Today is Day 2 of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge and our topic of discussion is “Supplies.”  What are we using for the challenge in terms of flats, covers, acessories, and washers.  Scroll to the bottom to see the other blogs that have linked up!

The reason this is the “Flats” and Handwashing Challenge is because flat cloth diapers are the most versatile and inexpensive cloth diapering option in existence.  Nothing can match them.  Think about it- every cloth diaper you own started as a simple piece of cloth.  They are all variations of a flat diaper that has been cut, sewn, snapped, shaped, and attached to a waterproof cover.  Did I just BLOW YOUR MIND?!

Getting back to basics can save you money but it can also save you frustration over many of the more hotly debated aspects of cloth diapering such as the perfect fit, or the easiest to use, the fastest to dry, and so on.

A flat cloth diaper will cost as little as nothing to a few dollars but most cost between $1.00-$2.00.  They can be found in unexpected places (Target sells Tea Towels that make great flats and Ikea sells Burp Cloths that are even better) and can be used in so many forms that fit is virtually not an issue.

The modern waterproof cloth diaper covers aren’t as inexpensive but because they last many uses before needing to be washed a family can get away with only owning a handful.  For full time cloth diapering 4-6 is totally doable.  Look for covers with a wipeable lining.  If you aren’t sure whether a cover has a wipeable interior look it up in the Cloth Diaper Finder and read the description, I have this for every cover.

My Diapers and Covers- Expect to see a large variety of flats and covers being used.  In my case I will be using a variety of Osocozy and Ikea burp cloths.  I’m using the covers I have with me while I live in North Carolina including Flip, Thirsties Duo, Swaddlebees Capri, and some gDiaper pants. (some links to affiliate Kelly’s Closet)

To secure my flats onto the my son when I’m not using a pad fold I’m using a set of Boingo’s- a new alternative to pins.  I don’t have my Snappi or pins with me in NC so these are all I’ve got!

Many participants are taking it to the next level and using only upcylced materials such as t-shirts and bed sheets made into flats.  They will use upcycled wool sweaters made into covers, homemade fleece covers, or other homemade covers.

Washing- As for washing you will find this can be done so many ways!  I will once again be using the Camp Style bucket washer system I made last year {my tutorial}.  I feel the quick, repeated agitation gets the diapers very clean.  Others will use bath tubs, sinks, wash boards, gloves and hand scrubbing, or non electric crank washers.

Drying- For drying I’m using the large drying rack my Mother-in-Law has from Ikea (as you may recall I am still stranded in NC while we wait for our home in Florida).  Last year I used a smaller Ikea rack and the Octopus, also from Ikea!

I’m looking forward to learning all about their experiences with these.  Read along with the many bloggers taking part in the Flats and Handwashing Challenge to see what supplies they are using.

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Once upon a time the only way to diaper your baby was in cloth.  Before washing machines were common in the home you either had to handwash or you could use a diaper service.  Once disposable diapers became the norm and pushed cloth diapers out of mainstream life, the diaper service business took a hit.  Some family owned diaper services are still running today, like the Dydee Diaper Service in LA that started in 1938.  Others had to shut their doors.  Today cloth diapers are making a comeback.  Just like cloth diaper sales rising in recent years, more diaper services are opening as well.  Learn more about cloth diaper services and see if they are right for you.

How Does it Work?

The specifics for a diaper service are going to be unique to each location.  In general though, you can expect all or some of the following:

You will choose from a plan that offers a certain number of diapers (typically prefolds) each week.

The clean diapers will be delivered to your home each week, along with a wet bag or garbage bag.

Your starter package will usually include a plastic diaper pail.

You will leave your dirty diapers for the service to pick up.

You will usually have to provide your own covers, although some services do include them.

You will usually have to wash your own covers.  Luckily, most covers can even be washed with regular laundry.

The diapers will have the same PH as your baby’s skin.  Unlike home laundering, you are guaranteed not to have stink/ammonia/buildup on your diapers that could irritate baby and cause rashes.

You are usually required to have your own Snappi.

Many services do not require you to shake out solid waste, but some will.  Take that into consideration as your research.

Why Choose a Diaper Service over Home Laundering?

Why not?- If you have the means, and would prefer to cloth diaper without having to deal with washing them, then why not?

Both Parents Work Full Time- If both parents work full-time there are only so many hours in the day.  Some families would like to cloth diaper but don’t want that added responsibility and time commitment of washing diapers.

Disability- One or both parents have a disability that prevents them from being able to wash diapers easily.

Simplicity- Sometimes it is just plain nice to use prefolds and covers and not have to worry about washing/stuffing/folding/choosing cloth diapers.

Travel- If you are traveling, especially for longer stays, you can use a service in your desired location during that time in order to keep using cloth diapers when you are away from a washer. ( I have done this twice)

What Does It Cost?

Again, this is unique to your region.  Here are a few samples of a typical Diaper Service and costs:

Bundle Baby Shop- Service area includes: Boulder/Denver

$20.00 a week (23.00 for organic prefolds).  OR $33.00 per week for a Fuzzibunz Service.

The Diaper Fairy- Service area includes: Louisville, KY and Southern Indiana

$18-20.00 per week (depending on how many diapers are in your package.) OR “A Wave of the Wand” Wash your diapers is $23.00 a week.

Diaper Kind- Service area includes: New York City

$35 per week for Organic Prefold Service OR $50 per week for All-in-Two Service

Diaper Junction- Servicing most of the Hamptons Roads area!

$20.00 Per Week For Full Time OR $13.00 per Week for a Part Time Service

The cost will still be less than disposable diapers in most cases, however you will be paying more than if you decided to launder your diapers at home.  You can expect that most services will require a set-up fee which will sometimes include items you will need such as a pail, covers, wet bags, and accessories.  You may also be required to buy a minimun number of weeks.

Gifting a Diaper Service for New Moms

Many parents hoping to cloth diaper will request not to receive disposable diapers at their baby shower (I know I requested this).  Since diapers are a traditional gift, you may want to purchase a diaper service for those first few weeks for the Mom-to-Be.  While Mom is healing and having her babymoon this makes a perfect, thoughtful gift.  This also helps bridge the gap between a newborn size set of diapers and One Size diapers that many parents will buy.  Not having to buy a seperate set of newborn diapers will save money.  Tiny Tots is one service that has an option to gift a service, typically for 4-6 weeks.  Most services do offer this newborn timeframe.

Pros vs Cons

I have only used a diaper service myself on two vacations.  It was a very painless event.  The diapers were all clean and stain free and in good condition.  It was very nice to get a vacation from washing my diapers while still getting to use cloth diapers.  To dismiss diaper services would be a mistake.  There are many options for families hoping to use cloth diapers and the Diaper Service is one that is making a comeback.

To find a diaper service near you visit the Diaper Service Locator.

Just for fun: Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe- the Diaper Service Episode

Continuing on with my Introduction to Cloth Diaper Series I am covering Fitted cloth diapers. I have already covered Pockets, All in Ones, Snap in Ones, Tongue Style All in Ones, Contours, Training Pants, All in Two’s, and more.

Because fitted cloth diapers require a cover this does mean that putting on a fitted, then a cover, is a two step process.

Types of Fitteds:

You can combine the features listed below in various ways and expect that a fitted is made with these attributes.

Snaps or Velcro.

Pocket or Channel opening.

Lay in Soaker

Snap in Soaker

Microfleece/ Suedecloth Lining

Natural Lining (Cotton/Bamboo/Hemp)

Sizing-

Sized, One Size, or Dual Size.  One Size options are usually fold over rise or a 2-4 Step snap down rise.

Pros:

VERY Absorbent. The entire diaper absorbs pee, tip to tip.

Diverse. You can find a fitted in any size, shape or form.  Plus in every kind of material, synthetic and natural.

Easy to make. Many WAHM’s make fitteds, and you could probably make your own if you are handy.  Not having to make them waterproof means an easier sewing process and less room for error.

Cute. Because you can find cotton in a trillion prints and patterns, there are that many cute prints to choose from in the Fitted world.  Ironic since many times the cute is covered by a Cover.

Versatile. Using Fitteds wih no cover is a great way to prevent or heal a diaper rash since it allows more airflow.  You can also use Fitteds in conjunction with ECing (Elimination Communication) to understand when your baby has wet their diaper.

Cons:

Bulky. Fitteds definitely tend to enhance the booty more than All in Ones or Pockets.  (Why many only use them at night.)

Time Consuming.  Putting on a Fitted, then a cover takes longer than a one step diaper.  There is no arguing this fact.

Drying time. Many fitteds have more layers closer together.  It can take these longer to dry.  Look for fitteds with lay in or snap in soakers or pocket openings.  If all of the layers are sewn and it is one piece it might take a LONG time to dry.

Stink. Fitteds with Microfiber cores that are sandwiched between other layers of natural/synthetic fibers tend to start getting funky more than other types of diapers.  Since Microfiber holds on to things well, it also holds the stink.  Washing that many layers is hard to do well.

Pricey. Even though there are a lot of inexpensive fitteds out there, many “boutique” WAHM brands run close to 30$ each, or more.  They usually use organic materials, like Organic Bamboo Velour, and have beautiful details.

There are two major camps for Fitted users: Full time with Wool Soakers and Night Time with Wool or PUL Covers.

 

Wool and Fitteds:

Wool Soakers are not only waterproof, they double as clothing.  This takes care of that “two step” process if you are using Fitteds, plus a cover, plus a pair of pants.  With Wool Soakers the Cover is the same as the Pants.

Nights only Fitted Users:

I actually fall into the Night Time Fitteds and Cover group.  I only use Fitteds at night.  Want to know why?

Most Fitteds have a Natural Fiber as the layer against the baby’s skin, as well as the soaker material.  In fact, usually the entire diaper is a natural material.  Cotton, bamboo, hemp, all of these are common materials used in Fitteds.  They can come in various forms, such as velour, looped terry, and fleece.  In every form they are instantly absorbent.  Once urine hits that surface it goes into the material.  As long as there is enough room in the material to hold liquid, and the cover fits well around the legs, back, and stomach, you’ve got yourself a perfect night time combination.

In addition, fitteds are entirely made of absorbent material.  The ENTIRE diaper absorbs, the tabs, the front, the back, and of course the middle wet zone where the bulk of the absorbency lies.

Pockets, on the other hand, generally fail where the Fitted triumphs~

The Stay Dry lining in *most* pocket diapers is a barrier that wicks moisture away from the skin.  It is permeable (liquid can pass through) but the urine doesn’t go into the layer instantly.  Here is where you get leaks.  The urine is released, possibly at a fast rate, and before it gets through the stay dry layer it finds an escape.  Through a tiny gap at the leg?  Gap at the back?  Tummy? {watch the video beginning at 3:00 for a demonstration of what I mean}

Pockets are also only as absorbent as their inserts. Many parents find that double stuffing their pockets will do, some need ultra absorbent Hemp in addition to a Microfiber insert.  The truth is that pockets only have a core of absorbency no matter how many inserts you use, and how absorbent they are.  Then there is always the possibility that overstuffing your pocket has altered the fit and caused a leak.  It is only absorbing urine in the center of the diaper. There- I said it!

I just can’t stress this enough- if you are having cloth diaper leaks with any other diapers- try Fitteds (or Contours- they are very similar).

Where to buy fitteds shown in the video:

Thirsites Duo 17$* ● ES Baby ● Pooters 12$ ● Orange Diaper Co. 32$ ● Bamboozle 20$*

*Links marked with astericks are affiliate links and a portion of any purchases made will support DDL, so thank you!

Today, Monday May 23, is the first day of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge. In case you haven’t been reading along, the Flats and Handwashing Challenge is a full 7 days where I and the other participants will only use Flat cloth diapers, covers, and will hand wash them for the entire week.  Here is a link to the official Rules if you need a refresher, but unless you are participating all you really need to know is that only flats cloth diapers can be used, any cover can be used but participants are limited to 5 per child, and the diapers have to be handwashed and air dried.  I am vlogging every day of the challenge, so you get to see a lot of me this week!

I will be the first to tell you that cloth diapering was only possible for us because of the modern innovations made since Flats were the one and only way to diaper a baby.  If I had gone to my husband and told him that we were using flat cloth diapers because I wanted to reduce our waste he would have laughed me out of the room.  I don’t know that I could have ever gotten him on board.  Once I showed him the “easy” diapers like bumGenius 3.0′s (now 4.0′s) he hesitantly agreed.

Now though, I feel like Flats have gotten a bad rap.  Maybe it is because we (the collective we) have over emphasized the new “modern” cloth diapers while dismissing the flats and prefolds that are, for some, are the only diapers that are within their budget.  Has our excitement for the new and fun made the “old” and “boring” diapers no longer desirable?  In a strange twist, many find that the flats and prefolds are more effective than the “improved” diapers.  Shouldn’t we let the world know that too?!

Well, I’m bringing sexy flats back. Flats are cool.  Flats are actually WAY COOL (do kids say cool anymore?!)  You know how much you loved your brand new fancy pocket diapers with those handy microfiber inserts, only to realize 10 months down the road that those inserts stink to high heaven and you can’t get rid of that smell?  I’ve been there.  It sucks.

And remember when your pocket diapers started leaking mysteriously and you stripped them over and over until they finally started working again?  You never figured out why they were leaking since you always did all the right things. I’ve been there too!

Flats aren’t fickle. They can be washed with standard detergents (although if you are washing your covers with them you will still want to stick within the “safe” zone of detergents and avoid things like bleaches, enzymes, vinegar, etc) and they don’t need to be stripped because of ammonia build up.  The cotton doesn’t repel pee because you looked at it funny.  Flats don’t take forever to dry like many fitteds and All-in-Ones do.  In fact, they could be dry in 20 minutes in your dryer or a few hours outside.

But aren’t flats hard to use? Meh. Depends on how you want to use them.  There are different folding techniques like the better known Origami and Kite Folds.  But…..  you can also Pad Fold the flat and lay it into a cover, essentially making it into an All in Two. Thanks to more contoured and shapely covers (compared to the old school rubber pants) the Pad Folded Flat can lay inside of the cover without sliding around. If you can fold towels you can Pad Fold! (Easy Instructional Video)

Photos from today-May 23, 2011- Pad Folded Flat in a GroVia Shell.

Flats can be used in pockets too! If you want to replace your microfiber inserts with flats you can!  Pad fold the flats and use them as inserts.  The smaller flats (27″) works best for this, and so do the Flour Sack Towels from Target or Walmart.

When you are finished with your flats they can be saved for more kids or passed on.  If they have seen better days they make excellent cleaning rags and they are lint free!

Now tell me what you are blogging about for the Flats Challenge today. It can be any topic as long as it was posted today!  I will have a linky up each day.  You do not have to join every one.  If you are joining you have to link to the post URL, not your main URL, include a link back to the Challenge Rules, and include the button. {<a href=”http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/take-the-flats-and-handwashing-challenge-may-23-30/” onclick=”return TrackClick(‘http%3A%2F%2Fdirtydiaperlaundry.com%2Ftake-the-flats-and-handwashing-challenge-may-23-30%2F’,'official+Rules’)” onclick=”return TrackClick(‘http%3A%2F%2Fdirtydiaperlaundry.com%2Ftake-the-flats-and-handwashing-challenge-may-23-30%2F’,'smallbutton’)”><img title=”smallbutton” src=”http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/smallbutton.png” alt=”#flatschallenge” width=”100″ height=”167″ /></a>}  Take the brackets out and insert into your HTML.  You also need to add the InLinkz code to your post.

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Green Mountain Diapers, Diaper Junction, and Orange Diaper Co. provided flats to try for the challenge.  I’ll be sending them to Giving Diapers, Giving Hope after the Challenge is complete.  Special thanks to Diaper Junction and Swaddlebees for sponsoring many bloggers and giving them a chance to participate!

As part of my (possibly indefinite) Introduction to Cloth Diapers Series I am covering All-in-Two cloth diapers this week.

All-in-Two’s, are waterproof shells (covers) with replaceable inserts.  This definition means you could use virtually any combination of waterprof cover and soaker pads, but there are many cloth diapers designed for this purpose.

Most All-in-Two’s are One Size Fits Most diapers using a snap down rise or Leg Elastic Sizing.  For my video I have shown the Ragababe Organic 2 Step, Best Bottoms, and Gro Baby/ GroVia brands.  These are only a small representation of the brands available.  Since I started blogging 2 years ago when Gro Baby was released the concept has taken off inspiring many similar systems.

The point of an AI2 is to save more money by having to buy fewer “pricey” diapers, and AI2‘s are space savers when going out or traveling.  Many AI2‘s can also be used with disposable inserts.

Pros:

• Less expensive than a full set of AIO‘s or Pocket Diapers
• Still Easier to use than flats or prefolds
• Trim
• Typically One Size
• Easy to Use
• Variety of soakers (inserts) in every material type including organic and stay dry.
• Can mix and match soakers with shells of multiple brands by laying them inside other systems.  Not all snaps are compatible with one another.

Cons:

• Depending on the system, liners can get wet after the baby pees.
• When the baby poops it often soils the cover.
• Inserts can shift when when baby moves potentially causing a leak.
• When changing the diaper you need to touch the wet/dirty inserts to remove them (but using a cloth wipe is the best solution)
• Slightly more time consuming to change than removing a whole diaper, then replacing with a new one.

I have to admit that AI2‘s are not in my favorite list of diapers.  I do see their value as a way to use cloth diapers without spending too much money.  If you wanted to buy 6 one size shells at 17$ each and 24 one size soakers at 8$ a piece you are only spending 300$.

You can learn more about the many types of cloth diapers by watching the other entries in my Intro to Cloth Diaper Series.

The news has been dismal lately.  Every single day I see a new attack on breastfeeding. I haven’t addressed any so far because there have been plenty of other bloggers out there doing it for me.  Today was my breaking point.

Attacking breastfeeding suddenly became the thing to do.  Perhaps the attention that Kim Kardashian received for her tweet regarding nursing in public as “gross” made another “celebrity” think this was her chance to grab the spotlight for a moment.

But because this “celebrity” is Adrianne Curry (I use celebrity in quotes for a reason) she has to go further than the word gross.  In fact, if you go through her tweets she compares breastfeeding to “pooping, peeing’ masturbating, and cunnilingus”  She goes on to say “But to each their own”  This qualifier doesn’t make what was said acceptable.  That is like saying “I don’t like *insert ethnicity here*, but to each their own.”

She admitted she would get blasted for it on Twitter.  And she got some comments, though due to her caliber of followers, most cheered her on and added their own graphic metaphors for what breastfeeding in public is like.

Adrianne also admits that she was not breastfed and was told by some doctor she can’t breastfeed because she has implants. Second opinion?  Because most mothers with implants have gone on to successfully nurse their babies, including Kendra Wilkinson.

Obviously society failed Adrianne, who has had zero exposure to breastfeeding in her life.  And her persona is based upon her appearance.  Her life is wrapped up in looking good and having nice tits.  If her audience saw her nursing her baby they might not associate those breasts with sexy so much as they see them for their intended purpose.

A part of me understands how some women like Adrianne, and the author of the hotly debated article “I Formula Fed.  So What?’” have come to the conclusion that breastfeeding is “creepy.”  I myself, as a teen’ swore I would never breastfeed because these knockers were for entertainment purposes only.  Becoming an adult changed my mind.  I realized that is what they are there for.  I grew up.  I didn’t need an ad campaign to show me breastfeeding is normal. But some people do and I am grateful for groups like Best for Babes because they will change things for the better.

I am still at a loss how a mother like Kathryn Blundell can still deny the maternal instinct to breastfeed.  Even those who choose to formula for work/ supply/ etc issues usually try, and will admit breastfeeding is the thing they should do if they could.  Adrianne, on the other hand, has not yet experienced motherhood or the way it can change you.  While there is no excuse for blasting breastfeeding, especially in such a vile and public way, we can only hope she will change her mind one day and that her opinion doesn’t rub off on the impressionable youth.

I’d love to hear your thoughts!  Have you always wanted to breastfeed?  Did you ever think it was “gross?”  What changed your mind?

Bummis cloth diapers have been around for a long time.  I bought many used ones when I was pregnant, but this was when I was ignorant about cloth diapers.  I didn’t realize that they were more than used, they were abused.  While I could have been ok using them, I bought some other covers instead and gave those away.  I only used them a few times and didn’t have any problems with them, the laundry tabs were just shot.

I was excited to get another opportunity to try Bummis, and this time I was going to get the chance to review the entire iParenting Award winning Organic Cotton Prefold Kit in the Baby (medium, 15-30 lbs) size.  I looked at the regular kit while I was pregnant, and tried talking my husband into it.  Instead I bought all used diapers and less than quality prefolds.  I know now the mistake I made. Cheap doesn’t always equal better, and I wasn’t happy using prefolds.  I switched to pockets and didn’t attempt prefolds again for a long time.

Bummis is also an all around great company.  They manufacture most of their items in Canada and they are a caring company.  When I contacted them about donating a diaper to Fluffy Christmas the response was not, “Ok,” but, “We will donate a Baby size Organic Cotton Prefold kit.”  That kit went to a very deserving family, along with a couple extras.  I can’t wait to get pictures of the baby in a Super Brite!

About Bummis:

Our mission is to make it easy for you to use cloth diapers simply because we think that all babies would love to be wearing them! They are so soft and comfy ….

Cloth diapers are also affordable, easy to use, and super easy to wash.

We manufacture and distribute hard working, functional and great looking products.

Ease of Use ✰✰✰ The Bummis covers and prefolds can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make them. Because they have a handy panel up front, as shown in the video, you can trifold a prefold and place it in the cover. I would personally use a snappi (or pins for the brave) on babies who have loose stools. If you simply trifold the prefold you might very well have poop leak into the cover, and you will either have to wipe the poop from the cover or use a new one. The kit has 4 covers in the Baby size kit, enough to do 1.5-2 days between washing, and the Infant has 6 covers, which would last about 2 full days between washing. The infant kit comes with 24 prefolds, also enough for 2 days, and the Baby has 18, good for 2 days as well!  Because the covers are velcro, once you have the prefold inside or on the baby, that step is easy peasy. To change, and put in your wet bag for washing, attach velcro laundry tabs.
Bang for the Buck ✰✰✰✰✰ For around 160 dollars you have enough diapers at your disposal to last you until they change sizes. If you use both kits, in infant and baby size, you will spend roughly 336 dollars. Many babies never need a size large diaper, and the Medium Bummis fit until 30 pounds. I would personally buy travel wet bags, and an extra large wet bag for when you are washing the super fab Bummis wet bag that comes with the kit.
Performance ✰✰✰✰✰ Sometimes the simplest diapering solutions are the best. With the kit you get everything you need. The fleece liners are made from recycled polyester, and the flushable liners really come in handy if you lack a diaper sprayer or when you are out of the house. The prefolds are really absorbent and soft. I even used them for overnight and there were no leaks. My son is sleeping about 12 hours a night now. The covers are nice and thick enough, and I feel that they are substantial. You can’t complain about the nifty, gender neutral patterns the covers come in either.
Fit ✰✰✰✰ The Medium covers and prefolds in the kit fit my son well, with a little room to spare in the cover. Not enough to have a leak, the legs and back were tight enough, but there was enough looseness for more growing. The prefold, when trifolded, fit perfectly inside the cover. Using a snappi, they fit well with the angel fold, which is what I prefer. They aren’t “trim” when compared to an AIO, and you get a booty shelf in the back if you place the prefold in the cover instead of using a snappi.
Overall- There is a reason that expecting moms register for this kit. It has virtually everything you need to cloth diaper, and they don’t skimp on the quality or quantity. Instead of giving you plain covers, you get some of the cutest patterns Bummis make. And, the wet bag can’t even be purchased alone. I used the bag while I was out of town for 2.5 weeks. I never wanted to be without it, so I washed quickly and used a travel wetbag in the meantime. I think I went 4 days without washing once, and I still had more room, but not enough diapers to continue. Plus, I wouldn’t want to. Even after 4 days the smell didn’t seep through, though once I opened the zipper the stink could have knocked you over. Prefolds are diapers that are versatile in fit and use, and they last forever. Since you can hang the covers dry, I don’t see a reason this kit shouldn’t last you through 2, or more, children if you never put those covers in a dryer. To keep your prefold soft, try Ecover fabric softener, the only diaper safe softener! This kit is all kinds of fab!

If you want to enter to win one, go to the giveaway!

I was not compensated to post this review, but the items sent for review were free of charge.