself to one personal post per week.

So, here I am. Trying to stay motivated and get all my ducks back in a row.

How do you all stay motivated and organized? How do you stay inspired and keep your blogs going? Any and all feedback and/or tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks for reading guys!

Cloth Diapers to dye for?

2010-01-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

We've all been there. You're looking at a site that sells already pricey fitted diapers, usually ranging in price from $18-35.00 each for the natural un-dyed variety. They look so soft, so luxurious, but they're not even waterproof, they require a cover. Can you make yourself do it? Spend so much on one fitted?

Then it happens, you see them, the hand dyed diapers. Same luxurious fitteds dyed in beautiful vibrant colors. Their names are usually just as magical and awe inspiring. Neapolitan, Pumpkin Pie, Sorbet...you begin to drool.

Five minutes ago you were trying to talk yourself either into or out of buying an $18-35 dollar diaper. Now you can't stop your mouth from watering at the site of their even higher priced dyed versions. You tell yourself every babe deserves at least one "special" (a.k.a exspensive) diaper, right?

The truth is, hand dyed diapers are hard to resist. They're like a work of art that your kid poops in. But they don't have to cost you an arm and a leg, you can learn to dye your own diapers.

From cotton prefolds to bamboo velour, there are tutorials and dyes for every fabric imaginable. I've decided to post a link for you all to check out in case you're thinking of dying your own diapers.

All About Hand Dying Addresses issues like The Dyeing Process, How to keep the tag from getting dyed, What types of dyes to use on which fabrics, and much more. This is a really informational site and it will really give you a good idea of what's involved so that you can decide if it's really something you'd like to try or something you'd like to leave up to the experts.

Did you even know that you can purchase some of your dyeing supplies on Amazon?
Don't forget to check with the diaper manufacturers warranty before dying your diapers if you are concerned with the possibility of voiding their warranty. Some companies such as DryBees specifically state that the use of Procion Dyes does NOT void their warranty.
Hope you all found this information helpful! Have fun dyeing.

Pimp Your Stash #18 -Econobum Onesize Cover & Prefold CLOSED

2010-01-10T00:01:00.003-05:00

This week's Pimp Your Stash Winner will receive a Econobum Onesize Cover & Onesize Prefold! The Econobum is a fabulous new product that makes cloth diapering easy and affordable and it's crested by the makers of BumGenius!

This weeks mandatory question for your first entry is "Have you tried the Econobum? If so, what do you like most about it? If not, what do you think you'd like most about it?"

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-Each contest runs from Sunday 12am to Friday 9pm.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* Subscribe to our New Newsletter
* Join DD on Flickr & add photos! 1 entry for each photo, up to 5 per week.
* Follow Us on Twitter
* Become a Fan on FaceBook
* Follow Diaper Discussions Blog
* Place the Diaper Discussions Animated Banner on your site or Blog
* Tweet About the Giveaway (use #clothdiapers in the tweet and link to the GiveAway) comment with a url to the tweet.
* Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it).
* Contribute an Article, Product Review or relevant story regarding Cloth Diapering. 10 extra entries are given for contributions submitted during the week of the contest. (Please do not contribute articles that were already published elsewhere.)
* Comment to any post on the Diaper Discussions Blog (one entry per each comment)
* Register (or being already registered) in our Affiliate Program (please specify where you placed your affiliate banner).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

Good Luck!!

My Cloth Diaper Story

2010-01-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

Reader Submitted Article

When I found out I was pregnant, I started thinking about cloth diapers. I don’t even remember why, but I thought I wanted to use them. At the time, I didn’t know much more than prefolds because my mom had used those and flat birdseye for me and my sister (30+ years ago!). I started doing some research and found Fuzzi Bunz. Originally, that’s what I thought we’d use. But, we went to Babies Bottoms and More in Dallas, TX, to see what all was out there. The sales person showed my husband (a semi-willing participant) and me all the options, including prefolds & covers, pockets and all in ones. In the end, we decided on prefolds because they were cheapest and we could use them to stuff pockets, should we ever decide to go that route. We bought 24 infant prefolds and 4 x-small Thirsties covers (in gender neutral colors because we didn’t know if we were having a boy or girl).

We prepped the diapers and waited. When our daughter was 1 month old, we started using cloth. (We moved when she was 11 days old, so disposables were much simpler for the first month!) I’ve loved not having to buy disposables all the time, like we did for the first month. I’ve continued using the prefolds (up to the premium size) and Thirsties covers (up to mediums now!) and I still like them.

In March, I won the Fluff Friday contest and won a bumGenius one size diaper fleece in ribbit, a bumGenius one size diaper snaps in grasshopper, a Blueberry one size Deluxe Diaper in Green aplix and bumGenius Babylegs in Sweet Greens. (I had just bought a bumGenius one size diaper in grasshopper from DiaperSwappers when I found out I won!) I like the one size because they always fit. I have had pilling issues with the fleece diapers because I wash them with my prefolds. However, they still hold in the mess!

I kept entering cloth diaper giveaways and was surprised to find out that, in October, I won again! I won a Baby Beehinds One Size Hemp Diaper, a Baby Beehinds One Size Bamboo Diaper, and Baby Beehinds Wool Cover. I love these for overnight because they are much trimmer than double prefolds or even fully stuffed pockets. I’m slowly using fewer inserts to see just how trim I can get it without leaking.

Since receiving my pocket diapers, my husband has told me that he’d help out with diapers more if we had more of “those that go on like ‘regular’ (disposable) diapers.”

So, when I found some HuggaBuns pockets on clearance for $5 at Maine Cloth Diaper Co., I jumped on it. I bought 4 for just $25, including shipping.

Through the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt, I found Diaper Discussions. They have a Pimp My Stash giveaway each week, so I started entering. Just a couple weeks later, I found that I’d won there too. I won a Happy Heiny's Onesize Diaper. I love that the suedecloth doesn’t pill!

Also, now that I have pockets, I’ve decided to start using cloth when we’re out and about. (I bought a Planet Wise wet/dry bag to use when we’re out instead of the plastic grocery bags I’d been using!)

My sister loved using my pockets when we were home for Thanksgiving, calling them “cheater diapers” and said that she might consider cloth diapers when she has kids, now that she’s tried more than just my prefolds!

In total, we’ve spent just over $450 on cloth and only $175 on disposable in the last 19 months since my daughter was born. Considering we won't have to spend much more on cloth for another baby, I'd say it's well worth the investment!

Reader Submitted Article by
Heather
babyratliff.blogspot.com

Congratulations....Tamara of The Szogedi Home! Winner of our December Blog Contribution Award!

2010-01-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Tamara of www.szogediek.blogspot.com for winning our December Blog Contributor Award! Her contribution Wipe Out! was an excellent tuturial on cloth wipes! We look forward to many more contributions from her in the future! Tamara please contact me asap to claim your prize!

What does she win? She's the lucky recipient of a $20.00 Gift Certificate to Earth Angels Diaper Co. and she's won this snazzy little award to place on her Blog.

Would you like a chance to win? Simply use our Blog Contribution form to submit your articles or product reviews. The more you contribute the more likely you are to win! Plus for each approved contribution you receive 10 extra entries into the current Pimp Your Stash GiveAway!

So what are you waiting for? Submit your articles today! Have a question or need ideas on what to write about? Contact me for more details.

The Yummiest Cloth Wipe Solution!

2010-01-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

Do you use cloth wipes? Well you should! They make perfect sense when used with cloth diapers. No more having to separate your dirty wipes to throw in the grabage while your cloth diapers go in the laundry. With cloth wipes you simply toss them in with your diapers and voila! It's that simple.

Sammy's Wipe Beans are the perfect cloth wipe solution. Available in a ton of yummy scents you're sure to find some of your favorites. Each wipe bean yields 1 cup of wipe solution.

Directions: Simply dissolve 1 wipe bean in 1 cup of hot water, let cool and use!

Sammy's Wipe Beans are 100% natural, made with natural glycerin base, natural vegetable oils, purified water, and premium essential oils. No animal testing or animal products are used in the making of this product.

Each wipe bean order is custom made and ships within 1-3 days.

Available in Small or Large bags. To order Click here.

Winner of Pimp Your Stash Holiday Edition is....Jes!

2010-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Jes, Comment #104! She is the winner of Pimp Your Stash Holiday Edition! She's got a little bun in the oven so she'll for sure be needing this great supply of cloth diapers to build her stash. Contact me asap to claim your prize. Happy New Year!

Bum Genius Holiday Promotion! Buy 5 Get 1 Free Sale!

2009-12-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

I'm super excited to announce that Earth Angels Diaper Co. is participating in this year's BumGenius Holiday Promotion! For a limited time we are offering Buy 5 Get 1 Free on BumGenius 3.0 OneSize Pocket Diapers! That's a savings of $17.95 off the purchase of 6 diapers!

What else? Until January 1st you can also take advantage of our Free Shipping Promotion! That's Buy 5 Get 1 Free + Free Shipping! This is one sweet deal you don't want to miss.

Happy Holidays!

Diaper Discussions

Spontaneous Product Review: purEcosheet

Hey Target, What's the deal??

Cyber Monday Sales at Earth Angels Diaper Company!

Cost of Cloth Wipes Solution. Is it worth it?

This one time...I thought my nipples were going to fall OFF!

New Product: Charlie's Soap Hardwater Treatment & Laundry Booster!

How UnderCover Mama Saved My Baby from Chickenpox!

Cloth Diapering Boys vs. Girls, How do they compare?

Vinegar, The perfect green cleaning solution!

New Product Coming Soon: BumGenius FreeTime Cloth Diaper!

Flip Training Pants and New BumGenius Prints are coming soon!

Is your baby a lazy pooper?

Lollidoo Overnight Ecopocket to the rescue!

Have your reasons for cloth diapering changed?

BumGenius, one of the world's most popular cloth diapers, is on SALE!

If you haven't tried BumGenius One Size pocket diapers then you haven't experienced just how easy cloth diapering can be!

Regularly $17.95each, throughout August you can take advantage of great savings and buy 5 get 1 FREE!

Features:

Benefits of Babywearing for moms and dads!

You use what kind of diapers??!!

Cloth trainers make sense and save cents over disposables!

There will always be regrets...Do all, see all, be all, cherish all.

Test Drive GroVia and see why more moms love Hybrid Cloth Diapers!

Winner of the Knickernappies OS Pimp Your Stash Giveaway is....Patty (Patricia M)!

Pimp Your Stash with a Knickernappies Onesize Pocket Diaper! Giveaway CLOSED

Test the cloth diapering waters with Econobum!

How to use and store cloth wipes!

Cute Cloth Diaper Storage Solutions!

Save BIG with GroVia's Gro-To-Go Summer Kit! June 1-30, 2011

Fluff Stash for iPhone! Finally a Cloth Diaper Addicts iPhone app!

How to Pack a Cloth Diaper Diaper Bag!

cloth wipes: all the cool people are using them

Breastfeeding Necessities

Cat Wearing

Newborn Picks

Snow makes me love cloth even more...

Grand Re-Opening

New Baby! New Beginning!

Thirsties BRAND NEW Duo Fab Fitted!

25% Year End Clearance Sale on Thirsties, FuzziBunz, Moby, Diva Cup and more!

Top 10 Reasons to buy cloth diapers as gifts!

Are you participating in the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt?

Have you ever had trouble with cloth diapering? Knickernappies needs your help!

Winner of the Flings Reusable Pop-Up Recycling Bins is....Jen & Andy!

Flings Pop-Up Trash & Recycling Bins Review & Giveaway! Ends 10-11-10

Winner of the Pimp Your Stash 2G Knickernappies Pocket Giveaway is....Maria of Fitteds and Pockets and Snappis, oh my!

Support The Cloth Diaper Foundation! Participate in their Dozens Diaper Drive!

Pimp Your Stash with a Knickernappies 2G Pocket Diaper! Ends 09-15-10

The Cloth Diaper Foundation needs us! Read about all the different ways you can help.

TWO Discount Codes for Earth Angels Diaper Company!

You could win a ONE YEAR SUPPLY of Rockin Green Soap!

Will the oil spill cause more cloth diaper converts?

Winner of the Knickernappies OS Diaper w/ Loopy Do Inserts is...Mom of 3 Munchkins!

Save BIG on Cloth Diapers & Accessories July 4th-8th at Earth Angels Diaper Co.!

Help save the Gulf Coast wildlife! Donate your cloth diapers and inserts!

CLOSED: Pimp Your Stash: Win a Knickernappies OS Diaper w/ Loopy Do Inserts! Ends 07-02-10

Just Julie: What's the word on the street about the NEW BumGenius Product?

Fabulous Fluffy Father's Day Sale!

Winner of the Duo Hemp Prefolds is.....Jessica of Natural Baby Giveaways!

Congratulations....Whitney, Winner of our May Fan Photo Contest!

CLOSED Pimp Your Stash with a FREE Pair of Thirsties New Duo Hemp Prefolds! (ENDS 06-11-10)

Fluff in the Spotlight! Thirsties *New* Duo Hemp Prefolds!

If you love small businesses and wahm's you should check this out!

Winner of the Pimp Your Jewelry Giveaway is....SimplyMerry!

Follow Friday: Let's Have a Blog Hop!

My take on the Cloth vs. Disposable war!

CLOSED: Pimp Your Jewelry! Handmade by Waterwaif on Etsy, Silver Aqua Seaglass with Starfish Charm Necklace

We're sponsoring a Giveaway! Win a Duo Wrap, Flip Insert & Tiny Bubbles Detergent at The Budget Mommy's Blog

Friday Follow: May 14th

Winner of the Cutest in Cloth Fan Photo Contest for April is little Shirley!

Fuzzi Bunz New Colors! Now available at Earth Angels Diaper Co. (Plus Discontinued Colors are on SALE!)

Winner of the Earth Day Rockin Green Soap Giveaway is....Kayla! Comment #96

TWO Eco-Fabulous FaceBook Fan Giveaways! End tomorrow, check them out!

CLOSED Have a Rockin Earth Day! Pimp Your Stash with Rockin Green Soap! (Ends 4-23-10)

My 7yr old daughter demonstrates how to use a Thirsties Duo Diaper and also discusses Earth Day!

Have a Knickernappies diaper? Enter their 2nd Annual Photo Contest and you could win 6 KN diapers!

Just Julie: Ever sent a diaper or diapers to their grave?

December, January, February "Cutest in Cloth" Photo Contest Winners! Better late than never!

Earth Angels Diaper Co is swaggin it!

Fluff in the Spotlight! Thirsties New Duo Hemp Prefolds!

Fluff in the Spotlight! Thirsties New Booty Luster Bottom Cleaner!

(CLOSED) Pimp Your Stash #19 - Thirsties New Booty Luster ENDS (03-05-10)