Congrats to comment number 199, Jennifer!

You have 48 hours to claim your prize after the email is sent.  Congrats!

This post is part of Dirty Diaper Laundry and Cloth Diapering Bloggers’ Carnival.  To read other entries scroll to the end of this post.

This Carnival post is all about traveling with cloth diapers.  “Impossible!” You say! “Nay” I say!  I have done a great deal of traveling since having my son last November.  We have driven and flown.  Used cloth diapers and not.  I am going to go through the many different plans and schemes I have used for traveling.  Perhaps you will be inspired to give it a shot on your next vacation.

Way back when, in February, my husband and I had the brilliant idea to drive from NY to NC.  My son was 3.5 months at the time.  I will spare you the gory details of how 12 hours turned into 15.  I will tell you that as new parents our car was packed to the BRIM with things we “had” to have.  Baby bath tub, bouncer, 20,000 onesies, burp cloths, etc.  Shoved into the baby bath tub to save space were CLOTH DIAPERS!

I lovingly packed my diapers, pre-stuffed, and my cloth wipes, my spray bottle, and wet bags, into my baby bath tub.  We were staying with family and I had discussed ahead of time the idea of washing poop in their washer.  They were ok with it!  I literally brought my entire stash, which consisted mostly of Bum Genius 3.0′s at the time.

I also remembered to bring a small ziplock of Tide Original and my blue Dawn, which was my wash routine at the time.  Even being busy with family and friends I had plenty of time to throw my diapers in the wash.  My Mother-in-Law was even helpful and pulled them out of the dryer for me and stacked them neatly.  She didn’t stuff them though.  She knew enough not to wash them for me.

Tragically, the water in Charlotte was different than NY and my wash routine didn’t work well there.  I came back with repelling issues and had to strip.  It was still worth it to use my own diapers in Charlotte though!

The next trip was a biggie.  We flew from Syracuse to San Antonio Texas.  This was a family trip also, so we had access to laundry.  At this time I had purchased G Diapers and Gro Baby.  My plan of attack was to use G Diapers for the night before the trip while I washed diapers and for the flights.  While in Texas I packed only Gro Baby and lots of soakers (space saving) and my overnight diapers, which at the time were Blueberry Deluxe One Size.  I packed a hanging wet bag, but skipped on the cloth wipes this time and used disposables.

Again, trouble occurred.  I had a hard time keeping up with laundry since I packed so light.  Trying to fit cloth diapers, even Gro Baby, in a suitcase and your own items means you only have so many.  The other problem I ran into was running out of disposable wipes.  I thought I had plenty but apparently you use so many disposable wipes!!!  I felt like I was using 10 for a poopy change.  It was crazy!  Plus, my son had an upset tummy and was pooping so much I was using all of my diapers quicker than usual.

Then, my diapers were leaking all over.  Repelling, again.  WHY ME?  The last leg of my trip I had to use disposables that my Mother-in-Law brought all the way from NC.  The same package she had for me when we visited last time but didn’t need.  I used a combo of those and my G Diapers.  I didn’t have enough covers to use them full time for the rest of the trip.  I wrote two posts about this trip.  Here and Here.

Tampa.  SIGH.  My husband and I went to Tampa for a few days.  On this trip I didn’t even attempt cloth diapers.  I was disheartened by the two previous trips where my diapers started repelling after washing in my location.  Plus, being such a short trip I was somewhat ok with using disposables because I would be gone such a short time.  Two days before we left for the trip we went on a hunt for “eco-friendly” disposables.  I had heard of a brand that was based from corn.  I didn’t find it but instead bought the Huggies Pure and Natural.  I later found out that the orgainc cotton mentioned in the commercials was only on the outside.  What was touching the skin was the same as a regular Huggies.  Shoulda known.  It also still smelled just a terrible as a sposie. More about this trip here and here.

On this trip I realized how much I hated the thought of sposies.  I felt guilt with every diaper I threw away.  And, I seemed to change him even more than with cloth.  He felt “squishy” like he was wet all the time, but when I took it off it was light.  I think the cloth diaper companies took the knowledge that parents change when the diaper feels squishy and manipulated the diaper to feel like that with a tiny bit of pee.  You change more, so they make more!

On our next trip I flew out to Charlotte again, just me and my son, to visit family.  This time, I had an ingenious plan!  Since we never used a car seat on our flights (I nursed him almost the entire time on my lap) I always checked it.  To bring cloth diapers with me this time I packed an entire garbage bag full and stuffed it into my car seat, and put that in a car seat bag for traveling.  I basically snuck them in!  I didn’t have to take up valuable luggage space or pay extra to pack them in a separate suitcase.

This time I was using Rockin’ Green detergent from a sample I had.  My diapers didn’t repel at all.  This was a turning point for my laundry routine.  I ditched the Tide and started using detergents meant for cloth diapers.  If you want to read my original post about this trip, click here.

For our quick trip to Boston MA, which we drove, we just used cloth like normal.  I packed lots of wet bags and placed my small wetbags from each day into a larger wetbag.  This worked great to contain smells!  I met another cloth diapering mama on this trip and wrote about how strange it was.

Vegas Baby!!!!  My most recent trip was from NY to Las Vegas, with just me and my son.  I only got one suitcase, which I already had to pay for, and I wasn’t packing a car seat.  Packing cloth diapers was out of the question!  I started brainstorming ways to use cloth and found a local diaper service in Las Vegas.  I worked with them to deliver to my hotel and pick up.  For my flights I used Gro Baby’s new Bio Soakers!  I wrote a post about it already, which you can read here.

For my next trip, which will once again be Charlotte NC in November, I am planning on packing my diapers inside of the car seat bag again.  It worked so well that I am going to do it again!

If I ever get a real vacation where I am not visiting family, I will look for a local diaper service.  If there isn’t one, I might have to use disposable cloth diaper inserts.  Truth be told, I do not like bringing poop back home with me.  I wouldn’t  mind people using disposables if they were the exception to the rule, not the rule.  After all, that was the reason they were invented in the first place!

A map of our travels. Click for full image.

To read about how other families have used cloth diapers on vacation, or how they plan to, or why they don’t, visit the links below.

Readers, do you travel with cloth?  Why or why not?

The wonderful folks at Regal Lager sent a couple of Bambino Mio Nappy Trial Packages for me to review.  They also sent a container of Mio Fresh to try out.  Enjoy this video review.

Ease of Use ✰✰✰✰✰ Prefolds and covers are just about as simple as it gets when you don’t have to snappi them.  If you plan on doing the simple trifold then it is extremely easy.  The Boy Fold and Loose Stools fold is a tricky one but after 1 or 2 tries it gets easier.  When you are ready to wash y our cover, be sure to attach those tabs to the strip and turn it inside out!  This is my least favorite feature but it is easy to do.

Bang for the Buck ✰✰✰ The price for just a cover and prefold is kinda steep.  This product is new to the US, so perhaps this is why it is more expensive.  For a Trial Package with a cover and a prefold you will pay 19.99.  This is a couple of dollars more than just buying a cover and prefold separately.  This is double what the new Bum Genius Flip (a one size cover and one size prefold) will cost.  The Bambino Mio does have patterns and the cover is a bit more “luxurious” feeling.  The Mios also come in sizes rather than being a one size system.

Performance ✰✰✰✰ I had no issues with this diaper for daytime.  I don’t use just a prefold and cover at night because I prefer a fitted and cover.  I have used the cover with a fitted, which worked out great.  It kept any leaks at bay.

Fit ✰✰✰✰ These fit wonderfully on my son.  Since they are sized and have velcro you can adjust the waist in a jiffy, making for easier and quicker diaper changes.  They are bulky, but these are good diapers for at home.  Most people don’t use prefolds and covers while on the go anyway, so having to put a pair of baby jeans over these is a non issue.

Overall- I love the simplicity of trifolding a prefold and using a cover.  This is an easy way to cloth diaper around the house.  The prefolds are very absorbent and quilt up beautifully without shrinking too much.  I enjoy the pastel patterns like the stars and dots, they are modern and clean.  The leg gussets are a nice feature, especially for the runny poop stage.  I would just add a fraction on an inch of fabric above the velcro strip and laundry tabs.

I was also sent a container of Mio Fresh, which acts as a laundry booster (like Oxyclean) for your diapers.  The intent is to use instead of washing your diapers on hot, something I just can bring myself to do.  I have been using it to help with odor, and it has helped my ammonia problem (though it hasn’t cured it).  I will take anything!

This post is part of “All About Wool Week” on Dirty Diaper Laundry.

I hope everyone has enjoyed “All About Wool Week here on Dirty Diaper Laundry.  This was an experiment for me.  Trying wool for the first time was both overwhelming and exciting.  Turns out, wool isn’t the complicated cloth diaper solution you think it is.  I’m so grateful to the many companies who sent their diapers for me to test, as well as the companies who are sponsoring giveaways.  If you haven’t already, make sure you enter the great giveaways going on for Wool Week, which are all listed on the right.

Since I like to show you the diapers on video, here is a short overview of all the diapers I have tested for this event.

Tuesday is another Cloth Diaper Carnival, and October is a month dedicated to Babywearing.  This past week was International Babywearing Week, but on DDL there is going to be a whole month full of Baby Carrier Reviews and giveaways.  There are quite a few!  Keep checking back!  Thanks for making Wool Week a great success!

This post is part of “All About Wool Week” on Dirty Diaper Laundry.

Play All Day Diapers was a brand that I “shockingly” had never heard of.  How it escaped my diaper radar is beyond me.  Play All Day Diapers are back to basics.  They come in earthy tones, or even just natural un-dyed, and are meant to be a functional diaper with no frills.

I was given a Certified Organic Merino Wool Cover with snaps to test out.  This one was natural, completely undyed.  If I felt the notion I could dye it myself with kool-aid, something I haven’t tried yet but may in the future.  The diaper has three snaps on each flap, and one snap for crossing the tabs over.  It only comes in two sizes, NB/S and M/L.  I have the M/L version, which fits my son well at 10 months and 20 pounds.

I had a good experience with this cover even though the first time I used it I had a small leak.  It was the fault of a fitted that wasn’t fully prepped (I know, silly me.)  Later uses were fine, so I know the halfway prepped fitted was the culprit.

I will say that I wish the snaps sizing were a little different.  I felt the way they were now was just a little off.  Obviously it still fit him, but the wool gathered up just a teeny bit in between the snapped portions.  It is hard to describe.  Maybe the one I had the tab snaps were spaced minutely different than those on the diaper.

Play All Day does have dyed versions of these, including a very cute olive and chocolate.  I am excited for the wool long johns to come out, which I think will be a nice addition to their product line up.

About Play All Day Diapers:

When (Kim) I started the business in March 2008, I made all the diapers for the business myself. Now I am fortunate to have the help of very talented seamstresses who work out of their homes. I still make some Play All Day diapers, because I really enjoy putting together these pieces of fabric that will make a little child comfortable and happy.

Play All Day Diapers are proudly made in the USA by Kim and a seamstress.  You may pay a little extra but you know your money is going to hard working moms.

The other cool thing about Play All Day Diapers is that they have a one year warranty! This is a comforting thought, especially when I have purchased so many diapers that didn’t last.  Knowing that Kim stands behind her products is very cool!

This post is part of “All About Wool Week” on Dirty Diaper Laundry.

I was given a Baby Beehinds Wool Cover to try out on my son for Wool Week.  I am a big fan of velcro wool covers since they go on so easily, and in this case the velcro looks like it is really going to hold up.  It shouldn’t matter since you only handwash wool, right?  Well, this Baby Beehinds Wool Cover is machine washable!  Wait, what?  Wool+washers= disaster right?  This cover has already been felted, which means it has been shrunk.  No further shrinkage should come from washing.  This isn’t something I would ever do, but, some people would love to have this option.  At least I know if my husband washes it that the world won’t end!

Once again, wool has proven itself to be bulletproof!  This cover never had any leaks.  I love the ribbing along the sides and the velcro closure.  One tab doesn’t have hook and loop on the outside, so if your tabs are crossing over there is no velcro on the outside of the diaper.  It has has laundry tabs, just in case you decide to be brave and toss it in the washer.

Baby Beehinds have some fantastic colors especially for the US.  They have an interesting back story.  At some point they decided to discontinue their colored fitteds and Americans went crazy!  Apparently, in Australia the colored fitteds never sold.  They brought the colors back by popular demand and introduced some new ones.  Trust me, they are gorgeous in person!  I have the purple which is pictured.

If you get a chance to try one, you should!  They are a really easy way to start using wool since they velcro and can be machine washed!

*** Babybeehinds commented with this info on the cover being discontinued.

“Baby BeeHinds Colored wool is being discontinued in Australia and Europe. Natural will continue to be available in Australia and Europe, and all colors (including Deep Twilight in photo) will continue to be available in the USA and Canada. Colored bamboo O/S are also available exclusively in North America.”

• Made from 100% wool fabric (Australian wool) with a double layer in the Wet Zone
• Elasticized around the leg and back to provide a good ‘seal’ over the nappy
• Bound in wool ribbing Superior High-Tech velcro means no rub marks on baby’s tummy, longer lasting grip and no curling of the tabs- to keep them looking nicer, longer
• Fully machine washable in a lingerie bag (cold water only)

This post is part of “All About Wool Week on Dirty Diaper Laundry.”

As part of my Wool experiment I needed to try a hand knit wool soaker.  I asked Monkey Snuggles, an etsy store who makes cloth diapers, knit soakers, and knit longies, if they would like to participate.  They agreed!

This experiment was my first time with wool, period, and my first time using a hand knit wool soaker.  First of all, I am glad to have been able to try one since I am sure they are labor intensive.  Even for a soaker I know that there is time involved in making them, probably more than sewing a soaker up.

Because wool is great and the soaker was well made we didn’t have any leaks while we used this product.  It is thicker than an interlock soaker because it is knit, but it also has stretch to it since it is ribbed.  I like to call these “butt sweaters” because if you turn it upside down it looks like a sweater!

These have a drawstring so you can tighten the waist if you need to.  Obviously this is a pull on soaker, but again, this can be a good thing if your baby is older and can stand up.

About MonkeySnuggles:

Monkey Snuggles Diaper Company is a four generation family business. Three generations of crafty ladies knitting and sewing and one generation of in-house quality control! We offer fabulous pocket diapers, organic bamboo fitted diapers,lots of wool options, and a wide range of cloth diapering accessories.

You can find some really adorable soakers on Monkeysnuggles etsy store, along with longies and cloth diapers!  There are some really fabulous longies for sale and the cloth diapers are very adorable!

If you are in the shopping mood, use the code DDL15 for 15 % off.  Just mention DDL15 in the message to seller box at checkout for a 15% refund of the purchase price (before shipping).

This post is part of “All About Wool Week” on Dirty Diaper Laundry.

Janet, the woman behind muggabug, contacted me about reviewing one of her wool products.  I was thrilled to have a chance to review her longies!  I have thought for a while about wanting to try longies since I live in an area that is extremely cold during the winter.  I was sent a pair of Kelly Green (pictures don’t do the color justice) wool interlock longies.

About muggabug:

muggabug is a family business based in Maple Ridge, BC.  After the birth of their son Corbin, Janet and Jason found they needed an alternative in cloth diapering when they were not able to get rid of the rashes their son was getting. After trying a wool cover and having the rash disappear, they were hooked.  After looking at all the pros and cons of other wool covers out there, they decided to make their own, and muggabug was born.

muggabug  is a true family business. Janet does the designing and sewing, and Jason does all of the dying and cutting of material.

Because of their new found love of cloth diapers and attachment parenting, muggabug has expanded into other diapering accessories and infants clothing. There are also baby carrier accessories, wet bags, change pad and cloth wipes bags, clothing and pacifier clips. And look for their new bamboo fitted cloth diaper coming in the next few months.  muggubug can be found at www.hyenacart.com/muggabug and on facebook as muggabug.

Review:

Let me first say how adorable these longies are.  I love the look of interlock wool because it is so clean and smooth.  It is also lightweight and very stretchy.  When I opened the package I was actually sad because they looked so tiny.  I was sure they wouldn’t fit.  I almost went to write Janet an email saying that somehow they measurements I sent were wrong or perhaps she sent me the wrong size.  Instead, I tried them on my son over a pocket diaper he was already wearing.  Holy Smokes they s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d like you wouldn’t believe!  I was beyond excited because now I could use them.  Wouldn’t I have felt silly if I had sent that email before trying them on him.

I tried them for the first time overnight.  We used a fitted.  Janet had lanolized them already for me and OMG, they smelled heavenly.  She sprayed some “fresh cut grass” lanolin on the wet zone also.  They were pretty easy to slide on him, even though they are stretchy and a snug fit.  My son woke up as usual at some point in the night.  Dry.  Again he woke up.  Dry.  He woke up in the morning, still Dry.  Woo hoo!

We tried them again a few nights later.  This time, I did have a small leak but it was my fault.  Janet warned me that she had quickly lanolized them for me to try right away, but I should fully do them myself.  Well, I didn’t.  We had a minor leak.  I lanolized them again myself and washed them.  Now they are again watertight!

One thing to note:  the color on these woolies is very vibrant.  You will want to wash them alone 4-5 times before trying to wash them with other wool, unless they are VERY like colors.  The color bleeds.

I am so happy muggabug sent these for me to review because I am now a longies fanatic!  I can’t wait to order more in other colors.  Fletcher is going to be the most adorable and stylin’ baby on the block!  Plus, the great thing about longies is that they function as clothing.  They aren’t just a diaper cover.  If you have ever tried getting a pair of baby jeans over a fluffy bum you know how handy longies are.

muggabug has generously offered  to sponsor a giveaway.  One lucky reader can win their choice of cover, shorts, or yoga pants.  Color samples will be on Facebook page once wool is dyed.

To Enter (for help entering refer to this handy entry guide)

First, (this entry is mandatory) Go to muggabug’s Facebook or Hyenacart store and name your favorite item. Come back and leave a comment with your answer. Please leave your email in this comment as well in blank at hotmail dot com format.

Extra Entries:

Follow @Muggabug on Twitter. Leave a comment saying you did.

Become a fan of muggabug on Facebook. Tell me you did with a comment.

Buy something from muggabug on HC or FB for (5) entries. Leave 5 separate comments.

Follow my twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Win custom #clothdiaper item from @muggabug and @KimRosas on DDL http://poq5i.th8.us ” Leave a comment with a link to your status.

Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. You will get an email to activate. You must activate the subscription! Leave a comment. psst… you definitely want to sign up for updates via email. In October DDL is giving away a Hygeia Double Electric pump and more!

Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

Blog about this giveaway. Post a link in the comment.

Go to mamaneedsthis.com and subscribe via email. Leave a comment saying you did.

Post this giveaway to your Facebook. Leave a comment.

Giveaway ends on October 12. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.

This post is part of “All About Wool Week on Dirty Diaper Laundry.

One of the scariest parts of using wool is washing.  What soap is safe?  How often do I wash?  When I started researching what soap to buy I actually asked around to a few of my cloth diapering friends.  Many of them suggested Sudz ‘n Dudz. I realized that my local diaper store (by local I mean 1.5 hours away in Ithaca) carried that line.  I waited for an excuse to get to Jillian’s Drawers.

There I bought my first bottle of Sudz ‘n Duz Liquid Wool Wash.  It was sealed so I didn’t even know how heavenly it smelled until I got home!  I have to say I love my Sudz ‘n Dudz!  I have been using it to wash all of my woolies.  When I am done washing them they smell so great.  Plus, it has a small amount of lanolin in it so you are lightly lanolizing your wool each wash.  This is a way to extend the time between having to full out lanolize them.  They also make tons of other wool care products as well!

About Sudz ‘n Dudz:

Sudz ‘n Dudz began in the early months of 2005. What started out as experimental curiosity has bloomed, thanks to your enthusiasm and support, into a wonderful business adventure. Our goal is to create organic wool care products at a fair and competitive price. My daughters, Emma and Maya are my cheerleaders, order packers, bottle pumpers and sticker-putter-on-ers! They love to help with labeling and scenting the products, signing and decorating invoices, and they are always my inspiration (and sometimes my guinea pigs!) for new products. Emma is a skilled order packer now, and I think her cursive is neater than mine! My husband is a whiz at sourcing ingredient and container suppliers, as well as offering sage business advice and fixing the occasional printer jam before I have at it with a sledgehammer!

While looking into what Sudz ‘n Dudz was made from I was pleased to discover how much care goes into the ingredients and the formula.  The product is all organic and the lanolin is very high quality.  I know when I run out of my Lansinoh that I will be buying pure Lanolin from Sudz ‘n Dudz.  Here are all of the ingredients:

Organic Wool Wash Bar: saponified organic oils of olive and/or canola, palm kernel, coconut, castor, jojoba. Enriched with certified organic lanolin and scented with essential oils, fragrance oils, or nothing!
Organic Liquid Wool Wash: same as above, plus distilled spring water and liquid lanolin oil.
Organic Lanolin Balm: organic lanolin, organic jojoba oil. scented with essential oils, fragrance oils, or nothing!
Lanolin Spray: liquid lanolin oil, organic jojoba oil, silicone. scented with essential oils, fragrance oils or nothing!
Liquid lanolin: nothing but the best certified pesticide-free, detergent-free, residue-free liquid lanolin oil!
Organic lanolin: CERTIFIED organic lanolin from Australia, scented with essential oils, fragrance oils, or nothing!

Now that you know all about this wonderful company wouldn’t you love to try Sudz n Dudz for your wool?

Sudz ‘n Dudz is offering a choice between a custom scented sampler pack (you can pick up to 5 for the above products, plus the wool wash bar sample can be cut from a scented bar) and a full sized washing and lanolizing product. (Either a bar or a 4 fl. oz. liquid wool wash and a 4 oz spray, balm, lanolin, or liquid lanolin.)

To Enter: (for help entering refer to this handy entry guide)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry you do.

First, (this entry is mandatory) Go to SudznDudz.com and tell me your favorite product that they sell. Come back and leave a comment with your answer.

-OR-

Go to EmmayaNaturals.com and leave a comment with feedback (good or bad) about the new website.

Please leave your email in this comment as well in blank at hotmail dot com format.

Extra Entries:

Follow @organicwoolcare or @EmmayaNaturals on Twitter. Leave a comment saying you did. (2) entries for following both.  Leave separate comments.

Follow Emmaya Natural’s Blog via Google Friend Connect. Leave a comment.

Become a fan of  Sudz ‘n Dudz on Facebook or Emmaya Naturals. (2) entries for becoming a fan of both. Leave separate comments.

Follow my twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Win Sudz ‘n Dudz Sampler pack from @organicwoolcare and @KimRosas on DDL

http://dgt6q.th8.us” Leave a comment with a link to your status.

Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. You will get an email to activate. You must activate the subscription! Leave a comment. psst… you definitely want to sign up for updates via email. In October DDL is giving away a Hygeia Double Electric pump and more!

Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

Blog about this giveaway. Post a link in the comment.

Go to mamaneedsthis.com and subscribe via email. Leave a comment saying you did.

Post this giveaway to your Facebook. Leave a comment.

Although we cannot give extra entries  for product or company reviews on  www.diaperpin.com , the businesses you support are so grateful for your positive comments. Please consider leaving a review and make someone’s day!

Giveaway ends on October 12. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.