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The cloth diaper industry has changed so much in the past decade.  Now there are countless options for parents wanting an easy to use cloth diaper.  All in one diapers go on and off as easy as disposables and make cloth diapering a viable choice for many families.  Some options include:

Kushies Ultra all in one cloth diapers are popular and one of the more economical all in one cloth diaper options.  They feature a flannel interior and a waterproof exterior and come in a variety of prints.

Osocozy all in one diapers feature a soft gauze inner and a PUL outer and comes in white.

BumGenius all in one cloth diapers feature a waterproof exterior, a stay dry layer next to the baby and absorbent cotton material sandwiched between.  BumGenius has stretchy tabs similar to it’s disposable counterparts.  It comes in a good selection of colors.

Thirsties pocket all in one diapers have a waterproof exterior, a stay dry inner, an absorbent insert and a pocket where you can place another insert or prefold for increased absorbency.  It comes in a variety of colors.

Re-Uz’m Elite all in one cloth diapers come with knit PUL outer waterproof material and cotton terry and flannel inner.  They go on and off easy with Velcro-like material and come with white outer material.

Drybees Hybrid all in one cloth diapers feature a stay dry inner, a waterproof outer, cotton insert sewn inbetween, and a pocket where you can increase the absorbency.  You can get these in a variety of prints and colors.

Bumkins all in one cloth diapers feature a soft waterproof outer material and absorbent flannel on the interior.  They fasten with Velcro and come in white as well as a variety of bold and colorful prints.

The Sposoeasy comes in cotton and hemp variations.  Both feature a soft waterproof outer that comes in white and a variety of colors.  One has an absorbent hemp interior and the other has cotton.  Both styles fasten with snaps.

The Bumgenius Organic All in One cloth diaper comes with an organic cotton inner,  a waterproof exterior and stretchy tabs.  You can fasten the snaps on the front to make the diaper one size.  It comes in white as well as a variety of colors.

Whichever brand you choose you will find all in one diapers to be an excellent easy to use choice.  Some people use them exclusively and others choose to use them when out and about.   ThanksMama.com is a wonderful place to look around at the different brands of all in one cloth diapers. You can look at the pictures of the different diapers and read the descriptions and reviews from parents like you.

For many families cloth diapers are shadowed in vague visions of messy dunk and swirl sessions over the toilet and sharp pins too close to their precious new baby.  However this is one category of products that definitely deserves a second look and an updated vision.  Not only have cloth diapers come a long way since our parents used them but they offer easy, realistic solutions to many parenting challenges.

Challenge #1: Our babies will grow up to inherit this earth and we would like to live a life of less environmental impact.

The Real Diaper Association estimates that 27.4 billion disposable diapers are consumed in the USA every year with over 92% of these ending up in land fills.  They also state, “No one knows how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose but it is estimated to be about 250-500 years.”

These are big numbers that are easy for parents to gloss over especially when they typically see just one or two disposable diapers at a time.  Let’s make these numbers a bit more personal.  If your baby wears just six diapers each day to his third birthday, he will use 6,570 diapers.  Most babies use closer to nine diapers each day and figuring that usage to his third birthday is 9,855 diapers.    

Challenge #2: Money is tight and we need to cut costs from our daily routine.

Using the example above, the cost for 6,570 disposable diapers is $1,643 and the price tag on 9,855 disposable diapers is $2,464.  You can outfit your baby for life in cloth diapers for under $500 including all the neat accessories that make cloth diapering fun and easy.

Cloth diapers make great gift registry items so family and friends can help build your cloth diaper stash.  Cloth diapers can also be passed along to future siblings, cutting costs for years to come. 

Challenge #3: We want to protect our children from exposure to harmful chemicals.

The Real Diaper Association reports that disposable diapers may contain traces of Dioxin.  Dioxin has been banned in most countries and is listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals.  They also state that some disposable diapers “contain sodium polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer (SAP).  A similar substance had been used in super-absorbency tampons until the early 1980s when it was revealed that the material increased the risk of toxic shock syndrome.”

Cloth diapers offer parents a safe alternative to disposable diapers and potential exposure to unknown chemicals.

Challenge #4: We want the best for our baby but any parenting solution has to be quick, easy and cute. 

Cloth diapers come in a wide variety of styles to fit babies of all sizes and any parenting routine.  One particular style, pocket diapers, offers a stay-dry effect that virtually eliminates diaper rash.  Another style, fitted diapers, is constructed in an array of fabric choices offering adorable prints and luxurious options like organic bamboo velour.  With leak-proof gussets around the legs and stretchy Velcro tabs, today’s cloth diapers are just as easy to put on as disposable diapers and perform wonderfully at containing messes.  Then, instead of throwing them in the trash, cloth diapers simply go through the regular washer and dryer and are ready to be used again.

KristyDeGregory is the Web Editor/Publisher of Cloth Diaper News and created this site as a way to share information between the cloth diaper market and the families that use them.  Her adventure into cloth diapering started in 2005 with the birth of her son.

Take advantage of TEN CHANCES TO WIN FREE DIAPERS valued at $245.95 in the Super-Sized Giveaway over at Cloth Diaper Blog!!

This Giveaway is running for TWO WEEKS – from Friday, November 20, 2009 to December 4, 2009!

The Super-Sized Giveaway includes:

• one (1) Gro Baby Half Time Cloth Diaper Package
• one (1) box of Gro Baby Disposable Bio Soaker Liners
• one (1) box of Tiny Bubbles Cloth Diaper Detergent
• one (1) The Natural Baby Company Cloth Diaper Wet Bag
• one (1) Magic Stick Diaper Ointment

Get on over to Cloth Diaper Blog and get your entries in now!

If you haven’t already, get over to Cloth Diaper Blog for your chance to win FREE cloth diapers this week’s “FEED YOUR STASH” Giveaway! This week Diaper Junction is giving away one (1) Gro Baby One Size Cloth Diaper in the color of your choice, as well as (1) Package of Gro Baby Disposable Diaper Soaker Pads!

Each person can have up to THREE ENTRIES in this cloth diaper giveaway!

Black Friday is the traditional time for retailers to offer sales. This day after Thanksgiving shopping spree is a chance for retailers to finally make enough money to break even for the year and start seeing a profit (retail is a hard business, despite the rumors that we are all making a killing!). This year, the Black Friday cloth diapers sales are starting early.

Gro Baby biodegradable inserts are one example. These inserts are being offered by many retailers as a Buy One Get One deal this week in order to allow families to stock up before the holidays. Nothing says “Hello, Grandma!” like asking your mother in law to let you wash cloth diapers in her washer.

Other deals are being added early, including BumGenius Flip and Econobum sales at many retailers. Normally Bumgenius does not allow their retailers to discount any products, so this is a good chance to stock up. Although, you may want to read up on these diapers before you invest in a bunch. The reviews are decidely mixed. BumGenius is also allowing a rare sale on their all in one sized diapers. These diapers generally get very good reviews, except for their drying time (easily solved by turning them inside out before drying).

The moral of the story? Shop for diapers this season, you’ll find great deals all over the place.

Julie Renee Holland is the writer behind http://www.clothdiaperreviews.com and is the owner of Little for Now cloth diapers. She is secretly hoarding Gro Baby inserts to use as bibs for her teething baby.

Real Nappies Cloth Diapers Birth-to-Potty Pack Now Available in the USA

Portsmouth, NH – 9 November 2009 – New Zealand’s most popular reusable cloth diaper brand, Real Nappies, is now available in the United States at RealNappiesUSA.com, including Real Nappies’ flagship Birth-to-Potty Pack. The Real Nappies Birth-to-Potty Pack is the most comprehensive and affordable cloth diaper starter pack, containing all cloth diapering supplies that parents will need from the birth of their baby through to potty training.

With the Real Nappies Birth-to-Potty Pack, parents don’t need to be a cloth diaper expert to know what to buy, and they won’t need to buy more diapers as their baby grows. They get everything they need in a single economical box; more than 100 items including cloth diapers, diaper covers, diaper liners, diaper sanitizer, swim wrap and potty training pants.

The Real Nappies Birth-to-Potty Pack can save parents thousands of dollars compared to the cost of disposable diapers, and parents can use a single Birth-to-Potty Pack for two children concurrently, such as a newborn baby and a toddler, saving even more money.

Made from premium quality 100% natural ecologically-certified cotton, Real Nappies cloth diapers save the environment from tons of disposable diaper toxic landfill waste. Earlier this year, New Zealand’s Waitakere Hospital selected Real Nappies as the cloth diaper of choice for newborn babies in its maternity unit, a move it expects will prevent 80,000 disposable diapers going to landfill each year.

“Real Nappies cloth diapers are perfect for busy parents who want to do what’s right for the environment and their baby by using cloth diapers but don’t want mess and fuss,” said Liz Mole, founder of Real Nappies. “As a busy working mom of two young children, I know the pressure of daily demands and the need for convenience. Our Birth-to-Potty Pack is designed to make cloth diapers easy.”

Real Nappies cloth diapers fasten easily in exactly the same way as a disposable diaper and provide a slim, adjustable and leak-proof fit. Washing is easy too. They can be machine-washed and tumble-dried.

The Real Nappies Birth-to-Potty Pack Pack can now be purchased on-line at RealNappiesUSA.com.

About Real Nappies
Real Nappies cloth diapers were designed in New Zealand by founder Liz Mole who envisaged a modern fuss-free cloth diaper system that was convenient for parents, comfortable for babies, and cost much less than disposable diapers. Today, Real Nappies is already New Zealand’s most popular reusable diaper brand and is selected by hospitals and child care facilities. Real Nappies cloth diapers make it easier than ever to do what’s best for your baby, the environment and your pocketbook.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Lacy Gambee, (520) 404-4357, lacy@orcacommunications.com

Source: Real Nappies Press Release

I was so excited the day my younger daughter started crawling. She was so proud of herself, so happy to be mobile. With this new-found freedom, though, came the desire to crawl away during every diaper change. No matter how fast I was, how ready the diaper, she was  quicker than I was.  With my older daughter, the novelty of beating the diaper change eventually wore off.  While I waited (and still wait) for this to happen with my younger daughter, I found that snapping diapers were my best ally to combat my little streaker.

For many parents, using hook and loop diapers is a lifesaver. When my daughter was just flipping over, this worked well. I still use a lot of hook and loop diapers, but when my daughter is at her wiggliest, snaps are better. This probably doesn’t make sense, since it takes longer to put on snapping diapers. Here are my techniques:

Side Snapping Diapers: Side snapping diapers are great for putting on in odd positions. I am able to put them on when my daughter is standing. While she’s playing or otherwise engaged, I can slip it on from underneath, then snap the sides. Since I’m not doing anything in front, she’s not bothered. If a side snapping diaper is half on when your baby makes a run for it, it’s also possible to snap them while he or she crawls away.

Front Snapping Diapers: If you know what snap setting your baby wears on his or her front snapping diapers, try putting the diaper on with your child in your lap. To do this, I lay the diaper on my lap, then plop my daughter right in the center. Since I know what snap setting she wears, I’m able to hug her and fasten the diaper while she sits. It’s harder for her to get away when she’s on my lap, and I am fairly quick when I don’t have to fiddle with the snap settings.

What are your tips for diapering a crawler?

Michelle is a mom to 2 wonderful little girls (one still in cloth diapers) and owner of Snooty Booty Diapers.

Baby BeeHinds USA is celebrating the arrival of their new Bamboo One-Size Fitteds in colors with a giveaway here on Cloth Diaper News.

USA distributor, Selena Volodzskis of Eco Brands and Global Enfant, has worked hard to keep the beloved Baby BeeHinds brand and these fabulous colors available to the US market.  Baby BeeHinds started in Australia and had a strong US following.  However at the end of 2008 the USA distributor at the time sold her business and that left the North American market without a distributor.   Baby BeeHinds Australia also decided to discontinue production of colors in the Bamboo One-Size Fitteds and the Wool Wrap Cover.  Selena stepped in to keep Baby BeeHinds in the US and give North American customers the colors that they wanted,

“We love Baby BeeHinds as much as our customers do, and so my husband/business partner and I decided we needed to do what we could to keep Baby BeeHinds available for the US customers and retailers… We have reached an agreement to bring back the colored bamboo and colored wool exclusively for the North American market, as they have been wildly popular.”

Baby BeeHinds USA’s Bamboo One-Size Fitteds in colors come with two snap-in inserts; one short and one long.  This allows for quick and completely customizable absorbency.  They are made from 60% bamboo, 30% certified organic cotton and 10% polyester.

The Baby BeeHinds USA product line also includes: Hemp One-Size Fitteds, Minkee Magic Alls Pocket All-In-Ones, Smooth Magic Alls All-In-Ones, PUL Wrap Covers, Wool Wrap Covers, Inserts/Doublers, and Wetbags.  To learn more about Baby BeeHinds USA products please visit the Baby BeeHinds USA website.

Baby BeeHinds USA Giveaway Details

Prizes: Three lucky winners will each win a Baby BeeHinds USA package including: one Bamboo One-Size Fitted and one PUL Wrap Cover.

To Participate: Please visit the new and improved Baby BeeHinds USA website and decide which Bamboo One-Size Fitteds color is your favorite and what color you would like to see in the future.  Also, please head on over to Twitter and follow Baby BeeHinds USA @BabyBeeHinds.  Then leave a Comment to this article letting us know: 1. what color is your favorite, 2. what color you’d like to see and 3. that you’re following @BabyBeeHinds.

Rules: Comments will serve as entries to the contest and each person is only eligible to enter once.  In the event that you do not have a Twitter account, please include answers to 1. and 2. above in your entry.  The winner will be chosen after 6pm on November 22, 2009 using the random number generator on Random.org and we will then contact the winners for their mailing address.  The prizes will ship within five business days of winner selection and returned contact information.  In the event that one of the winners cannot be reached, an alternate will be selected using the random number generator.  By entering this contest you agree to allow Cloth Diaper News and Baby BeeHinds USA to use your first name in further press about this contest.  You must be 18 years of age or older and have a mailing address within the continental United States.

Like many parents, I didn’t start cloth diapering right away. When I finally did  take the plunge I wanted the diapers to be as “easy” as disposables. Basically this meant that I wanted  stay-dry inners, Velcro closures, or easy front-snapping diapers.  After endless reading, I decided to try some all-in-ones  and pockets. I loved cloth diapering and was soon hooked.

A couple of months later, I had a stash of pockets and all-in-ones that I loved. Prefolds seemed too hard and too old-fashioned. They were the opposite of the “advances” that wowed people with my modern stash.  After a while, though, I was bored and ready to try something new.  A few prefolds and a cover seemed like a low-cost investment. I  reasoned that if  I didn’t like them, I  could use the prefolds as inserts or burp cloths.

After prepping and trifolding,  I put the diaper on my daughter. A few changes in, and I was hooked again. I found that while prefolds are not like disposables in fit and style, they can be just as easy to use. I find that I love prefolds because:

• Different folds give prefolds different fits, so it’s easy to customize where your baby needs absorbency.
• Most prefolds are inexpensive, so they are a great diaper to make up the bulk of your stash.
• Trifolding in a cover is not much different than using an all-in-one, so it’s easy for daycares and babysitters (using a different cover with each change means you can preload and keep it simpler for them).
• Prefolds have no elastic to worry about, so they are durable and easily last through multiple children.
• Natural fibers are a lifesaver for some children with synthetic sensitivities.
• It’s harder to “ruin” prefolds with the  wrong diaper cream than pockets or all-in-ones, and prefolds tend not to get repelling problems.

A lot of times when people are making the switch to cloth diapers, they say they want to try different kinds, but they “don’t want prefolds.” Having been one of those people,  I understand their reservations. Since  crossing to the other side, I would encourage them to give prefolds a try somewhere in their cloth diapering journey. They may also fall in love with them!

Michelle is a mom to 2 wonderful little girls (one still in cloth diapers) and owner of Snooty Booty Diapers.

Welcome back Great Cloth Diaper Hunt Hunters!!  Here is your first hint:

Great Cloth Diaper Hunt Hint #1: How easy is it to submit an article or contribute to Cloth Diaper News?  Please note, you do NOT have to register to hunt for the icon.  Registration is only for those who are ready to submit an article.

If you’re not familiar with the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt check out this Great Cloth Diaper Hunt article.  The Hunt is a great way to learn about fun businesses related to cloth diapering and raising kiddos.  To participate, please visit Diaper Decisions for more information.