Crafting the Greenest Nursery Around (Part Dos)

You’re halfway to creating the most perfect, greenest nursery for your soon-arriving family member. Make sure you don’t skimp on these last few details!

Flooring

Given the carpet in your new baby’s nursery is not alive with mold, you are probably good to go after implementing a green carpet cleaning system.  If new flooring is mandatory, your best choice is likely an eco-friendly hardwood floor. Your nursery new hardwood floors should be FSC-certified. Another option is bamboo or cork flooring.  Bamboo and cork are both sustainably grown and harvested. Prior to installation, make sure you inquire about the finish and the presence of formaldehyde. Finishes should be water-based plyurethane, drying oil or hardwax oil.

Toys 

Y’know those vibrantly colored toys your child just cannot resist when you pop into your friendly neighborhood toy store? Well, chances are they are made of plastic. Plastic is a leading contributor when it comes to indoor pollution. If you don’t believe me, just take a whiff of that lingering “new toy smell.”

Soft plastic toys, like the good ol’ rubber ducky and teethers are especially disconcerting. Many toy manufacturers still chock their products full of phthalates to make the plastic soft and flexible. Phthalate is one of the more toxic plastics and is not even on speaking terms with the environment (hint, they’re not friends). In case you’ve never been around a baby, they put everything in their mouths, so those oh-so-soft plastic toys are probably not such a good idea.

Your new baby’s toy box should be packed with clean, non-toxic wood (the key is natural finish oil) and organic fabric toys.

Cleaners

Now that you’ve put in all that work greenifying your baby’s new safe haven, don’t go gumming it all up by using toxic cleaning products (please)! Natural, chemical-less cleaners are in high supply these days and they work every bit as well as many of leading conventional cleaning products. Ecover, Seventh Generation, and Method (among others) are available at most grocery stores, not just the all-natural ones.  Or, if you want to save money and ensure that you know every single ingredient that is going into your cleaning products, you can check out Pinterest for some great ideas for making your own eco-friendly cleaning products (psst… Smart Bottoms has a Pinterest).

Bath and Body Care Products

Skin is the body’s largest organ. This means that everything we put on our skin is almost immediately absorbed into our tissues and organs. Therefore, it is oh-so-important that you make sure that the bath and body care products you are lathering on your baby’s skin are made with wholesome, organic ingredients. Make sure you stay clear of parabens and phalates. Burt’s Bees Baby Shampoo & Wash is a pure, yummy-smelling option.

So, there you have it! You’ve successfully constructed a safe, green haven for your new baby! Is there anything we missed? If so, we’d love to hear from our readers if they have any tips or suggestions!

Crafting the Greenest Nursery Around

 

You’re excitedly anticipating the birth of your new baby (and you’re already all stocked up on Smart Bottoms diapers and accessories). Your nesting instincts are at their max and you’re primed to begin laying the plans for the chicest, most adorable nursery your friends have ever seen. And while creating a nursery fit for your hip little one is fun and sure to bring out your inner interior designer, it’s not all pinks, blues, rainbows, and giggles. Your little one is going to spend the majority of his or her time in this room (16-17 hours each day) and if you aren’t careful, you could be creating a hot-bed (err, crib) of chemicals and toxins.

The thing about implementing a green design in your baby’s nursery is that you are doing your best to reduce your child’s exposure to harmful toxins and chemicals… not so you can have brag to your friends about being the most conscience parent around (you can still do that, but your friends probably won’t appreciate it). Everything you” greenify” could make a difference in the health of you and your kiddo… that’s the real point.

Paint

This one’s a biggie. Paint is the primary means by which new parents can transform their bland office into the baby space of their dreams. We already know that traditional paints cause indoor air pollutants that make it unsafe for expectant mamas to be involved in the painting process. The thing that many of us may not know is that this air pollution can last past your due date. There are high levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in paint. Here are some eco-friendly alternatives:

1. VOC-free (or no-VOC) paint. These paints contain five grams or less of VOCs per liter of paint. Some brands to look out for are Eco Organic Paints, Safe Paint, and American Pride.
2. Low-VOC paint. In these paints, water, rather than petroleum-based solvents, is used as a carrier, strongly reducing harmful emissions. The heavy metal and formaldehyde content in these paints is little to none. Sherwin-Williams GreenSure line and AFM are brands worth checking out.
3. Natural paint. These paints are derived from natural substances (think balsam and citrus… yum!), water-based, virtually scentless, petroleum-free, and low in VOCs. What’s not to love?
4. Milk paint. These paints are made with milk protein and colored with lime or clay. They come in powder-for and are mixed with water at home.

Crib

Your baby is going to be spending a lot of time here, so it’s particularly essential to create a clean, healthy environment where your child can safely slumber. Here are a few key elements:

1. The crib itself. Acquiring a pre-owned crib is not only thrifty; it’s also your greenest option. Used baby furniture has already off-gassed much of its toxins and you’re ensuring that it won’t make its way into a landfill. Stay clear of furniture painted with lead-based paints and make sure that it’s up to snuff as far as safety requirements are concerned (http://1.usa.gov/lzT1E5).
2. The mattress.  Eco mattresses are chemical-free, waterproof, fireproof, and filled to the brim with organic cotton and wool. While it’s important that adult and children alike consider green bedding, it’s more significant when dealing with an infant, as they spend the majority of their day in close contact with it. Check out Pixel Organics and Naturepedic.
3. The bedding. Your baby’s skin is highly sensitive, so his or her sheets should be made of organic cotton or toxin-free bamboo, ensuring they are free of pesticides, bleach, and dye. Do not fret, organic crib sets come in a variety of colors and prints. As far as blankets are concerned, look for organic wool, which is free of detergents, dyes, and substances that could irritate your baby’s sensitive skin. Nui Organics is a brand to check out.

What about your guys… any tips for decking out a green nursery? Trusted brands? Nursery no-nos? We’d love to hear from you! Check back later this week for more green nursery tips (floors, toys, and cleaners, oh my!).

Smart One 3.0 Review by Kim

Recently, we received a lovely review from one of our new users! She had so many great things to say about Smart Bottoms that we just had to share it with you! 

Hello. I am writing to tell you how incredibly fantastic your diapers are. I normally use prefolds. I just recently came across your diaper at our local cloth diaper store, Itsy Bitsy Bums.  She told me that your diapers have the softest cotton she has ever felt. I opened the diaper and it was like opening a present on Christmas morning. The inside of this yummy yummy squishy perfect diaper is the softest I have ever felt.
I do have a funny story for you: after prepping the diaper I went out with my husband to run errands. Now running errands with my husband is usually a very long full-day event. Well as the time ticked by I was never at a location should change the diaper. When we finally arrived at my daughter’s holiday party I changed the baby’s diaper and would you believe it was just damp. After three hours the diaper was not even completely saturated. My son is one year old and a very heavy weather. I absolutely could not believe it.

I cannot say enough good things about your diaper they are absolutely hands-down one of my favorites. The fit around the waist and the legs is bar none the best in the industry. I have even sung their praises on a cloth diaper forum. Plus I have told every single person that might have a baby, has a baby, or knows someone who has a baby how wonderful your diapers are. Please continue to come out with cute prints and word will spread and soon you’ll be worldwide

Thank you so much for making such a superior product.

Here are two pictures of Miller in your fabulous diaper.

We’d love to hear what more of you wonderful Smart Bottoms devotees have to say! If you can find the time in your busy day of baby-chasing, why don’t you shoot us an email with your review (allie@smartbottoms.com). And who knows, like Kim, we may feature you on our blog!

The Guide to Cloth Diaper Laundering: Washing & Drying

So now that you know how to store your dirty diapers in anticipation of laundry… it’s time to discuss that fateful day (just look at the picture above; see how fun cloth diaper laundering is?). As said before, you should wash your diapers 5-6 times, drying at the highest setting before first use. After your baby’s soiled his or her first cloth diaper you will be ready for the real fun (ha).

Washing:

Diapers should be able to be transferred directly from your diaper pail to the washing machine (I’m guessing most parents are fans of this no-hands approach to poopy-diaper-transfer). Make sure your washer is never more than half-way full of diapers per wash cycle.

Do a quick rinse of your diapers in cold water, without detergent. Following this, add the detergent. We STRONGLY encourage you to use detergent specifically made for cloth diapers. However, if you decide to use a detergent non-specific to cloth diapers, be sure to use no more than half of the recommended amount. Cloth-diaper-specific or not, don’t ever overdo it on the detergent. It won’t make your diapers “more clean;” it will simply lead to a bad case of build-up over time. We believe that you can’t go wrong with Rockin’ Green Cloth Diaper Detergent (sold here on our website: http://bit.ly/VtkvSdhttp://bit.ly/VtkvSd), but there are plenty of great diaper-safe detergents on the market. Avoid detergents containing dyes, whiteners, or fragrances. It goes without saying that babies have sensitive skin, but many babies also harbor aggressive allergies that they may or may not carry into adulthood. Coconut and citrus are two to watch out for.

Always wash your diapers on hot. If you’re noticing a little odor issue, 2-3 drops of Tea Tree Oil (but no more!) may be all that stands between you and Fresh-Smelling-Diaper-Bliss. You may want to follow-up the “detergent cycle” with another rinse in hot water. As I’m sure you’re well aware, HOT = GERM-FREE. Plus, a final rinse helps reduce the incidence of detergent build-up.

Drying:

There is some debate over the best way to dry your diapers. Some people will tell you to NEVER use a dryer… others use them every time. We recommend that you air-dry covers as much as possible, using a drying rack.  This simply makes the covers last longer, making sure you get your money’s worth! All of our other products are able to be both washed and dried together. Our Smart One 3.0 is one of the only All-in-One diapers on the market that is easily dried in ONE CYCLE on hot. While some may choose to ALWAYS air-dry, we don’t want to shortchange the sanitizing power of a hot dryer! However, choosing an air-dry policy will cut your electricity usage by around 50-60%… so there are pros and cons to both sides of the Diaper Drying Debate (that alliteration was just handed to me). If you air-dry, you can avoid stiff diapers by putting them out in the early morning or late afternoon when they will not dry too quickly.

A few more washer/dryer suggestions:

1. Always fill your washer with the max amount of water your washer will hold.
2. Don’t wash your dirty diapers with other clothing (come on, guys… this should be a given).
3. Don’t use chlorine bleach on your diapers (like, ever).
4. Don’t use diaper creams with zinc or petroleum. This may lead to “diaper ruination,” which is really sad.
5. Don’t have TOO MUCH fun washing and drying your cloth diapers. I mean, laundry day was fun to begin with… and now it just got that much better. (But seriously, cloth diaper laundering is really easy.)

Til’ next time! Any washing/drying tips for your fellow cloth-diaperers? We’d love to hear them!

The Guide to Cloth Diaper Laundering: Diaper Storage

Your brand-spankin’-new [Smart Bottoms] cloth diapers have arrived. You’re so excited to not only to START USING THEM, but you feel pretty special that you’re part of this momentous cloth diaper movement. The temptation is to immediately grab the nearest baby and start CLOTH DIAPERING, but there’s a few things you need to know first: how to launder these little bundles of joy (yes, I’m talking about the diapers).

It’s true that washing instructions for cloth diapers are simpler than the once believed… but they are important none-the-less. And so we’ve put together this series of blog entries to draw your attention to some need-to-knows when it comes to cloth diaper laundering.

First off, before you can use your diapers, you need wash them several times and dried on the hottest setting your machine has before they are able to take all that your baby is going to throw at them. Smart Bottoms are usable after 5-6 washes and reach maximum absorbency after 8 washes.

When it comes to wet/soiled diaper storage, make sure you start with a good 13-gallon diaper pail (or trash can). And don’t forget the reusable diaper pail liner (http://bit.ly/UQA8CM)!

There are 2 basic diaper storage “methods”: the Wet Pail Method and the Dry Pail Method.

1. In the WPM, cloth diapers are placed in a diaper pail filled with water (and often baking soda). This is thought to prevent stains from settling into the diapers. On wash day, you can drain the water in your bathtub or toilet and throw the diapers into the wash. This method has become steadily less popular because of the odor issues that arise from s’messy diapers sitting around day-after-day in stagnant water. Plus, having a pail full of poopy water has the potential to add a lot of messiness to wash day. Also, AIOs and diaper covers generally require a dry pail, so this just adds another inconvenient step.
2. So, here we come to the DPM in which wet and soiled diapers are simply placed within a covered (or uncovered) pail with no pre-soaking. You can control odors by sprinkling baking soda on your diapers or by placing a deodorant disc at the bottom of the pail.

For further odor control (and to make wash day easier on yourself), makes sure you shake all solid waste into the toilet before putting your diapers in the pail. Many cloth diaper users swear by diaper sprayers for this process; others merely use a designated spatula. Make sure you wash somewhat frequently (about every 3 or 4 days) and that you don’t place your pail in the sun or near a heater (that’s the best way to stink up your entire house if you’re into that).

Make sure you come back later this week for more tips on cloth diaper laundering!

When It Comes to Your Baby’s Bottom, Make the Smart Choice!

Sooo, we’ve talked about this: when it comes to the ever-growing cloth diaper market, you’ve got your choices (and plenty of ‘em).  And when you combine this economic-crisis-friendly trend with everyone’s new determination to be more “green,” diaper companies are getting the message: today’s moms don’t just want cloth diapers; they want organic cloth diapers. We’ve heard them loud and clear. So, as all-natural mommies (new or merely new to cloth diapering) search for the perfect diaper, your diaper selection becomes smaller, but only slightly. What is a girl to do? Well, some choose to go the route of the old-fashioned pre-fold (check out our Smartfold: http://bitly.com/SoW9qn). However, most busy parents are looking for a diaper that goes the extra-mile, feature-wise. The answer is simple: choose Smart Bottoms’ Smart One 3.0 (http://bitly.com/UuI3nt)! “But why??” you ask. Here’s why:

1. Our diapers are made of high-quality, 100% organic cotton. Generally, cotton is the most heavily-sprayed crop in the U.S. That’s why choosing a diaper that’s made with all-organic cotton is so important to ensure that your baby is not exposed to pesticide residue. The natural fibers found in our diapers will greatly reduce, if not eliminate diaper rashes. Studies have also shown that natural-fiber diapers promote early potty training as they do not give your baby a “false sense of dryness.”
2. Our products are locally sourced, made right here in the U.S. of A. We don’t have to tell you that our nation is going through an economic crisis, with hundreds of thousands of people out of work. Small businesses are at risk. Additionally, farmers all over our country are struggling as mega-companies spit out more and more heavily processed and genetically-enhanced products at cheap costs (and quality).
3. It doesn’t take an eternity to dry our diapers. Our unique diaper design allows for quick dry-time: most machines will dry in one cycle on warm!
4. The Smart One 3.0 has not three, but FOUR rises, ensuring that our diaper will fit all babies between 8 and 35 pounds, regardless of body type.
5. We know that when it comes to bladder-size, all babies are NOT created equal. With this in mind, the Smart One includes a customizable attached insert that can be folded to maximize absorbency where your baby needs it the most.
6. Cloth diapering is not just a trend, as far as we’re concerned. Cloth diapering, and doing it in the most healthy way possible is something of a passion to us. As a small business, we are able to oversee every detail and nuance when it comes tomanufacturing our diapers!

We’ve drawn up a comparison chart highlighting our most popular diaper, The Smart One 3.0. See how it stacks up against the leading all-organic AIO diaper.

 

Celebrities and Cloth

As I am sure you are well aware… we are in the midst of a CLOTH DIAPER MOVEMENT. No longer the messy pre-folds of the generations of the past, cloth diapers have become less and less of a minority diaper choice over the past few years. And as they are sure to never miss a trend, many celebrities are hopping on the cloth diaper bandwagon. We’ve compiled a list of some of your favorite stars who are also your fellow cloth diaper users.

Maggie Gyllenhaal (her famous brother, Jake, mentions them here:  http://bit.ly/ccr6FF)

Tori Spelling (she talks about it in this video: http://bit.ly/SSfmPI)

Brad & Kimberly Williams-Paisley

Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick (they did it with twins!)

Mariska Hargitay (she posed with her cloth-diapered son in a Got Milk? ad)

Halle Berry

Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck

Heidi Klum

Miranda Kerr & Orlando Bloom

 

How to Be a Cloth Diaper Evangelist (and Still Have Friends)

Among disposable diaper users, diaper choice is not something to get overly opinionated about. Frankly, one Pampers-using mommy is not going to get all in a tizzy because her friend uses Huggies. But for moms who use and love cloth, diapers are more than merely something to catch poop. Not only are cloth diapers a greener and healthier option for your family (not to mention a beloved fashion statement for your little one) but they are also a way of life… a way for a mom to enter a world of insider’s knowledge and expertise. And with these truths in mind, you might find yourself wanting to raise awareness about cloth diapers.

However, despite recent advances in the cloth diaper industry and your own enthusiasm for your little contribution to planet-saving, some moms are not so easily convinced. To most moms, diapers are synonymous with disposable-ness; to go from a world in which diapers are something to use once and then throw away to a whole new world in which diapers are cherished, reused, saved, and finally resold is equivalent to a major culture-shock. So if you’re one of those moms who are constantly talks about your adventures in the land of cloth and poop, you might not only be driving all your friends away from you, but also from cloth diapering itself. Other moms may even feel a little bit offended if they feel you’re insinuating they are less of a parent for disposable diapering their baby.

But it is possible to become a cloth diaper evangelist without losing all your friends. If you play your cards right, you may even convert a few. And then you’ll actually have somebody with whom to discuss your diaper fanaticism. And even better, you’ll be able to tally a few points towards your personal planet-saving contribution.

Here’s how to introduce a friend to cloth diapers without scaring her away (or off the deep end):

1. Start when she’s preggers. Once a mom has begun a diapering regimen that includes disposables, it’s harder to make the switch to cloth. However, if your friend is pregnant with her firstborn, then she’s probably still in the process of weighing her diapering options. She’ll be much more open to hearing your perspective because, come on, you’ve already done this whole mom thing.

2. Show off the stash. Seriously, it will be hard for her to say no when she gets an eyeful of our latest 3.0 Smart Ones Diaper. For many new parents, when they think of cloth diapers, they think of cumbersome safety pins, rubber pants, and un-cute pre-folds. Seeing how convenient and trim today’s cloth diapers are–not to mention adorable–may help your best friend rethink her resistance to reusable diapers.

3. Talk about it (but don’t go overboard). If you are CONSTANTLY heaping praise upon praise on the Mighty Cloth Diaper, chances are your friends will quickly get tired of the topic and tune you out; but occasionally mentioning the benefits of cloth–especially if your friend is struggling with some of the downsides of disposables—will be far more interesting and enticing.

4. Offer to let her borrow some of your diapers. Of course you should never push your diapers on a friend who’s not interested in giving them a spin! But if your friend seems intrigued but tentative concerning cloth diapers, lending her a few from your stash may be just what she needs to lead to her conversion.

4. Share your vast knowledge. If your friend is considering buying some cloth diapers of her own, then your knowledge will be an enormous asset and valued resource. Tell her where you bought your diapers, the types you like best and why, and the wash and care instructions. Give her some insight into the lingo of cloth diapering so she is able to research on her own.

5. Respect her point-of-view and decision.  This is VERY important. If your friend decides to stick with Pampers and her Huggies, don’t make her feel like a horrible person. She has every right to make the decisions that are best for her family—just like you do. Diapering decisions should never be the cause for a rift among friends!

Have any of your converted a friend or two to cloth? We’d love to hear about your experience or any tips you have to add! Happy diapering!

Daycare Diaper Dilemma?

 

So you’ve decided to cloth diaper your baby (good for you!) and your husband and both sets of grandparents are on board (what a relief!) But now you are faced with a new challenge… as you make the necessary preparations for returning to work, you begin to peruse info on your local daycares. And much to your surprise (and chagrin), many daycares are NOT cloth-diaper-friendly! How can this be? Didn’t we just determine that modern cloth diapers are the next frontier in babywear?

Well, believe it or not, many daycare/daycare workers still are under the impression that cloth diapers are messy and hard-to-use. And luckily for them, you are here to help them come to the realization that this stereotype couldn’t be more false.

It’s true that the Real Diaper Association has compiled a list of many providers who already use cloth diapers, or are willing to do so (http://bit.ly/aoZsyh); but don’t you want to share the sweet gospel of cloth diapers and open the eyes of those naysayers who have not seen the light? Don’t you want to live in a world where all daycares welcome cloth diapering parents with open arms? That’s what I thought.

Here are a few simple tips to make daycare-cloth-diapering a not-so-scary reality for your caregiver (and you!):

• All-In-Ones (especially Smart Bottoms’ new Smart One 3.0!) are the least intimidating because they don’t require multiple steps.
• Flushable liners may be something to think about. This is something to discuss with your caregiver beforehand to make sure they are onboard. It does add one more step for the caregiver, but it can potentially make cleanup a wee bit easier and you won’t have to open your wet bag to half-day-old poo that evening.
• Probably the most important and effective method of persuasion is physically showing the diaper to the caregiver and perhaps performing a demonstration. Many people just hear “cloth diapering” and envision themselves up to their elbows in poop, but those fears are often significantly minimized when they see what the diaper and see how easy the procedure actually is.
• Please, please, please remind your caregivers not to use traditional diaper creams or powders on cloth diapers. Pack your own cloth diaper safe cream in the diaper bag. We recommend Bum Bum Balm (http://bit.ly/NXDBAK).
•  For an every other day wash cycle, you will probably want at least 10 cloth diapers just for day care. Daycare workers are typically required to change a baby’s diaper every 2 hours, so even if your baby is at daycare 10 hours a day, this allows for 5 diapers a day.
•  Don’t forget the cloth wipes (http://bit.ly/QDuLbX)!  When it comes to wipes, you have a couple options. You might want to keep a supply of pre-moistened cloth wipes at the ready for easy one-step use. You can store these wipes in plastic tubs used for disposable wipes. However, a plastic tub that fits easily into your diaper bag may not be large enough to store very many wipes because cloth wipes are significantly thicker than disposable. So you may want to just throw your cloth wipes in the diaper bag along with a spray bottle full of water. Sure it adds another step, but it allows for a larger quantity of wipes and you avoid the musty smell of cloth that has been sitting wet too long. You should provide your caregiver with at least 10 wipes each day.
• Some daycares may be willing to let you send along a diaper pail with a liner. However, a more compact option is a wet bag. Wet bags take up a bit less room in the diaper bag, and can be hung on a wall, out of the way. Plan to have two, so that you can take home the dirty diapers at the end of each day, and drop off a fresh bag each morning.  Make sure you check out our SUPER cute Smart Bags (http://bit.ly/QDtLVh)!

Have you introduced any of your care providers to cloth? What worked and what didn’t? Any tips you might add?

Cloth Diapering 101

 

Cloth diapering has come a long way. Only a few years ago, cloth diapers were something our parents wore in baby-hood and perhaps something only the most health-concious and/or cheap mamas used on their children. Today’s lifestyle of convenience called for what many of this generation considered to be a necessity: disposable diapers.

However, since recent awareness on the harmful chemicals in disposable diapers has risen, many “average” parents are taking notice and attempting to find safer options for their precious little ones. And parents everywhere are rejoicing as with the recent demand for healthy diapering options a crop of user-friendly cloth diapers have become available to the masses. So what are reasons for cloth diapering your child?

1. It’s less wasteful. For one, disposable diapers account for much of the trash taking over the nation’s landfills. Secondly, they present serious risks to the environment and to people. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that about 20 billion disposable diapers are dumped in landfills every year This means the disposable diapers are responsible for more than 3.5 million tons of waste. The Good Human points out that disposable diaper manufacturers in the U.S. alone use 200, 000 trees a year and that 20 times more raw materials are used for making disposable diapers than cloth. Besides depleting natural resources, disposable diaper manufacturing utilizes non-renewable energy sources.
2. It’s significantly easier on the wallet. According to Eartheasy, parents can expect to shell out about $800 for cloth diapers and $1,600 for disposables a year. That amounts to roughly $30 a month for cloth diapers and $60 a month for disposables.
3. You avoid the harmful chemicals found in disposables. It’s disheartening to see all the scary chemicals that are going into the run-of-the-mill disposable diaper. Perhaps two of the scariest are chlorine (which produces dioxins) and sodium polycarbonate. Chlorine is added to diapers to bleach them white and the dioxins it releases not only fester in your baby’s diaper, but also leak into the environment. According to the World Health Organization, dioxins are linked with altered liver function and severe skin reactions, not to mention the dangers it presents to the immune, nervous, endocrine, reproductive systems. Interestingly enough, EPA considers dioxins as highly carcinogenic, one of the most toxic known to science. And yet somehow it makes its way into the diapers of millions of infants! Sodium polycarbonate is the absorbent filler in disposable diapers (you know, the icky, gooey yuck that sometimes leaks out of your baby’s diaper?). It’s linked with skin irritation and respiratory problems and due to its alliance with toxic shock syndrome, it was considered dangerous enough to be removed from tampons a couple decades ago. However, it’s still considered safe for babies (ha).
4. They’re just cuter (see below).

 

 

But a girl could go nuts when faced with the sheer number of brands and varieties of diapers a cloth-diapering mommy has to choose from. Messy and hard-to-use pre-folds are no longer the only cloth diapers available. While some moms may still opt to go the route of the system of pre-fold, clip, and cover… many brands (including Smart Bottoms) offer another choice, All-in-Ones, the answer to the busy mother’s prayers. The modernization of cloth diapers has brought us the wonderful gift of PUL. This is a soft fabric which is laminated with a thin layer of polyurethane to make it water-proof. Another element commonly seen in the modern cloth diaper is snaps (although Velcro is also an option).

And now the question on everyone’s minds: what do I do with the poop? It is a long-held myth that if you use disposables you will not have to deal with poop the way a cloth-diapering family does. But if you are a parent, you know this is not true. Regardless of your diaper choice, you’re going to get poop on you… it’s just one of those facts of life. Frankly, since cloth diapers actually contain messes more efficiently, you’re likely to deal with fewer poopy clothes. And did you know that many disposable diaper packages actually have directions on the side that instruct you to dump poop into the toilet before throwing the diaper away? This is because human waste is supposed to go to a water treatment facility, not into our landfills. Breastfed babies have water-soluble poop; therefore, you can just throw the diaper into the diaper pail, simple as that. When you start dealing with solids, you have a few options: flushable liners, diaper sprayers, or Diaper Duck. You might even go for the cheapest option: a spatula chosen for the occasion.

Washing is really quite simple:

1. Before using diapers for the first time, prep them by washing and drying them 3-6 times to remove natural waxes and make them nice and soft.
2. Put used diapers in a diaper pail lined with a washable liner. 
3. On laundry day, dump diapers into washing machine. You can wash the washable liner with your diapers or separately, whatever you prefer. Wash diapers on warm with no soap, and then do an extra heavy wash on hot with cloth diaper safe detergent.  Use plenty of water. Hang covers and pail liner to dry and throw diapers in the dryer on high heat. You’re done!
4. Remember: do NOT use bleach or fabric softener. If your diapers get stains, you can dry them in the sun or opt for additive-free oxygen bleach.

Other things not mentioned above that you will want as a cloth-diapering parent include, but are not limited to:

1. Wet bags (for storing used diapers when you’re out and about)
2. Cloth wipes (by using cloth wipes, you can save even more money and avoid more harmful chemicals)
3. Cloth diaper safe rash cream

Happy diapering!