Fluff-a-Rump winner of a custom wool cover from MamaBear Baby Wear

 This week's winner of the Fluff-a-Rump giveaway for a custom one size wool cover from MamaBear Baby Wear is comment #73:

beckyjeffmaya said...
73 I Follow MamaBear Baby Wear on Facebook

Congratulations!  Amy will be contacting you, or you can contact her via her shop. Thank you to everyone who entered. Don't forget to check back and enter next week's drawing (4/7)!

Cloth diaper team treasury

Little Muffin Bottoms created this lovely treasury of boyish items from the team. Check it out and give it some clicks! :)

Cloth Diaper Foundation donation from my wonderful customers!

Winkydinks always has a listing for my customers to purchase a soaker for donation to the Cloth Diaper Foundation (formerly Miracle Diapers) in their name. I take the money they send me to put towards materials, shipping, and Paypal fees and then donate my time to create fleece soakers to donate. This quarter, I have 5 to send in! 

 THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

You can also donate cash or gently used diapers and accessories to the Cloth Diaper Foundation (tax deductible!). I am slowly but surely donating away my personal stash as my youngest is almost completely done with diapers. Turning a slightly sad moment for me into a positive for someone else in need always makes it better :)

Reasons to Cloth Diaper (Part 3 of 4) - Health and Comfort

Every new parent wants what’s best for their baby including wanting them to feel comfortable. Most babies will have a diaper on almost constantly for about the first two years of their life. A comfy baby is a more content baby for sure. But which diapers are the most comfortable? Which diapers are best for babies?

What about feeling dry?
Disposable diaper manufacturers have capitalized on the idea that babies are more comfortable when they’re dry, and that their diapers keep babies feeling dry. Most people seem to assume that babies in cloth diapers are sitting in soggy wet cotton a lot of the time. This actually depends on how often they’re changed and is not a fault of the diapers themselves. Personally, I don’t want my baby sitting in poop OR pee, even if the liquid has been soaked into the diaper. I check regularly to see if my baby is wet, and if she is wet, I change her immediately. Therefore, my baby feels dry most of the time. There are also many diapers available today that use synthetic “wicking” fabrics against the baby’s skin, which allow them to feel more dry even if they’ve peed.

What would you rather have on?
What if every parent thinking about using disposables bought an adult disposable diaper at the store and wore it around for a day and then tried “wearing” a cloth diaper around the house (perhaps tucked into their underwear) Which one do you think feels better? The wood pulp and super absorbent polymer wrapped in plastic, or some soft and cushy breathable fabrics? Moms who have switched to cloth pads from disposable ones often have this same epiphany – cloth feels so much better!

Other health issues
Traces of Dioxin, a carcinogenic chemical, have been found in disposable diapers. There are also fragrances and now lotions and moisturizers used in disposables, though no “ingredients” have to be disclosed on their labels. As a person who reads labels very carefully and will only use natural products on my babies’ skin, I am very leery of disposable diapers for this reason. One other problem is that disposables don’t adequately breathe, and they raise the skin temperature underneath the diaper. Researchers in Germany have actually found that scrotal temperature is increased in boys who wear disposable diapers, and they theorize that this could lead to problems with male fertility later in life. They admit that it is only a theory and that more study is needed, but if I had a boy, I’m sure I would have more piece of mind knowing he was wearing breathable fabrics!

On Diaper Rash
Many parents report that their babies have less diaper rash after switching to cloth diapers. Occasionally, a baby will exhibit a strong allergic type of reaction to disposable diapers. On the flip side there will occasionally be a baby who does better in disposable diapers, who is perhaps sensitive to detergent residue, certain fabrics, or the least bit of moisture. There is always a reason for diaper rash, and although sometimes tricky to pinpoint, a reason and remedy can usually be found. For the most part my babies have remained rash-free in their cloth diapers. In times of sore bottoms, the culprit has always been related to introducing new foods in their diet, teething, illness, or missing a bowel movement that stayed on the skin for too long. In the breathable diapers (cotton with wool covers) that I use, rash heals quickly and has never been an ongoing issue.

Sources: C-J Partsch, M Aukamp, W G Sippell Scrotal temperature is increased in disposable plastic lined nappies. Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, Christian-Albrechts- University of Kiel, Schwanenweg 20, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. Arch Dis Child 2000;83:364-368.Click here or go to http://adc.bmjjournals.com/ and search by the title of the study.

Polka Dots and Stripes

Our team members outdid themselves with this month's theme. So many beautiful cloth diapers and longies and accessories to choose from :)












Be sure to check out the other participating shops as well for other great items:
BananaBottoms
Chelory
Holden'sLanding
LainasLaundry
LibertysBelle
Lilbees
LittleMooseDiapers
LittleMuffinBottoms
Katidids
TheCreativeMommy
TwistedFate
Winkydinks

Stay tuned for next week when we have a new theme!

MamaBear Baby Wear: Fluff-a-Rump featured member and giveaway

Shop link: www.mamabearbabywear.etsy.com
Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/wwwmamabearbabywearetsycom/110161135662756

Getting to know MamaBear Baby Wear:

What got you started in selling items in your Etsy shop?  Etsy was recommended by a friend, and after over a year of putting it off as just another Internet thing I’d have to keep up with and didn’t really have time for I actually looked at Etsy and LOVED it immediately! It’s so much more personal than other venues like eBay and gives me a chance to really meet my customer’s needs!
What is one piece of advice you wish someone would have told you when you started cloth diapering? “You’re probably going to want to try several systems and styles before you find what works best for you.”
What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not sewing/working for your shop? Spend time with my family, especially my daughter who is definitely my favorite person on earth!
What is your favorite item in your shop and why?  This sleep sack - I’ve got another little one coming and was experimenting to get back into the swing of making teeny tiny things again (a 3 year old makes newborn stuff look like toys!) and I just LOVE this wool sleep sack I created. It’s definitely better than anything I bought at the store the first time around (with my daughter). (Although it's currently sold out, I can make more!)
What is your favorite material to work with? Wool! (Well, technically Cashmere, but it’s such a rare thing to find!)
How long has your shop been open? I’ve been selling on Etsy since January 2009, but I’ve been creating and selling MamaBear items since January 2007
Personal bio: I am currently a full-time mom, a Counselor who works with troubled teens and young families, a homeschooler, a hobby farmer, a and a seamstress. My counseling specialty is in working with young families to promote Attachment Parenting and with juveniles to heal attachment-related issues. All of my creations are designed to promote sensible and sustainable consumption, encourage healthy interpersonal relations, and save money as investments in durable, reusable, and often times repurposed goods.

Fluff-a-Rump Giveaway details!

(Drawing to be held March 31st, 9pm PDT) 

This week, Amy from MamaBear Baby Wear is giving away a MamaBear BabyWear Custom One-size Wool Diaper Cover Wrap (Retail value $23.00) Open to all countries, shipping included to USA only

Required entry:
-Visit MamaBear Baby Wear's shop; come back here and leave a comment with your favorite item
Additional optional entries (leave a separate comment for EACH of the following that apply) (be sure that you are signed in or leave a way to contact you in each comment):  
- Mark MamaBear Baby Wear's shop as an Etsy favorite.
- Follow MamaBear Baby Wear on Facebook 
- Purchase an item from MamaBear Baby Wear and leave a comment with your invoice/transaction number.
- Leave Etsy feedback on a prior purchase from MamaBear Baby Wear (come back and leave a comment here with your feedback too)
- Follow the Etsy Cloth Diaper team blog publicly
- Follow the Etsy Cloth Diaper team on Facebook
- Follow the Etsy Cloth Diaper team on Twitter
- Tweet about the fluff-a-rump giveaways (limit one per day)  - be sure to use @etsyclothdiaper in your tweet
A random blog comment number will be selected using random.org. You MUST comment on this blog post to be entered, and have contact info in your profile. Each entry entry must be its own comment. If you combine entries into one comment, it will only count as one entry. Winning entries will be validated, and you MUST do the required entry to have any additional entries be valid. Thank you for entering!


Check back in 2 weeks for another Fluff-a-Rump on Hump Day featured Etsy shop and Giveaway! 

Reasons to Cloth Diaper (Part 2 of 4) - Environment

“Go Green” with cloth diapers!

There are plenty of articles that argue that cloth diapers aren’t much better for the environment than disposables. Disposables obviously use more raw materials and create more solid waste that ends up in landfills, but cloth diapers use more fossil fuel and water to be laundered over and over. The studies that have been done on this issue just seem to muddy the debate. So what’s a “green” mama to do?

1. Consult common sense.
Disposable diapers are manufactured with virgin wood pulp, which is often bleached – possibly releasing dioxins into the environment, along with an outer layer made of plastic (a petroleum product), and a super absorbent polymer gel – that ingredient that miraculously allows them to soak up so much moisture so fast. Other ingredients – the fragrances, moisturizers, etc. don’t even have to be disclosed. Manufactured using water and fossil fuel, transported to stores using more fossil fuel, and thrown away by the billions after one use (using more fossil fuel to transport them to the landfill), and now perhaps individually wrapped in extra plastic (Diaper Genie anyone?). How can these things NOT be a burden on the environment? Plus there’s the issue of sending untreated sewage to landfills, where it has the potential to spread germs and disease. Really, if one time use disposables were really better for the environment than their reusable counterparts, wouldn’t environmentalists be promoting paper towels and paper plates, or what about disposable underwear or clothing for the rest of us?

2. Adopt an eco-friendly wash routine.
If you’re concerned about water use, I’ve read that it takes a similar amount of water to wash diapers every few days as it does for extra flushes of the toilet once your child is using the potty. Water being sent to a treatment plant will presumably return in a useable state to our water table. Switching to an efficient front loader can also cut down on your water use.

If you’re concerned about global warming, the most recent study looking at carbon emissions of cloth vs. disposables was done by the UK Environment Agency and came out in 2008. This report states that “in contrast to the use of disposable nappies, it is consumers’ behaviour after purchase that determines most of the impacts from reusable nappies” and that it is possible to significantly reduce carbon emissions (perhaps up to 40% over disposables) by adopting the following practices:
- Line drying outside whenever possible
- Tumble drying as little as possible
- Using more energy efficient appliances
- Not washing above 60°C (140°F)
- Washing fuller loads
- Reusing diapers on other children

3. Choose eco-friendly fabrics
Conventional cotton is a very water intensive crop that is usually heavily sprayed with pesticides. Polyester fabrics, while very popular as cloth diaper options today (which will cut down on your carbon footprint and landfill waste), are ultimately fossil-fuel based products. My favorite environmentally sensitive cloth diaper fabrics are organic cotton, ecologically/humanely raised (or recycled) wool, bamboo, recycled polyester fleece and hemp. Buying diapers made from USA milled fabrics or that are sewn locally can also reduce their environmental impact and support your local economy.

Sources:
UK Environment Agency. An Updated Lifecycle Assessment Study for Disposable and Reusable Nappies. 2008. available at: http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=WR0705_7589_FRP.pdf

Polka dots and stripes...

to brighten up your fluff....












Be sure to check out the other participating shops as well for other great items:
BananaBottoms
Chelory
Holden'sLanding
LainasLaundry
LibertysBelle
Lilbees
LittleMooseDiapers
LittleMuffinBottoms
Katidids
TheCreativeMommy
TwistedFate
Winkydinks

Fluff-a-Rump winner of 2 embellished PFs from Laina's Laundry

 This week's winner of the Fluff-a-Rump giveaway for a set of 2 embellished prefolds from Laina's Laundry is comment #12:
 Nature Manipulated said... 12

I follow the team on twitter (@NMGiveaway)  

Congratulations!  Jenna will be contacting you, or you can contact her via her shop. Thank you to everyone who entered. Don't forget to check back and enter next week's drawing (3/24) - A custom one-size wool diaper cover wrap from Mama Bear Baby Wear

Team Treasury!

Check out the lovely cloth diaper treasury, created by Banana Bottoms!

Reasons to Cloth Diaper: SAVING MONEY (part 1 of 4)

Everyone wants to save money where they can these days, and its definitely possible to do that with cloth diapers. So, how much can you save?

One thing we know for sure is that you’ll spend around $2,000 to diaper your baby in disposables, over 2-3 (or more!) years and you have nothing left to show for it in the end. If you choose the more expensive “eco-friedly” disposables or if your kid takes extra long to potty learn, you could end up spending considerably more.

How much does it cost to cloth diaper? Unfortunately there is not one handy figure since it varies widely depending on the type of diapers that you choose. The cost of laundry detergent and any stain/odor eliminators, extra energy and water usage and extra maintenance for your appliances should also be taken into account. I’m not going to go into detail about these costs. With kids, you do lots of laundry anyway. The cost of doing laundry is already part of your budget. Cloth diapers mean an extra load of laundry every 2-3 days. If you line dry, that saves a lot in electricity usage. Even if you don’t, I still think the cost of 2 or 3 extra loads of laundry a week is something most families can handle, especially if you’re not having to purchase disposable diapers all the time!

Here are three different scenarios that show different levels of cloth diaper spending. Keep in mind that when you’re done with cloth diapers, they still have value. They can be passed on to younger siblings or to friends’ babies. They can also be re-sold to friends, on Craig’s list, or online websites.

1. Cloth Diapering on a Shoestring.

Is it possible to cloth diaper without spending ANYTHING on the diapers? Sure! If you have friends that cloth diaper (or can make some) you could easily get used hand-me-downs or borrow diapers and give them back when you’re done with them. Or if you happen to have generous friends and family, it might be possible to get most of your diapering supplies covered at baby showers. Or you could make your own diapers from thrifted fabrics for not much money at all. Cotton receiving blankets actually make very nice and usable flat diapers. If you can sew, knit, or crochet, you can also make your own wool or fleece diaper covers for very little money.

2. An Economical New Diaper Stash

I would guess that most people do invest in new diapers. The most popular economical option is prefolds with PUL or fleece diaper covers. For most babies, you can get by very nicely with infant size prefolds, and regular (Premium) size. I like to have 3 dozen in each size, plus 6 covers that fit well at any given time. With the new one-size or two-size covers, a good estimate for this type of diapering system is $300, but you won’t even be spending that all at once. If you add in some accessories like doublers, wet bags, pail liners, cloth wipes, snappis, and a wider variety of covers, I think you could still be coming in under $500 for sure, a significant savings over the $2,000 for disposables. Plus prefolds are long-lasting and can be used again on other kids.

3. Upgrading to fitteds, pockets, AIOs or AI2s:

If your taste leans towards more expensive diapering options that average around $20 per diaper, than you certainly won’t be saving as much money over disposables. A stash of say 30 new pocket diapers will run you $600 and that doesn’t include any of the extra accessories you will probably want to have. If one-size diapers end up working for your baby, then you may only need one diapering purchase which will last a couple years. However, many babies will fall outside the size range for one size at one time or another. That means if you need a few different sizes, you could be spending $1800, and easily getting up to the $2,000 mark once you add in accessories. Reduce that by buying used, or re-coup that investment by using on another baby.

Tips for saving money:

1. buy used diapers when you can, especially when trying out new brands that you’re not sure you’re going to like. There are lots of places now to look for used diapers – try Craig’s list, local mom’s groups, or online websites like Diaperswappers, Spot’s Corner or Cloth Diaper Nation.
2. Re-sell diapers that don’t end up working for you, or that your baby has grown out of. Many moms sell outgrown diapers and accessories to fund the next size up.
3. Have a “mixed stash” that includes more economical diapers like prefolds or flats for at home use, with some pockets, AIOs, and fitteds for ease of use when out and about and for other caregivers.
4. Line dry your diapers – you’ll save on your energy bill.
5. Learn to knit, crochet or sew in order to make your own diapers and/or covers. There are lots of free and reasonably priced online patterns and tutorials for whatever you want to try and make!

Finally, some new listings!

I have changed my shop name from Le Petit Owlet to Little Owls. I'm considering switching to Little Owl Bums. Thoughts, ideas. suggestions? My blogs name is Le Petit Owlet and I kind of want to keep them separate from each other!

I'm listing some new sets! I have an "Experience Little Owls" set which is 2 organic fitted diapers and your choice of either wool shorties or a wool soaker for $55.

I also listed a one organic fitted and one wool set for $45

I love custom orders, let me know what you'd like and I can make it for you! Visit Little Owls today!

Stripes and Polkadots

This month's theme has generated a lot of response from our team members. Round out your cloth diaper collection with some bright stripes or cheery polkadots.









Be sure to check out the other participating shops as well for other great items:
BananaBottoms
Chelory
Holden'sLanding
LainasLaundry
LibertysBelle
Lilbees
LittleMooseDiapers
LittleMuffinBottoms
Katidids
TheCreativeMommy
TwistedFate
Winkydinks

Laina's Laundry: Fluff-a-Rump featured member and giveaway

Shop link: www.lainaslaundry.etsy.com
Blog link: www.lainaslaundry.blogspot.com

Getting to know Laina's Laundry:

What got you started in selling items in your Etsy shop?  I started with leg warmers because my daughter always got compliments on the ones I made for her, and people always saying I should sell them.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone would have told you when
you started cloth diapering? To use a Snappi!
What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not sewing/working for
your shop? I love reading and when I'm not so tired from being pregnant I ride horses :)
What is your current favorite item in your shop, and why? I love these washies because they are totally retro and fun.
What is your favorite material to work with? Cotton
How long has your shop been open? Wow, I can't believe it's been over 2 years already. Open date was Feb 22, 2008
Personal bio: I like to call myself a part-time work at home mom. My daughter is almost 3 years old and I've got another baby due the end of April. Besides running my Etsy shop and sewing, I am a Wellness Coach certified through Live Well International and provide nutrition, lifestyle, and health coaching mostly to other moms like me. I have a passion for prenatal wellness and love helping pregnant and new moms become and stay healthy.

Fluff-a-Rump Giveaway details!

(Drawing to be held March 17th, 9pm PST) 

This week, Jenna from Laina's Laundry is giving away this set of (2) embellished prefolds! They are diaper service quality (DSQ) bleached Chinese prefold (CPF) diaper, in standard size (4x6x4 ply and approx 12x18") (Value $13) Open to USA and Canada.

Required entry:
-Visit Laina's Laundry's shop; come back here and leave a comment with your favorite item
Additional optional entries (leave a separate comment for EACH of the following that apply) (be sure that you are signed in or leave a way to contact you in each comment): 
- Publicly follow Laina's Laundry on her blog. 
- Follow the Etsy Cloth Diaper team blog publicly
- Follow the Etsy Cloth Diaper team on Facebook
- Follow the Etsy Cloth Diaper team on Twitter
- Tweet about the fluff-a-rump giveaways (limit one per day)  - be sure to use @etsyclothdiaper in your tweet



A random blog comment number will be selected using random.org. You MUST comment on this blog post to be entered, and have contact info in your profile. Each entry entry must be its own comment. If you combine entries into one comment, it will only count as one entry. Winning entries will be validated, and you MUST do the required entry to have any additional entries be valid. Thank you for entering!


Check back in 2 weeks for another Fluff-a-Rump on Hump Day featured Etsy shop and Giveaway! 

Diapering Fabrics--pros and cons of the various choices

Each seller uses slightly different fabrics and patterns, so while this post should give some basic guidelines, it is always a good idea to talk to the shopkeeper you want to buy from, and ask her for specifics about what she sews and sells. ☺ You can also search the fabric labels on the sidebar to see a variety of items made from each one.

Each diaper (or diaper/cover combination) needs three fabric types: something soft next to the skin, something to serve as a leak barrier on the outside, and something absorbent in the middle.

Here is a list of the fabric options for each part.

• Outside Barrier (PUL , heavyweight fleece, or wool)
• Soft fabric next to skin (stay-dry microfleece or suedecloth, bamboo, flannel, velour, minkee, or silk)
• Absorbent Core fabric (microfiber, hemp, cotton, bamboo, etc—natural fibers always absorb, synthetic ones generally do not.) Sometimes this can be the same fabric that is next to the skin, but not always (see pros/cons list for details).

Some things to think about when choosing materials:

What age will this diaper be used for? How long will the item be worn between changes (how absorbent does it need to be?) Are sensitive skin/reactions an issue? (Some people react to synthetic fabrics, others react to staying wet). What materials can I afford? (organic bamboo velour retails at $19/yd, whereas cotton flannel is $2/yd)

Here is a brief synopsis of the pros and cons of various fabrics:

FABRIC	PROS	CONS
1ml PUL*	Slightly more flexible/stretchy/soft than 2ml, absolutely will not leak.	Potentially not as strong as 2ml. Synthetic fabric doesn’t breathe.
2ml PUL*	Stronger than 1ml (holds up to abuse such as chlorinated pools or frequent washing). Great for wetbags. Absolutely will not leak.	Slightly more expensive and potentially stiffer than 1ml. Synthetic fabric doesn’t breathe.
Heavy Polyester Fleece	Inexpensive; breathes	Synthetic fabric may cause irritation; may leak under heavy use; may get pilly with washing.
Wool	Thirsty; natural fabric breathes; waterproof when properly lanolized; can double as outerwear with diapers; can be recycled from sweaters.	Wool has to be handwashed, so cannot be used as part of an all-in-one design. Many wools are scratchy, so should be chosen carefully. Hand-knit/crochet wool covers are expensive.
Microfleece	Soft. Keeps the skin dry by wicking moisture through. Stretch makes it easier to stuff pockets (especially in small sizes)	Gets a little pilly with repeated washing; synthetic material may irritate sensitive skin.
Suedecloth	Keeps the skin dry by wicking moisture through. Available in a variety of prints and colors.	Synthetic—some people don’t like the feel (not as soft as microfleece)
Flannel	Fun colors and prints; can be used for both top and inner layers	Multiple layers can take a long time to dry; heavy when wet
Velour (available in cotton, hemp, and bamboo)	Very soft and stays soft through washings; fuzz gives a ‘feel-dry’ feeling although it doesn’t actually wick moisture away
Terry (available in cotton, hemp, and bamboo)	Very absorbent; can be upcycled from old towels	Can be quite bulky
Microfiber	Trim (not bulky); very thirsty; dries quickly.	Synthetic, feels weird (most wouldn’t want it touching skin)
Cotton	Cheap, readily available,many colors and prints to choose from	Heavy when wet and slow to dry (think of a wet tee-shirt or towel)
Bamboo (available as fleece, terry, velour, and flannel)	Eco-friendly, VERY soft (truly the softest thing I've ever felt)	Expensive
Hemp (available as fleece, terry, and velour)	Eco-friendly, natural anti-microbial properties, very trim	Expensive, some types can get stiff with washing.
*PUL (poly-urithane laminate) is a knit fabric with a laminate coating on the back. From one side it looks like regular fabric but because of the coating it is completely waterproof. It was originally developed for use in the medical field but has now become popular for cloth diapering and is available in a rainbow of solid colors. There is “Fabrite PUL” which is the original stuff, and there is also off-brand PUL, which is exactly the same only cheaper and in slightly different colors. A special note about PUL—many people do “DIY PUL” which is when the PUL backing is applied to fabrics which the customer sends in. These PULs are easily recognized because the PUL company only makes solid colors, so any kind of print is a DIY. I have had mixed results with DIY PULs, and will say this: I will never again use a woven DIY fabric. I might use a knit one if it was really really cute, but in general I have found them in every way inferior to the standard PUL.

If you have any questions, or if I missed anything here, please leave a comment!

Fluff-a-Rump winner of a Little Muffin Bottoms pocket diaper

This week's winner of the Fluff-a-Rump giveaway for a pocket diaper from Little Muffin Bottoms is comment #20:

Jessica said... 20

I like the Cotton Receiving Blankets set of 3

February 24, 2010 2:35 PM 

Congratulations!  Katy will be contacting you, or you can contact her via her shop. Thank you to everyone who entered. Don't forget to check back and enter next week's drawing (we're now doing every other week for a new giveaway).

March is here with a new theme

and it's stripes and polkadots. There is a wide variety of items to choose from this month











Be sure to check out the other participating shops as well for other great items:
BananaBottoms
Chelory
Holden'sLanding
LainasLaundry
LibertysBelle
Lilbees
LittleMooseDiapers
LittleMuffinBottoms
Katidids
TheCreativeMommy
TwistedFate
Winkydinks