I said need.

I am often asked this question from moms of children of all ages.  The number will vary depending on the age of your child.

During the newborn stage, regardless if one uses cloth diapers or disposables, babies go through a lot of diapers.  Which is yet another obvious reason why one would choose cloth diapers.

A newborn poops a lot therefore absorbency isn’t as big an issue (except at night).  Since the majority of newborns eat on average every 2 hours, you can count on them pooping during or after the feeding.  This comes out to roughly 12 diaper changes a day.

If you did laundry every day you’d need 18 cloth diapers.  However, that can be cutting it close for most.  I recommend at least 24.  Often I will suggest 20 to readers but the safe side is 24 if you are washing every other day-ish.

During the night you may or may not choose to change your baby. It’s your call and you’ll know what is best for your baby.  For our 1st and 2nd babies I changed them a couple of times at night.  For our 3rd I wanted a cloth diaper that would work all night.  I had a few systems but it wasn’t until our 4th that I found the best.  Sustainablebabyish bamboo fitteds are excellent nighttime diapers even from the very beginning.

Again, your baby might need to be changed every time they pee which would mean a couple (or a few) changes at night.  You have to make that decision.

As your baby grows closer to a year they will poop less (usually) and can go without a nighttime change (usually). 

From 10m to 15m, they may only need 10 diapers a day at most.  If they only use 1 for a 12 hour night stretch then you’d really only need about 8 per day.  Most parents don’t like to cut it that close but if money is tight you can make it work.

When we began cloth diapering in 2005 our funds were very limited.  I bought 2 dozen prefolds and 6 prorap covers for my 15m old son.  I don’t like prefolds but they work well for a newbie who knows nothing else.  These diapers were wonderful.  I soon learned of other diapers and saved up to buy 4 Happy Heiny’s.  These were the bomb! (to a newbie going from prefolds )

I was not interested in using anything but those 4 diapers…so I washed them a LOT. At night I would still use a double prefold/prorap combo.  So you can get by with a very small stash.

When your baby is a full-blown toddler they often poop a couple of times a day (again usually) and diaper changes can stretch to every 3-4 hours. I say this, which is contrary to what is “recommended”, because if I change Sterling every 2 hours I’d find a dry diaper most of the time.  At 16m, I go through maybe 5 diapers a day.

I use Bum Genius Elementals during the day and usually the diaper is wet but not soaked.  To relate this to fluid intake, Sterling drinks about a full sippy cup of goat milk in the morning and throughout the day water as he asks for it or sees it and wants it.  He weaned last month (sniff, sniff).

My friend (Grateful for Grace) had just 13 Rumparooz in her stash for a long time and this was enough for 2 days (her son is 2). She says it was tight sometimes and found 15 to be better.

There is no magic number of cloth diapers you will need in your stash.  It really depends on your baby’s preferences and how often you desire to do laundry.  Some moms wash only once a week, obviously they have a large stash.

I’ve found though that even if you have 40+ diapers (which I’ve had), you really only use your favorite dozen over and over.

This post has been written by Julie Holland of Little For Now.

There are several cloth diapers sold under the BumGenius brand – and the differences are often confusing, especially to those who are new to cloth diapering. Here are some of the common questions I get about BumGenius diapers.

What is the difference between a BumGenius all in one (AIO) and a one size BumGenius?

This one is really confusing since the term “all in one” is sometimes used for pocket diapers. However, an all in one refers to a diaper that has a sewn in soaker and a waterproof outer layer. An all in two or AI2 is a diaper with a removable soaker, usually one that snaps into the cover. Since everything is together, it is truly an “all in one” diaper that has no extra pieces to find. The BumGenius all in one is a sized diaper, it comes in sizes to fit from very tiny babies to about 35 pounds (though they do run small). The soaker is sewn in and there is a pocket opening so you can add extra inserts if needed. They are very absorbent, though they do take a long time to dry.

The one size diaper (formerly the 3.0, now the new 4.0) has two inserts that can be stuffed into the pocket opening. The diaper itself has no absorbency until something is added to the pocket. It has snaps on the front so you can adjust the rise from newborn to about 35 pounds. The outer is still waterproof, so no cover is needed.

What is the difference between the 3.0 and the 4.0?

The new 4.0 diapers will be arriving to retailers (including my store) in a week or so. The 3.0 diapers often did not fit larger or taller babies. My daughter was not able to fit in hers from about 15 months to 20 months, then slimmed down enough to use it again. The 3.0 was definitely one of the bestselling one size diapers, but it also had it’s detractors due to sizing and the hook and loop sometimes wearing out. I am excited about the new 4.0 since BumGenius says they have made some significant improvements, including:

* Better hook and loop tabs, so they will last longer

* Now available in snaps, which is good since snaps are now more popular than hook and loop diapers

* Larger sizing, so it should now fit most babies until potty-training

* Replaceable elastic. This is really good news since elastic and hook and loop are often the first two things to wear out on a cloth diaper over time.

What is the difference between the organic AIO (now called Elemental) and the regular AIO?

The organic all in one, or Elemental, is a one size diaper. The sewn in soaker is made from organic cotton and the design is actually quite innovative. It is a little more expensive than some other all in ones, but is a good value if you consider that only one size is needed. If you need more absorbency you can tuck a soaker under the sewn in soaker. The standard all in one has a microfiber soaker sewn in, as well as a pocket for extra inserts and is sized, so you will need to buy more as your child grows.

What about the Flip and Econobum?

Flip and Econobum are also made by Cottonbabies, the makers of Bumgenius. These are both one size diaper systems that are a basic two piece system. The Flip also has disposable inserts available. The Flip cover will hold the organic prefold, the stay dry microfiber inserts, and the disposable inserts. I really like the stay dry insert, but not the cover.

The Econobum is designed for those who are looking for a cheap way to start cloth diapering. It includes a one size cover and a one size prefold. I am not personally a fan of the Econobum, as I think standard diaper service quality prefolds and high-quality covers will serve most families better in the long run. However, for those who are really looking for an inexpensive system to get started, the Econobum is an option.

Julie Holland started Little for Now cloth diaper store in early 2006. Since then she has tested over 100 different diaper brands and styles in her continuing pursuit to learn everything about cloth diapers. You can find BumGenius diapers at http://www.littlefornow.com.

My sweet blogging friend, Jill from Family of the Cloth (creative name!), was so kind to write a guest post about how to save money while cloth diapering.  Yes, many moms do it

Jill has many great giveaways on her blog so don’t forget to hop on over there.

Cloth Diapering to Save Money?

Budget restraints are a common reason why many mamas turn towards cloth diapers. When you consider the fact that the average baby goes through 6,000 diapers during the first two years of life (citation: http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php), with average costs hovering around $1,600/year for disposable diapers, cloth diapers become an attractive option. And while you really can save money by using cloth diapers, it’s easy to get carried away with the latest, greatest cloth diapering system, cute prints, and numerous accessories.

Here are a few tips to help you keep your costs down:

• Don’t Blow Your Budget on One Type of Diaper

- If you’re new to cloth diapering, don’t buy a full stash of one type of diaper. Just because a diaper receives positive reviews, you never know how it is going to perform and fit on your baby. Do your research, and try out several styles and systems before deciding on a whole stash. You might also want to consider ordering a cloth diaper trial kit from a site like Jillian’s Drawers, which allows you to try out a variety of popular diapers for a low cost.

• Don’t Overindulge

- Find a system or type of diaper that works for you, and try to stick to it. I love trying new diapers as much as the next person, but I usually wait to read reviews before shelling out the money on the latest new system. Even after trying the new diapers, I usually tend to go back to my tried and true diapers.

- Try not to get wrapped up in cute prints and colors.

• Buy and Sell Used

- Consider selling outgrown diapers or diapers that didn’t work for you on sites like Diaperswappers, Spots, etc. You can often recoup some of the initial costs this way. If you’re not planning on reusing the diaper on another baby, or if the diaper just didn’t work for you, consider selling it.

- On the same note, consider buying your diapers on FSOT (for sale or trade). The idea of used diapers used to gross me out a little bit, but there are many barely used diapers listed. Plus, used diapers can be disinfected, cleaned, and repaired. There are many great deals on FSOT if you keep an eye out.

- You can also check with e-tailers such as Jillian’s Drawers, Nicki’s Diapers, and Kelly’s Closet who offer gently used diapers at a discount.

• Keep it Simple

- Simplify your wash routine. It’s easy to get carried away with special additives, extra rinses, and numerous cycles in the dryer. Try to simplify your routine, and consider hanging your diapers to dry (either on a clothesline outside, or inside on a rack).

- Consider using more inexpensive diapering systems, such as prefolds and covers. The Cotton Babies Econobum and Flip systems are also economical. Be sure to try one or two before buying an entire stash!

- Use cloth wipes. Consider making your own from scrap material, or buy cheap packages of baby washcloths. Cloth wipes are easy to use, and will reduce the amount of money needed for disposable wipes. You can wet the wipes ahead of time and keep them in a warmer, or wet them as needed.

• Become a Fan

- “Like” the Facebook pages of your favorite cloth diaper manufacturers and retailers. Follow them on twitter, as well. Make sure to sign up for their newsletters. Many companies offer giveaways and coupon codes to fans.  Many major retailers offer exclusive sales to fans, or give them first chance at seconds sales.

- Shop seconds sales! Many retailers like Cotton Babies offer brand new diapers at a discounted price because of minor imperfections, most of which have no effect on the usability of the diaper (be sure to read the fine print!).

- Follow baby discount sites like Babysteals, Baby Half Off, and Green Baby Bargains. These sites often feature cloth diapers at discounted prices. You usually have to be quick to score one, but the savings are worth it. Be sure to like these sites on Facebook, too, as they often post clues ahead of time alerting fans that “fluff” is coming.

• Enter Giveaways and Contests

-  In addition to the Facebook sites, many etailers and mommy bloggers offer giveaways of diapers. Follow your favorite cloth diaper blogs. You can also search the hashtag #clothdiapers on twitter for links to giveaways.

Is it really possible to buy a stash of one-sized cloth diapers and not buy another one throughout the life of the child?  Is there a cloth diaper that will withstand years of use with multiple children?

Certainly the answer can be yes to both of these questions but there are limitations.

When many families discover cloth diapers saving money is usually on the top of the list.  Who can argue with the stats.  In the first 2 years of a child’s life they will go through about 5,840* disposable diapers.  Multiply that times $0.25 (I looked at a few brands/sizes and took this as an average) and your spending $1460.

Pick any one-sized diaper and you’d hardly come close to a third of that!

Some examples from Banana Peels Diapers (free shipping over $50):

Bum Genius Organic AIO- 18 pack $397.44

Rumparooz- 18 for $405 (each diaper comes with 6r soaker)

Flip- 4 Stay Dry Day Packs $199.80 (8 covers and 24 inserts)

Bum Genius 3.0 One Size- 18 pack $305.10

Katydid- 18 pockets $323.10 (comes with 2 inserts)

Fuzzi Bunz One Size- 18 pack $323.10 (comes with 2 inserts and replacement elastic)

Blueberry Minky One Size- 18 for $593.10 ($32.95 is expensive!! but you’re still saving over disposables and they include an awesome hemp/microfiber one-size insert)

Softbums Complete Package (from www.softbums.com)- $362.95 You can easily use Softbums right from birth.  This package includes 10 covers, 36 inserts, 10 doublers.

So what about the durability of one-sized diapers? Will they break down after 2 years of use?

In my experience, natural fibers like cotton and bamboo do break down much quicker than most would like.  After using my Bum Genius Organic AIOs in heavy rotation for 1-2 years some are starting to show significant wear.  I also had this occur with my Sustainablebabyish bamboo fitteds.  Wear includes holes near the edges and seams.  Are these diapers unusable? Certainly not.  I use the holey pink BG Organic that was originally Paisley’s on Sterling often.

If the one-size diapers you choose contain a microfiber insert, plan on replacing those once a year.  Microfiber tends to lose its absorbency not to mention stink like crazy.  However, with the new detergents on the market like Clean B and Hard Rock an overnight soak has proven to give new life to dead inserts.

Where one-size diapers really hold their value is when you are cloth diapering 2 children.  This can be a huge money, time and resource saver!  We always have an overlap between children where I am cloth diapering 2.  Inevitably, this drives me crazy.  However, having a diaper that I can use for either child reduces my stress a lot.

Are one-size cloth diapers worth it? Yes! Are there good choices and excellent choices? Yes.  But, remember, don’t buy 18 of any diaper without first trying 1!! You really don’t want to deal with the hassle of reselling them all.

*The number 5,840 was based on an average of 8 diaper changes per day. 8x365x2=5840.

***Congratulations, Serena!! You were chosen as the winner of the Cutiepoops Cool Seat! ***

I get this question ALL the TIME! I love answering every comment and email but it can get overwhelming.  Therefore, I’ve created a page that lists all my recommendations.

I’ve only include cloth diapers I have used (Lil’ Joey’s aren’t on the newborn list yet) and ones that are still being made (no more Blueberry minky sidesnap pockets ).

I will add to the list as I try new products.  Let me know if I’ve forgotten one that you know I love!

MY RECOMMENDATIONS

**CONGRATS, ELISHA & CAROLINE!**

Recently I reviewed the new Tiny Tush hemp fitted and gave it a thumbs up for absorbency and cost.  I stand behind my recommendation but I have found a hemp fitted that works much better on my skinny guy that nurses all night lately .

Pooters cloth diapers is owned by a sweet and super helpful (she answers many questions on my Facebook fan page) mama named Maj.  Maj owns and operates an online and a brick & mortar cloth diaper retail store in Carrollton, TX (not quite opened yet).  I wish she would have been there when I lived in the area!

Maj’s journey into the cloth diaper world was natural, as her and her husband were “greenies” before baby arrived.  Not sure if “greenies” is a word but it’s a compliment.

When their son was born they faced the same issues we all experienced.  A completely foreign world with very incoherent language.  To a newbie what in the world is a fitted, snappi, stay-dry, AI2- all in two, dry/wet pail…and don’t even get started with the confusing abbreviations found on the Diaperswappers FSOT (for sale or trade).

All those terms and abbreviations on top of leaking diapers can lead a new parent straight to disposables.

Anyways, I digress.  Maj knew she could come up with an easy solution for everyone.  A simple solution.

Here is an excerpt from the letter that Maj sent me:

My feature product is the Pooters One Size Organic Hemp Fitted diaper (MSRP $14.00). This diaper is a real workhorse- super absorbent, naturally antibacterial, and when paired with a great fleece or wool cover, makes for a great overnight cloth diapering pairing.

I love a workhorse diaper.  That way I don’t feel a bit sad when it gets stained or excessively used.  I also love an inexpensive diaper.  Yes, Pooters cloth diapers are made in China.  I realize that there are some cloth diaper companies that take very good care of their overseas employees.

My review details

Fabric: I’m not familiar with the names and terms that go with different fabrics. If you say hemp I think that always means the same thing.  Apparently, I’m wrong.  Pooters hemp is a course hemp as opposed to the Tiny Tush Trim which was soft.  I prefer the Pooters.  Reason is, I don’t like too much stretch and I “feel” like it absorbs more.

Fit: Really, this is silly, but I sort of want to cry that FINALLY someone made a snap configuration that is PERFECT for my child.  Can you sense that I’m grinning right now? I am.  If you have a skinny child Pooters will be perfect for you.  If you have a chunky one it’ll probably fit the same   My problem with the Tiny Tush was that I could almost wrap the tabs around Sterling’s waist.  This is great if you need the extra room.

Absorbency: Sterling has been nursing C.O.N.S.T.A.N.T.L.Y. lately. In case I wasn’t clear, I’m an open-all-night milk bar, sort of against my selfish will. We all know that the more you drink the more you pee.  A doubled up Flip works fine but is super bulky.  Pooters is trim (like most hemp diapers) and yet absorbs a ton.

I will be totally honest with you, right after (like literally) I posted my review on Tiny Tush Sterling started nursing all night.  After a night of this the Tiny Tush was over-saturated and consequently soaked the Thirsties cover.

I haven’t had this happen with Pooters yet…I say yet because you just never know what great feat my son will tackle tonight

It’s worth noting that I only washed the Pooters hemp one time before using it.

Cost: $12. Heck, I spend more than that on my family at Starbucks. Which is pathetic, I know.  At $12 it’s worth the gamble, and you know nighttime cloth diapering is just that- a gamble.

To help spread the word about Pooters cloth diapers, Maj has offered to give 1 away to you! But, that’s not all *must say in the proper commercial voice* I am giving one away to you also!

I will randomly select a name on Friday (4/16/10).  Here are the ways you can enter: **separate comments**

1) Become a fan of Pooters cloth diapers on Facebook

2) Head on over to Pootersdiapers.com and tell me your favorite brand she is currently carrying…

3) Tell me what she needs to carry!

4) Link to All About Cloth Diapers on a forum or discussion board. http://www.allaboutclothdiapers.com

Congratulations, Sonja B! You were selected as the winner via random.org.

Raise your hand if you’re ever satisfied with your nighttime cloth diaper routine?

Mine’s not raised.  Trust me I loved the Sustainablebabyish bamboo fitteds but one day I just up and decided to sell them all.  I’m strange like that.

It wasn’t until the night after I shipped them off that I realized I had put myself into a desperate situation.  I don’t know about you but I have to really trust a diaper before I’ll use it at night.  I mean, do I really want to change a diaper in the middle of the night or worse my sheets??

No.

So when I received the new Tiny Tush Trim 4.0 hemp fitted I was nervous.  There’s no sweat using it during the day.  The worst that happens is a change of clothes.  I put it to an extreme daytime test, however.

Hold that thought. Let me tell you a little bit about the Tiny Tush Trim 4.0 hemp fitted first.

• Extremely adjustable.  The Tiny Tush trim fitted is designed to be used from the newborn stage (without the snap in liner), to the crawler stage and on to toddler-hood.  The snap in liner can also be used inside a newborn cover as a diaper. No doubt that with Sterling this will be a true one-size. Plenty of room to grow and it fits in the waist. An annoyance that comes with one-sized diapers and tiny waists.
• Very soft organic cotton/hemp fabric.  100% hemp would be stiff and scratchy.  The addition of 20% organic cotton to the blend results in a squishy soft (not bamboo soft but cozy sweatshirt soft) and stretchy fabric.
• Super trim. The Tiny Tush trim fitted lives up to it’s name.  Even with the rise snapped down and the snap-in folded in the front, the diaper is t.r.i.m.  This is the beauty of hemp.You need less layers to get the job done.
• Absorbent. As expected with hemp, the absorbency is excellent.  Hemp is a naturally anti-bacterial, super absorbent fiber that is grown free of pesticides and fertilizers.  This site has some great information on hemp.
• Hidden snaps. Beautiful.
• Workhorse. Pretty cloth diapers are great but everyone needs a diaper that you could literally put through a ringer 100x and it still functions.  Hemp is the fabric for that.  Durability is a great thing for a one-sized diaper. I know a few one-sized brands that unfortunately break down well before the child outgrows them.
• AFFORDABLE!! I just noticed that my friend LeAnn of Gigglebritches is selling the Tiny Tush Trim 4.0 for an introductory price of $16.15!!!! (Half dozen for $93.90!) Guys, that is an amazing price for a one-sized cloth diaper.
• Made in the USA.

Back to my daytime use marathon.  I put the Tiny Tush trim fitted on Sterling late morning.  He took a nap, woke up during lunch preparation, after lunch we had to quickly leave the house while Daddy hosted a webinar, played at the park–oh, oops forgot to change his diaper– came home, griped at encouraged the kids to clean up their playroom and finally realized that I had not changed his diaper in a long time (long like this sentence).

I remember feeling his diaper periodically thinking that it didn’t “feel” wet.  Obviously, this is a tactic I learned from sposie days because this trick doesn’t work with a cloth diaper. Duh.

Anyways, I finally change his diaper and although very wet there was still room for more wetness.  The very back of the Tiny Tush Trim was dry.  Not bad. If it lasted all day then I trusted it for nighttime.

I have since used it every night that it is clean.  Which is about 2x/week.  Tiny Tush Trim 4.0 hemp cloth diapers will require a few washes to reach full absorption potential.  I began using mine after 1 wash and have seen a steady increase in it’s fluffiness.

These are fitted diapers so they do require a cover.  I have used So Simple, Thirsties and Flip over the Tiny Tush Trim 4.0.  Because of the uber-trimness any cover will most likely work.  You can even tuck in the “ruffles” if they happen to overhang the cover.

In celebration of the March 1st release of the new Tiny Tush Trim 4.0 hemp, Charlene (Tiny Tush creator) has offered to giveaway 1 to one of you!

Entry is simple…Just follow the rules…you can do it…SEPARATE COMMENTS.

1. What is your current nighttime diaper?
2. Hop on over to Twitter and follow Tiny Tush. www.twitter.com/tinytush
3. Become a fan of Tiny Tush on Facebook (and if you win post a picture when you receive it!)
4. Place my banner on your blog or link to me on your favorite forum (cloth diaper or other).

I will randomly select a winner on Monday March 15, 2010 and will post it at the bottom of my next blog post.  Winner will be contacted via email.  God bless!

Cloth diapers are the healthiest diapering choice for your baby. They are the most environmentally friendly diaper.  And believe it or not they are the best for your budget.

I get plenty of comments from moms wondering how in the world people buy $40, $25 and even $17 cloth diapers.  Not everyone is going to be able to buy $20+ cloth diapers but price isn’t what matters.  It’s the fact that you have stopped doing what everyone else is doing and considered that there is something better.

How do most people stumble onto cloth diapers? Did your venture into cloth diapers go something like this?

1. A mom or dad discovers something shocking: gel crystals on baby, the enormous amount of disposables filling the Diaper Genie every week, the Quick Books column titled “Diapers” that is surpassing the “Auto” category…
2. They look for alternatives. Perhaps a Google search using “disposable diaper alternatives” or “natural diapers”.  They’ll probably discover G-diapers.
3. Once they research g-diapers they discover real cloth diapers.  Then they hit a wall called choices.  Almost every new user emails me saying they are completely overwhelmed.

That’s pretty close to how it went for me.  (3 Reasons I Cloth Diaper)

So, now that you have decided to cloth diaper you attempt to maintain your zeal for this new world while navigating the millions of cloth diaper websites.  It’s so easy to keep doing what you’ve been doing. Sure, disposable diapers cost a ton, sit in a landfill and contain nasty chemicals but it’s comfortable. We all do it in some area of our lives and it’s never a good thing.

But, I’m not going to let you do that.  Just like I wouldn’t let you eat Little Debbie’s treats or buy an item I knew you couldn’t afford.  The whole point of this blog is to make the choices easier for you.

Here are ways that you can start cloth diapering on a budget:

Make them: Check out this post listing many sites on how to make cloth diapers.  Diaperkit.com is the one I would start with first.  She has a sale box on the homepage that includes kits and patterns.

Buy used: Once you’ve narrowed down a system or even some brands that you’d like to try go to a site like www.diaperswappers.com, www.swapmama.com or www.hyenacart.com/spotscorner to find second hand items.  If you’re grossed out by the thought of used cloth diapers you can always wash them in some bleach when you receive them. If you have friends that cloth diaper ask them if they have a couple you could borrow to try out.  I’ve seen many great deals on Craigslist as well.

Start small: The ideal number of cloth diapers to have on hand is a minimum of 12.  However, you can easily get by with a lot less especially if your child is a year or older.  When we began cloth diapering, at one point I was using 4 Happy Heiny’s for 90% of my stash.  I had few prefolds and prowraps that I could use in a pinch but I preferred to use the HH.  Needless to say, I did laundry 2x a day

Buy new: You could buy a stash of made in China cloth diapers off Ebay like Coolababy, Sun Baby or Sweet Baby but you are taking a big risk.  Reviews are iffy on whether they are worth it or not.  They are super cheap though and would make a great re-gift to someone in need when you buy better ones.  These will work they just won’t be leak proof, so change often.

Purchase a system like Econobums and Flips.  For $100 you’d have enough to last more than a day.  You’d run a small load every night and have them ready in the morning.

For birthdays, Christmas and anniversary ask for money to purchase diaper packages from sites like Cloth Diaper Superstore, Banana Peels Diapers, Kelly’s Closet or Great Lakes Diaper Company.  And don’t forget about tax returns and garage sales.  Of course, I wouldn’t recommend you purchase a package of cloth diapers that you’ve never tried first.

Enter every cloth diaper giveaway you can find.  And trust me there are plenty. Check out Emi @ The Cloth Diaper Report or Kelly @ The Cloth Diaper Whisperer to find many opportunities for winning cloth diapers.

Join the Baby Half Off facebook fan page and know what the next deal is first! www.babyhalfoff.com

Finally, Kelly’s Closet has a page called “Diaper Value“.  This page contains many cloth diaper choices all under $15.  Check out the sales page on each of the listed sites.  Sometimes cloth diaper makers discontinue a style and you can get the old one for really cheap.

For my recommendations on prefolds and covers see my post How To Start Cloth Diapering On a Budget.

When I research cloth diapers reviews aren’t the only factor I consider.  As a matter of fact, the moms behind the diaper can lead me to buy without even reading a single review.

That will be the case with Envibum cloth diapers for many of you.  Sure, I’ll give you my review but first I want you to “meet” the Envibum wahms and hear their mission.

Rachel Sibel is the brilliant designer and seamstress who created Envibum. She took a minute to share with me how Envibum came to be.

I am a mother of three with our 4th on the way. I started cloth diapering 13 years ago with my first. I have been a streamstress for over 20 years making everything from custom wedding dresses to drapes. My daughter was my first to try my handcrafted diapers and I had a lot of years to perfect the design.

I am a practical parent with a focus on natural. So I have always used cotton for my baby’s bum. Easy wash and care was and is a must for my family. Early last year I was rocking our newborn son while praying for some of our friends as the Lord lead.

I felt God telling me to make and sell the diapers I had made for all my children. I said out loud, “Is that You Lord?” It was such a clear thought that I was either going crazy or I was being given a vision and an assignment. I said, “OK God lets talk about it.” So I as I sat rocking and praying I blurted out the name “envibum” and then laughed out loud at the realization that I was just given the name of our new company.

I told my sister first about all that I was feeling. I knew I had to run it by her as a litmus test before telling my husband how our life was going to change forever. She was so excited and as we talked I jokingly said, “ya, our tag line should be helping families grow healthy, wealthy, and dry.” She responded with, “yes, it should be!” I sat my husband down and told him the news that God was calling us to make diapers.(I laugh now at how little I knew about what God had in store for us.)

My husband was on board immediately and as we talked we got more and more excited! We got to work right away and everything fell into place. We have mostly grown from word of mouth. We have an awesome group of moms that have lended their babies and time for testing and perfecting.

We now ship our diapers all over the world. Our focus is babies health and helping families. We love the benefits of saving the Earth but feel investing in people’s lives is where God’s heart is. We use the highest quality of fabrics and my perfectionism in sewing comes out in our quality checks all along the way. We have wonderful seamstresses who put their love into each diaper as much as their talent.

We are blessed to have families cloth diaper with envibum. We are doubly blessed to be able to give to those in need at the same time! We are always prayerfully looking for new ways to give. Giving monetarily with each diaper purchased and giving a mom4mom cover to a mom and baby in need with each one purchased encourages us to get the word out about envibum. We truly are thankful for all our envibum parents and worldwide family. God bless.

The Envibum cloth diaper is a super luscious green minky outer with a waffle organic cotton inner.  It is a one-sized all-in-one with a pocket for adding extra absorbency.  I love that Envibum provides us with a one-sized diaper without all the snaps and adjustments.

Sterling is almost 1 , 19.5lbs, and 32″ long.

The fit is snug and absorbency has been great.  Most of all I love the color and feel!

Envibum also has the mom4mom cover, which I feel is a must-have in every stash. You can’t mess it up! I have had many issues with “rinse and reuse” covers not really being “rinse and reuse”.  Either the binding gets wet or the fabric part.  The mom4mom cover is completely encased and only PUL is exposed.  This allows for a true rinse and immediately reuse cover.  A meager $130 is all it would take for you to cloth diaper your baby for many, many months.  (2 covers + 12 t-shaped liners are listed at $129.99 www.envibum.com)

Check out what Rachel has to say about the mom4mom covers:

I am very excited about this cloth diaper.  Not just because it’s a great product but because they have a heart for giving back to those in need.  When you check out their site look for the red Envibum! They will donate $2 to the Salvation Army in assistance to Haitians for every red Envibum you purchase.

Thank you, Envibum, for donating your products for me to try out!

This is not a paid endorsement. I was not given a Flip to review.

As you may recall, on September 14th I posted about Cottonbabies new products: Flip and Econobums.  I went ahead and pre-ordered a Flip Day Pack: Stay-Dry with 2 packs of disposable inserts.

I received my Flip pack about 2 weeks ago and I loved it right away.  I’m just going to list out the reasons that I think Flip is awesome!

1. You’ll remember the millions of times I have touted Bum Genius Organics AIO as my favorite cloth diaper.  The reason (besides being super absorbent) for my affection is the wonderful fit of the shell.The BG butterfly closure allows for a perfect fit on any baby.  Paisley wore them and she had fat thighs and quite the tummy.  Sterling has stick legs and a skinny waist.  On both, the BG fit was the way all cloth diapers should fit.

   I have never had problems with the snap down rise on the BG shell coming undone during application or by movement of the child.  All the things I love about the Bum Genius Organics AIO fit and ease of use are present in the Flip cover as it is the same!

2. Cover is PUL lined not fleece or other fabric.  This allows for many uses before a urine odor sticks and you can wipe out any messes that might get on the wipe-able area.
3. The stay-dry inserts are absorbent, easy to use, nighttime worthy (by doubling) and one-sized.  Cottonbabies even embroidered on the Flip inserts where to fold insert for which size: labeled Small, Medium and Large.  The insert slides under the flap in the back and there is one in the front as well.  I don’t tuck the insert in the front flap since I have a boy and I didn’t want moisture going on the cover.
4. As mentioned above, the system is nighttime worthy.  The first day I got them in the mail,  I quickly washed and dried them and used it at night.  I put two of the inserts together as recommended.  As my husband and I went to bed I told him that I was nervous about changing the routine I’ve had for 6 months.  He thought I was crazy for not going with a system I knew worked without fail.But, Sterling woke up the next morning not only with dry sheets but dry skin!  We typically use an sbish bamboo fitted which does not wick moisture away from the skin.  Although organic and natural is preferred, I liked the fact that Sterling’s skin was not visibly wet.

   

5. Trim and absorbent- what more could you ask for? Years ago I remember the big dilemma in the cloth diaper world was how to achieve trimness and absorbency in one diaper.  Fabrics like microfiber, bamboo and zorb have made this more common today.  Flip gives you both all combined with a proven closure system, great colors and …
6. AFFORDABLE!  In a Flip Day Pack you receive 2 covers and 6 inserts.  At $49.95 that comes to less than $8.50 a diaper!! Ladies, this leaves no excuse for moms wanting to cloth diaper but financially too strapped for the initial investment.For most children (newborns not included) I would recommend 2 day packs + 12 stay-dry inserts.  This comes to less than $150 for 4 covers and 24 stay-dry inserts.  For a limited time Cottonbabies is making the cover available by itself for $13.95.  I have used the cover over an sbish fitted easily.

A couple of problems I foresee: the colors available are not gender neutral, big poopies may not stay on the insert (not found a system like this that did contain messes just to the insert), no snap for the insert could result in bunching.

As I mentioned, I also purchased 2 packs of the disposable inserts.  I have used one for test purposes (the rest will be used when I travel for Thanksgiving) and was happy with the absorbency.  I does create an almost too trim cloth diaper.  I know, sounds weird.  But, since Sterling is so skinny it was barely enough substance for the cover to fit.  I just put it on the tightest settings and we were okay. I will update you in December how the disposables worked for us at Thanksgiving.

Jenn recently blogged about the contents of the disposable Flip insert.  Here is an excerpt detailing the contents of the liner:

Flip One-Size Disposable Inserts are easy to use, dye free, fragrance free and the only disposable insert that has achieved Oeko-Tex certification. Perfect for travel, daycare and those moments when practical life demands something disposable. Each package contains 18 inserts, perfect for a weekend away.

Each Flip disposable insert contains the following ingredients:

• Non-woven bamboo viscose, 5g
• Filler
  • Wood pulp, 14-15g
  • SAP, 3g
• Starch-based glue, 1g

Flip disposable inserts are very simple and very basic. No plastic, no latex, no adhesives, nothing extra. Just an absorbent pad that meets the ultra high standards demanded by Oeko-Tex. Flip disposable pads can be used in Flip, bumGenius (even in the pocket!) or Econobum.

http://clothdiapers.blogspot.com/2009/10/more-about-flip-disposable-inserts.html

Disposable diapers average 10-12g of Sodium Polyacrilate or SAP (super absorbent polyacrilate).