At a BWI Meeting

After attending a BWI (Babywearing International Meeting) and seeing a beautiful and comfortable Wrap Conversion (a wrap-long piece of woven fabric- cut and sewn together to make a Mei Tai) I knew I had to have one.  It seemed like it would solve some problems with comfort for longer time periods.  If you get a Wrap Conversion and keep the wrap straps then you have a wonderful hybrid- the ease of a Soft Structure Carrier (like the Ergo/Boba) and the comfortable and adjustability in the straps of a wrap.

One of the other reasons I wanted a Wrap Conversion Mei Tai (WCMT) was so that I could get a higher back carry.  I love back carries and they are more convenient for many occasions, but Everett hated being so low on my back and getting the view of the color shirt I was wearing.  I would attempt a high back carry in a woven wrap but I’ll admit that I’m not good enough!

I stalked The Baby Wearer’s FSOT for a WCMT.  Anytime one came up for sale it would either have a buckle, be a wrap I didn’t love, or I would love it and I would be too late.  In the meantime I posted my own beloved Beco Butterfly II in Scooters- a Hard to Find print that I stalked for over a year ago for my yet to be born baby Everett.  I love the print, it is still one of my favorites, but the carrier itself wasn’t comfortable enough and it never made it into my rotation.  I knew it was a sought after carrier so I posted it For Trade towards a WCMT and hoped for the best.

Honeycomb-esque Applique on the body

Stars aligned when a Scooters fan offered to trade my BBII towards a Wrap Conversion.  It gets confusing here but somehow this trade was for a brand new custom conversion.  I went for it, ordered the Dolcino Kreta wrap, paid another $100+ for the applique work (and upgraded to a hybrid waist and sweatshirt style hood) and waited.  My end goal was to have the carrier before I left for the ABC Kids Expo.  I needed a carrier I could wear Everett in for many hours at a time and I wanted him on my back.

The carrier made it just in time and I was able to practice with it before the show.  I did get him on my back and we walked around.  It was a very comfortable carrier.  I even carried an entire wooden glider from the basement around to the front of the house with him on my back- I am super woman!

When ABC Kids Came I packed her up and excitedly waited for my chance to wear Everett and show off the most beautiful carrier there.  It was handmade and totally custom to my design.

Instead- I gave myself “busted-arm syndrome” from carrying 20 pounds of baby around for 4 days straight and 6+ hours a day.

Long story short- Ev hated it.  He much preferred to be in a ring sling so I did get to wear him a little on my hip, or I put him in the new Boba 3G on my front.  I even wore him some in the Onya on my back and he enjoyed that the most.  But would he be caught dead in the $300 carrier I had made just for the conference?  Of course not!

That Expo was the hardest few days in recent memory.  There were other factors, not just the carrier.  Everett was overwhelmed and wanted to be held, not “worn.”  In all honesty he isn’t as into being worn as my first son was.  For Everett and I babywearing is a necessity for trips.  A convenience.  For Fletcher and I when he was younger I wore him because he loved it.  I would wear him just to get him to nap, or just for snuggles.  Everett is just not into that kind of babywearing.  I think I am still in denial…

Now I have the most beautiful carrier in the world just sitting in a giant Ikea bag in my coat closet along with my other carriers.  Unlike those other carriers, it never gets pulled out from hiding except every month or two when I decide to give it another chance.  Everett arches and squirms and I take him out.  It pretty much never sees the light of day like my Ring Slings and Soft Structure Carriers.

One day I’m going to ask my husband point blank- are we having another baby?  Because I need to know if I should let this carrier go to a loving home or if I should hoard it for baby #3.  I seriously hate to think that I have something this awesome that I will never get to use!  But after losing my son at Target last week (he ran off and dissapeared in .2 seconds…) it made my ovaries shrivel up so I may no longer be fertile.  For now I have to face facts: I am a Buckle Carrier (usually Boba) kinda girl.

Not me!

Because every other blog that has reviewed the new Onya Carrier has already come up with a clever way to incorporate the brand name into a funny title I decided to keep it simple.  Considering every time I hear the name I then say “All up on-ya” in a male, sexy, deep voice I know how tempting it can be!

I first encountered the Onya at the ABC Kids Expo this past year.  I’ve used a lot of soft structure carriers over the past 3+ years and the SSC is definitely my favorite carrier style.  When I attended the Expo I had my son Everett, who at the time he was 10 months old, so I was planning on babywearing him frequently.  The Onya was one of the carriers I wanted to test out while there.

Before I even go into details about the carrier itself I have to tell you all that the Onya inventor, Diane, is such a nice person.  She really brightened my day!  She explained the various features of the carrier to me and helped me get it on and sized.  We borrowed it for a the evening and returned it the next day.  Just from that time with the carrier I was impressed by it, but more importantly, Everett loved it for the back carry.

When Diane asked if I would like to give it a true review I was totally on board!  I just love trying out new carriers and playing with the buckles and settings!

Once it arrived I didn’t waste anytime.  I unboxed it and pre-adjusted the staps with some guesswork, then tossed Everett onto my back.  Since that day I’ve been using it around the house when he is a bit cranky and needs some mommy closeness and mommy needs to get housework accomplished.  My main use has been at home since the winter cold/snow has kept us from going out as much as we would like.  I have used it out of the house on shopping trips and I even used it outside for a romp in the snow!

Hands down the best thing about this carrier for me has been that the back carry is a bit higher than similar SSC’s.  Everett prefers being worn on the back in the Onya for this reason.  It is pretty obvious that he likes it.  When the baby is younger they are often stuck facing your back.  In the Onya he gets a higher view!

My next favorite feature would be that the back straps unbuckle and allow for criss crossing when performing a front carry.  Rather than reaching around to clip the chest clip on your own back or having someone do it for you, with the Onya you can buckle each strap easily under each arm.  The comfort level is not compromised- in fact I know many mama’s who prefer a criss cross in the back to a clip.  I don’t think one is better than the other, or haven’t noticed a difference.

The straps are insanely easy to adjust.  They glide throughlike BUTTER.  This is mostly a good thing because no one likes having to tug at a strap when you have one hand on a baby and need to get things adjusted quickly.  The only downside I found was when loosening straps it went from tight to way too loose in a split second because they are so smooth.  I had to condition mysef to pull ever so slightly to prevent it.

The waist belt is padded well and nice and wide which in the world of SSC’s means maximum comfort.  The straps are also adequately padded.  They feel a bit stiff (the straps) however and don’t bend/give as much as some other brands.  This could be something that happens over time when they break in, I just won’t know yet.  I also really appreciate the extra step of having multiple stitch lines through the waist belt and straps since it gives it a quality look.

The buckles match well and just feel downright well made.  When it comes to babywearing you want a carrier that has been well made and is safe.  I felt this was very true of the Onya.  Plus it was under development for over 4 years!  That is mighty impressive.

There is a sleep hood that is hidden.  You will need to just unzip it and pull it out.  I like that it is always there when you need it but hidden away.

The chair/seat thing is pretty cool.  It isn’t something that would make me pick it over any other carrier but having it could be to your advantage.  I see the chair seat as a good option for families who frequent those hole in the wall places that don’t cater to families and don’t have high chairs.  Of course in my life we try to make sure our destinations (like a restaurant) are family friendly.  I personally think if something doesn’t have a high chair then they don’t want a family with kids to be there.  And I don’t like that…

I chose to review the The Cruiser which is the cotton version of the Onya.  It currently comes in two color combinations- Dove Chocolate Chip (White/brown) and Leaf Green/ Umber (Green/brown).  One of the reasons I like the Onya is that the White carrier is very different.  It is a neutral color set and won’t totally clash with anything you own.  It is white though so you might see minor dirt on it more than you would on a typical black/brown carrier.  But I love the risk taking nature of it!  If you are more outdoorsy you might prefer the Outback which is a waterproof version of the carrier.

The Seat Chair gives a “poofy” appearance to the carrier.  You can’t take it out at all so there is not way to reduce the poof.

My chosen method of getting my baby on my back (The Super-Man Toss) is a little more difficult to use with this carrier.  The only way I can explain it is that the seat is deeper than most and I can’t get him as deep in it as I need from this method.  I usually have to get my husband or someone else to push my son deeper into the seat.  I do actually like the deeper seat pocket but since I wear him on my back the most it has given me a hard time!

I am a very petite person.  In the Onya I felt I could have tightened my straps a little more.  Everett wasn’t as snug against my back as I wanted.  I am barely 100 pounds (sometimes not even) so for the vast majority of people this isn’t going to be an issue.

You need to be aware before putting the carrier on, how your straps are tightened.  If you leave the straps loose on the side that faces your back (when doing a back carry) you have to tighten them by pulling away from you, backwards.  It is practically impossible 9at least for me) so after having this happen a few times I finally got the memo and would check each time and tighten that strap all the way.

I have enjoyed, and am still enjoying using the Onya Baby Carrier.  It is so clear how much love and thought went into the design.  Often when a first version of a product is released you can nitpick and find little things that could use improving.  I just can’t complain too much about anything.  One day I’m sure they’ll be able to add more color choices and those things come with time.

You can buy the Onya Baby Carrier through their website or from select retailers.  I’d also love it of you could “Like” Onya Baby on Facebook.  They are always posting wonderful words of babywearing wisdom and sage parenting advice.  

The best part of ABC Kids Expo, the largest Juvenile Products Convention in the US- is not seeing all of the new products.  For me, the highlight of ABC Kids Expo is meeting the faces behind the name. 

Unless you were there or have been before it is impossible to grasp the enormity that is ABC Kids.  This was my second year attending; my first time was in 2009 when the conference was in Las Vegas.  This year it was held in Louisville, Kentucky.  Again, I brought my nursling.  Everett is 11 months old and still very much dependent on Mommy.  I assumed, like his brother in 2009, that Everett would ride in a carrier and nap on me when he needed it.  I also assumed he would nurse in the carrier like we have done a million times before.  I was wrong.

Poor Everett wasn’t happy at the conference.  He refused to be worn more than a few minutes at a time.  He wouldn’t nap, and he would only nurse in the quietest of rooms with no one around.  We survived, but it was tough.  I only had a few days to meet with the close 80 booths I had planned to visit, and at least 30 were cloth diaper related.  Luckily my friend Emily from Giving Diapers, Giving Hope was there with me.  She was an enormous help.  I’m not sure what I would have done without her.

On Day 1 my first stop was at the Pumpease booth but Wendy had stepped out so I ran to the bumGenius booth to get to see their new Freetime, Flip Trainer, and the new colors and prints in person.  I have met Jenn, Heather, and Libby before but as always it was good to see them.

I have been tweeting with @HygeiaKate for years and I feel like we have known each other for a lifetime.  Kate was a MUST MEET on my list so I hit the Hygeia booth, which was also a beautiful nursing area, and gave lots of hugs to Kate and Syliva (who I met at the HauteGreen Party in San Diego last month.)  I finally got to meet Wendy of Pumpease that day as well!  Lara (@mamapeardesigns) was working the Pumpease booth and it was fun to see her again too.  

Another long time Twitter friend on my list was Marissa Evans, former owner of Growing Green Bums.  Funny enough, we were supposed to be roomates for the 2010 ABC Kids Expo, but that was before I found out that Everett was due the same day as the Expo started.  Her new baby, born at home not long ago, was snuggled in his Moby and she was so sweet and as nice as I pictured in person.

Amy from Just West of Crunchy was there as well.  It was awesome to meet her and her adorable daughter (seriously, she is just beautiful) and I hate that we didn’t get a picture together!  She had a ton of fun playing with my Everett and I think she has the baby fever now!

I ran into to Emi from The Cloth Diaper Report in the nursing room while I tried on a few nursing bras.  She basically saw me nude at our first meeting!

Allison from Nummies Bras was so busy!  I am so sad I couldn’t chat with her more.  I love her tweets and she is just the nicest person on Twitter and in real life.  The good news is that every time I passed her booth she was talking to buyers, but that also meant I didn’t get to stop in.  

I met Tereson Dupuy, inventor of Fuzibunz, and she showed us around the new products coming from the brand.  

On Sunday I was able to meet Kim Ormsby, the woman behind GroVia.  It was so cool to tell her that her product, Gro Baby, was my first video review and the inspirtation behind what I do today.  I’m really excited about their new training pant and I think it is going to be a hit.  I also got to peek at Sully, who is just a few months younger than Everett.  He was sleeping in his stroller and cuddled up with his blanket.  So sweet!

I am a HUGE fan of Mommy Necklaces, and have been for years since becoming a mom.  I’ve emailed Raelynn, the woman behind the brand, many times.  She was one of the first brands to work with me on a giveaway when I started blogging many years ago.  That has always meant a lot to me.  I can’t tell you how amazing it was to meet her and talk with her about Mommy Necklaces, their stellar values and customer service, their beautiful photography, and grandmothers.  Raelynn and I have a lot in common.  I’ll also be hosting a special giveaway for their newest nursing necklace soon. 

You know @BabyGuyNYC?  I ran into him too!  He is tall and handsome and too funny!  This guy knows his baby stuff!  

It was great to run into the retailers I know from Twitter that recognized me.  Then, I got to reunite with old friends like Calley (@TheEcoChic), Katie (@KatiePickles), and Deirdrea (@HotMamaGowns).   Deirdra is so great and the lip balm she was giving out was probably the best booth swag there!  I am using it all the time now!

The people I got to hang out with over the last few days are some of the most talented, sweet, and amazing people on the planet!  If only ABC was every day, but without the sore feet, bad food, and sketchy convention center staff….

It is going to take some time to recover from this trip and the RDIA meetings that end tomorrow.  I have so much to share still!  I know I am forgetting people but please forgive me, I am exhausted and packing for my flight tomorrow!

A black cloud has decided to loom over me for over a week now. A routine blog fix to correct the issue of not being able to browse my older posts past the first page ended up creating a domino effect of issues.  This is partly thanks to the complicated beast that is my Cloth Diaper Finder.

A week later, and a few hundred dollars lighter, things are still not quite fixed. In between those fixes I started seeing emails and Facebook Posts about Malware on this blog. I never got the notices and wasn’t sure how to fix it. Then- Dirty Diaper Laundry was Blacklisted by Firefox and Chrome. Safari apparently isn’t as secure but I was able to see my website just fine and that is my usual browser.

All hell broke loose and I frantically tried everything to restore my blog. I contacted my hosts, the guy helping fix my pages (and the other issues that broke), and my husband trying to get it fixed.

When the link to a malware infested site was located it COULDN”T BE DELETED because my THEME WAS BROKEN. Why would I expect any different?

My husband had to dive into my theme in the FTP and delete it there.

After 3 days of a website invisible to the rest of the world, I logged in only to find that I couldn’t actually post! Well, I could but my posts couldn’t by typed out in WordPress thanks to invisible letters. This is still happening and I am typing posts into Word and pasting into WordPress.

Words are there but not visible

Highlight it to see the words

I’m sad that the money I was saving for a new car seat has gone to blog fixes. I was hoping to buy a floor model demo while at ABC Kids.

And speaking of ABC Kids Expo, I leave for this 4 day event and the RDIA (Real Diaper Industry Association) in Louisville Kentucky on Friday. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you might have noticed that I am in panic mode. My hotel, which is in Indiana (12 minutes drive from the Convention Center), is also across a CLOSED bridge. Why would it be open? Of course not. There are two other bridges but traffic is said to be slow, with waits of up to an hour or more. I now have to rent a car (another few hundred dollars) and drive with a potentially screaming baby to the Convention (he hates riding in the car unless it is moving and he is asleep). I just love starting my day with my son screaming and gagging.

I have looked into other hotels however since we got a great deal (free with our hotel points) and paying 100+ a night for 5 nights would not make it worth even going to ABC Kids, I think we are staying put. My roommate and I will just have to leave extra early each morning.

The cherry on top? Everett and I are both getting sick. He is going to be snot faced and miserable for his first flight unless he fights it hard.

I am still excited about seeing the new cloth diapers (can you say bumGenius?!) and new baby carriers at the show.

I’ll be meeting up with all of my friends who will also be there. After the show I’ll be attending the RDIA meetings. I’m most looking forward to the Laundry Session. I’ll also be wearing my brand new, totally pimped out Wrap Conversion. More on that another day.

This is what happens when you have malware

Sorry again for the flashing red lights you used to see when you tried to access DDL. The issue is supposed to be resolved. Wish me luck on my trip in a few days. I doubt I will be posting much this week unless my blog gets fixed.

********* When I pasted this into my WordPress Editor it was VISIBLE!  Oh please oh please oh please let this nightmare be over. ************

Just as Fashion Week sets the new trends for the next season of clothing and accessories, the ABC Kids Expo taking place Set 23-26 sets the newest trends in Baby Products.

With over 25 Cloth Diaper Exhibitors joining the show this year there will be lots to see.  Usually brands wait until this time of year to unveil their newest products.  Buyers will be at the show placing orders and brands want their newest releases ready for order!

This explains why the biggest brands in cloth diapers are announcing their newest products.  Already we have seen huge announcements from GroVia, bumGenius, and Swaddlebees.  

The trend?  Trainers and Prints.  

GroVia announced their new Trainers called MyChoice.  These are “One Size Fits Most” that have a snap down rise and have the option of two different Flex Side Panels.  The Regular Size fits 1T-3T (18-35+ lbs) and Plus fits 3T-5T (30+ lbs).  You can find the MyChoice with the Regular Flex Size Panels for 18.99.  If you want to add the Plus Size Panels for 3.99.  The panels can be purchased in multi colors but the trainers come in Vanilla and Cloud.  Available Dec 2012 

GroVia also came out with 2 new colors, Cloud (grey) and Surf (teal).  Also available in October.  You can view them in the trainer chart above.

bumGenius already announced recently that they were releasing a trainer that one also be a “One Size Fits Most” Design with replaceable inserts.

Meet the Flip Trainer!

The Flip Trainer has stretchy side panels similar to the bumGenius tabs, replaceable organic cotton inserts so that your toddler can feel when they are wet, and those inserts use touch tape to be secured inside, and can be replaced when wet.  This should save a little money in the Trainer department since you are usually dealing with wet misses.  There is a snap down rise and the trainer should fit toddlers 20-50 pounds!

Rumparooz has a new line of EcoPosh diapers including their Organic Training Pant.

Kissaluvs released their new Pocket Trainer a few months ago but it is still worth mentioning.

I can’t say what is coming but I know of two major brands also releasing Trainers in the near future.

bumGenius also announced new colors and PRINTS!

Lovelace (on left) and Albert (on right)  You can preorder them from Mom’s Milk Boutique and won’t be charged until they are shipping, sometime in December.

Yesterday I also posted about the 6 new prints from Swaddlebees.  These will be available for most of their product line.  You can view them all on my post and even enter to win one of the new prints in a Bluberry Coverall!    Here is a peek:

I also have in my possession a very fashion forward print from Charlie Banana designed by Matthew Langille.  I can’t share it just yet though!  For now check out one of his other designs, these are Swatches.

Thirsties just released their new print, Hoots.

And Sweet Pea also announced an Owl themed Print.

Other recent but not “brand new* prints that have been introduced lately include Bottombumpers, Tiny Tush, AppleCheeks, and itti bitti.

Rumparooz released their new line of EcoPosh diapers made from recycled plastic bottles.  They have a One Size fitted, Newborn Fitted, and a Wool Soaker.

Then there are more prints being announced soon by a few other brands!  *hint, one is a DDL advertiser* I can’t wait to see them all at ABC Kids!  I have a feeling I will be updating my Cloth Diaper Finder with at least 30 new products soon!

Which is your favorite new product announcement or print?  

*Some links included are to DDL affiliates.  If you purchase anything through the links I will receive a small percentage, so thank you!

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past week, you have seen that many cloth diaper brands have been releasing new prints recently.  And there are more coming!  The ABC Kids Expo begins this weekend.  Lots of cloth diaper manufacturers will be there to show off their newest products.  This means we are going to be hearing even more announcements very soon!  I went last year and had a blast, but I am a little (ok, a lot) pregnant this year and can’t be there!

Here are the ones we know so far, let me know if I have missed any!

bumGenius! unveiled their new Tiny Socialite Collection,  designed my Chelsea Perry.  This is the first in their “Artist Series.”  I think we can safely say this has been the most controversial and polarizing release.  Responses have ranged from love to disgust.  The fact is, if you don’t like it, don’t buy it!  You can see my son modeling the entire collection in a previous post.

The Tiny Socialite Collection

Rumparooz was an earlier release, with two new prints.  Rumparooz has so far been the leader in the print world.  They often have limited prints and they come out with new ones fairly often!

Robotronics

Eco Owl

Gro Via just showed off their new prints that will be available in December.  These prints will grace the AI2/Hybrids and the All-in-One.  Many retailers are open for pre-orders.

Gro Via Prints

Bummis has been busy over the past couple of weeks.  First they released the new prints for the Tots Bots Easy Fits, and most recently, let us in on 2 new prints for their Bummis Super Whisper Wraps.  I have a feeling we will be seeing even more fun stuff soon!

The 6 New Tots Bots Prints!

Rocket

Ladybugs

Thirsties had a low key release of a new print in 2 colors.  Pictured is Baby Bird Blue.  Also comes in lavender.

Baby Bird Blue

*Just added

Happy Heinys has a few new prints.  They have been releasing them on their facebook page, which is where I found the photo!  There are even more new prints on their facebook page.  Ooga Boogas, Circles, and more.

Puppies on tan

Glow in the Dark Skulls on Grey, Owls on White

I am still waiting to see the new prints from Softbums that they released at ABC, and a few others.  I did not add the adorable Weehuggers prints because they are a cotton knit over PUL, not a true PUL print.

Which print is your favorite?!

Do you need to own any (or all) of these?!?  You can always place a pre-order using my affiliate link for Kelly’s Closet! You can support my blog and your fluff addiction, all at the same time!

Way back when, in September, I attended ABC Kids Expo to check out all of the latest cloth diapers and babywearing products.  One of the most thrilling items I saw was the Hotslings AP (Adjustable Pouch and a clever play on Attachment Parenting!)  Hotslings is a major name in babywearing because they made it accesible for the masses.  Their original pouch slings are sold in big box stores and boutiques all over the country, and their fun prints make babywearing stylish and fun!

What makes the AP different than a Hotslings Pouch sling?

The Hotslings AP™ is a safe continuous loop – it cannot detach or break apart. Two strategically placed buckles allow the AP to adjust and fit comfortably on multiple users. The shoulder design is wide, yet sleek without excess fabric. Sleek padding is included on both sides of the pouch providing more comfort and support for baby in all three carrying positions.
Parents and caregivers will now have the benefits of a Hotslings® pouch without the worry of buying the wrong size and/or needing to buy multiple sizes for breastfeeding on-the-go, post-partum body changes or sharing with caregivers and partners. The one-size-fits-most design makes gifting the Hotslings AP™ a no brainer allowing parents and caregivers to just adjust and go.

The new AP is packaged in a matching drawstring bag that offers storage for the sling itself or can be used as a coordinating, compact diaper bag and more.

I have been able to test the AP out for quite some time.  I have to admit that I have never used a pouch sling.  I opted for a ring sling when my son was born due to the adjustability.  I did at one point buy a Hotslings Pouch, but I got it home and it didn’t fit so I took it back.  I was also still losing the baby weight so I was uneasy about what size I would be in the end.

The AP solves all of those problems.  Using innovative buckle adjustments on the shoulder, the fabric is essentially gathered to adjust the size.  If you have used a pouch sling before then trying an AP will be easy for you.  Your only challenge will be learning how to size the AP.  If you are new to pouch slings then you will need to learn how to put one on!  This was a challenge for me in some ways.  I watched the videos and got it right in a few tries.

To adjust the AP the two buckles can be tightened or loosened fairly easily.  Finding your size is the hardest part.  There isn’t really an easy way to adjust the sling while the baby is in it, unless perhaps you have someone to help you.  There is some trial and error to get the right size.  if the size is wrong you may feel some extra strain on your shoulder.  I had an issue when wearing my son at the mall, and after adjusting again I got a comfortable fit.

My favorite way to use any sling is the kangaroo carry, where the baby is sitting cross legged inside, but facing outward.  By the time I reviewed the AP, my son was much too large for that!  Instead, we have only been able to use a hip carry.  Even with him being 20 pounds it was a comfortable ride for short shopping trips.  I would not wear him in a hip carry for long excursions.  If he were a newborn then yes, I would use the AP for longer periods.  No matter how comfortable a sling, 20 pounds on one shoulder will become uncomfortable after a long time, at least for me.

Pros:

Adjustable

Sytlish

Far less bulk than a Ring Sling

Stylish

Affordable

Safe

Compact enough for the diaper bag

Cons:

Learning curve for adjustments

Doesn’t adjust to ALL Hotsling sizes (works sizes 2-5, which translates to roughly 5’0″ tall to 6’1″ and 110-220 pounds, a good range.)

If not adjusted correctly you may have shoulder and back strain.

Hotslings is giving one lucky DDL reader their own Hotslings AP!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Hotslings.com and tell me your favorite pattern for any sling they make.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Wear your baby in a @Hotslings AP.  Enter to win from @KimRosas http://3sg9n.th8.us”  Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet.

Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. Leave a comment.

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.

Have my New Baby Event button on your blog.  3 extra entries.  Comment for each entry.

Get Creative: Post about this giveaway on a messageboard or forum. Leave a comment with a link.

New Entry: Become a fan of Dirty Diaper Laundry on Facebook and get 5 extra entries! To qualify, post on my wall with either your favorite review I have done (would prefer this to be diaper related but it can be another product if you don’t dig my diaper reviews) or let me know a diaper you want to see reviewed.  Then copy and paste what you wrote as a comment here.  Then, leave 4 more comments saying “facebook entry 2, 3, etc)

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

***Open to US and Canada***

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This post has been submitted to the ParentingbyNature blog contest.  I wrote this post and decided after the fact that it would be a perfect fit.  I am really proud of this particular post, and when I wrote it I was almost crying!  I hope if my post is selected as a finalist that you will vote for me.  Thank you!

Many of you know that I attended ABC Kids Expo this year. Attending also gave me the unique opportunity to attend the RDIA‘s (Real Diaper Industry Association) keynote meeting as press. I live tweeted the event as much as possible, but missed quite a bit since my son was a tad cranky. We were out of our time zone and things were just difficult. The fact that Pampers has been slyly dropping “facts” about cloth diapers being bad for our babies (see this post) made me think back to Jen’s, creator of Bum Genius and Cotton Babies, outgoing keynote speech at that meeting. Jen was the Chairperson of the RDIA and gave the reigns over to Leah Carter who is the woman behind Better for Babies (Little Beetle cloth diapers).

Jen gets loads of credit for helping usher in the modern cloth diaper revolution. Without her Bum Genius 3.0, and now the supremely affordable Econobum line and versatile Flip line, some parents may have never even heard of cloth diapers or attempted them. I began with Bum Genius 3.0′s because of their rave reviews on Diaper Pin. I was able to convince my husband to cloth diaper after showing him the 3.0′s that I purchased in North Carolina. My first brand new cloth diaper purchase; it felt so good and I fondled them forever. I put them on a teddy bear while I anxiously awaited the birth of my son. My point is the Bum Genius is a household name for cloth diapers. Ask any cd’ing mama if they have heard of them and they say yes. You can find them at some Targets even!

In the speech Jen made she notes a few things that could be coming for the industry. First, that disposable diaper companies will be (and obviously already are) taking notice of the cloth diaper industry. This means a few things. One, that they will step up their efforts to slander cloth diapers by releasing either bogus and unverified scientific evidence about the healthiness of their diapers and the harmfulness of cloth. This is evident in the Pampers quotes. Two, that they may even try to fund (and influence) studies to back up these claims. This isn’t unheard of; already there are studies claiming that disposables are no worse or even better than cloth diapers on the environment. This study says the water used to wash diapers and the manufacturing of the diapers is just as bad as throwing THOUSANDS of diapers in the landfill. Third, that if they can’t beat them, they may join them. Meaning, big companies like P&G could begin making their own cloth diapers or buy out an existing smaller cloth diaper company. This one actually scares me the most. I shudder at the thought of a behemoth company making cloth diapers. I love supporting cloth diaper companies because the majority of them are small, family run, companies started by Stay at Home Moms. Even the larger companies like Bum Genius are still run by the orginal creator. Jen’s story is pretty amazing. She started her company from nothing and is now the most recognized cloth diaper brand. No matter what you think about her, her company, or her diaper you have to respect her commitment, business savvy, and ability to start so many families on cloth diapers. We were a Bum Genius family, and still use them as the workhorse of out stash. There are plenty of diapers I like more, and plenty I like less.

What I am trying to convey is that cloth diapers are making a come back.  If P&G, a multi-million dollar company, is shaking in their boots about what this means for their profits then we know we are on to something.  Getting the message out about our “real” diapers is crucial.  The more they slander cloth diapers, the more we have to praise them.  Think back to when you began researching cloth diapers.  What if you heard that they weren’t really that great for the environment.  Would you have believed that?  Maybe.  Or what if you were told cloth diapers would give your child a cold or impair their ability to learn.  A little crazy but you didn’t know any better.  Maybe you would have thought twice about cloth diapers.  Just maybe, you would have picked up a box of Pampers.  We have to spread the message more to combat these falsities and outright lies.  If our community bands together and continues converting moms, aiding them in their research, showing off our diapers at play groups, changing our babies in public, putting our babies in baby legs and cute fluff, and evangelizing on Twitter, Facebook, Mommy Forums, and blogs, we can grow our grassroots cloth campaign.  We are all onto something great that is bigger than ourselves.  I know this sounds overdramatic, but I am extremely proud of our cloth diapering community.  We help one another, we care about the earth, our babies, and the futire.  We have begun a new era, but we have also come full circle.  Our grandmothers didn’t have a choice but we do.

I want to quote Erin Kimmet, creator and President of Thirsties, who said this in a Q&A I had with her (not published yet but I have to share this now. I love it) “I hope that when my kids have kids of their own, and when my grandkids have kids, they will refer to the past 30 years in history as the diaper-dark-ages! And they can brag about how their mom was a part of the diaper revolution!”

Viva la Cloth!  Viva la Revolution!

When I decided I was definitely going to the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas the next question was how was I going to diaper my son?  Disposables are the easy answer, followed by G Diapers or Gro Baby Bio Soakers.  The hardest answer would be full time cloth diapers.  Now, I have mentioned before that I have an issue with leaving dirty diapers at home and also with bringing dirty cloth diapers with me to a location.  I don’t like to think of my diapers sitting in the pail for more than 3 days.  Yuck!  I have read the horror stories about mushrooms and mold growing on diapers.

I set about looking for a local diaper service in Las Vegas.  I figured that if I could find one perhaps we could arrange a way for me to use them.  I lucked out and found Happi Bunz Diaper Service.  They were more than accommodating and arranged for my diapers to be delivered to the Hilton.  They delivered 40 bleached regular size prefolds and a Pail.  I packed my own covers and snappi, and brought wet bags to keep my dirties in until I got back to the hotel each day.

What about my flights?  For my airport and plane time I used Gro Baby Shells and the new Bio Soakers.  I was able to try the Bio Soakers a litle bit before their release because I like my Gro Baby shells more than G Diapers.  I wasn’t disappointed by the Bio Soakers!  Because they have elasticized edges they hold in the poop really well!  And, even though they have way less SAP gel than a disposable they were plenty absorbent.  I didn’t notice having to change any more than I regularly do.  I will give one tip, when placing your soaker in make sure that it is very close to the edge of the front.  Somehow the very first one I used at home leaked from the front.  When I removed it I saw how I placed it.  If there is hardly anything in the front to catch the pee, then it is going to leak!

Like I said, the Bio Soakers lasted me until I got to the hotel.  Happi Bunz left a baggage claim for me and I wheeled my pail and clean diapers up to the hotel room using my stroller.  I changed Fletcher from a Gro Baby to a prefold with a cover.  We used these exclusively until check out four days later.  This was my first time ever using a service.  The prefolds were very absorbent, I even used them at night with a wool cover or a PUL cover.  He never leaked.  I did notice that the prefolds were very pilled and they weren’t the softest things on the planet.  If we were using the service full time I might have an issue with that.

We have used prefolds at our home but not as much as we used fitteds or pockets.  Apparently, Fletcher is always a pain to put a prefold on.  My diaper changes lasted 10-15 minutes each.  No kidding.  I was sweating and out of breath by the end of each one.  He squirmed, crawled away, turned upside down, and in general made each change a nightmare.  I am not a prefold master.  I can get them on, but it isn’t second nature.  This experiment has reaffirmed to me that pockets are the best thing for our family.

Once we checked out of the hotel I left a baggage claim for Happi Bunz.  The dirties and the pail were left in the hotel and I walked away with no laundry to do and no dirties to carry with me!

There is almost always a way to use cloth diapers on vacation.  It might not be the easiest or most convenient thing, but you can do it.  Do I think you should always?  No!  Disposables were invented for traveling, and became the norm.  If cloth diapers were the norm, then maybe using a few sposies for traveling wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.  I don’t think that if you use them for your trip you are the devil!  I do think there are ways to make responsible choices, like more earth friendly disposables, or disposable inserts for your cloth.  I hope my experience has given you some ideas for your next trip!

What do you use when you travel?  I’d love to hear!

ABC was a very worthwhile trip for DDL.  Since there were many new releases in the cloth diaper and baby carrier world you better believe you will be getting a review of many of them on DDL.

Wanna know what is in the pipeline?

Kiwi Pie OS Fitted Review and Giveaway
Bambino Mio Review and Giveaway
Bravado Microfiber Review and Giveaway
ECA Wear Review and Giveaway

Plus, these are the diapers awaiting my special video reviews! Kissaluvs AIO, Wahmies OS, Softbums, Drybees AIO, Rocky Mountain OS, and more on the way!

Wool Week is quickly approaching! Look for reviews of Muggabug interlock longies, Sbish interlock soaker, Monkey Snuggles knit soaker, Baby Beehinds felted wool cover, CYA wrapping wool cover, The Soakery recycled wool soaker, Play All Day Wool cover, and Sudz n Duz wool wash! Plus, lots of giveaways!

October is all about Babywearing. Lots of exciting reviews and giveaway for that as well. Rockin’ Ring Sling, Ellaroo woven wrap, Baby Hawk Mei Tei, Lovey Duds, Boba, and more.

Now, would you like to see some photos from ABC Kids Expo? Yes? OK!

Fletcher found a few playmates at ABC!  And, do you see my lovely roomie from Diaper Daisy?