Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Winkydinks recycled wool - In Stock!

This month, I decided to try a new technique in my "manufacturing process". I usually make a few soakers here and there and post them as I go. After returning from vacation this month, I decided to set a target date a couple weeks out and do one large stocking instead. I thought this would help me get organized, motivated, and provide a greater selection to my customers all at once. Stop by and take a look at my shop! I've got over 20 items to list.
The good news is that I got a lot done! The not-so-good news is I felt like it was more pressure and more work to try to get it all done by a deadline. I haven't decided what to do going forward, but we'll see how it goes this time around!!

Examples of items being stocked April 1st:









Breezy Babies cloth diapers available now!



Even though I make my own diapers I am always on the look out for new and interesting designs. There are lots out there but I always seem to come back to etsy cloth diapers because I love the fact that I can help support a WAHM like my self and I'd rather do that over supporting a big manufacturer any day. I have some diapers available up in my shop that are instock and ready to go. A few months ago I changed my shop from made to order to instock only. With the demands of my family and my College courses I found that this was the best way to go. I still love making and using my diapers. What I like about them is that they are breathable, they don't get stinky or crunchy and the wash and dry up quickly. I have been using a size 2 on my son since he was a couple of months old. He is now 16 months old and still in size 2 with room to grow at 22 lbs. If you are trying to find an economical diaper choice this would be a great way to go. With pins or snappis you can get a great fit. In this economy stretching the dollar seems to be an obstacle that many are trying to face.
I also would like to announce my new woven labels. I am pretty happy with them, but I may try a new color way next time.
I have also started to make changing pads which are backed with cotton/rubber sheeting and limited edition prints.
If you want to see what I am up to come check out my blog!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Easter Leg Warmers at Laina's Laundry!

I know these aren't actually diapers, but so many cloth diapering moms love leg warmers because you don't have to deal with pulling pants on and off over bulky cloth diapered bottoms! Plus they are just super cute! I just listed some white leggings at my shop, www.LainasLaundry.etsy.com. They would be just perfect with your little girl's Easter dress! I have one pair in each - toddler and infant size.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Wool or Fleece? Which soaker to choose?

I sell both fleece and wool soakers at my Etsy shop, Winkydinks, and get quite a few questions about which is better. In my opinion, neither are better, they both are SUPER! Each has its pros and cons. I thought I’d share my opinions, in the hopes it helps someone else!

The way a soaker works is that it absorbs/repels liquid from the prefold/fitted/flat diaper before it leaks to the outer garment. This is compared to a PUL cover which is waterproof with elastic to hold it tight to the body/legs to prevent leaks.

Wool can hold wetness up to 30% of its dry weight, while still remaining dry to the touch. It contains natural lanolin, which acts as a moisture repellant and has anti-bacterial properties (which is why you want to wash it with a wash containing lanolin). It is also completely breathable, helping keep baby’s skin healthy while not getting too warm. Fleece is a synthetic material that has water repellant properties. Unlike wool, it does not absorb any moisture, but acts more as a barrier between the diaper and the outer clothing. A double layer of fleece in the wetzone (i.e. crotch) of the soaker is popular with fleece because it adds another layer for moisture to seep through.

The success of a soaker depends on how heavy your wetter is, how often you change, how absorbent your diaper is, the cover itself, etc. Fleece and wool will both compression wick. That means that the outer garment may feel damp to the touch, especially if the child is sitting or laying in one spot for long periods (car seat, crib). This is something you get used to, especially after having used waterPROOF covers. I personally have never had leaks to the point where the clothes are wet puddles.

The Comparison:

-Wool will absorb extra liquid, fleece repels.

-Both are breathable (some people argue wool is more so).

-Wool is a natural fiber.

-Fleece is inexpensive compared to wool.

-Fleece can be machine laundered with diapers or regular laundry, wool has to be hand washed with special wash containing lanolin and laid flat to dry (which can take 2-3 days). On the flip side, fleece has to be washed often (I use mine a day or two, however some people wash them after each use) whereas you can air wool out and re-use it for several weeks between washings.

-Wool is generally more stretchy than fleece (good for night time diapers). The bonus here is that it might last longer before you need the next size.

-Depending on the thickness, wool is sometimes bulkier under clothing.

-Fleece comes in many prints and colors, wool is available in many yarn shades and can be knit or crocheted. Recycled wool (i.e. sweaters) offers some nice patterns/prints as well.


My personal choice:
I love wool for night time. A heavy weight wool will have no leaks (in my experience). I also like wool at night because its more stretchy than fleece and I can get it over a huge night time bum more easily. I personally like fleece covers for daytime because they are so easy to care for. I use prefolds or fitteds under a single layer fleece cover and have no leaks. To me, fleece is more "grab and go" and I don't worry about ruining it, but I also love the properties of wool – therefore my stash is about 50% wool AND 50% fleece!



Kristie Lynn Board Shorties Crochet Pattern


Well, my beautiful baby girl finally arrived, and now I am getting back to work on my patterns! I've been working on getting this pattern finished for a long time, but I finally have it done--and just in time for summer! These shorties are so cute and so easy to make.


As you can see, they look adorable on my son, but they would be cute for a girl too! I included instructions for a little flower to put on to make them even more girly, 'cause I know people can mistake a girl for a boy--even if she's in pink--but flowers are unmistakable! I have more patterns on the way, too, including one much like my star shorties, but with a car on the bum for the boys.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Do I Need Newborn Size Diapers?

I've had this discussion with several customers, and though it would be worth sharing here as well.

First of all, some basic information:
There are two sizing options in the diapering world: adjustable-size diapers (also called one-size diapers, or OSFM "one-size-fits-most"), and then traditional sized diapers with small, medium, large, etc. (Prefolds and flats are somewhat adjustable, depending on the style/fold pattern you use, but if you're going that route then you are probably not thinking about getting special newborn sized diapers anyway. )
The average newborn size diaper fits from about 5-10 lbs. The average size small diaper starts around 7-8lbs and fits until around 15lbs. The average adjustable-size diaper fits babies down to about 8lbs (and up to 35lbs).
(they're so tiny and cute!)

Do YOU need to worry about getting newborn size diapers?
  • Well, if you have 5lb babies, then newborn size diapers make a lot of sense because they will probably last 2-3 months for your child. Also, small diapers will be way too big for them at first. Some ethnic groups are predisposed to smaller babies (a Japanese friend of mine pointed out that a 7lb baby would be enormous for her), and some kids are just built little and will probably end up potty trained before outgrowing a 'medium' diaper. Of course babies born prematurely are also smaller and benefit from having smaller diapers.
  • If your babies are 7+lbs at birth, then newborn size diapers will probably only fit for a few weeks. That can be a lot of money for a diaper that will not fit for very long, especially because a small diaper will fit that size of baby pretty well right from birth. On the other hand, you may prefer to have some tiny diapers for those early weeks, especially if you use adjustable-size diapers which can be quite bulky on the smaller settings. If you plan to have several children use the diapers, then of course they become more cost-effective.
  • If you have a 10lb baby, as one of my customers did, you may find that the newborn diaper you bought barely fits him on the day he comes home from the hospital. ☺
So do you need newborn size diapers? Well, that entirely depends on you and your babies! Some mothers really like having those tiny diapers for the first little while, and some mothers need smaller diapers to fit their smaller babies. Some mothers feel that newborn diapers are unnecessary, and some babies are too big for newborn diapers on the day they're born.
Remember that almost any diaper will be a little bulky on a newborn, but that most babies grow very fast. So consider how big your baby is likely to be (consider your other children, or if this is your first baby then look at your mother's or sister's children for an idea of how big yours might be).

Of course, if you are still not sure what diapering sizes or styles will be best for you and your child, feel free to contact any of us on the team, we're here to help!

Cuddly Bums Diapers





I just listed a bunch of new colors. Get them before they're gone!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

1 Year Anniversary Sale!



Baby Belle's Favorites has been open for 1 year! To show my appreciation and to celebrate this past year, I'm having a sale on KCK One Size Pocket Diapers. Buy any 2 diapers and get a 3rd diaper of equal or lesser value for half price! I've got lots of colors and prints to choose from and love to do customs!

Click here to visit my shop: Baby Belle's Favorites

If you've never used a KCK One, this is the perfect opportunity to try it out at a great price. If you already use it and love it, it's a great time to stock up on more!

The KCK One™ is a unique pocket style diaper that fits babies between 8 pounds and 40 pounds. The KCK One is easy to use and easily adjusts to babies of different sizes making it the go to diaper for more and more families. As an added bonus, when you take the insert out of the KCK One™, it can be used as a diaper cover over prefolds and fitted diapers. Use it without the insert for the perfect swim diaper!

To receive your discount, simply purchase any 3 diapers of your choice and I'll promptly send a refund in the amount of the discount. You may also leave me a note during checkout if you'd rather I send you a revised invoice with an updated price.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Maine Made Diapers




Little Moose Diapers is a Maine based business with a focus on providing high quality cloth diaper items to families primarily located within Maine, but throughout the United States as well.

Currently on hand, Little Moose Diapers offers custom order Malden Mills diaper covers and trainers, instock All In One diapers and Organic Bamboo Inserts.

Future items offered will include: Fitte
d Diapers, PUL covers, Malden Mills Windpro Covers, Wool Interlock Longies, and Microfiber Inserts.

Custom Orders are always welcome. A particular custom order I offer is Overnight pants for older/ special needs children. These can be made as an all in one, or with side snapping/aplix 800 closures.

Little Moose Diapers' Organic Bamboo inserts are made of an Organic Cotton/Bamboo/Poly Blend (70/28/2). Comprising of three layers and measuring either 12 x 12 inches or 9x12 inches, they work great in pocket diapers, trainers, laid under baby with a cover, or as boosters for overnight.



Blessings,
Hope Cooley





Saturday, March 14, 2009

Cuddly Bums One-Size Pocket Diaper

This is the diaper you've been waiting for! I have taken the features you love about AIO/Pocket diapers and combined them into ONE DIAPER.


This innovative patent pending design has a quick and easy front opening pocket with a flap. No more inserts or flaps sticking out the back when the babysitter (or daddy :) is diapering the baby. Leak proof, totally trim, and truly a one-size diaper that will grow with your child. You have to try it for yourself!

And best of all, when you've got a dirty diaper on your hands and you're out of the house, no need for a wet bag! Just roll the diaper up and snap it shut. Easy peasy.
I generally don't keep an inventory. I sew diapers as they're ordered. Send me an email to order any color you'd like, with SNAPS OR VELCRO closures! katie@cuddlybums.com

http://cuddlybums.blogspot.com/

Friday, March 13, 2009

Why don't you use cloth?

I'll admit, I am a die-hard, obsessive cloth diaper mom. I will go to great lengths to not put a disposable (trashy) diaper on my child. Two-week camping trip in the dessert? Trust me, I'd still use cloth diapers (I know, I'm weird). I don't consider disposable diapers an option for my children.

Sadly enough, most other moms (and dads) are the opposite; they would not consider cloth diapers an option. I frequently bring up the subject of cloth diapers with new parents. Most of them automatically dismiss it and then explain why they could NEVER handle cloth diapers. I hear the same excuses over and over again. I will list six of the most common excuses here, along with the response I try to give (when I have the time):

Excuse #1
"Ooh, gross, I just couldn't bring myself to dunk & swish the poopie diapers!"
Okay, first of all, did you know that you are actually supposed to rinse out disposable diapers before you throw them in the trash? Mmm hmmm, read the tiny print on the packaging. You shouldn't deposit human feces in the municipal trash, it's against the law. Yeah, most people don't know that.

Secondly, I don't dunk and swish poopie diapers either. As some of you know, diapers of exclusively breastfed babies do not need to be rinsed at all, their stools are water soluble (like yogurt) and easily rinse off in the washing machine. And when my babies start to eat solids, I use my diaper sprayer, much faster, easier, and more effective than swishing. If you don't want to invest in a diaper sprayer, consider using flushable diaper liners. You can simply lift the soiled liner out of the diaper and flush it. I use liners when we are on vacation and far away from my sprayer.

Excuse #2
"I have so much laundry and I just hate doing it. There is no way I could add diapers to my laundry list."
I understand, laundry is really a never-ending chore for me, too. And why is it difficult? Since I have a washer and drier, it's just a matter of dumping in some laundry & detergent, and then pushing some buttons. What's hard about that? Nothing. The only difficult part about laundry is the initial sorting, and then the folding and putting away. And trying to stay on top of it so there aren't eternal stacks of clean laundry piled on the couch.

When you wash diapers, you don't need to worry about sorting. You just dump the diaper pail into the washer. And you don't need to worry about folding or putting away the clean diapers, either. I have a designated diaper laundry basket that is always full of clean diapers. My stash consists of many pocket diapers, so I usually do fold the inserts & stuff the diapers when they come out of the wash. But sometimes I just leave them in the basket and fold them as I need them. If you absolutely hate folding, just invest in diapers that don't need to be folded. The challenges of sorting, folding, and putting away are really non-existent for diaper laundry. It's the easiest load in the house!

Excuse #3
"Cloth diapers are leaky, I want to keep my lap clean and dry."
As one who has had experience with newborns in both disposable and cloth diapers, I can assure you that disposable diapers are the leaky ones, not cloth! It is true that a prefold or a flat diaper that isn't expertly folded may leak around the edges. I used flat diapers with fitted PUL covers with my first newborn and found that I frequently had to wash out the covers when the diaper leaked (this was much easier than washing his clothing & bedding several times a day). When I switched to fitted cloth diapers with elastic around the back and legs, the covers stayed clean and I didn't have to wash them as often. In comparison, when I used disposable diapers on my baby (for about a week), I was constantly washing his clothing and bedding, it was gross. As one of my friends likes to say, newborns cause lots of laundry no matter what kind of diaper you use. If you use cloth, you will be washing the diapers. If you use disposables, you will be washing piles of clothes and blankets several times a day. Do less laundry with cloth diapers!

The other concern is that a cloth diaper cover will leak liquid. The PUL diapers & covers I use are super waterproof, I have never had a leak. Wool covers can sometimes feel moist if they are left on too long, or if they need a lanolin treatment. Take proper care of your wool covers and they shouldn't be leaky. Use a PUL cover if you are on a long car trip or walking with your baby in a sling.

Excuse #4
"I'm a germ-a-phobe, and cloth diapers just aren't sanitary!"
This statement assumes two things:
A. Diapers should be sanitary and sterile.
B. Disposable diapers are sanitary and sterile.
Neither one of these statements is true. It is not necessary for adults to sterilize their underwear after it is worn and washed. Diapers do not need to be sterilized either.
Disposable diapers are not sterilized. Do diapers come individually wrapped in little sanitary packages like bandages? No. Have you ever been to see the factories and the machines that make disposable diapers? Trust me, not sanitary. My new front-loader washing machine does have a "sanitize" cycle that washes the clothes in extra hot water. I am more confident about the cleanliness of my cloth diapers than I would be about the cleanliness of disposable diapers that come from who knows where.
It is true that you should be extra sure to get your diapers really clean if your child has some kind of stomach flu. Washing them with hot water and drying in a hot dryer or in the warm sunshine should be enough to kill any outbreak of germs. You can add a capful of bleach to the wash if you are worried. Usually cloth diapers are not the culprit for re-spreading the disease around your house, it is instead doorknobs and other surfaces that need to be cleaned and sanitized.

Excuse #5
"Cloth diapers are too bulky."
In my humble opinion, this concern falls in the "true, but not important" category. Are these parents concerned that people will notice the extra bulk on their child and giggle because they are wearing a diaper? I assure you that most people expect babies to wear diapers. If your child is to the point that they are embarrassed about their diaper, that should give them some good incentive to be potty trained!

Yes, it is true that cloth diapers tend to be more bulky than disposables. You might find that you have to use a larger clothing size if your baby is in cloth. I don't see this as a real issue since babies are constantly growing bigger and needing larger clothing no matter what kind of diaper they wear. And if a trim diaper is your goal, there are plenty of diapering options that offer a less-bulky alternative (PUL instead of wool, hemp or bamboo instead of cotton). My babies wear wool covers because the bulky bum look on a baby doesn't bother me! In fact, I think if offers the great advantage of more cushioning when a baby is learning to walk and frequently falls on his/her hiney.

Excuse #6
"But when you weigh in the costs and effects of extra laundry, aren’t cloth diapers just as expensive and just as bad on the environment?"
This is a common misconception that was proliferated by a faulty study publicized by Proctor & Gamble (they wanted to sell more of their disposable diapers; see information about their controversial Decision Earth propaganda that they still distribute to school children), but it’s just not true. The cost for washing diapers will be around $400 over a 2.5-year period. That includes the price of detergent, electricity, and water. The price of the actual diapers can vary greatly depending on the kind you use, but even expensive designer diapers are cheaper than disposables in the long run. Especially considering they can be used on additional children!

And as for environmental issues, the water and energy that you use to wash diapers doesn’t compare to the horrible effects that disposable diapers have on nature. Forests are cut down and turned into pulp, then bleached (adding dangerous chemicals and gases to the water and air). Non-renewable petroleum is used for making the plastic in the diapers. Massive amounts of water, more than you use in your laundry, are also used in the disposable diaper-making process. Fossil fuels are also used for transportation along every step of the way. All this just so your baby can use it for a few hours, then toss it in the trash and grab a new one. For shame!

Well, I didn't even get to diaper rash & other health concerns. I can devote another post to that.

Please post comments if you have heard other excuses that are missing from this list!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Introducing the Tarzan Tushie!!

I mentioned on my blog recently that leopard print inspires me....
So I switched the machine to black thread yesterday and look at what I've just listed!
Velour-lined fitted diaper with a side-snapping design (great for toddlers who have figured out how to undo velcro/snaps on the front!)

You know you want to see your little Tarzan (or Jane) running around in this sweet thing!
This (and many other new listings) are all in my "It's a Jungle Out There" theme of the month section for March: Buy any item from the themed section (including the one shown above), and get 25% off another item in the store. See LilBees shop announcement for details.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

I'm back!




After being remiss for a spell, I've put my head back into cute lil' diaper covers. Thanks for the nudge, my
wool pile has grown so high! So here's the first two of my new creations from recycled sweaters!




Sunday, March 1, 2009

It's a jungle out there!

This month's theme is based on the jungle. See what some our clever diapers makers have sewn for your little monkey:





Guest posting about cloth diapers for Team Eco Etsy

I wrote a guest post "eco tip" for Team Eco Etsy about cloth diapering, and they posted it this morning. I mentioned the team and posted the team's etsy mini in the feature.
When I was a kid my mom used cloth diapers. They were huge things that had to be folded, pinned, and covered with plastic pants. After they were used they had to be dunked and swished in the toilet, then put into a pail with water and bleach...the whole process was disgusting, and I swore I would be using disposables when I had children of my own.

But there have been some remarkable advancements in cloth diapers since then...
Click here to read the rest of the post.
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