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.

Looking for inspiration for gifts this year?  Lucky for you I have collected a few ideas to share with you.  If you are looking for tips on the year’s “hottest” toys (and by “hottest I mean- the toys you will get trampled for on Black Friday at Target for) then skip this post.

For your friends, family, neighbors….

Personalized Ornaments from PersonalizedFree.com have over 1,800 customizable ornaments and an easy shopping interface.  Browse by theme to match the recipient’s interests and then add their name(s).  The best part?  PersonalizedFree.com will be donating 10% of your purchases to my favorite cloth diaper charity- Giving Diapers, Giving Hope.  Use code GDGH at checkout to have your purchase count!

For the New Baby…

Really babies need very little except milk, snuggles, sleep, and clean diapers.  Considering only one of these things can be purchased you know where I’m going with this!  One of my favorite brands also makes the most adorable cloth diapers for newborns.  Orange Diaper Co. has squishy soft, gorgeously crafted newborn cloth diapers in to die for prints.  Sometimes I reconsider not having another baby when I see diapers this cute.  Fluff under the Christmas Tree?  Yes!

For the Non-Walker…

The box from whatever gift you thought was a good idea….just kidding…kind of.  But really and truly this age group is a hard one.  Not yet toddler, yet not baby enough to just sleep all day.  Crinkly paper, boxes, and noise making devices suit these little guys just fine.  But since you are going to buy them gifts regardless consider sturdy and colorful board books.  One of our favorite series is by Leslie Patricelli- author of “No No Yes Yes,” Quiet Loud” and “Yummy Yucky.”  Simple, colorful, and actually somewhat helpful, these books have been a favorite in our home for years.

For the Busy Toddler…

The Wheely Bug is a Rosas Family staple and a toy I suggest to everyone I meet.  Unlike traditional ride on toys, the wheely bug by Prince Lionheart has caster wheels that move in all directions so that the child can turn the toy.  How frustrating are ride-on’s that only go straight?!  These ride-ons aren’t hideous to look at either.  We have 3- the Cow, Bee, and Lady Bug, and they all meander through the home yet I never try to hide them like the other toys.  Fun for toddlers and preschoolers too.  Even I ride them once in a while…

For the Impossible Pre-Schooler…

It is ALL about imagination and pretend play!  For Christmas your precocious pre-schooler might love indulging in some imaginary fun dressed as a super hero, a doctor, or even a bear.  Whatever you choose there are so many stores and WAHM’s making costumes.

For the Moms…

I recently stumbled upon an artist on Etsy with some beautiful paintings depicting breastfeeding, bed sharing, and motherly love.  Perhaps the mom in your life would love to hang one of these in her home?  They are stunning.  Find her work here: Katie M. Berggren

For The Dads…

I am always clueless for gifts to buy the men in my life.  Considering time is the most precious thing in our home I like to do gifts that let my husband spend time doing things he enjoys.  Last year I took a trip to the movie theater and purchased a ticket for him and gifted it tied up with a box of theater candy (they sell them at KMart for cheap!).  It is an inexpensive gift that lets him have some alone time.  Since I never watch action movies at home I made sure he got to see the newest one that year.

I have to admit that I am pretty lost myself when it comes to Christmas Shopping!  Still, I wanted to share some personal ideas that have been popular with my family and a special way to help a cause close to my heart when you are looking to buy an ornament for your exchance or for family.  As a bonus you can enter a giveaway sponsored by PersonalizedFree.com and hosted along with other bloggers for a custom ormanent.  Enter via the Rafflecopter below.  Remember, if you order from their website they will donate 10% to Giving Diapers, Giving Hope- an organization that send cloth diapers to families who can’t afford them.  Every baby deserves a clean diaper.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cloth Diapering is gaining in popularity and a lot of people want to get involved.  Any time there is money to be made the people will come in droves to stake their claim.  The Cloth Diaper Wild West has seen a lot of prospectors come and go.  Some of them are bringing innovative and worthwhile products to the marketplace; others just want to make money the fast way.

You’ve seen the same diaper with a dozens of different labels.  They all have the same snaps, the same look, the same prints, the same everything.  The only difference is that they go by different names and they might come with a different insert.  They are sold on Ebay, on dinky e-shops with a hurried look, web 1.0 graphics, and sometimes have hard to understand wording that sounds more like a Google Translation than real spoken English.  The price looks too good to be true!

As a cloth diaper advocate I find it hard to ignore these diapers.  They are becoming increasingly easy to find and are well known amongst cloth diaper and parenting message boards.  It’s easy to see why!  At .99 each with $4.00 shipping (a $5.00 cloth diaper!) a family could build their stash for $120.00 with 24 of these One Size diapers.  That sounds amazing right?

Yes.  It’s a modern miracle that there are products that cost as little as $5.00 each when their brand name counterparts are upwards of $20.00 each.  When you consider that the most popular brand of cloth diapers will run you $17.95 each and you would spend $430.80 on 24 diapers this is a considerable savings.  Some of you reading this might even be thinking “Why didn’t I buy these $5.00 diapers?!  I could have saved hundreds!”

The price savings come at a cost.  Period.  I’ll lay out the many ways I find that these re-labeled cloth diapers made in China are not the best thing for you.  Then I’ll say why they might be.  Just stay with me on this…

Workmanship- The diapers being sold at .99 each cannot possibly be made as well as name brand diapers.  There are often times discrepancies in the diapers when they are being manufactured that lead to snaps coming off, the leg elastic being sewn in different tightness’s making for an “interesting” fit, and so on.  You might get lucky and buy the one that was made well, or you might not and end up with a useless diaper that no longer works after a few weeks or months.  It’s like a cloth diaper game of Russian Roulette.  Another valid point to make is that if your diapers fail you will be faced with the decision to buy more diapers (the same brand, disposables, or more expensive brands) then you will not be saving the amount you assumed you would up-front.  Will these diapers last you the entire lifespan of your child’s diapering days and beyond (for future children?)  There are brands that will and THIS is when the higher price tag pays off in the long run.  I have diapers still in rotation from my first son (purchased 4 years ago) that are still working on my second son.

Quality and Quality Control- Having handled several of these brands I can tell you that the materials used to make them are not on par with the materials used to make the brand name diapers.  The PUL has a different feeling to it (slicker and cheaper) and the fleece or suedecloth is thinner and often pills faster.   I’m also going out on an (unverified) limb and assuming that there is little to no quality control happening at some of the factories.  While name brands protect their reputation by not selling second quality “seconds” diapers unless otherwise marked (and discounted) these re-labeled brands are less likely to do so.  I’ve witnessed many buyers receive second quality diapers without expecting them.

Customer Service- Dealing with overseas Ebay and Re-labeled Brand sellers when/if your diaper does fall apart isn’t going to be pleasant.  After reviewing several of these prolific Ebay cloth diaper sellers and their feedback it seems that they are not in the “cloth diaper biz” like a reputable online or brick and mortar store.  They sell anything and everything that will bring in a dollar such as “electronic cigarettes, spy pens, laptop trays, and flame-less tea lights.”  These sellers are not in the business of taking care of your needs!  If your diaper falls apart- tough luck.  You would be lucky to receive a refund or even a response to your query.  Have a question about how to care for your cloth diapers?  I would guess that many of these sellers have never even used the product.  I find it disheartening when I see parents purchase these re-labeled diapers and then ask hardworking WAHM’s who don’t even sell those brands about problems with said diapers.  Often times these WAHM’s will still answer because they want these families to succeed with cloth diapering.

Warranty- In line with the customer service issue, buying diapers that were shipped from China poses serious issues when a defect arises.  Many of these brands do have warranties but if you read the fine print they will make you ship the diaper back (overseas) and you will then have to wait for a replacement.  The cost to ship your diaper will be more than the cost of the diaper itself in many cases!

Ethical Quandry- Listen to your gut- what does it say about a diaper that is made in another country, exported to the US, and sold for 5 dollars.  Do you think those who made the diapers were paid a fare wage?  What were the working conditions like?  Even though many of the name brand diapers sold for higher prices are made overseas in various countries I feel better about purchasing them because they have men on the ground monitoring the manufacturing facilities for safe working conditions.  If you want to go one better and purchase only American or Canadian made cloth diapers I have two resources you will want to bookmark: the Cloth Diaper Finder lets you check a box that will show diapers only made in the country you select.  I also have a page listing cloth diapers made in the US and Canada.  You can also learn the top five reasons to buy American Made Products from Made in America Challenge. To live in a world and not buy products with questionable ethical origins is hard in today’s global economy but I know that we can use our good sense and buying power to support the brands who are trying to not only bring quality reusable diapers to the marketplace but who also care about their employees’ quality of life.

I receive emails on a weekly basis from manufacturers in China pitching their wares.  Here is an example:

Lovely email, yes? ANYONE can begin importing Chinese made diapers, re-label them, and sell them. Some people will see this as a good thing because it has enabled plenty of families to start bringing in money by taking advantage of the high demand of these inexpensive diapers. There is little to no transparency about the fact that the diapers are not, in fact, their design and are just a “generic” that has a new label on it. If this were made more apparent I would have less of an issue. When you see one of these re-labeled diapers being sold by one person for $20.00 and another for $8.00 you want to shoot your computer monitor in a fit of rage at the ballsy move the $20.00 seller has.  Below is an image of some of the diapers they want to sell me and anyone else with a pulse and an image of two identical diapers being sold as different brands for different prices.

Brand Name Knock-Offs

Just like there are knock-offs of popular designer wares, there are even knock-off cloth diapers.  For the most part these are blocked from being sold here in the US thanks to the patents held by the brands.  That doesn’t mean they don’t make it up on Ebay.  As with the “too good to be true” price of these relabeled diapers, think long and hard before buying what looks like a Thirsties when things are fishy.

Co-ops

A new trend has been rising in order to get these cheap diapers even cheaper- Co-ops.  A Co-op involves a group of people who get together to place a large order of items in order to qualify for a bulk discount/wholesale price.  Because these diapers can be purchased at wholesale for as low as $1.00 a piece in some cases the idea of a co-op is very enticing to save even more money.  Co-ops for popular brands of these Made in China re-labeled brand diapers are increasing.  Not only does this pose ethical issues (when there are rules against this per the brand) but it can also result in fraud for people in the groups.  Buying reputable brands of diapers from resellers with great reputations protects your investment!  Again, you may end up buying diapers twice- once from a co-op but your diapers are never shipped (worst case scenario) and again from a trusted store to replace those missing diapers.  Why take the risk? If you decide to try a co-op please due your due diligence when researching the host.

The Grey Area

How can the regular shopper know that a diaper with a price “too good to be true” is a relabeled Made in China cloth diaper or just a great deal?  As I said earlier, many of these diapers will look identical in almost every way- snaps, prints, sizing, and so on.  The label will be different but it always looks the same.

I don’t expect everyone to know these things.  Truly, I don’t.  I do expect that today’s shopper is informed and knowledgeable.  If you knowingly buy a diaper after understanding the above facts then that is your perogative.  If you simply didn’t realize that these diapers are often copy-cats of name brands that have been slightly modified and sewn in a factory with deplorable working conditions then you are one of thousands.  After reading this article maybe you will rethink your cheap cloth diaper purchases just because a brand has released a new print and instead buy an adorable WAHM diaper from an Etsy store.

The Silver Lining

If you are struggling between buying food to eat or diapers for your baby then these bargain priced diapers are tempting.  With such a minuscule start-up cost a family could begin using cloth diapers for around $120.00 in the most modern of ways- pocket diapers or all-in-ones.  Say what you will about prefolds and flats being as cheap or cheaper- they are.  Is that an option some families will entertain?  No.  As a cloth diaper advocate and a human being who wishes all children have access to clean diapers I say “buy some cheap Chinese diapers and take care of the most important thing in your life.”  To anyone who is in this situation I will also link Giving Diapers, Giving Hope which is a national cloth diaper lending foundation.  You can also look to see if there is a cloth diaper lending organization in your local area in this post:  Cloth Diaper Organizations Helping Families in Need. When you factor in how long it takes to ship diapers you are buying from China and how long it will take to apply for and potentially be approved for a stash of diapers the waits will probably be about the same.  You can also look into buying used cloth diapers through forums and shops like Diaperswappers.com, ClothDiaperTrader.com, and ClothDiaperNation.com.  Look into Craigslist or Freecycle.  There are also brand name diapers that start at low prices in existence.  Check Cloth Diaper Finder and select your price range to see diapers that fit your budget and also match your preference of country of origin, style, closure, and more.

I am not a perfect person and I’m not pretending to be one.  I’ve knowingly (and more often, unknowingly) purchased diapers and other items that originated from China without researching how and where they were made.  The problem of rebranding and counterfeits is also extending into the baby carrier industry: opportunism knows no bounds, even when a child’s safety is at stake.  With this article I’m  hoping to expose the truth behind a lot of the cheap cloth diapers that are cropping up by the day.  The consumer has the right to know that these designs are not proprietary nor were they sewn with love by a WAHM.  I’ve seen plenty of websites make this false claim and it makes me sick.  The varying prices from brand to brand, the fascade of it being their design when it is not, the downright deceit is deplorable.  I used to see the cloth diaper industry as a cottage industry run by mostly female business women.  Those women still exist!  Let’s support them and not the people who have chosen to make a fast buck by slapping a label on a diaper and calling it “Cutesy Tootsy Bum Bum Rainbow Poop Catcher V.2.”  The more we support the generic diapers the faster we put the real innovators out of business.  Would you rather have the selection of hundreds or hundreds of remakes of the same design?  

Summary:

• Not all cloth diapers made in China are bad but many are re-labeled generic patterns sold to resellers who then set a price and sell them as their own.
• Some diapers are blatant copies of a pattern used in a manufacturing facility in China for a name brand that has been altered and is sewn with cheaper materials and given a new brand name.
• Buying re-labeled diapers is a crap shoot- sometimes you win and something you lose.
• Be an educated consumer!  Read reviews of a potential diaper.  Find reviews that show the diaper has been used longer than 6 months to a year.  How did it hold up?  Know that the diaper you are buying is potentially being manufactured by employees un unsafe, unsanitary, unfit conditions.  Consdier there could even be child labor involved.  Reputable brand names who manufacture in China GroVia is one) often write publicly about their facilities, their employees, and show photos from tours to prove their diapers are made with a conscience.
• Find less expensive, ethically made diapers.  Buy used.  Use prefolds or flats and quality covers (Thirsties make great covers that last a long time!) or even DIY your own diapers.
• If you insist on buying one of the re-labeled brands consider buying from a reputable store that sells them here domestically to still get their guarantee and customer service.  Some of the better known MIC diapers are sold at online stores for slightly more than you would find on Ebay or on a sub-par webstore.

More on this subject:

All About Cloth Diapers: Are Cloth Diapers From China Bad?
According to Jenny: Chinese Diaper Manufacturing and Rebranding

The Giving Diapers, Giving Hope Fundraiser has come to a close.  It was more successful than I could have imagined and the total amount raised comes to $3,036.84!  I only expected to raise $1,500 dollars so this is double my hopes!

This Fundraiser wouldn’t have happened without the support from the many sponsors that took a chance on a new and unknown organization.  I sincerely thank the companies who trusted the faith that I have in GDGH and I know that 2012 is going to be an amazing year, partly thanks to their donations and support.

Almost half of the money raised came straight from individual donors.  It warms my heart to know that families who may even be in financial hardships themselves still found a way to donate $2, or $5, or $15.  Thank you!

Now to list those very lucky winners!  If your name is listed please Contact Me to claim your prize.  Winners have 48 hours to respond.  Winners are listed BELOW the prize they won.

5 bumGenius Elementals in Snaps from NOW Family.  Provided by NOW Family. (ARV $124)

Winner! Anne Maguire
One-Size GroVia AIO, One-Size GroVia Shell, Two-pack of GroVia Organic Cotton Soaker Pads, Thirsties Duo Diaper (winner picks size), One-Size GoGreen Pocket Diaper, GroVia Magic Stick, 1 Package of disposable Biosoaker Inserts from Jack be Natural. (ARV $125)

Winner! Barbara Mann

Rainbow Loops Bundle (fitted diapers) in Size Medium (ARV $102.60) provided by Orange Diaper Co.

Winner! Suzy Allen

Incredibum Pack (5 Incredibum OS Diapers, 4 pack of wipes, 4 inserts, 1 large wetbag. Provided by Incredibum
(ARV $100+)

Winner! Katie Santiago

CUSTOM 6 PACK of Bamboo Velour Tushie Ties Tie on Cloth Diapers.  Provided by Tushie Ties. (ARV $90.00+)

Winner! Andra Willits

SweetBottoms Baby Boutique $100 Gift Certificate.  Provided by Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique.

Winner! Farrah Shumway

MEGA PACKAGE including “THE” BALM! Diaper Balm / Skin Repair, Organic, all Natural, Vegan, Cloth Diaper Safe Balm & 1st Aid for Everything Skin, ”THE” BALM! PITS! All Natural, Organic, Soothing Deodorant, ”THE BALM! SANITIZE those HANDS! All Natural, Organic, Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer and MORE! Provided by THE Balm.  (ARV $100)

Winner! Nicole Boumans

- 1 FuzziBunz Hanging Diaper Pail, apple green – 1 FuzziBunz Zippered Tote Bag, apple green – 1 Planet Wise Wipe Pouch, bumble dot – 6 Pack of Kissaluvs Premium Organic Wipes – 1 Rockin’ Green Shake It Up Pail Freshener, rage against the raspberries – 1 CJ’s BUTTer Small Stick, pink sugar -1 CJ’s BUTTer Spritz in Pink Sugar. Provided by Modern Cloth (ARV $80+)

Winner! Brandi Bowers

BabyKicks Prize Pack: 2- 3g Pocket Diapers (OS Hemp Insert included) 1- Small Hemp Prefold 1- Medium Hemp Prefold 1- 10pack Bamboo Washies  1- Duz-it-All (ARV $78.93) Provided by BabykicksUSA

Winner! Keri Bedke

1 Batumee Diaper, Size 2 (One Size) Scribble Collection 2 Embroidered TCS Diapers, Size 2 (One Size) GN Colors and Embroidery 3 Economy Medium Easyfolds 1 Popo Belt for the Easyfolds. Provided by Oeko Popo (ARV $84.13)

Winner! Audra Barrick

-1 GEN-Y Universal cover (size L). 1 GEN-Y Classic cover (size M), 1 GEN-Y Simplicity cover (size M), and 1 Planetwise Hanging Wet/Dry Bag. Provided by GEN-Y.  (ARV $83)

Winner! Allison Gunnip
1 Planet Wise wet bag medium Piccolo Dot print 1 Sigma diaper sprayer 1 Baby Blue Planet Wise pail liner 1 Thirsties wipe pack (neutral print) provided by Abby’s Lane (ARV $75.00)

Winner! Tami Pearson

- 3 Snap Duo All In One Diapers (closure, size, color/print tbd by winner) – 1 jar of Thirsties Booty Love – 1 6 pack of Fab Wipes Provided by Thirsties(ARV $75.00)

Winner! Brooke Patterson

“Try Cloth Diapers package” includes- 1 bumGenius Artist Series, 1 Happy Heiny’s One Size, 1 Wahmies One Size, 1 Fuzzibunz One Size, 1 BabyKicks 3g Pocket Diaper provided by Go Green Baby Co. (ARV $70+)

Winner! Katie Johnson

More Incredible Prizes Including:

1 AppleCheeks Bundle.  Provided by Baby Dickey.

Winner! Sarah J (saywah)

Set of 2 bumGenius Freetimes.  Provided by All About Cloth Diapers.

Winner! Nekisha Rowe 

6 Pack of DiaperRite OS Pocket Diapers with inserts. Winner chooses colors. Provided by Diaper Junction.

Winner! Christine M Tubbytelly

4 Hand Knit items from Revel Handmade. Winner chooses items.  Provided by Pamela Dayton.

Winners- Copper Siegel, Melissa Eubank, Rebecca Rioux Patrick, and Lenor De Jesus

$25.00 Gift Card to Sandbox Lane.  Provided by Sandbox Lane

Winner! Dawn Sanford

$25.00 Gift Certificate to Kelly’s Closet and (1) ones and twos AIO cloth diaper. (1 winner gets GC, 1 winner gets the diaper). Provided by Kelly’s Closet.

Winner! Michelle Sullivan (GC) and Melissa Poulin (Ones & Twos Diaper)

3 Pack of Knickernappies Custom Fit Pocket Diapers with Microfiber Inserts in color/size winner’s choice. Provided by Knickernappies.

Winner! Heather Archer Cansier

2 Changing Diapers: The Hip Mom’s Guide to Modern Cloth Diapering book provided by Kelly Wels.

Winners- Lindsey (csc_dolphin), Livia Hernandez

3 100% Organic ‘Lil Monkey Hat (fits newborn-3 months). Winner choses color of trim (pink, blue, or ivory). Provided by Hot Mama Gowns.

Winners- Danielle Posch, Katy Wogatzke and Brandie Massey King

Large box of Eco Nuts (360 loads) provided by Eco Nuts.

Winner! Leah Brand Burks

One-size pocket diaper in the NEW “Bananas For You” Monkey print, which includes a one-size Organic Hemp Fleece insert, and a bamboo doubler. Provided by MoDia Diapers.

Winner! Mary Michaud 

Thirsties AIO in Gender neutral color provided by Dearest Diapers.

Winner! Alycia Walker 

Sweet Pea AI3 in an owl print. Provided by Sweet Pea Diapers.

Winner! Kirstie Gibbons

3 Wooly Rounds (2 winners, 1 set per person).  Provided by Wooly Rounds.

 Winners- Jennifer Perritte, Katie Kennedy Brown

Scholastic’s Story Book Treasures Sign Language Storytelling Stories 3-DVD Set  provided by The Parent Guide

Winner! Amanda Maupin

The biggest cloth diaper giveaway of the year will end tonight at midnight.  The Giving Diapers, Giving Hope 2012 Fundraiser has already been more successful than I could have imagined but we are less than $300 dollars away from hitting a HUGE milestone of $3,000!  

If you need a reminder of the amazing prizes being offered by the sponsors of this even you can visit the prize list.  {View Prizes}

There are over $1,700 dollars worth of prizes being given away!  The giveaway is hosted on my Facebook Fanpage and to enter you will need to “like” the pages of our sponsors in the Rafflecopter form.  There are no mandatory entries.

For an extra 25 entries you can donate ANY amount!  ANYTHING!  We know that money is tight for a lot of families but every little bit counts.  Even a few dollars spared will combine with the other donations to get us that much closer to $3,000.

The money raised from this fundraiser is going to the filing fee associated with becoming a non-profit.  Any leftovers will them help pay for the operating costs of the organization.

Giving Diapers, Giving Hope has already helped over 70 families start cloth diapering and they are poised to help many more in 2012 with your help!

As always, they appreciate any used (or new) cloth diaper donations as well.  Even if the diapers are in need of minor repair work they can be put to good use.  You can learn more about how to donate on their website:  GivingDiapersGivingHope.org

Lastly, I want to extend an enormous thank you to those companies and partners who made this entire thing possible.  The generosity of the sponsors has really humbled me and makes me realize what an incredible community I am lucky to be a part of.

What are you waiting for?  Get the word out!  Only 1 more day to enter this spectacular giveaway for a great cause!  

Fact: There are no public assistance programs in the United States that provide or subsidize diapers for low income families.

Fact: It can cost as much as 100$ or more a month to diaper a baby adequately with disposable diapers.

Fact:  Some families cannot take their children to daycare when funds are low because they don’t have enough diapers to provide.

Fact:  Some families go longer between changes to stretch their diapers and their money.  Fewer have also reused disposable diapers by drying them out or scraping out the solid waste.

Diapers are a necessity for the majority of parents in the modern world.  Aid agencies can often help families in need with food, clothing, and housing but diapers aren’t part of the package.  Larger cities do have diaper banks and there are many rescue missions and food banks that do what they can but what about the families without access to these services?

Over the years a few foundations have cropped up to provide or lend cloth diapers to qualified families.  Many are locally based and only serve the families around them, and others are national.

This is just a look at a few organizations I am aware of.

Thanks to these and the other similar organizations, a respectable number of babies are in cloth diapers and a weight has been lifted off of their parents’ shoulders.  Running a diaper bank is no easy task so these women should be applauded for their volunteer work.

If you would like to see a diaper bank that I missed added to this list please leave a comment or contact me.  

It is not secret that I have a passion for educationg families about cloth diapers. Therefore it has been an honor to work with Giving Diapers, Giving Hope- a cloth diaper lending foundation- as a member of the Board of Directors for the past 10 months.

If you haven’t heard about Giving Diapers, Giving Hope I will give you a bit of background on their wonderful organization.

In April 2010, Giving Diapers, Giving Hope was started by Kristen McCarthy and Emily Glover as a local cloth diaper lending foundation for Gloucester, MA.  Within weeks of beginning their local service, GDGH’s Facebook page and email inbox were full of inquiries from parents across the country.  To meet this need, Kristen and Emily decided to expand and accept applications from families throughout the United States.   Over the last 10 months, Giving Diapers, Giving Hope has already managed to help over 70 families cloth diaper their babies.

2011 was a great year but 2012 is going to be even better!  As a way to help Giving Diapers, Giving Hope I’ll be throwing a fundraiser with two parts.

First, I would like to invite you to join myself (@KimRosas) and @GivingDiapers, as well as my special guests, for a night of Twitter fun.  This night also happens to be my birthday!

Hosts:

@KimRosas, @GivingDiapers and more friends TBA!

Date:

January 25 9-10 PM EST (My Birthday!)

Hashtag:

#GivingHOPE

Details:

Join @KimRosas, @GivingDiapers and friends for an evening of Fluffy Fun and Support!  Tweet with #GivingHOPE as we kick off the 2012 Fundraiser for Giving Diapers, Giving Hope.  There will many prizes given to guests at the party so make sure to RSVP below.  There is no obligation to donate to attend!  We just want to raise awareness about GDGH and tell you more details about the BIG Facebook Promotion to be revealed on January 25 as well.  *Hint- HUGE prizes in store for the Facebook Promo include a prize pack from BabyKicks, $100 Gift Certificate to SweetBottoms Baby, Oeko Popo Prize Pack, AppleCheeks Little Bundle, 2 bumGenius Freetimes, ‘Lil Monkey Hats from Hot Mama Gowns, 3 Custom Fit Knickernappies, 6 Diaper Rite Pockets, 2 Changing Diapers books by Kelly Wels, Thirsties AIO, a Rainbow loops Bundle from Orance Diaper Co, more handmade knits from Revel Handmade, “The” BALM products, GroVia AIO, and MORE!  RSVPing to the Twitter Party also gets you a few extra entries into the FB Promo WINK WINK.

Prizes:

You know there will be a few prizes!  Sponsors are still coming in (and if you are a company interested in sponsoring you can email dirtydiaperlaundry@gmail.com for information) but you can expect to see these prizes and more!  Products from “THE” Balm, a hand knit item from Revel Handmade, GroVia AIO from Jack Be Natural, Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique is sponsoring lots of CJ’s BUTTer goodies, Diaper Junction is providing 6 Diaper Rite Pocket Diapers, and there will be more!  While this isn’t as swanky as lot of other Twitter Parties the main goal is to just chat and learn more about GDGH.

RSVP:

To be eligible for the prizes at the #GivingHOPE Twitter Party you MUST RSVP and tweet at least once during the party.

Use the Rafflecopter below to RSVP.  The more sponsors you follow the better your chances of winning at the party.  Remember, to win you must have tweeted at least once.  Because this is a fundraiser sponsors have been asked to make a donation to Giving Diapers, Giving Hope.  Everyone listed has made a donation so please follow them and show them love for their support!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You might be wondering where I have been.  (or not)  Some of you might assume I have been on a fabulous tropical vacation and haven’t had the time to post.  Or maybe, the family and I went on a cruise.

Sadly, nothing that exciting was keeping me from the blog.  I did have a mini-vacation over the weekend.  I drove 6 hours to Gloucester, MA with both boys and no husband to visit my friend Kristen.  She has 2 girls, one of which is Fletcher’s age and also happens to share a birthday with Everett (10/20).  We all had a wonderful time, with the exception of me losing my wedding band.  I’ve lost so much weight that I am much slimmer than I was when I was married.  Even after having it sized down once already, it wasn’t enough. I have already stopped wearing my engagement ring, but in the chaos of 4 kids 3 and under and 2 moms the band slipped away.  It hasn’t turned up yet.  I’m pretty bummed.

My two boys on the left, Kristen's two girls on the right

Kristen and Suriah, Everett and Kim (me)

We drove back home on Monday and the boys were amazingly good. There was no crying!  I made record time despite hitting Boston traffic too.  My husband saw us after he got home from work but I was sick and so were the boys.  We all picked up a nasty cold in MA.  Then, the next day he packed and flew to Florida for the rest of the week.

This is where my week got interesting. All of us are sick and my husband is out of town.  It has been a struggle for survival.  Each night at least one child needs special attention due to their fevers spiking. Last night it was both of them and I ran from room to room as each woke with a special need.  ”Mommy” Fletcher called out in his best sick voice “I need apple juice.”

I gave up and told Fletcher to join me and Everett in my bed.  Big mistake.  I couldn’t sleep because poor Fletcher coughed and sniffled all night.  Ev woke to nurse as usual and needed special bouncing once.  I believe I was up 12:30-4:30 and the boys woke for the day at 6:45.

I wish I could say I have been enjoying my blog break and sipping a tropical drink with an umbrella in it while laying in the sun.  Nope.  Just wrangling kids, folding clothes and diapers, mopping up spills, and doing work when possible on the back end to have my website and database moved to a new host.  One who won’t “suspend” me every 20 minutes.

I’ve also been brainstorming of a way to help Kristen and Emily (my friends in Gloucester) raise money for Giving Diapers, Giving Hope.  They are very close to acheiving Non-Profit status.  It is quite a journey to get there, in case you weren’t aware.  Once they acheive this any donations you make will be tax deductible.  They are working so hard to help families in need receive cloth diapers.  I hope I can do something more for them.

I am in the proces of reviewing a lot of cloth diapers, so there is that to look forward to.  Next Monday is the GoGreen Champ 2.0.  Then reviews of (in no particular order) the Bobux fitted, LuxButt, EcoBubs Wool Pocket, Blueberry Coverall, Bummis Super Snap, Smart Bottoms AIO and AI2, Fuzzibunz Elite, and Monkey Doodlez TAG.

I’ll be relieved when my technical issues come to an end.  Thanks for sticking through it!