Last month I was honored to share six different WAHM brands that exemplify the craftsmanship and love that go into well made cloth diapers. Brands include Zabi Baby, Poppy Fields, Moraki, Mo Dia, Ella Bella Bum, and Dunk-n-Fluff with all proceeds going directly to Giving Diapers, Giving Hope.  The auction is being held on Hyena Cart and begins this Friday, March 8.

This auction is a small effort to help fund an organization that often goes unnoticed.  They are always receiving and shipping diapers even when there are no blog posts being written, or Facebook statuses about them, or tweets being sent.  Day in and day out these women and volunteers are putting in hours and hours just unpacking donations, sorting diapers, approving applications, and shipping boxes of hope to families.  It might seem like a small thing, these little boxes of diapers, but to anyone who has ever struggled to choose between buying diapers or buying food this little box is truly the gift of freedom and peace of mind.  The video below is a documentary that will hopefully give everyone an idea of what a great cause we are supporting.

Giving Diapers, Giving Hope is a non-profit that provides income qualified families a stash of cloth diapers for a small shipping fee.  The organization started in 2011 when Kristen McCarthy was suddenly without a job and still had two babies in cloth diapers.  As a single mom she wasn’t sure what she was going to do.  Luckily she had already been cloth diapering and had enough to not worry.  She wondered what other families would do in the same situation but that didn’t already have cloth diapers.  How could they afford to buy disposables, or even cloth diapers?  The start-up cost can be a few hundred diapers and when you are living with little or no money then you can’t just buy diapers.  With no federal or state programs that provide any diapering assistance Kristen, along with Emily Glover, started Giving Diapers, Giving Hope.  After almost two years these two women have been able to ship over 3,600 diapers all across the country.  Hundreds of families no longer need to worry about how they will afford to buy diapers and their babies will have a clean and healthy bottom no matter what.  In 2013 the organization partnered with the Cape Ann YMCA’s Leader’s Club in their hometown of Gloucester.  The Leader’s Club, a group of teens who spend part of their free time doing volunteer work, now assist with the packing and shipping of cloth diapers.  With an ever increasing number of applications and donations their work is very appreciated and necessary to keep the organization running.

People ask “Why does Giving Diapers, Giving Hope charge a shipping fee?  Aren’t the families applying struggling financially?”  At this time GDGH does not have the funds to ship diapers to families or pay the return shipping fee.  It has always been their goal to eventually be able to send diapers free of cost to those who are approved.  The fee now is $35 which covers both the shipping to and from the families.  This can be a lot but it is far less than the actual start-up cost and way less than the value of the diapers being sent.  As their organization continues to grow they will strive to eliminate or reduce this cost.  As their fundraising coordinator I am constantly brainstorming ways to sustainably raise funds that can cover costs of shipping and operating costs year-round.

I’ve had the privilege of serving on the GDGH Board of Directors since their humble beginnings.  This year we are auctioning 6 amazing WAHM made diapers on Hyena Cart.  We are hoping to see lots of bids on these great diapers because they are gorgeous, and maybe also just because the money is going to this worthwhile cause this is surely close to all of our hearts.  If you aren’t able to bid, or don’t need diapers but still want to help, you can!

Visit their website’s donate page for more information on donating diapers or you can make a direct donation to them via Paypal.  GDGH can provide receipts for your tax deductible donation.  And if you want to help but can’t donate just spreading the word is enough!  Post to Facebook, tweet it, announce it on your diapering forums or in your cloth diaper groups on Facebook.  Be our Word of Mouth helper and shout it out!

Bidding on the diapers will begin on Wednesday, March 6 and end on Wednesday March 13.

Lil Helper diapers might be a new name to you. They were to me! This line of All-in-Two, One Size cloth diapers has 3 versions: Original, Organic Bamboo, and Charcoal Bamboo. The sizing and configurations of each diaper are the same, only the materials used differ. This is more visible in the video (I hope, though I did make a boo boo and mix soakers, noted in video). The family behind Lil Helper diapers have a wicked sharp sense of humor. I HIGHLY recommend visiting their website where you can see this all throughout, including product descriptions and instructions. It kept me smiling the whole time I read. They also donate 1 diaper per 3 diapers sold and have even sent a shipment to my favorite diaper charity Giving Diapers, Giving Hope. 

Ease of Use ✩✩✩✩ The diapers in the Lil’ Helper line up all use the same sizing and soaker system across the board. They all have a 3-Step-Rise using snaps. By now this system of sizing is pretty standard and easy to figure out. You just snap down to make smaller, unsnap to make larger. The waist tabs have 3 snaps each, 1 of which secures at the hip. I don’t find this to be too difficult or time consuming but it is definitely more work/time compared to velcro. The soakers snap in. You can either just use one or add a second, smaller doubler for more absorbency. Each snaps in and the smaller one snaps onto the larger soaker. Some people might not like to leave just the larger soaker in without a doubler because the female snaps will be left exposed. I find this annoying but not painful for the baby. I would not leave male snaps exposed on the skin. The best thing is how stretchy the PUL and tabs are. I feel it makes applying the diaper on the baby much easier and gives a better fit.
Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩ The diapers are costlier than many other comparable diapers in their AI2 category. The Original is priced at $20.00, the Organic Bamboo at $23.00 and the Charcoal Bamboo at $26.00. Each diaper includes the two soakers, 1 large and 1 small. The diapers are manufactured in China but are really well made. The PUL is fairly unique because it is light and stretchy. You can find some of the diapers in prints but the Charcoal Bamboo has a brushed, soft finish tin bamboo and only comes in 4 colors. Part of the increase in cost is for a good reason- for every 3 diapers sold Lil Helper donates one diaper to a baby in need. You can read all about their program, “Baby Do Good” on their website.
Performance ✩✩✩✩ I’ve been reviewing these diapers for a good long while. I was especially curious about the Charcoal Bamboo diapers and if that softer, brushed outside material would wick (where moisture travels from the wet soaker inside to the outer layer) so I was testing those heavily. I was thrilled when the Charcoal Bamboo diaper experienced no wicking. None of the diapers had any leaks, even when tested longer time periods. Because Ev isn’t a heavy wetter I didn’t notice one diaper and their inserts performing any better than another diaper in their line.
Fit ✩✩✩ Each diaper in the Lil Helper line is intended to fit babies 7-35 pounds. Everett is 22 pounds and we go back and forth on the rise adjustments depending on if we are using 1 soaker or both of the included soakers. If you use both there is bulk, especially at the front and top of the diaper. When on the middle rise this left an open gap so that is why I unsnap the rise. The rise snaps themselves are positioned a bit lower on the diaper than many other OS diapers.
Overall: Having 2 absorbent inserts included per diaper is helpful. I personally didn’t use this diaper as an All-in-Two but it works easily as a Snap-in-One, but you will do better to use it as an AI2 to get more bang for your buck per shell. The linings on the shells have either microfleece or bamboo and are not “wipe-clean” so you will need to be aware of that. If the shells get wet you will either need a new one or have to let it air out. The snaps were nice and strong. These are larger than the typical KAM snaps most cloth diapers use, and are more like the snaps on GroVia or Smartipants cloth diapers. I am a snaps girl so I love that these come in snapping closures but some people might prefer velcro and so they won’t even consider this line. The Charcoal Bamboo diaper is a cool concept but I haven’t seen the benefits of this material over traditional bamboo, however the grey lining is novel and I love how it looks. After much wear and washing I have noticed that the tag with their adorable logo has faded quite a bit.
Where to Buy LilHelper.ca

Today I have 2 reviews!  The first is for the Envibum One Size which is an All-in-One.  The diaper reminds me of the muppets because it has minky on the outside.  I reviewed the Envibum in blue, and couldn’t help but think of the Cookie Monster.  I can’t even say enough good things about this company because they donate 2.00 from every diaper purchase (Envibum) to a color coordinated charity.  If you buy an Aqua diaper, 2.00 goes to Living Water.  The diapers are made in the US as well.

As for the Mom4Mom cover, this diaper is unque because it is a true rinse and reuse cover.  It is laminate PUL inside and out, and has velcro closures.  This diaper is designed with handwashing in mind, though it can certainly be washed in a machine.  The T Shaped Liner is a very easy to use diaper.  The video will explain it better.  I will admit to not having the best fit in the video, but When tucked towards my son I always had a great fit.

Envibum Review:

Ease of Use ✰✰✰✰ The Envibum has velcro closures (with laundry tabs) that making applying the diaper on your baby very simple.  There is no size adjustment, so even with it being one size, you just need to pull it on the baby.  I did feel as I put the diaper on him, the size growing to accommodate him.  It is an AIO, no stuffing, but you can buy additional soaker pads to insert in the pocket of the diaper if you need them.

Bang for the Buck ✰✰✰✰ 21.95 gets one Envibum diaper.  Seems pricey, but remember you are getting Minky, adorable designs of the velcro (seriously, how unique are those?), the diapers are made in the US, and you are supporting a charity.  These really are well made diapers and you can tell when you use and see them.

Performance ✰✰✰✰ I only used this diaper for daytime and naps for reviewing.  I never used it at night because of the waffle fabric on the inside, I would rather my son sleep in something smoother for that long at night.  No leaks at all, and no wicking.  The PUL is hidden under the minky fabric and everything worked as it should!

Fit ✰✰✰✰ I thought the diaper fit my son very well around his legs and back.  I can’t speak to how it fits on a smaller baby or larger toddler.  I would love to test it out again once I have a smaller baby and see how things go.  Because you cannot adjust it how you want, you rely on the diaper to adjust itself, it is a strange feeling of helplessness.  I am happy it fit my son well!

Overall-  I love many things about these diapers.  They look adorable, the minky is soft and comes in fun and bright colors, The size adjustment is very unique, and they were absorbent enough for my taste.  I would like to see an option for a plain cotton lining on the inside for parents who prefer that material over the waffled cotton.  The diaper is bulky because it is minky and due to the thicker fabric on the inside.  I had trouble getting pants over it.  I also had problems with my son removing the diaper himself since it is velcro.

Mom4Mom cover and T Shaped Liner Review:

Ease of Use ✰✰✰ While I can honestly say both the cover and diaper are easy to use, it certainly isn’t the same as putting an AIO or pocket diaper on.  I did find it easier to put the diaper on my son than prefolds.  he is not the most patient on the changing table.  I laid the diaper under him, then pulled it over and tucked it under so that it fit under his belly button.  In the video I fold out, but only because folding under would have exposed him.  I used a snappi which gave me a very great fit.

Bang for the Buck ✰✰✰ The cover is 12.99 and the T Shaped liner is 9.99.   I feel like they might be a little more than I would be willing to spend for these items, but they certainly are not “pricey.”  That being said, your Mom4Mom cover makes another cover donation possible.  Thus the title.  And of course these are also made in the US.
Performance ✰✰✰✰ I have to say that I really enjoyed the T Shaped Liner!  I was unsure how I would like it.  It is so simple to use!  I got an awesome fit with it, and I am sure it will fit many sized babies well also.  The cover fit well also, but you want to unscrunch it some so it looks nice on.  Together I had leakproof days.

Fit ✰✰✰✰ The cover was a good fit for my son, and I can tell there is room for growth both in rise and in width.  On a smaller baby it would just be scrunchier looking.  The T Shaped liner had an impressive fit on him.  It might take a little practice for some but so worth it for a simple, effective diaper.

Overall- I find this combo a very exciting opportunity for families with limited access to laundry facilities.  The cover can be easily rinsed and reused.  If you are a camping and cloth diapering family the cover is perfect for you!  The liner is also something that can be handwashed it needed and would dry fairly quickly on the line.  A few of each would help a low income family who needs a diapering solution for their baby.

Where to buy: Envibum.com

An Envibum AIO, Mom4Mom cover, and T Shaped liner were sent by Envibum free of charge for the purposes of this review.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are 100% my own and genuine.

Miracle Diapers Is Now The Cloth Diaper Foundation
empowering families, improving the environment
 
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!

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.)

I have been fortunate to be able to donate to Miracle Diapers  through money earned from my ad sales here on Dirty Diaper Laundry.  I have also been happy to help in any way I can to spread the word about Miracle Diapers.  This time, I am asking you all to please donate what you can to help Miracle Diapers stay alive.  I very strongly blieve in their mission, and want to help them do what they do best: help families in need cloth diaper.

About Miracle Diapers: Our 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization is dedicated to helping qualifying families all over the United States get a jump start on cloth diapering their children through our cloth diaper loan program.

I understand everyone is always asking everyone to help their charity.  We have all been giving to help Haiti, so this comes as bad timing.  But even a 5.00 donation would help.  Miracle Diapers had a recent unfortunate circumstance.  They need monetary donations.  All donations to Miracle Diapers are tax deductable!  Depending on when you file, you many even be able to write them off this tax season to help your own rebate!

You may notice they are not taking applications at the moment.  They will open again soon, so don’t let that deter you from making your donation.

You can click this link to donate. 

Thank you all for supporting cloth diapers!