Out of Diapers? Try a Receiving Blanket!

When I started to use cloth I heard a lot about being able to use a receiving blanket as a diaper. I had never tried this and soon forgot all about it. Well for the first time ever Little Pumpkin ran out of diapers. I had put them to wash but before bed I had forgotten to put them to dry, so while diapers were drying I had nothing to put LP in. Then I remembered the receiving blankets! I looked up how to fold a flat diaper and gave it a try, and I have to say using the receiving blanket as a diaper is great! I may try some flat diapers now.

 

I decided to share with you how to use a receiving blanket as a diaper.

 

I hope that your find this helpful! Happy cloth diapering :)

Cloth Diapering Back Up Plan

My stash at one of it's larger points.

There are so many reasons people choose to cloth diaper and most stem from affordability, ecology, or a child with sensitivities. Personally I set out to do cloth because I was being cheap. Baby number three meant I would be drastically cutting my work hours and I needed to compensate however I could. Then I discovered designer diapers and the cute throttled my thrifty tendencies. At least I was being green right?

When talking to new to cloth parents I've always told them that cloth is a bit of an investment up front, but then that investment pays for itself over time. Over the years I've seen people sell off their diapers to come up with the money they needed for whatever reason and usually they would say something like this "Gah, DH is out of work for being hurt and now the radiator n the car blew and the water heater is flooding. We need the money so we're selling off our fancy diapers and gonna use sposies for a couple months." Makes sense right?

Pre-fold available at Zany Zebra on Etsy

I recently found myself in a financial bind. Funny how it all falls apart on the leanest months. Suddenly my excessive stash looked more like a nest egg than squishy diapers. I started offering them up for sell in the various venues where people look for pre-loved fluff and while it was a humbling experience I was pretty impressed by the resale value of my diapers. However, it would do me no good to sell all my diapers and then be forced into buying disposable diapers. If you need money you don't force yourself into having to spend more of it. Disposables are not your back up plan. The answer is a throw back to grandma's day. A simple system of pre-folds / flats and covers should be your fall back plan if your regular more costly system becomes unavailable for whatever reason. If they're not "cute" enough you can easily dye them or embellish them to add some flare. We rarely used them, but I was grateful to have those old standbys to dig out. In about a year when we're done with cloth even those basic diapers will have a resale value to them which is another perk to cloth diapers. How many sposies repay their owners even in small percentages?

Posted by Samantha at Turk and Bean

Eco Tip: Line Drying Everything!

Eco Tip:  Line Dry More Than Just Diapers

    Summer is here!  Warm breezes and sunny skies make it perfect for line drying cloth diapers.  Many of us know the benefits of line drying cloth diapers such as preserving PUL in AIO or Pocket diapers.  However, many of us over look the benefits of sun drying our everyday clothes.  And one of the great things about the warmer weather is the softer and nicer the clothes seem to feel.
    Line drying clothes is an easy way to help cut the electric bills during the summer months.  A few different sites quote the savings around $156(1) a year or about $25(2) a month for electric dryers.  The lower your electric bill the lower your family’s carbon foot print is.  Its a great way to get outside and get some sunshine especially with a continual rise of  Vitamin D deficiency.  The summer months are especially great because the warm weather keeps clothes from getting stiff and they will feel just as soft as if they were in the dryer.  Another good reason is that clothes last longer think of all that lint, which is a sign of the fabric being worn down. 

Here are some tips to get the best results when line drying:

1.  hang the colored clothes inside out to help maintain clothes
2.  shake the wrinkles out and smooth as many as you can with your hands.  Reduces any need for ironing
3.  hang heavy jeans folded over then half way through drying flip and shack out wrinkles to optimize drying and helping to prevent stiffness

A helpful hint when line drying sheets fold over and allow to blow in the breeze like a sail to promote even drying.  Another good hint is if you want to hang out your “intimate” items hang them in between two layers of regular clothes creating a few walls to hide them behind.(3)

In our house, to help us remember to hang and dry our darker clothes inside-out we just inside them out when we take them off.  Its also better for the clothes to be washed that way.  We also try to wash most of, if not all our clothes in cold water.  This will help maintain your clothes and fabrics longer.  65% of Americans use hot water or warm water to wash clothes(2) lowing that percentage could help the environment as well as your personal pocket book. Cold water cleans most clothes just as well but if you plan to use warm or hot water save it for visibly dirty items.  Its even better to use cold water when cleaning cloth diapers, make sure to do a good soak ahead of time, especially with PUL which gets worn down from the rough hot water and then being heated in a hot dryer.

These are just a few of the many reasons that hang drying clothes can be great for you and your family.    

(1)http://gogreeninyourhome.com/how-to-save-electricity/save-money-doing-laundry-drying-clothes/

(2)http://www.laundrylist.org/en/line-drying

(3)http://www.momadvice.com/money/line_drying_clothing.aspx

April Promotional Giveaway-- from Etsy Cloth Diaper Team!

This month's theme is New Beginnings...Are you, or is someone you know, a new mother or about to be one? All the decisions ahead may seem overwhelming, but deciding to use cloth diapers doesn't have to be any more difficult than choosing which disposable you would use--except that there is quite a bit more variety to choose from, which is really to your advantage. The reason there are so many choices out there is that the needs of families are so very different. Households all function uniquely, all babies are shaped differently, some babies have sensitive skin and allergies, many families are concerned about being organic in their choices, many families have budgetary constraints, and there is a cloth diapering solution for you!

This month's prize package is an assortment of newborn cloth diapering products to get you started in your cloth diapering journey. You can try some different styles of diapers and hopefully find a solution that works for your family. You may discover that you only like one style of cloth diaper, or you may discover that you enjoy different cloth diapering solutions for different circumstances.

Various members of the Etsy Cloth Diaper Team will be donating some great products for a great start in using and choosing cloth diapers.

Along with the diapering products, as the winner of this giveaway you will also have the opportunity for a consultation to discuss which cloth diapering products might be right for your family and your situation!

Now...What is included in the prize package?

The winner of this month's promotional giveaway will receive ALL of these great prizes:

1 Newborn Fitted

1 Newborn Fitted

1 Newborn PUL Cover

6 Fleece Diaper Liners

1 One-Size Pocket Diaper

6 Cloth Wipes & Small Wetbag

2 Small Daddy Flat Diapers

1 Small Wool Cover

From MonkeyToeDiapers

One Newborn Fitted Diaper
Newborn diapers will fit from about birth to 12lbs

Very Baby Fitted Newborn diapers feature:
Cross Over Snaps
Snap Down for the Umbilical Stump
Snap in soaker pad
Unique fit for newborns
Hidden snaps so only bamboo velour touches your little one

A Cute Cotton Knit Print
Bamboo Fleece/Bamboo velour
Black Snaps

"I believe that cloth diapering is a very loving thing to do for your little one and an investment in their future."

My advice to new cloth diapering mom "not all cloth diapers are created equal and not all babies diaper the same."

From CuddleButt Cloth

One Newborn Fitted Diaper

The winner will receive either a Pink Whales or a Blue Whales newborn fitted diaper with snap closure and umbilical cutout.

"CuddleButt Cloth makes one-of-a-kind and custom cloth diapers. As a cloth diapering mama myself, I focus on making the diapers that I want to use, with a focus on ease-of-use and quality materials that I can feel good about putting on my baby.

I advise new cloth diapering parents to avoid buying too many of one kind or brand of diaper until they have tried out several types. You may be convinced that all-in-ones are the way to go, but discover (after spending $500), that you actually really love prefolds and old-school pins."
  

From April's Baby

One Newborn Diaper Cover

This is a newborn cloth diaper cover. It is sized to fit over prefolds, fitteds or floating inserts. It will fit most babies from approx. 6-12 lbs. It is a 100% cotton outer in a fun red, white, and black skulls print. It is lined with white PUL. It is finished off with black FOE and red snaps. It has an umbilical snap down to protects baby's healing stump.

About Aprils Baby: "I want to make cloth diapering fun! I offer cute covers and all in ones. There's something to fit everyone's taste.

Cloth diapering is so much easier than it seems...once you find what works for you. Hang in there! One of the great things about cloth diapering is that it saves you money. I put $0.25 in a jar (seriously!) every time I change a cloth diaper. You would be surprised at how quickly it adds up. I put this money into an education saving account for my kids."

From PinkieLeeFleursdeLis

Set of Six Fleece Diaper Liners

Set of 6 Fleece Tiny Booty Cloth Diaper Liners in my *Morning Munchies Collection*
A beautiful Assortment of 3 Happy Breakfast Foods, 1 Bright Yellow, 1 Royal Blue & 1 Cardinal Red.


*These liners are specifically sized for Tiny Baby Bootys. They are fantastic for the early days after birth to prevent meconium staining & ease diaper changes*

Fleece Liners are a staple for cloth diapering!

They are often used to line the inside of the diaper while using a non-cloth diaper safe Rash Ointment or Rx Cream. Some creams & ointments contain ingredients which can harm your diapers; cause build-up, create repelling, and even stain. Fleece Liners can go between your baby's bum & your diaper, allowing you to use your cream/ointment without harming your diapers.

The liners are also an excellent, breathable 'Stay Dry' layer for babies with sensitive skin, or those with a strong aversion to feeling wet. The fleece will repel the urine back into the absorbent part of the diaper, leaving your baby's skin dry.

Fleece is also virtually stain-resistant, ensuring beautiful, vivid colors wash after wash.

My Tiny Booty liners are contoured for a great fit inside any kind of diaper & measure approx. 10'' x 4 1/2'' at widest part.

All of my Fleece liners have been prewashed in either Rockin' Green or Ecover laundry detergents. They can be washed with your diaper laundry, or If using with diaper/rash creams, they should be washed with baby's regular laundry (separately from your cloth diapers) so as to avoid residual ointment/cream ingredients from coming into contact with your cloth diapers. I do not recommend using any type of fabric softener on my Fleece Liners if your babe has sensitive skin.

*Please note that this is a stock photo and pattern placement will vary.

"Everything that I sell is made by me in my home. From my brand labels to my hang tags, everything is hand crafted by me! Every order is gift wrapped & finished with a ribbon and includes a hand-written Thank You card with a wax Fleur de Lis seal and an instruction/care sheet.

I am a mommy first, business woman second and am inspired by my wonderful husband & two daughters. I am a huge advocate for Infertility Awareness. I love cloth diapering, upcycling, thrift store shopping, composting, gardening & Going Green! ♥ "

From Green Beans Diapers

A One-Size Pocket Diaper

Super cute modern safari print outer shell. Inner lining can be chocolate brown microfleece or white suede cloth for a stay dry feeling for baby. Waist adjust with two rows of ten snaps, rise adjust with three rows of three. Pictured are kelly green snaps, but also available in chocolate brown and denim blue.

Winner to choose color of snaps and microfleece or suedecloth inner.

Comes with 2 inserts. Large insert measures approximately 15"x5" and is 3 layers of super thirsty Zorb inside 2 layers of upcycled cotton. Newborn/doubler measures 10"x5", 2 layers of Zorb in two layers of cotton.

Measurements:
Overall rise-19"
waist-10"21"
Fits most babies 7lbs-30lbs

PUL Zorb and microfleece made in USA!

My CD philosophy is to keep it simple, keep it local, keep it green. I try to follow this when making my cloth diapers by using USA made materials so not as much fuel is used to get them to my door and supports local industry. I offer many styles of diapers and accessories in my shop so mama's can choose what fits best in their lifestyle. To reduce my waste I re-purpose my scraps into other projects like scrappy or embellished diapers.

The best advice I could give to anyone new to cloth (dads included!) is to try several styles of diapers first to see how they work for you, fit into your daily routine before buying an entire stash of one type of diaper that you may not like. That's why this giveaway is the perfect way to get started!

From Lil Stuff

Six Cloth Wipes and Wet Bag

Six Cloth Wipes in a neutral print (similar to pictured) and a small wetbag.

These wipes are 100% organic hemp/cotton fleece on one side and a fun flannel print on the other. They are very squishy soft and absorbent and the hemp side is naturally antimicrobial. They wash and hold up well use after use, and best of all, no harsh chemicals will be on your babies bottom. It is easy to use cloth wipes, just toss them in your wet bag or diaper pail after use, and wash them with your diapers. You will save approximately $500.00 over the course of diapering one child by not using disposable wipes, and think of all that papery stuff you will keep out of our land fills.

Advice to parents just starting out in cloth: "Hang in there! It is worth it to use cloth, it is so much better for your babies bottom than those chemical laden disposables. There is so much support out there now for cloth mamas through Etsyclothdiapers blog, Facebook and the Real Diaper Association, so it makes it so much easier than it was back in the dark ages when I was cloth diapering LOL!"

From Cloth Diaper Club

Two Daddy Flat Diapers & One Small Wool Cover

Because my cloth diapering philosophy is that anyone can do it on any budget, I am offering up two very economical cloth diapering options.

I will be giving away TWO size One DayTime Daddy Flats in a choice of two prints. These Daddy Flats have a cute soft flannel outer and a cushy cotton velour inner. DayTime Daddy Flats have one soaker wing for a total of 6 absorbing layers when folded. Daddy Flats have the washing, drying, and sanitizing benefits of diaper flats and prefolds, the trimness of undies, and the advantage of being easy to fold and fasten with snaps, and no elastic to wear out!
Daddy Flats are such an easy and economical cloth diapering choice, especially for the home sewer. I sell these in my shop to encourage home sewers to try them out for function first and then hopefully decide to sew up their own. For more information about Daddy Flats visit their website. For an idea of how simple it is two create a stash of these diapers, visit my blog.

I am also giving away a size SMALL repurposed wool diaper cover that is made in the style of a front snapping PUL cover. It can be worn over diaper flats, prefolds, or any fitteds requiring a waterproof cover. It is two full layers of a neutral tan wool with an additional soaker layer in the wetzone. Gentle elastic at the back and legs help keep messes where they are supposed to be and two rows of red snaps make for an adjustable fit! This wool cover will come lanolized and ready to wear along with care instructions.

Repurposed wool is also a very economical cloth diapering choice for the home sewer. If properly cared for, a good wool cover can last for more than one child.

This package is basically the equivalent of one of my Try Cloth Diapers packages without the cloth wipes. These packages are a great way to try an inexpensive method at a really great price.

My advice to newbies: "Just remember, your best friend's cloth diapering routine may not be what works for you. Also, don't give up! There are loads of websites to help you troubleshoot with issues, but also try to connect with someone else who uses cloth diapers. It makes a world of difference to have someone walk a new path with you!"


You must include contact information with each entry. Enter now and spread the word!

This week we'll spend a few moments getting to know Samantha, the creative force behind Northern Mom at Etsy.

Where did you get the name for your shop?
-This is a funny story. A few years back I was really into knitting and crocheting and decided to blog about my new found hobby. I had to come up with a catchy name and I figured since I was 'North' of most people (being smack dab in the middle of Canada) and a Mom to three children at the time, the name NorthernMom came up.

Is it big business or a hobby?
-Honestly this started out as a way to feed my own hobbies. I really loved sewing cloth diapers for my own children but I soon realized I had my very own fabric shop in my basement! So I quickly turned the hobby into a business, otherwise I couldn't justify my fabric spending habits I've now grown enough to say that I have a full fledged business on my hands.

Why do you like selling on Etsy?
-I really enjoy selling on Etsy because of it's built in search engines, I don't have to program/design my own website and there is such a great online community that really supports people working from home.

How long have you been sewing, knitting, crocheting, etc.?
-Yikes, I've been crafting for almost my whole life. My own Baba taught me to knit, crochet and sew when I was a kid, probably around 10 or 11 years old. Can you believe I still have her old sewing machine in my garage?

What is your favorite thing to make at the moment?
-It is a tie between my ooga booga cloth wipes (with bamboo velour and bamboo fleece) and my one size pocket diapers.

Who is your inspiration?
-My children are my inspiration. I love to make them things hoping that they will inherit my love for crafting when they get bigger.

Why is cloth diapering important to you?
-Honestly I got into cloth diapering in order to reduce our monthly budget. At the time I had one in diapers and one on the way. (With two older children) Fast forward 2 years and I still have one in diapers and another on the way!

What is the kind of diaper you like the best at home?
It's a toss up between my pocket diaper and the AIO diaper. The pocket diaper is great for nighttime use because I can stuff it to meet my son's needs so he can wake up without a leak. During the daytime I like to use the AIO diaper because it is so trim and his pants will stay up!

What is your favorite cloth diapering memory?
-When my husband tried to change my daughter for the first time after she had a BM. The look on his face was priceless. "I have to do what with the diaper?" (Meaning he had to rinse it off first before putting it in the pail) Now, he can do it without batting an eyelash!

Thanks Samantha! Just one more question...
Where can we find you?
- You can find me at:
www.northernmom.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/northernmom

Treasury Tuesday - Cloth Diaper Starter Kit

Everything you need to start cloth diapering in blues and greens. (Baby not included!)

'Cloth Diaper Starter Kit - Blues & Greens' by ZanyZebraDesigns

Everything you need to start cloth diapering, in blues, greens and blacks.

CLEARANCE Small Scribbles Si... TheCraftEGalDi... $16.20	X-Large Sweet Bobbins Hangin... SweetBobbins $34.99	Diaper Pail Liner For Cloth ... Kellylulu $15.50
Space Invaders - Toddler AI2... HoldensLanding $34.00	Medium Fitted Cloth Diaper -... ZanyZebraDesig... $24.00	Small World Tree Wool Short... katidids $32.00
MEDIUM jar - GINGER LIME Ess... WeeEssentials $7.00	Trimsies Trainer pattern - C... SewMeAGarden $8.00	Blue Brown Swirls Very Baby ... monkeytoediape... $20.50
Cloth Diaper / Baby Burp Clo... EnchantedDande... $6.75	Double Sided Cloth Wipes--Se... ClothDiaperClu... $6.50	Neon Green Daisies AIO Cloth... honeybunscloth... $20.00
Pocket Diaper Small Celery F... SwaddleinCloth $13.95	Striped blue and green short... Payley $40.00	Upcycled Wool Longies Soaker... Myecobaby $23.00
handsewnbyme 1 Fitted Cloth ... handsewnbyme $10.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Polka Dot Blues...

Here is the last January theme treasury....next month ROCKSTAR REDS...

'Polka Dot Blues' by mycutegenes

This is a treasury for the Etsy Cloth Diaper Team (www.etsyclothdiapers.com), featuring blue and/or polka dots.

You Choose -- Set of THREE P... Anktangle $21.00	Newborn Wool Soaker, Diaper ... BrightRoseCrea... $22.00
Cotton velour cloth diaper, ... bundlesofjoy $18.00	Double Sided Cloth Wipes--Se... ClothDiaperClu... $6.50
Polka Dotted Waterproof Wet ... SewStylishBout... $17.95	Turquoise Blue fuzzy Minky D... honeybunscloth... $20.00
Wool Longies - "Faded P... BabySnickerdoo... $12.50	Flannel Cloth Diaper Wipes f... IntrovertCreat... $10.00
Aqua Ooga Booga Very Baby Ne... monkeytoediape... $13.50	MEDIUM jar - My BABY LOVE Sh... WeeEssentials $7.00
X-Large Hanging Wet Bag for ... Kellylulu $23.00	Dots on Brown One Size Pocke... 3monkeysclothd... $16.00
On Target Medium size Fit... TigerTooshies $22.00	Baby Leg Warmers - Polka Dot... BriannaBeansBo... $10.00
Cloth Diaper Medium All-in-2... LittleBoppers $23.50	Sharks - 11x14 Waterproof Zi... Rumpeez $14.95

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.