Staining Part 2: After a 2nd dose of sunning!

Remember to "poop stains" post a few days back?  Well I've sunned my cloth diapers a second time and you can tell that the sun is working it's magic on these blueberry stains!

Contributed by Bert of FTM Blog.

A review of side snapping cloth diapers!

There are many types of diapers out there, one size, sized, snaps, and aplix. One of my favorite types of diapers is side snapping diapers. There are many benefits to using side snapping diapers with your baby.

Side snapping diapers create a very trim front panel. I love this about them. Sometimes cloth diapers can be a bit bulky, but when you use a side snapping diaper there is no added bulk to the front of the diaper.

Not only do side snapping diapers create a really trim front panel, but they also prevent the front of the diaper from gaping open. This is great for tummy sleepers or chunky babies.

No wing droop! Have you ever had a diaper you couldn’t get a good fit on and it drooped on the sides? With the snaps on the hip there is never any wing droop.

My son is at a really wiggly stage. I love my side snapping diapers for this reason! Every time he twists and turns during a diaper change I can still manage to snap the diaper on because it’s on the side. He doesn’t have to lie still on his back for me to complete the diaper change.

Another great thing about side snapping diapers is they can be baby (and sometimes Daddy) proof! If you have an older baby or toddler that has figured out how to unsnap his diapers or pull apart the aplix, try side snapping diapers.

Have a baby with chunky thighs? Try a side snapping diaper. You can get a great fit around the thighs thanks to the snaps being on the side.

The thing I look forward to the most about my side snapping diapers is using them during potty training. While potty training, you or your child, can just pull them up and down for quick potty breaks without fidgeting with the snaps!

There can be a bit of a learning curve to putting side snapping diapers on your baby. My husband still struggles a bit and I’ve heard quite a few stories of diapers that have been put on backwards! With a little practice you will quickly fall in love too!

About the Author
Jenny is a cloth diapering, stay at home mama. She writes about her cloth diaper obsession on her blog, Cloth Diaper Revival.  She is also a contributor for She Thinks Media Bloggers Network.

Poop Stains? Use the sun to help fade them naturally!

I did my normal washing routine for my cloth diapers. I took them out to put them in the dryer and….EEEEEEKKKKKK!! Look at that nasty poop stain! I mean I knew it might difficult to get it to come out as I was spraying it into the toilet but geesh, my daughter’s bowels did a number on this one.

I decided to sun the microfiber insert and then decided I might as well do my entire stash.

I don’t know if you can tell the difference that the sun made but it’s made some difference. 

I imagine it’ll take a little while for it to fully come out. I think she ate blueberries and this is the end result. Blueberries are a bear to get out of fabrics. Stay tuned for follow up pictures. I’m excited about this little experiment.

Here are some other posts with great before and after photos that show the effects of sunning your diapers.

Sunning in the Rain! -->http://www.iloveclothdiapers.com/2010/11/sunning-your-diapers-in-rain.html

Sunning Baby Food Stains!-->http://www.iloveclothdiapers.com/2010/11/sunning-in-rain-works-on-baby-food.html

Sunning Tips!-->http://www.iloveclothdiapers.com/2011/06/how-to-keep-your-cloth-diapers-stain.html

Elizabeth (aka Bert) is a stay-at-home-mom and contributing writer for She Thinks Media. She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband, Ben, her son Buggie, and daughter Lady Bug.  When she's not trying to convince Buggie to expand his interests beyond Thomas the Train or put his pants back on she's writing about her experiences as a mom on her blog, First Time Mom (FTM). After all, Bert maintains there's a first time for everything, even if you  have more than one child! 

Wolbybug OS Diaper Covers vs. Flip Diaper Covers, How do they compare?

Why You Need to Try the WolbyBug Diaper Cover

If you are like me, sometimes you get stuck in a cloth diaper rut! You may like to stick with what you know works, and what you are comfortable with. That is how I am with my Flip Diaper Covers! They work well for me, so why “rock the boat.” That was until I discovered the WolbyBug Diaper Covers from Knickernappies! 

If you LOVE Flip Diaper Covers, you need to get your hands on the WolbyBug Covers! In my opinion, these are better than the Flip Covers. Shhh…don’t tell Flip I said that! Here are the reasons why:

1. Not only do they come in solid colors, but also prints such as “cow”, “bubble” or “boysenberry.”
2. These covers can be used multiple times before they have to be washed. If the baby has not soiled the diaper, you can quickly wipe out the inside of the cover, hang it dry, and use it for another change.
   
3. The price is only $10.99 for 1 cover. The more covers you buy, the cheaper the price! Pair that with the Knickernappies Indian Prefolds and you have an inexpensive yet highly effective cloth diapering solution!
4. The cover has a three step rise which allows it to fit most babies 8 to 35 lbs.
5. The WolbyBug cover has an elastic flap in the rear of the diaper to help hold the insert in place and prevent it from “bunching up.”
   
6. The cover also has a front tuck flap which helps to hold the insert in place, and prevent wicking.
7. Double waist snaps and a hip snap help to prevent wing droop.
8. The WolbyBug cover has a cross-over snap for those skinny babies. This feature also allows you to wrap up a soiled diaper when you are on-the-go.
   
9. This cover allows for the flexibility to use more absorbent or less absorbent inserts making it an excellent choice for day or nighttime diapering
10. The diaper fabric is made of a waterproof PUL to help prevent leaks.

Do I have you convinced yet? Have you heard of these diaper covers before?

Bio: Julie is a semi-stay-at-home mom to her handsome son J.T. who is 7 months old and wife to hubby Jered who is a teacher and pastor. J.T. provided her motivation to start Cloth Diapering! Not wanting to expose his little bum to all those chemicals in disposables and not returning to work full time, she was looking for a safe and inexpensive alternative. Cloth Diapering were her answer! Julie considers herself an advocate for cloth diapers and with her blog, My ClothDiaper Stash, she hopes to share her passion and help others reap the benefits too.  She is also a contributor for She Thinks Media.

Tips to get you started with cloth diapers!

Tips to Get you started on your cloth diaper journey

Are you considering the big switch to modern cloth diapers? Don’t be overwhelmed! One Google search and you will quickly become overwhelmed by all the brands, types, and information out there. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Find a copy of Changing Diapers: TheHip Mom’s Guide to Modern Cloth Diapers. Stay away from Google and read this book first! I wish it had been available when I started cloth diapering. I was so weighed down with all the information I found on the internet, but this book really sums it up plainly in a non-intimidating way! 

Visit a local baby store that sellscloth diapers. Be careful with this advice. Stores like Target, Walmart, and Buy Buy Baby now sell cloth diapers. These are not the stores I’m talking about! I suggest, if possible, to find a store nearby that sells a variety of modern cloth diapers and is knowledgeable about what they are selling. The employees should be experienced in using modern cloth. Most of these stores will host a free Cloth 101 session. This is how I helped myself, and my husband, understand more about how modern cloth works. The great thing about this tip is you’ll get to touch and play with the diapers and see firsthand what you like.

Plug-in to an online community. Join in on the Monday night Twitter #clothdiapers chat. Lots of retailers and experienced mamas are around at 9 pm EST on Twitter to help each other out with any cloth diaper questions. Not only will you learn something, but you may make a new friend or two! If Twitter isn’t your thing, find a message board or Facebook page. There are many great ones out there that can help you navigate the world of modern cloth diapers.

Once you are ready to buy some diapers, don’t make a huge purchase just yet! I suggest starting with a very small stash with a few different brands and types of diapers. Just because one brand works great for your best friend doesn’t mean it will be your favorite diaper. Start small and then once you decide what you like, buy more! 

Don’t give up! Expect to have leaks and lots of questions in the beginning. I remember crying the first couple weeks because my son leaked out of every diaper I put on him. I was tired of changing his clothes (and mine!) with every diaper change and the sheets with every nap. I wanted a cloth diaper fairy to visit my house and tell me what I was doing wrong. When this happens, take a step back and seek help! This is where a local retailer or online community comes in handy. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! We’ve all been there! Just by asking for help I was able to solve my leak problems.

Have fun! It’s easy to become a cloth diaper addict. You will quickly develop an obsession for cute prints, colors, and the latest brands. Your friends and family may think you are crazy, but your cloth diaper friends won’t.

About the Author: 
Jenny is a cloth diapering stay at home mama. She writes about her cloth diaper obsession on her blog, ClothDiaper Revival. 

This post is provided to Knickernappies via the She Thinks Media Bloggers Network.

Today's Featured Fluff Addict is Stephanie the HouseWifeMama!

Time to meet a new Featured Fluff Addict!  This week it's Stephanie, the mama behind HouseWifeMama!


Tell us a little about yourself, where you are located, how many kids you have,little ones in cloth, etc.-

I'm Stephanie, the mama behind www.HousewifeMama.com, where I host weekly reviews and giveaways. I live in North Carolina with my Husband Michael and daughters Adah (2.5) and Abigail (8 months). They are both currently in cloth but Adah is potty learning.

What made you decide to give cloth diapers a try?
Knowing I was about to have 2 in diapers and the costs that comes along with that was a big factor. Plus, I've always been curious about cloth so I decided to take the plunge.

What were your friends and family's reaction when seeing the "new" cloth diapers and have they been supportive or skeptical of your choice to use cloth diapers?
I have gotten mixed reviews but no one is blatantly against it. I think most just think, "thats cool, but its not for me."

What was your very first cloth diaper? I'm embarrassed to say that I first bought some chinese made diapers on ebay because they were so cheap. I just wanted to test the waters without spending much. Needless to say, those are all long gone now.

What type of diapers does your stash primarily consist of; pockets, aio, onesize, prefolds, flats, hybrids, etc.? I have a little bit of everything but mostly use pockets and prefold/covers.

What is your favorite Knickernappies product or which Knickernappies product are you dying to try and why? I would love to try a side snapping one size diaper. I dont have any that snap on the side.

Do you have a favorite place to hang out and talk or learn about cloth ; a blog, message board, facebook page, etc.? I love diaperswappers.com and belong to a couple of facebook groups for diaper bloggers.

What cloth diapering item, besides diapers, do you consider to be a must-have accessory? I love having a snappi for my fitteds that need a closure device and I really love CJ's BUTTer.

If you could share just one tip with someone who is just starting out with cloth or considering using cloth, what would be your best piece of advice to them? Try out many different styles and brands before you commit to buying in bulk.

BIG thanks to Stephanie for sharing her story and advice!  Remember to follow Stephanie's blog at HouseWifeMama!


Are you interested in becoming the next Featured Fluff Addict?  Email us!

Winner of our Knickernappies Doorknob Pail Giveaway is... Vanessa C-Mce!

Thank you all for entering our Knickernappies Doorknob Pail Giveaway!  We appreciate you all entering and it was fun getting to see who your nearest or favorite Knickernappies retailers were!

We'll certainly have some more giveaways coming up soon. 

The lucky winner of our Knickernappies Doorknob Pail is...Vanessa C-Mce!  Vanessa, please check your email to claim your prize.

Thank you all for entering and for being a fan of Knickernappies!

Learn from others mistakes through Cloth Diaper trial and error.

Guest Post by Ashley Suzanne

Whenever you decide to make the switch to cloth diapers, everyone is bound to make a few mistakes, and to go through a couple trials and errors to figure out what works for them. Everyone is different, every baby is different, and every cloth diaper and laundering need is different.

The most common diapering trial and error has to be the prewashing and drying routine. When I first started cloth diapering the little girl that I babysit 2 months ago, I was a little overwhelmed to start with, but after researching and talking things over with different moms; it all became much clearer. The research that I did, made washing cloth diapers seem so much easier than I ever thought before. I have learned that you need to prewash every single diaper, some at least 5 times before wear, and with a detergent that does not cause residue buildup. I mostly like to use Classic Rock from Rockin’ Green. I used to wash the cloth diapers once and then dry them and do it all over again, 4 more times, but it didn’t take long before that started to raise the utility bill. So after trial and error; I now put my diapers in to the wash on a hot wash cold rinse, and then wash them 5 times, and then machine dry my inserts and sun-dry the shells. Not only does this make cloth diapering 100% easier, but it also allows for the new diapers to reach their full leak proof potential, and the sun really makes sure to get out all the yuckies, and to thoroughly clean the diapers.

Now that I’ve had my little spill on prewashing diapers, here is a list of things that I have learned. 
1. Prewash, prewash, PREwash, Prewash, PREWASH!
2. Sun-dry, if you do machine dry – DO NOT use dryer sheets.
3. Make sure that you have plenty of diapers in rotation so that you won’t have to wash every single day.
4. Empty the poopies into the toilet. Yes, I know that it is gross, but it helps to spray the diaper with every poopie use, no matter how small, and then do a cold prewash, and then the normal wash cycle, then sun-dry to help cut down on yeast and other nasty bugs that could harm baby.
5. You MUST buy a wet bag. I used to have just one wet bag, but I would catch myself changing a diaper and then forget where I placed the wet bag. I am now happy to say that I have an XL hanging wet bag in the bathroom, behind the door – don’t want baby to get curious, a medium size hanging wet bag on the back of the bedroom door, and a smaller wet bag size for traveling purposes.
6. Whatever you do, DO NOT use regular store bought diaper crème. It is best to use the ones that are cloth diaper safe, so that it will mess up the diapers.
7. Keep diapers out of baby’s reach, because you don’t want them to go missing, or to find one that is missing snaps, or to find them in places that they shouldn’t be.
8. One of the most important things is to allow baby’s bum to have some free air time. I like to do this right after nap time and before bath time. Usually she will wake up around 2-3pm from her afternoon nap, and I will let her go nakey for a bit before giving her a bath and slapping on another cloth diaper. I really hope that these tips, tricks, trials and errors will help you along your crazy and fun journey of cloth diapering. Enjoy the fluff and have fun!


Authors Bio:

My name is Ashley, but I like to use my first and middle name Ashley Suzanne, for all my online purposes, since I am still waiting on Mr. Right to come along and change my last name. I am a 21 year old pre-nursing student, and I am still living at home with my parents, I refuse to live alone! I dream about my future family along with cloth diapering, homeschooling, and raising my children in God’s amazing love and grace. Even though I am not a biological mother yet, I still consider myself a mother hen to all the little ones, and bigger ones that come in and out of my life. God has truly given me a passion for nurturing. In my free time I enjoy blogging, collecting baby items, reviewing items, entering giveaways, schooling, and reading. I love that there are things I can focus on and learn at this time now, so that whenever I am blessed with my own little family then I can truly be the wife and mother that God has planned for me to be.

Featured Fluff Addict, Anne from ZephyrHill Blog!

Today we have a new Featured Fluff Addict for you! It's Anne, the mama behind the Zephyr Hill Blog!

Anne

Tell us a little about yourself, where you are located, how many kids you have,little ones in cloth, etc.- My name is Anne Sweden and I'm a wife and mother of 5 living a very full life in the country with home schooling, hobby farming, cooking and blogging! We settled here in Kansas to be near family after my husband completed his service in the Army. I blog about my family, my farm and my love of cloth diapering and other good things at http://www.zephyrhillblog.com. Right now I have 2 in cloth, but not too long ago there were THREE (thanks to a very late potty trainer).

What made you decide to give cloth diapers a try? My greatest motivation was to save money. But now I’ve come to appreciate the other benefits: cloth diapers are healthier for baby’s skin and they make a smaller impact on the environment than disposables.

What were your friends and family's reaction when seeing the "new" cloth diapers and have they been supportive or skeptical of your choice to use cloth diapers? My family was very supportive. I actually remember helping my own mother out as a teen when my youngest brother was in cloth. The products have changed a lot since the 80’s, though, and my mother and mother-in-law are always expressing amazement over the cute prints and colors and the “one size” styles!

What was your very first cloth diaper? My very first cloth diaper was a free fitted that got I in response to a mail order advertisement. Unfortunately, I thought it was too bulky, too complicated to care for and too expensive to buy more of, so I returned it and gave up on cloth for a while. But later on I discovered how easy and economical it was to diaper with prefolds and covers!

What type of diapers does your stash primarily consist of; pockets, aio, onesize, prefolds, flats, hybrids, etc.? About half of my stash is wonderful, reliable Flip organic inserts and covers. And the rest of my things are WAHM inserts and covers. I LOVE to support mothers who sew unique diapers to make extra income!

What is your favorite Knickernappies product or which Knickernappies product are you dying to try and why? Two of your products that really intrigue me are the wet bags that hang on a doorknob (I’d love to free up some space and get rid of my pail) and the side-snapping one-size diapers. I’ve been diapering for 3 years but never tried a side-snap closure! There’s a first time for everything, right? That’s one of the reasons I love cloth so much – always something new to try!

Do you have a favorite place to hang out and talk or learn about cloth ; a blog, message board, facebook page, etc.? It would definitely be Facebook! Plus I love to interact with my readers via the blog. I read each and every comment and try to respond when I can.

What cloth diapering item, besides diapers, do you consider to be a must-have accessory? Since I’m cloth diapering two children at the same time right now, I could not do without my mega huge wet bag. It holds 2-3 days worth of laundry. The only problem is...I just have one and really need an extra one to use when the other is being washed!

If you could share just one tip with someone who is just starting out with cloth or considering using cloth, what would be your best piece of advice to them? I would encourage mothers to start small and buy a couple of different types of diapers to see what they like best. And connect with online diaper forums, Facebook groups and blogs for help, support and LOTS of fun!

You can connect with Anne on her Facebook Page here.

Anne, thank you for sharing your story with us!  If you're reading and you'd like to be featured just like Anne, please visit this link for details.