The search for the perfect stash

I have been a believer that the perfect cloth diaper stash is something of an urban legend. There is just no such thing.

Companies continue to come out with better diapers, cuter prints and more ways to save on leaks while saving on moohlah.

I mentioned in the last post that I bought a Lil Joey. Add that to my 24ish BumGenius 4.0s, 4 Baby Bamboo AIO one size diapers, and a plethora of prefolds (no covers though). I think I also have something like 5 small Fuzzi Buns and a few Haute Pockets, too.

Right now, I only use the BG and BB on my older daughter (almost 2 yo). We wash about every 2-3 days (depending on how potty training is going for the days!). Because I am expecting daughter #2 in the next few months, I have the perfect excuse to add to my already-pretty-great stash.

And I want the Flips.

I need the covers for both the newborn prefolds AND to use over training pants for my older DD. To me, they seem just perfect! And I think by adding 8 or so of these to my stash, I will have the closest thing I can to the perfect diapers.

Until I see something brand new, brighter, and cuter.

Lil Joey

I caved.

I bought one of these Lil Joey diapers for newborns. They are the cutest, little diapers I have seen out there, and they are an AIO, so I am hoping they are very easy to use.

I only got one (though they typically come in packs of two) because they are so tiny that I know they probably won't last too long for my baby. My older DD was 8lbs 10 oz at birth, and LJ says these will go to about 12 lbs.

I can't wait to take pics of the little one in this teenie diaper though!

Check them out at http://www.everythingbirth.com/. Tell them Rachel Hall sent you:)

Traveling with cloth

How do you travel with cloth? Is it a problem?

So far, we haven't done a long trip using cloth. But for weekend trips, or for a few days at a time, I have enough diapers that I won't need to wash. I use my Planet Wise hanging wetbag to store the diapers in. It has a large wet bag pocket for the dirty dipes, and a large dry compartment to keep my wipes and clean diapers in:)

Since we have switched to cloth wipes, I find that storing the diapers/wipes on trips is much easier. I don't have to separate the wipes from the diapers when I get home (have you ever washed a disposable wipe? yuck!), and I know I am saving more moohlah by doing it!

What is your method?

Mission Accomplished!

With a big thanks to my mom, all of my diapers have new aplix and are ready to go!

We spent an afternoon together while she fixed the replaced the majority of the aplix on my BG 3.0s, and we have used them for about a week with HUGE success. My daughter no longer pulls her diapers off, and we no longer wake up without a diaper on her. And the best part is they seem sturdy enough to last YEARS.

So worth the cost!

When I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter, I began my research of cloth. As I have written about before, I chose the BG 3.0s. They are a one-size, so my daughter has worn them since she was an infant.

We bought the aplix (Velcro) diapers, which I absolutely love for fit. BUT after two years of HARSH diapering (and many diaper chains before I got the hang of the wash tabs and such), my aplix is a little worn out.

My daughter can take the dipes off with ease. Sometimes they fall off on their own (well, okay, with her funky dance moves!) if I don't have something covering them (pants, shorts or anything like this).

BUT.....

When I found out I was expecting another little girl, I wanted to make these dipes last. We paid $17.95 for most of them, and found some of them on craigslist used for about 10 bucks each. Because we received many of the dipes as baby gifts (start your registry at http://www.diaperparties.com/!) we only have several hundred dollars invested.

I contacted Cotton Babies - the maker of BG - about the worn tabs, simply asking if they sold a replacement for them. I must have reached the right person, because although they recently began selling a BG Replacement Kit for about a buck, they sent me 24 kits for free. Just for asking!

I am not an experienced seamstress, but my gracious inlaws recently blessed me with a brand new sewing machine. Tonight, I successfully replaced the tabs on one of the dipes, and immediately put it on my daughter! I know we won't have "leaks" tonight (can you call them leaks if her entire diaper is pulled off?).

The dipe is literally like new. It looks good, and the PUL is still in great shape!

So in addition to the thousands of bucks we have saved on sposies, we are saving ourselves from another stash of brand new diapers.
Now, if I could make myself stop looking at the cute new designs offered at Everything Birth!

Make your own detergent!

This week I learned how to make my own laundry detergent. It's easy, affordable and pretty good for the environment. Best of all- it's cloth diaper safe, but affordable to use on all my clothes.

Here is the recipe:

1 bar grated Kirk's Castile Soap (which is made with coconut oil, so it helps with yeast!)
1 cup Borax
1 cup Super Washing Soda

Mix it all up, and there you have it. Done.

The recipe says to use 2 tablespoons per load, but I will use slightly less for the diapers. Make sure to wash in hot hot hot water to get it all rinsed out!

Cloth wipes:)

I got a new sewing machine last week, and although I have never used a machine successfully before, I was able to figure out cloth wipes!

I have made only two so far, but I am really excited to get a bit stash!

All I did was take two pieces of flannel and sew them togethering using a zig zag stitch (I don't have a surger). They are totally cute, despite my lack of skills. And after all, they are to wipe my daughter's bum, so I figured they would be a great first project.

Can't wait to keep going! I don't think two wipes are nearly enough;)