With the release of the new bumGenius Elemental comes, of course, a new video showing the new right next to the old.  The Elemental cloth diaper has always held a top spot in my favorites list so I was anxious to see the changes. The video does the best job of showing the differences but I will quickly make a few comments here as well.  I have not tested the new Elemental enough yet to comment on how it is working so stay tuned for a more official review down the line.

Pros:
Wider Soaker
Easier to add inserts beneath soaker
Encased elastic
Smoother lining
Less risk of holes forming on legs and at stress points
Slightly modified sizing (haven’t test this yet to compare fit)

Cons:
No cotton lining beneath soaker
Encased elastic on legs (some people prefer this style)
Same price but slightly less cotton
Looks a bit “cheaper” due to the leg elastic stitching (aesthetic issue only)

I’m in the camp of people who appreciate the new design. Perhaps it is because I have retired at least 6-8 of my own Elementals (originally bumGenius Organics) from my original stash that were suffering from so many holes that I deemed them unusable anymore. I have always kept about 6 in my stash for each child because they are trim, have always worked well for days, and are very easy to use. The only drawback used to be the drying time, but I will report back on that later in a review.

If you are looking to try them they are carried at my affiliates Kelly’s Closet and Diaper Junction, however there is a waiting list. (affiliate links)  Cotton Babies has them in stock now (not affiliate link.)

Have you had a chance to use the new bumGenius Elemental? What did you think?

The new bumGenius Elemental was sent to me free of charge for the purposes of this video and post.  All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.  

Should a disposable diaper company buy out a cloth diaper company, one mom asked recently.

Why not indeed?

It is clear that disposable diapers see cloth diapers as competition to their hefty bottom line.  If not, why would they market in such a way that is now about eco-friendliness (less packaging, less materials), “cute” designs (to compete with much cuter prints on cloth diapers), use marketing phrases like “blanket like softness (like… cloth…. and cloth diapers are….. CLOTH!), and spend a lot of money on funding studies meant to make cloth diapers out to be the bad guys.  Over the last 4 years I have caught Pampers blatantly makingfalse claims about the benefits of disposables over cloth diapers.  I’ve even seen the studies, funded by P&G (makers of Pampers and Luvs) that intentionally use old fashioned cloth diapers to, in all likelihood, make disposables out to be the better choice.  They see the writing on the wall that cloth diapers are increasing in popularity.

The old saying goes…

“If you can’t beat them, join them.”

It would be very easy for Kimberly Clark (makers of Huggies) or P&G, even smaller brands like Seventh Generation to buy out an established brand.  Rather than trying to stop the trend they could profit from it!

What if?

If this happened, what would be the result?  Well, a number of things could happen.  Potentially the makers of disposables would buy out a brand and dissolve it.  Bye bye!  Plenty of big corporations buy competitors simply to 86 them and get rid of the competition.  In the case of cloth diaper brands there are plenty left so I don’t see this as the best option.

They could also buy out the brand and the patents along with it in order to create their own line.  The cloth diaper industry, like any other, has a myriad of patents out that prevent competitors from making anything similar.  Buying the brand and getting permission to use the patents would mean that they could make their own line with features the same as the popular brand.  When it comes to things that work and work well you would think that a huge corporation would want the best.  This would mean that the brand no longer exists but the technology behind it would, under a new brand.

Or, they could buy a brand silently and let it continue to exist but under new ownership and management.  Consumers might not even know about the changes.  The large corporation could put their advertising dollars behind this brand and crush all cloth diaper competitors, even make national commericials.  They could expand into new markets overseas.  Bigger dollars mean better selections, a larger presence in the marketplace, placements in nationwide chain stores, and a larger audience for cloth diapers.  The science behind diposable diaper marketing is scary- they know exactly how to hook consumers and they spend big bucks doing so.  This could be useful for helping the cloth diaper movement…  For non tech-savvy mothers just looking for a way to save money on diapers seeing a commericial on TV or a well developed end-cap at Target could be a tremendous help.  I would hope an extensive guide to laundering and care was included.  Concerns would be how the money sharks would feel about sticking to quality materials.  When it comes to profts disposable diaper companies are willing to do what it takes to cut costs (think- Pampers Dry max and the chemical burns resulting).   There is even the potential for them to buy the majority of the company and still have it run by the same CEO, but be the majority shareholder so that their board has the final say.  There are many options here…

As much as we cloth diaper moms like to think it, we are not the only people deserving of cloth diapers.  You might be thinking “I don’t think that way!  I want everyone to use cloth diapers!”  You might be surprised to know that you don’t if that means selling out to “the man.”  Many of us don’t like the idea of a big corporation behind the wheels of our beloved mom run companies.  We LOVE knowing that our money is supporting a family, multiple families even, and that these companies are still being run by the mothers who invented them in their garage or basement.  It makes us feel good!  If, for example, a well known cloth diaper brand to P&G our community would be shocked, dissapointed even.  I can already see the outrage from mothers saying that they sold their soul to the devil.

Even when brands make it big enough to be carried, on their own merit, in stores like Target or Whole Foods, the community has mixed feelings.  Did they “sell out?” to get there?  Are they undermining the hard working WAHM’s behind the small online and brick and mortar cloth diaper shops?

Let’s face it- business owners can’t win.  I myself don’t know how I would truly feel.  A win for cloth diapers could mean the destruction of this amazing little community.  Or not.  I’m not a psychic.  Still, the mothers outside of this community would see cloth diapers in the store and just be happy that they were there, not knowing how or why, just excited to learn about a new way to save money and the environment.

Update: Just found the original patent I was looking to post- a resuable cover from P&G- looks like there could be competition some day?

The moment I saw Seams Geeky diapers I knew one would be mine.  The choices almost all called to me- Mario and Zelda especially.  I went with a Zelda themed diaper because it has the biggest chunk of my game loving heart.  I’ve been working on Skyward Sword ever since I got the game on my birthday.  Gaming with kids…. well….. it is a long process.  Now that I have had the diaper for a while I can give you the review.  There are positives and negatives, just like any diaper.  Sadly, the WAHM behind the diaper is not taking orders currently due to a family emergency and a backlog of orders she is catching up on.  If you must own one you will have to keep an eye out for her shop to open up again for diaper orders.  Her diaper recently won the “Geeky” themed competition on Diaper Wars for her R2D2 diaper.

Ease of Use ✩✩✩ Being that the Seams Geeky Pocket Protector only has 2 snaps per tab it is much easier to put on than snapping diapers with many more. You can see in the video that even after wrestling my son it didn’t take long to put on. The stuffing part is the hardest for me, even though I have small hands, it is hard to get the insert in and laying flat. The material lining the diaper is stretchy which does help but being so narrow it means that their included insert has to be folded very thin and still you need to work it to make it flat.
Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩✩ I love finding new diapers to try and there are SO MANY WAHM’s that it is a never ending journey. Not all WAHM diapers are created equal. The craftsmanship on these is very good, you almost can’t believe they were sewn by hand and not mass produced by a company with expensive equipment. It looks very finished and polished. The embroidery is well done (machine of course) and stitching looks great. The insert is microfiber, nothing fancy, but the prefold like style of it is nicer than a chunkier insert with all the layers together.  They retail for $24.95 plus $4.00 shipping… yes more than a lot of diapers but they have a lot of character.
Performance ✩✩✩✩ This diaper works well during the day but if you are a parent of a heavy wetter then don’t expect to be able to stuff anything beyond the included insert inside. I can just barely get that one inside! You could try other inserts but again, some are made wider than the width of this diaper. I did get one leak while Ev napped in the diaper. I didn’t have any others during our many times using it. My older son demands that his younger brother wear this diaper when it is clean because he is a Zelda fan now too.

Middle rise setting, a little too low

Unsnapped to the largest setting… just right.

Fit ✩✩✩ When this diaper shipped to me it was TINY. Think- newborn diaper tiny. On the smallest setting with the insert perfectly folded and in place this sucker looks practically the size of a Lil’ Joey… it put fear into my heart that, once unsnapped, it would be far too small for my 2+ year old. Even after unsnapping the diaper it looked like a small. With years of experience I didn’t panic since a lot of the times the tightly bunched elastic will stretch enough to fit larger sizes. Still, Ev is working on either the middle or unsnapped size but I don’t know how long he can wear it. The other issue we have had is regarding the lack of “contouring” in the crotch. I love that it is so narrow because it gives moms looking for that style of diaper one more option (from few), however, there is an abrupt move from crotch to waist rather than a gradual curve. This has meant that there is sometimes a gap where the crotch goes to waist since it goes skinny to wide. I tried to get a photo of this in action. It also makes it appear that my son is wearing a codpiece instead of a diaper since the insert can only flatten as far as the width of the crotch so it is poofier than most inserts that have the room to lay flat. I wish I could add in some experience regarding the fit on smaller babies. If you have tried these and have that experience please leave a comment!

Notice the gap?

Overall: As much as I love how these diapers look with the adorable design and color coordinating snaps and their quality, the fit and comfort isn’t there compared to my other diapers. The elastic is very thin and this does lead to more red marks. We have experienced this firsthand. Not all red marks are bad or uncomfortable but I tend to think that, if the diaper is too tight and the elastic is thin, it can be uncomfortable. Please read about red marks here for more. I do appreciate that this brand is catering to moms like myself who do love to outfit their children in fun and geeky diapers. As it turns out, it seems the purpose of the male and female half/half design is so that the tabs can snap to one another as a “snap and wrap” way of rolling a dirty diaper into itself.   I really want to LOVE this diaper but it is just OK. I think with some tweaks to the curve in the crotch and maybe wider leg elastic it could be an amazing diaper. I would still own every design if I could afford it if that says anything about my love for Nintendo and cloth diapers…
Where to Buy Seams Geeky on Etsy (although she is not stocking for a while, check her Facebook page for updates.)

Every once in a while I get a chance to review a “nappy” and not a “cloth diaper.”  You are probably thinking, “Aren’t those the exact same thing?” and you would be right.  Except that I get to feel fancier.  Baba+Boo Reusable Nappies are fun little diapers with exclusive prints.  They have a lot of the same features as other brands and could be confused for them, however I have been assured that these diapers were designed and made in an independent factory with all proper testing.  I’ve often warned others of the Made in China brands that have not been tested for chemicals and the factories not audited for humane and safe working conditions.  I just wanted to clarify that in this case these diapers are free and clear.  Whew!  Now that that is out of the way I can move on with the review.

One of the really fun things about the diaper, other than the custom prints, is that they often have a coordinating shirt to go with the print.  I was sent a frog patterned diaper with a frog applique on the shirt.  You know how much cloth diaper moms (nappy mums) love showing off our fluff so when we can get a coordinating set that makes it that much more fun!

Ease of Use ✩✩✩ The easiest part about this diaper is just getting it on and off. There are 3 snaps per tab, and with two of them on the hip that might throw people off (it did me on occasion since usually it is the other way around) but just un-pop those suckers when it is time to change into a new diaper. The most PITA part of this diaper is getting the insert stuffed in. Anyone familiar with my reviews knows that I don’t take kindly to those tiny pocket openings. Mama needs room to stuff! It doesn’t make stuffing the diaper impossible but it is more cumbersome to get the insert straightened out with only a 3 inch opening (plus the stretch). It also makes it harder to just shake out the insert from the pocket opening before washing, which some parents do, but I usually just reach in so for me that didn’t hurt my feelings. The tabs have nice stretch to them and I always think that makes getting a tight fit on the waist easier, so that is worth a mention. And above all, any pocket diaper is easier to put on and use than a 2 part system.
Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩ Their “exclusives” line which is what I am reviewing cost £10.95, or £20.95 for the matching diaper and shirt set. The diaper is about $16 in US and that makes is slightly less expensive than other brand name pockets but with shipping they are more than most people would want to pay in the US.  In the UK that is not a problem and they remain a good price.  4 stars for UK shoppers, but a 2 if we were paying the cost of the diaper and individual shipping to the US, so lets average that to a 3.
Performance ✩✩✩✩ The microfiber inserts that were included were super nice and thick, but not in the “bulky way. I used it in the day with only one insert. For the smallest setting you can fold the insert over if you need to. Overnight we did experience some wicking around the legs. I’m not a huge fan of pockets for overnights in general and prefer natural fibers. I think from what I can tell, that this slicker style of PUL is more prone to the wicking when the diaper is saturated. I could be wrong though. As always, try for yourself and if that is an issue then another diaper for overnight might work best. It didn’t have any wicking issues for normal, daytime use or even at nap time. Because I don’t expect pockets to be the best overnight solution it still gets 4 stars.
Fit ✩✩✩✩ The waist has a lot of room and even with Everett being over 2 he had plenty of snaps left to grow into. Granted, he is now a skinny thing, but that is the point of reference I have. As evident in the video, the fabric under the snaps on the hip might flip up but that doesn’t really affect how the diaper performs. It depends on the build of your child and their position. Everett can wear the diaper on both the medium and large setting, but medium fits best because it rides lower. It does seem big on the small setting but I can’t test it out on a smaller baby to see how it would work/fit.
Overall: I like the novelty of the slick PUL and the custom prints, which are very cute and unique. Plus the option for a matching t-shirt is really fun! These sets could make a great gift to a mom-to-be. The diaper performed well overall in the daytime but it wasn’t the best for overnights. The 2 microfiber inserts are a plus. Here in the US paying the shipping is going to make the diapers pricier so it might not be an option for us just yet unless they start being carried in a store and find distribution here. For anyone reading in the UK you can find them at a much more reasonable rate (of course) and they are definitely worth a try, if nothing else, just for the FUN prints!
Where to Buy Baba+Boo

For our next feature in this month’s “For the Love of WAHM Fluff” event I’m honored to introduce you to Ella Bella Bum. This Canadian brand of cloth diapers is best known for their Embellished Pocket Diapers that feature designer prints around the waist and tabs. Even though they are known for their One Size pockets DDL readers are getting an extra special treat! The giveaway at the end of this post will be for a custom dyed fitted!  I believe this post will give readers  unique insight into a WAHM brand that has expanded yet still remained a small business relying on a small number of seamstresses and employees.  The benefit is that customers can still find WAHM diapers made by hand and in larger quantities than those sewn by one woman who can hardly keep up with demand.  I’m so happy to be able to give you all a glimpse of this business and the diapers from Ella Bella Bum.

Sam- Founder and WAHM behind Ella Bella Bum

A Message from Sam – Founder of Ella Bella Bum

First and foremost, I’d like to thank you for your interest and for taking the time to learn more about Ella Bella Bum Cloth Diapers. With the help of so many wonderful supporters, Ella Bella Bum has experienced a steady growth over the past 3+ years and I’m so proud to tell you about the businesses humble beginnings and bright future!

EBB’s Humble Beginnings

I began sewing cloth diapers after a disappointing “mass manufactured” cloth diapering experience with my second son. After over a year of sewing for my own children, much trial and error, and extensive real world product testing, I began selling cloth diapers on a popular Hyena Cart Congo, Bella Tesori. The fresh look of Ella Bella Bum Diapers soon attracted a North American audience and word spread of the unique designs and amazing fit.

In Jan 2010, I opened my own shop on Hyena Cart which allowed for a more targeted audience and increased product selection. Over the next 2 years, EBB continued to steadily grow and the demand for EBB diapers couldn’t be met by myself and part time help from my husband Courtney. In the Spring of 2012 I hired a good friend to help with childcare and production tasks. Together we were able to increase production volumes but despite the increase in the amount of diapers being stocked, many customers were being left empty handed week after week.

Andrew

Laurie

Rick

Mike, Co- Owner

EBB Expansion

In October 2012, with the intent of spreading the duties, responsibilities, and time commitments of the growing young business, I began talks with my friend Mike Szenasi who has solid experience as a Business Analyst. Excited and ready to take the cloth diapering world by storm, my husband and I moved our young family across Canada to the Niagara region in Ontario, to partner up with him. On January 2nd 2013, EBB become a federally incorporated business with the continued goal to provide top quality, unique, designer cloth diapers to North American families.

With the amazing support of our spouses, Courtney and Melanie, Mike and I currently lead a team of 6 dedicated individuals – 3 production assistants and 3 seamstresses. With Mike taking on the back end business side of things I am better able to focus on the creative aspects of the business, which is where my true passion lies. The atmosphere at EBB headquarters is fun and lively yet the attention to detail and impressive top notch quality remains strong as all members of the EBB team are parents themselves. Everyone works to ensure that you receive nothing but the best for your little one.

Our Bright Future

The road from sole responsibility to team collaboration has had its learning curves. But with each experience comes the opportunity to learn and grow stronger. Which aids in building a well rounded, customer focused business.

Our goals over the next few months include streamlining the EBB product line, further increasing the uniqueness and creativity of EBB diapers, launching a new website, and to consistently offer these unique and popular products via continued weekly stockings at www.ellabellabum.com.

About the EBB Team

Sam Campbell is the founder, co-owner, and creative designer of Ella Bella Bum Inc. Her husband Courtney is very supportive of the business venture and has been a strong driving force behind EBB from the very beginning. Courtney is a trade carpenter and has been instrumental in the building of the production space and selflessly aids wherever needed. Together they have four beautiful children: Bailey – 11, Chase – 6, Ariella (Ella) – 4, and Graysen – 2.

Mike Szenasi is the co-owner of Ella Bella Bum Inc and heads up many of the back end business tasks. He has extensive business experience and is Sam’s perfect compliment as a business partner. His lovely wife Melanie is also very supportive and aids wherever needed to help the business run smoothly. Together they also have four beautiful children as well: Ethan – 9, Jessica – 6, Austin – 4, and Andrew – 1.

The EBB team at present also includes 3 production assistants and 3 local WAHM seamstresses.

As you can see the diapers from Ella Bella vary in style! As with most brands the best way to stay in the loop when it comes to stockings and ordering is by liking their facebook page.

Win one!

A lucky DDL reader is going to win an Ella Bella Bum custom dyed fitted (like the one shown in the Valentine!)   ARV $40.00.  Enter using the Rafflecopter below!  Open to Worldwide!  Ends 3/6.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today is the first of a new event here on DDL honoring WAHM fluff! The “For the Love of WAHM! Fluff” event this month will feature several brands of fabulous diapers made with love, by hand. What a better time to celebrate their hard work and beauty then the month of February?!  Read more about Moraki and then stay until the end of the post for a giveaway!

Our first brand is Moraki, based in California and run by a WAHM and sewn by several moms all locally.

Owner and WAHM Charlie working hard with what seems to be a very snuggly toddler <3

How can you NOT love a company like this?  I’ve been using Moraki diapers since reviewing them recently (you can watch my video here) and I’m still reaching for them for overnight.  I’ll be sad to donate them soon to my favorite charity but happy to see others get to love them like I have!

Moraki is also going to give one of their One Size diapers to a lucky DDL reader, who I’m sure will fall madly in love!

Winner will choose the color or print. Ends 2/18.  Open Worldwide.
After the event ends if you do not win there will be an auction with each diaper featured this month.  The auction proceeds will all go to Giving Diapers, Giving Hope so it is a GREAT cause to support.  Keep checking back to find out more about that portion of the event and stay tuned to see what other WAHM diapers will be included!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

When you decide to cloth diaper you are then faced with an overwhelming selection of cloth diaper stores online.  If you are lucky then you have a local store, but for those who don’t how do you make a decision?  It seems like new stores pop up daily.  I’ve done a fair amount of shopping for diapers and accessories in my day and have also gotten to know a lot of stores through my work here on Dirty Diaper Laundry.  I’ve come up with a few stand out stores that you should consider next time you need to buy cloth diapers!  Some of the stores listed are advertisers here and some are affiliates.  Affiliates will be denoted with an asterisk.

Green Mountain Diapers

GMD has been running since 1998!  In a few years it is vey possible that babies who wore diapers purchased from their store will be having babies!  With age comes experience both about cloth diapering and running a business.  Not only does Green Mountain Diapers have fast shipping but they have one of the best cloth diaper resources online.  If you want to see action shots of babies in diapers and be told everything about the diaper on the buying page then this is the store for you.  It should be noted that GMD only sells diapers with cotton fibers with the exception of covers.  You can find brands rarely seen carried by any other store including Mommy’s Touch, Imse Vimse, and   Make sure you check out their FAQ to learn more about the owner Karen and her family.  I also appreciate that GMD has kept virtually the same layout (even font!) for 15 years.  In a world where stores change their websites every few months to keep up with the newest design trends you can always count on GMD to be the same.  Want proof?

1998

February 2013

Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique*

If you prefer ordering from smaller companies that offer top notch attention to detail then SBB is your place! Each time I have placed an order I have received a gorgeous package with pretty red raffia wrapped around a brown package. They place a sticker with their logo on it and truly it looks gift ready! I’ve also received handwritten thank you notes (I am an affiliate of theirs and they are always very kind and appreciative of business sent their way) in my packages as well. They have a good selection for a smaller store and beyond cloth diapers they offer green toys and baby carriers, plus mama stuff too. The biggest draw is that they offer free shipping in the US on virtually all orders.

Other stores I feel are worth a look when you want a smaller family run feel would be Diaper Lab, Jack be Natural, Kissed by the Moon, Half Pints Baby, Growing Up St. Pete, Fluff and Stuff, Nature Bumz, Dearest Diapers, and The Green Nursery.  Many of these stores are not only ones I have either visited in person or shopped with, some are also advertisers here on DDL and have been my biggest supporters!

When you are looking for stores with lots of sales, freebies, and huge selections there are two that I always look to: Kelly’s Closet and Diaper Junction. I’ve ordered from both many, many times and have yet to be let down when it comes to shipping times.

Kelly’s Closet*

Kelly’s Closet is known for lots of one day deals so they are the ones to watch on Facebook, and signing up for their newsletter is a must. They retail virtually every huge name brand there is as well as a few smaller brands. While they primarily focus on cloth diapers they do sell choice items in mama care, baby carriers, and baby accessories.

Diaper Junction*

Diaper Junction is an online store and also a brick and mortar. While they have a great online business I love that they also have a presence locally that is helping to educate local moms and provide cloth diapers in VA. You can find almost any brand at DJ that you need! They also have a pre-owned section with brand names like Rumparooz and bumGenius. Diaper Junction is another store that offers lots of discount codes for special holidays, often times they have codes for freebies when you spend a certain amount. Keep an eye on their Facebook page and their newsletter for those deals. Diaper Junction is being run by the same mom who started it and even though they are one of the bigger stores Bryana’s passion for cloth diapering is still evident.

Other stores with lots of discounts to offer and huge selections include Mom’s Milk Boutique*, Jillians Drawers, and Cotton Babies.

Next time you are ready to place an order for cloth diapers try one of these great stores! I like to remind everyone that even the “biggest” stores that sell cloth diapers are still small, family owned and operated businesses with a small number of employees. I’ve yet to find a Wal-Mart sized cloth diaper store in revenue or employees. And if you do decide to shop with an affiliate of DDL’s a portion of your purchase goes back to this blog, so thank you!

Get ready to hide your wallet because I have 8 of the geekiest and most awesome cloth diapers you have ever seen!  Click the image to visit the store or maker.

Ewok+Cloth Diaper. From Bunzuke Cloth Diapers

A GLOW in the DARK Tron Diaper. You know you want it. From Seams Geeky on Etsy.

Raising a future Redditor? This custom creation is from WeeNotions.co.uk

This one is for all of those Dr. Who fans. Tardis diaper! From ArcticRoseBoutique on Etsy.

Your baby might not be old enough to remember playing Space Invaders but you might! From The Eli Monster

The force is strong with this diaper cover! Star Wars upcycled woolies from Chickadee and Me on Etsy.

Albert print from bumGenius. Available on their trainers, Flip covers, Freetime, Elemental, newborn AIO, and 4.0. *affiliate link

Wee little Super Heros for your little super hero! From Short Rounds Diapers

Want more? See 8 Awesome Nintendo cloth diapers.

Late, and I mean late, when I was just about to hit the sack I gave Facebook one more look.  I just couldn’t help myself.  It was then that I saw an image that stopped me in my (scrolling) tracks.  It was a photo of a window display from a cloth diaper retail store in Denver, Colorado.  I’ve seen lots of photos of window displays for cloth diaper stores and even a few in person, including the little bunnies wearing cloth diapers for Easter at Diaper Lab in Somerville, MA.  Cotton Babies recently made a menorah from blue and yellow cloth diapers.  Usually the displays are cute and will make a passerby stop to see how adorable the cloth diapers are.

The Giggling Green Bean took a different approach.

With over 2,000 shares on Facebook and counting this image has gone “cloth diaper” viral.

You can’t tell me that this window isn’t a powerful visual about the true impact of disposable diapers on a family’s wallet and the earth. And the saddest thing is that this only a year’s worth! Multiply this by 2 or even 3 and you can imagine just how many disposables a baby goes through. Even the photo can’t do justice to what must be a staggering sight when you are faced with the true height and depth of the actual stack of disposables right before your eyes. And lets keep in mind that these diapers are new and unused. In reality they would be quite larger after the urine has puffed the SAP gel up, they would be heavier, and many would be full of solid waste on their way to a landfill near you. Lucky for us we aren’t looking at that image because it is disgusting, but it would paint an even truer picture of the waste produced by a baby wearing disposables full time.

Juxtaposed to the gigantic pile of disposable diapers is a small stash of one size pocket diapers. In this case they are the Colorado based brand Rumparooz. A small stack, small enough to all fit onto a table when nicely stuffed and folded, a sight many of us see every 2-3 days when we stuff and fold our own cloth diapers and stack them onto our kitchen or coffee tables. We see them over and over, the same 24 diapers. Waste goes in, waste washes out into the well equipped sewage system.

This is how it should be and how it can be for everyone. And perhaps seeing what it is for most Americans, that gigantic stack to the right, is enough to make people take a moment to consider what they are doing when they use disposables. And then multiply that by the millions of babies each year who use them, And multiply THAT by every single baby who has ever worn a disposable diaper because all of those diapers have yet to decompose since they can take up to 500 years to break down. Disposables became popular in the 1980′s but were in use before that. The diapers worn while you danced to Thriller by Michael Jackson on MTV are still somewhere. So are the ones worn while dancing the Macarena. And of course those worn by babies going Gangnam Style are hitting landfills now. Those will all still be sitting somewhere when our grandchildren have babies. I just hope those babies are dancing to a future hit in their cloth diapers.

Sometimes it takes us facing the cold hard and unforgiving facts to make a lifestyle change. It took a crying Indian to make our parents realize that littering isn’t cool. It took the disturbing images of black lungs to help smokers realize that yellow fingers weren’t the only repercussion to smoking cigarettes. What will it take for us to make cloth diapering the norm rather than the exception? Cultural norms constantly shift and often times it is the result of crafty marketing (like when disposables overtook cloth diapers in the 1980′s) or awareness campaigns that change how we perceive something.  I do feel that cloth diaper usage is on the rise but only when we can get the message out to the masses in effective ways such as this will we start to overcome disposables once again.  (I do feel a bit Civil War- “The South Will Rise Again”-ish with this statement, my apologies.)

Would this make parents feel guilty? Possibly. A lot of parents will point out that they just can’t handle one more thing, like washing diapers, and rely on disposables to make life easier. (Although I proved that washing diapers is the easy part of parenting) What if they just switch over part time? There is the Change Three Things movement that encourages parents to pledge to just three cloth diapers a day which can still have a huge impact, especially in larger numbers.

And lets not forget the financial burden that buying disposables can have on families. There are absolutely no government or state programs that assist families with their diapering needs. Food Stamps, WIC, Welfare, none of these provide diapers and so families are put into tough positions in hard economic times, even going so far as to reuse disposable diapers. The best coupon-er will still be spending money on disposables, sometimes even $1,000 or more for multiple babies in diapers. The window display has a set of 24 Rumparooz which would last a baby from infancy to potty training at a cost of $500. In reality parents can and do spend much less on a stash of cloth diapers by choosing to buy less expensive brands, buy used, or waiting for sales. There are also local and national cloth diaper banks who provide cloth diapers for free or the cost of shipping to families who qualify.

Until we are smacked in the face with how bad disposables really are, how expensive they can be, how many chemicals they contain, how much they suck at holding in the poop they are designed to contain, how much they smell, how unattractive they are compared to cloth diapers, and how inconvenient they can be when it is snowing and you run out in the middle of the night then we as a society will keep using them. We NEED these visual aids because most of us are visual people. You can say “A child can contribute 1 ton of disposable diaper waste to the landfill” until you are blue in the face but show someone what 1 ton of disposable diapers looks like and you might win your argument.  Kudos to The Giggling Green Bean for creating such a powerful display and even if it was just to sell some cloth diapers I don’t care.  I love it.  

In case you are curious it appears that GGB purchased back the disposable from customers in their stores and gave them store credit. They have also let us know that they will be donating the diapers to a local women’s shelter once the display is over so they will go to those who can really need them. No one is denying that disposables have a role in our modern world and I have used them on occasions like traveling or battling night time ammonia myself.  

Let it be known that I love old school Nintendo and I don’t care who knows it!  I also love cloth diapers so when the two meet it is geek heaven!  I’ve compiled eight of the most awesome Nintendo Themed cloth diapers on the Internet.  Take note that many are not available anymore but it is still fun to have some eye candy!  Click the images to visit the shops of these fine cloth diaper makers.

Orange Diaper Co. fitted with Hard to Find Mario fabric.

Rarpz Design Mario Brothers Diaper

A Zelda inspired diaper courtesy of Seams Geeky on Etsy, where there are several other video game inspired designs.

A little love for Donkey Kong! Via Cutesy Tushies on Etsy.

A Short Rounds fitted featuring a stoic looking Mario.

A little “old school” fabric turned into a beautiful boutique fitted from Bagshot Row Bamboo (BSRB)

My own Mario Longies custom made for Fletcher’s 1st birthday by iCandy Knits to represent level 1-1.

A Goomba is the star of this custom diaper from Rumpkinz.