We would like to introduce you to Crystal Di Domizio, this month’s contributor to our N&G Expert Panel. Crystal kindly took the time to answer a few questions regarding the introduction of solid foods into baby’s diet. We love her knowledgable and wholistic approach to making the transition from liquids to solids.
If you have additional tips or information you would like to share, please share in the comments section.
N&G: In the early months, what is the best way that a family can prepare a baby to begin to take solid foods?
Crystal: There is no special attention or advanced preparation needed to prepare your baby for solid food. Babies are unique so you’ll need to look to them for signs of readiness, rather than a date on the calendar!
The World Health Organization states that exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants (without any additional food or drink, not even water.) After 6 months they recommend breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond, along with the introduction of solid food.
N&G: What are the top three readiness signs that tell you your baby is ready to eat something other than breastmilk or formula?
Crystal: Babies become developmentally ready to eat solid foods around 6-8 months. Look for the following signs:
Baby can sit up well without support.
Baby is ready and willing to chew and doesn’t automatically push solid food out of his mouth with his tongue.
Baby picks up food or other objects between her thumb and forefinger and is eager to participate in mealtime and may even try to grab food and put it in her mouth.
N&G: Many families are seriously looking into the foods that they eat and provide for their children and I’m seeing a shift toward “whole food” nutrition. If parents would like to start their babies with whole foods, what are some good options to consider for first foods?
Crystal: I highly recommend beginning solid food introduction with real food, rather than processed cereals that are hard for baby to digest and devoid of natural nutrients. You’ll want to introduce new foods one at a time, continuing to feed that same food for at least 4 days before moving on to another so you are aware of any negative reactions.
Nutrient dense first foods, introduced between 6-8 months include:
*note from N&G: The introduction of solid foods will result more solid poops. One of the most effective tools we recommend for ‘poop management’ is BioSoft Flushable liners.
About Crystal Di Domizio: Crystal is a Vancouver based Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Prenatal Coach and Hypnobabies Childbirth Educator. She offers a comprehensive 6-week prenatal course that teaches women how to use self-hypnosis for an easier, more comfortable childbirth experience. When she’s not teaching you can find her blogging about her first pregnancy at www.prenatalcoach.com
Dear Customers, Friends & Supporters of New & Green,
Two Reasons That I'm Coming Home
It’s with joy, pride and a great feeling of possibility that I write this letter to you. On March 17th, 2012, (as luck would have it!), you’ll be continuing your journey with a new owner at New & Green Baby Co. I’d like to officially welcome Colleen Bezeau as the new owner of New & Green. Colleen is a mom who is passionate about the cause behind cloth diapers and ready to support New & Green customers with empathy, open arms and a boatload of knowledge to get you through whatever diapering situation you find yourself in. Colleen is a seasoned business-person and I’m thrilled to have her taking over the helm of New & Green to bring the company toward new horizons and build on the great community that we have solidified over the last five years.
New & Green Baby Co was a dream come true for me and in all rights has afforded me everything I intended. We have put cloth diapers on the radar as a true and real possibility for thousands of parents, touching more than 1000 parents locally at our Cloth Diaper Workshops. I have met more amazing people in customers, fans and colleagues than I could have imagined and have been inspired, challenged, encouraged and most definitely affected by each of you in a small or big way. And most important of all I have been able to be present for my family in a way that would not have been possible if not for this wonderful opportunity to create this company.
I am so grateful for the time I’ve been able to spend with New & Green and all of you, but as life often dictates, it’s time for a change. And for me, in the season of life I’m in, it means coming home to be with my family full-time.
For the parts each of you have played in my life, allowing me to fulfil my dream, to be a part of your lives and to learn all that I have, I thank you.
With the warmest memories of a wonderful five years, I wish you all the best.
Did you get lots of love last month from all the cupids in your life? I know I did, from extra “I love you to the moon and back’s” and “butterfly kisses”, I was soaking in the love from my little beauties. And did you read about the prefold love that our Parent Review Panel shared? If not, take a read; they all fell in love with prefolds and some were utterly surprised by the outcome!
This month on the blog, in the newsletter and on facebook we’ll be talking about spring cleaning (lots of laundry science and washing tips), you’ll be seeing the results of our latest Parent Review Panel on Facebook and be hearing from our next Expert on Feeding our Babies whole foods in our new Expert Series here on the blog.
Our March Cloth Diaper 101 Workshops in Burnaby, East Van and Downtown are already filling up. Spring is the time for babies to be born, so if you need to get your cloth diaper knowledge on the up and up, register sooner than later for your workshop seat.
We also have our next playdate at Gymboree North Van on March 20th. Watch our newsletter and/or facebook page for details on how to RSVP. Free for New & Green customers and subscribers.
Here’s to putting a spring in our step as we March into the month of green!
Last month, we asked our Parent Review Panel to get cozy with prefolds. Many people love prefolds, but many shy away from them perceiving them to be difficult, messy or slow to get on a fast moving baby. After hearing from our Parent Review Panel on Facebook and some of their responses and observations about prefolds, we hope that you now have a different view of these simple beauties!
What are prefolds you ask? Here is the short & sweet 411.
Prefolds are made from several layers of unbleached organic cotton twill. They are sewn into rectangles which have three panels – a thicker panel down the middle and thinner panels on the edges. They are flat so often folks want to know what’s up with the “pre-folded” name? Those panels, they are pre-folded for you into thinner and thicker sections. That’s the pre-folded part.
They are very versatile and to some this can be overwhelming – too many options can cause fear. We teach parents how to use prefolds at our Cloth Diaper Workshops Snappi them on or Fold & Lay. Simple, simple, simple. The Snappi Method requires a bit of practice at the outset but the fold and lay system is very easy and fast. To get a good visual of how it all works, check out our tutorial in our Video Learning Series.
Based on our experiences as parents and “Diaper Therapists”, these are some recommendations about prefolds:
Newborn prefolds are tiny. They don’t often Snappi on well as they are too small but they are great for keeping a trim bottom and fit perfectly under the newborn Super Brites. Once they are outgrown, they can be used as extra absorbency inside of infant or baby sized prefolds or if you want to upcycle them into another use all together, the owner at Bummis told us they make great pads for moms going the reusable menstrual pad route.
For younger babies with runny poop, parents often love Snappi’ing them on. These babies are often not yet mobile and are patient with parents as they get on their Snappi Groove.
For the ultimate in ease, the fold & lay method wins for older babies that have less runny poop and are on the go.
For younger babies we recommend having 3-4 covers per day, more with the fold & lay method, less with the Snappi method.
For older babies, we recommend having 2 covers per day.
It seems that everyone is decluttering, downsizing, simplifying. Why not try the same with your diapering collection. Start or boost your collection with prefolds – they are beautifully functional and wonderfully inexpensive.
We are continuing with our N&G Expert Panel and addressing an issue that is in the forefront of many new parent’s minds – SLEEP!
Jennifer Garden the founder of Sleepdreams, an unsurpassed team of professional sleep consultants. We highly value Jennifer’s expertise and asked her for advice to share with our New & Green families.
N&G: When working with parents to be, what are the top 3 things that you tell them to expect about their newborns’ sleep in the first few months?
Jennifer:
1. Go with the flow, it’s important to establish breastfeeding and so feed often and sleep when your baby sleeps.
2. Keep the temperature in a sleeping environment cool (research suggests between 18-19 degrees Celsius). In order for us to get to sleep our body temperature needs to drop slightly, a cool room will help with getting a baby to sleep.
3. Based on sensory information we know about how the body interprets information, one very good ‘trick’ to getting a baby into a crib drowsy is to put them bum down first and head down last (tipping them the other way alerts the brain and wakes them up!)
N&G: Often “newborn” families want to establish a rhythm in their day with respect to sleep. Do you have any tips about establishing a rhythm for babies in the first months?
Jennifer:
1. Help your baby get to know the difference between daytime and night time by keeping their environment quiet and dark at night (even when feeding) and stimulating (except at nap time) and bright during the day.
2. Language skills won’t come for some time (at 10 months they understand 20 – 30 words). A consistent routine before bed/naps will help children understand when bedtime is.
N&G: We get asked a lot about wet diapers interrupting a baby’s sleep. Can you help us understand if a baby will lose sleep over a wet diaper?
Jennifer: Sometimes babies interpret touch differently. Some children may excessively register a ‘wet’ sensation from a diaper and are always aware of the feeling of wetness against their skin, they are said to be hyper-sensitive to touch. Other children are hypo-sensitive to touch and do not register when their diaper is dirty or wet. If you have a baby who is very aware of a wet diaper they may be much happier if you change it frequently.
*Note from N&G – To decrease a wet feeling/sensation to a touch sensitive baby, you may want to consider using a diaper that has a stay dry interior or lay a stay-dry microfleece liner inside your natural fiber diapers at night.
About Jennifer Garden: Jennifer is a paediatric occupational therapist (OT) specializing in sleep for infants and children. Jennifer is a mother of twins and a university instructor who has presented at several national conferences on sleep and is actively involved with a sleep research team in Vancouver.
Our Parent Reviewers received 2 Bummis Prefold Cloth Diapers, a Snappi Diaper Fastener, a SuperBrite Diaper Cover and a dose of encouragement. After two weeks with prefolds in their daily diapering routine, here are some musings for you to consider.
Front line, real life experience, coming up!
Yes, I would recommend them for someone to try prefold especially when starting on a young baby and if cost is a concern
We did not have any leaks and love the gussets as it helps keep her leak proof even when our little one was on the move
Snappi: if it was used on a younger infant it would help contain explosions and would be much easier to secure
Absorbency was what we needed the most as our little one wets very heavily at the front of her diaper once we started using the prefold folded for maximum absorbency in the front and fanned out in the back like I showed in a previous post she seemed happier.
The Prefold folded easily and fit very well into the cover.
The Snappi super easy to use, the prefolds easy to fold and I still cant believe how well they hold poosplosions
Prefolds really cut down my laundering time. I feel like I am forever washing, stuffing, unstuffing and snapping my pocket diapers and this can get overwhelming with twins.
I’m happy to say our little one slept about 7.5 hrs straight last night in her prefold. {note from N&G – we love hearing that parents got a good night’s sleep with cloth diapers!}
Only other thing I would recommend is using a fleece liner for the stay-dry effect especially at nighttime (as well as cleaning up any poopy messes).
Some Awesome Tips that came out of this Review Panel:
One technique I use on the prefolds, which I find rather handy when diapering a squirmy mobile baby who requires more absorbency in the front than the back is to flare the back of the prefold out so more surface area is covered at the back. I find when I don’t do this and my little one squirms around during the diapering process and the back part of the prefold often will not end up going up the middle and will be off to one side. By flaring out the back of the prefold like in the photo even if it gets a bit shifted she still has coverage to catch any liquid or solids that make it to the back of the diaper.
Use the large bio-soft liners fitted to the back of the diaper with the edges of bio soft liner tucked under the edges of the prefold. I find by tucking it under and fitting it to the back it catches the most of any poo-explosions both before and now that they are more solid.
And all our parents unanimously said:
Thanks so much for the opportunity to test these diapers. It has totally changed my mind about prefolds! {hooray!}
*all names and specific references to babies were replaced by “my little one” in this blog post to further protect anonymity of our review panel and their precious littles.
We know we’ve found ourselves in situations that are more suited for a disposable diaper and feel nauseous at buying them and putting them on our kids knowing what we do and standing for what we stand for, but on occasion, it becomes a necessity. We met the folks at GroVia a couple of years ago at a trade show and sampled this product and quite liked it. Functioned well, didn’t smell of artificial “new baby scent”, and seemed comfy for the littles. We finally decided to bring them on board, in recognition that there are times for some families that a disposable is needed and we wanted you to have a better option. We are interested in hearing what a cloth diaper, natural-minded family thinks about this choice in diapering.
If you’re interested, fill out an application by clicking on the link below. You must be an {avid} facebook user and be available over the next few weeks to participate.
Thanks so much; we really appreciate working with our Parent Review Panelists.
We are always interested in finding out why families choose cloth diapers. We think Mama K summed it up nicely:
“Cloth diapers blend my two favorite things- form and function! They contain everything that my two heavy wetters have thrown at them and they are absolutely adorable. Modern and they work.”
Thank you Mama K for your insight. We agree, not only do cloth diapers excel in terms of function, but they look pretty darn cute as well!
Baby C. is checking out his Bamboozle Stretch fitted diaper. These diapers are trim, absorbent and super soft. They pair up nicely with any of our waterproof diaper covers.
Photo Credit: Vairdy Photography. Vairdy is a Vancouver Photographer who works with newborns, children & families.
Well that went fast! After recovering from the whirlwind of the holidays, trying to work on all those resolutions (mine are in the fitness and organization categories), we are ready to settle into this new year and get going with our workshops and planning for the spring. Yes, the spring!
This month on the blog, in the newsletter and on facebook we’ll be talking about diapering with less (money, that is), you’ll be seeing the results of our latest Parent Review Panel on Facebook and be hearing from our next Expert on Sleep in our new Expert Series here on the blog.
While I was under the impression that CEFA was a Junior Kindergarten, I was duly impressed to find out that it also a beautiful childcare centre for babies as well. They have tons of natural play things, big bright spaces, dedicated play grounds and no babies in cloth! It’s not that they wouldn’t – the director there is very open to making cloth work at their centre. And the infant changing area would be perfect for cloth. I can’t wait to hear about their first baby starting their in cloth.
We also have our next playdate at Gymboree North Van on Februrary 21st. Watch our newsletter and/or facebook page for details on how to RSVP. Free for New & Green customers and subscribers.
Have a very happy month of love with your little cupids!
Since bringing these diapers in over a year ago, we’ve gotten nothing but rave reviews about this mini-me diaper. It blends a few things together to push it high up on the list of faves:
It actually fits the tiniest of tinies, from 5-13lbs.
Natrual bamboo (ever-so-soft) next to baby’s skin in the “wet-zone”
Absorbent & waterproof layer sewn together to make it a one step on, one step off diaper
Absorbent layers are designed to be only two layers at any point during the washing and drying steps, so this process is thorough and quick
This diaper comes with an additional absorbency pad that can be put inside the diaper when your baby needs it, ie getting towards the bigger end of the size range, going through a growth spurt or sleeping through the night (or at least a good few hours in a row!). The option of not having the extra pad in the diaper allows for a trimmer fit when the diaper’s absorbency doesn’t need to be maxed out.
The diaper fastens with velcro. For new parents and for the many shapes and sizes that newborns come in, this is a good thing. It’s super easy and super adjustable.
It’s made in Scotland.
The only downside that we see with this little diaper is that it’s rise (how high it comes up on the tummy) may be a tich too high for smaller newborns during their “umbilical stump” stage which can last anywhere from 4 days to two weeks. For some babies, this is not an issue.
Some families choose to use these for their entire diaper collection, keeping things uniform and simple. Other families will choose to a very simple, prefold system with these diapers as their “easy diaper”. A typical amount of diapers for a newborn collection is 24, with a two day washing cycle.
Go and check these diapers out. On the New & Green Site you’ll find them on the product page with their big sister, the Easy Fit which we recommend for babies from 10-35lbs.
Have you used a TiniFit for your little? Mamas over on our Facebook Page have and they LOVE it!
We asked our customers why they love working with New & Green and this is just one of our very kind reviews:
”I was first introduced to New and Green when my sister enrolled me in a cloth diaper workshop. The workshop turned out to be the most informative prenatal class I took. The woman who ran the course was so knowledgeable! I was totally convinced cloth diapers would be the way for us to go. I was also convinced that there could be no better service in the lower mainland. I also appreciated the fact that when I would go to pick up the diapers, I was able to ask questions and get great explanations. New and Green has the best customer service!”
Thank you L. We are happy to help and to provide you with all the information you need to put little D into cloth diapers!
Baby E. is wearing one of our favourite night time choices – the Aristocrats Wool diaper cover. These 100% wool covers are naturally absorbent and breatheable, allowing for dry beds and happy mornings! Pair this cover with a bamboo or hemp fitted diaper for a super trim and ultra thirsty combination.
Photo Credit: Vairdy Photography. Vairdy is a Vancouver Photographer who works with newborns, children & families.
This year, we are going to continue to bring you lots of great diapering info to help you along your way but thought we’d also draw on some of the experts that we’ve met over the years. We’ve got some great information lined up for you to help you with your day to day parenting. We can’t wati to share!
First up, we’d like to introduce you to Chloe Dierkes of Urban Doula. We chatted with Chloe and asked her to share with us some common themes from her experiences working with brand new parents.
N&G: When working with parents to be, what are the top 3 things that you tell them to expect in the first weeks with a newborn?
Chloe:
Expect breast-feeding to take some time to establish. Read a book on breast-feeding during pregnancy so that you are not trying to learn while caring for your newborn (you will not have the time!). Attend a local Le Leche League meeting (http://www.lllc.ca/get-help) before the birth so you can talk with and observe breast-feeding moms. Be sure to get lots of support immediately following your birth.
Expect your sleeping patterns to change drastically. Newborns are often awake more at night than during the day. This will soon reverse, but until it does, you will have to make up for lost sleep with many naps throughout the day (your total sleep time should add up to the same number of hours as before).
Expect your emotions to be fragile. Be gentle with yourself and your partner.
N&G: When visiting a family post-partum, what are the top 3 things that families tell you they were surprised about?
Chloe:
How quickly newborns change. This requires constant adaptation since every solution is temporary and often once new parents feel things are figured out, something else becomes difficult.
How nervous and unprepared they felt.
How difficult it is to get 3 meals and enough sleep in each day.
N&G: What is your favourite piece of wisdom to share with parents to be about the first days and weeks with their new baby?
Chloe: Before your baby arrives, arrange for support from friends, family and/or a postpartum doula. In our society it is custom to shower new parents with lots of toys, clothes and physical gifts, but in retrospect parents often feel that practical support would have been much more beneficial. Have a close friend arrange a “meal train” for you, where each night for the first few weeks you have someone deliver you a healthy meal. Set your own parameters based on what you like to eat and make sure you have boundaries outlining the rules (for example, “please come at 5:30pm, stay for no longer that 15 minutes and do some tidying before you leave”). Set up your support systems before baby arrives.
About Urban Doula: Chloe Dierkes is a birth and postpartum doula in Vancouver, BC who offers guidance and care for pregnancy, birth and newborn families. She has worked in childcare for almost a decade and thoroughly enjoys supporting families and helping them to find creative solutions.
We want to test the theory that basic can be beautiful. And simple. Prefolds have been the workhorse of cloth diapers for decades and among all the new innovations, they still remain one of the most popular choices for simplicity and economics. We have the fabulous organic cotton prefolds from Bummis on our shelves and we’re looking for 6 families with babies between 8-30lbs and at least 4 weeks old to test these products for us.
If you’re interested, fill out an application by clicking on the link below. You must be an {avid} facebook user and be available over the next few weeks to participate.
Thanks so much; we really appreciate working with our Parent Review Panelists.
Gift-giving can be one of the joys of the Christmas holiday and it’s always fun to discover just the right gift for a friend or family member.
In that spirit, we have put together a gift guide with a few ideas for the people on your list. If you know soon-to-be new parents, parents of young children, or are a parent yourself, be sure to check out our list. There’s something for everyone and for every budget!
We here at New & Green wish you and your families all the best during this holiday season.
EasyFits are one of the perennial favorites among New & Green parents and the highest rated by parent reviews on our website. They offer a great fit, good absorbancy (bamboo and microfibre together make a thirsty combo!), stunning colours made from Oeko-Tex certified dyes, and high quality hook-and-loop closures. They’re also made by Tots Bots, a Scottish company that makes every effort for ethical and sustainable production methods.
The Bamboozle is touted among parents as one of the most absorbent diapers available and is popular especially for naptimes and nighttime. It’s also popular among parents who want natural fibres against their baby’s skin. Bamboo is a sustainable fibre and scrumptiously soft!
The Flip is a popular option merely due to the variety of ways in which you can use it, as well as it’s a simple, no-fuss, well-fitting cover for babies of every shape and size. You get to choose either an organic cotton or microfibre insert or purchase it alone to use as a standard cover for other fitted diapers and prefolds.
The AMP Duo is manufactured in Winnipeg by a conscientious mom-run business. This pocket in particular is popular because of its high quality and its superb fit on both lean and chubby babies. The diaper is available in a small size for newborns up to 15 lbs and a one-size option for larger babies.
BumGenius diapers are one of the most recognized and well-loved diapers on the market today. These one-size pocket diapers come stocked with an adjustable full-size insert as well as a newborn insert that also doubles as a doubler to increase absorbancy for car trips, nap times, and nighttime usage. You can now also choose either a velcro closure or snaps, depending on your preference and what works best for your family. The stretch-to-fit tabs help ensure a great fit every time and the diaper can be used from 8-35 lbs.
Wool covers are hailed as a wonder-cover for babies who struggle with diaper rash, for parents who want to use natural fibres, and for babies who need help sleeping through the night. (The breathability of wool allows moisture to evaporate off the baby’s skin as they sleep, thus not waking them due to the sensation of being wet.) Aristocrats covers are manufactured here in BC and so also satisfy parents wanting to buy local!
This diapering-kit-in-a-box provides parents all the basics needed to get started with cloth diapering. The kit includes 24 organic cotton prefolds, 6 covers, 3 rolls of Bio-Soft liners, 5 reusable stay-dry liners, and 1 large wet bag. That’s enough diapers for at least two full days of diapering!
Prefolds are a very easy and practical way to get started with cloth and are especially popular among parents who are budget-savvy.
These brightly colored pail liners and tote-able wetbags will cheerfully hold several days of dirty diapers. They’re an essential part of setting up your diaper pail system and a must-have item for parents who are just getting started.
Rockin’ Green has revolutionized cloth diaper laundry and makes the chore… dare we say, an utter delight. It gets diapers truly clean while leaving no residue, it’s eco-friendly, and you have your choice of a number of yummy scents that don’t linger on the diapers. For parents who are just getting started, this detergent will help make the new routine downright enjoyable.
These oh-so-cute tankinis are perfect for your pool-side babe. They are designed to be paired with the ever-popular Swimmi swim diaper, and even if you don’t cloth diaper, this is a great way to be both sustainable and chic at the swimming pool all year round.
Nothing fits quite as well as a diaper that is designed specifically with the newborn in mind – both for fit and for comfort. This pack bridges the gap between birth and one-size or small size diapers and parents have raved about difference it makes. The pack includes 1-dozen soft organic cotton prefolds and two perfect-size covers – enough for one day’s worth of diapering. This combo is one of the most cost effective ways of managing the early days when you are changing a lot of diapers!
This package features literally everything you need to cloth diaper your newborn starting from Day 1 and features some of the best products on the market for quality, fit, and chic-cuteness. The pack even includes wipes, storage bags, and detergent! Talk about getting everything you need in one convenient package…
Your baby’s poo in the first few weeks can get a little…. well, sticky, and this bum spray is a great way to keep your baby’s cheeks fresh and well-cleaned!
This box is a great way for parents to try out prefolds without investing in large quantities of diapers. The kit includes three organic cotton prefolds and one wrap cover – just tri-fold the prefold and lay it in the cover and voila! you have a lovely, absorbent diaper ready to go.
These tiny diapers are possibly the most popular diapers among parents who are cloth diapering newborns, as they keep all those newborn messes exactly where they should be. They feature a snap-down front to go around the umbilical stump and snug-but-comfy elastic around the back and legs to ensure a great fit.
Cloth trainers catch the dribbles and little messes that are inevitable while potty training, they help provide feedback to the child who is learning about wet and dry sensations, and they save parents money! Bummis pants in particular are easy for the child to pull up and down and offer a secure, comfortable fit.
The 3G pocket diaper is designed as a diaper but works superbly well as a training pant. By snapping the wings shut, you create an easy-up, easy-down pant for the child, but in case of a messy accident, the wings snap open like a diaper in order to get the training pant off without creating more mess. Also, by having a pocket opening, you can adjust the absorbancy according to your child’s need or leave out the insert completely.
This fabulous diaper salve is hand-made right here in BC! Each batch is lovingly made with the highest quality, organic ingredients. This is a zinc-free diaper salve that uses naturals to gently soothe and heal your little one’s skin. It smells great too! We know toddlers who love it so much that they pack it themselves in the diaper bag…
Irresistible fashion prints in the softest flannel on one side and a sumptuous organic cotton velour on the other make these wipes Hip, Green and Gorgeous. Choose from a dreamy Mermaid, a yummy Two Scoops or a mod Lots of Dots.
These covers in delightful prints have been popular among cloth diapering parents for several years running. They offer a great fit, high quality construction, and cover any fitted or prefold diaper. Very useful and multi-functional.
Snappis are an ingenious little invention that make diaper pins obsolete. They come in a variety of colors and are made from a stretchable non-toxic material, which is T-shaped with grips on each end. These grips hook into the diaper fabric to ensure a snug-fitting diaper with enough natural movement for the baby. Pick up several to give to all your cloth diapering friends!
These zippered, toss-n’-go wet bags make going out with cloth diapers easy. (They’re great for daycare or the swimming pool too!) The small size holds 2-4 dirty diapers and the medium one holds 4-6 dirties. These make great stocking stuffers because even if you already have a stash of wetbags, these repurpose well for carrying cosmetics, as gym bags, for travel, and so much more!
Still don’t know what to get that special someone or just aren’t sure what would be most helpful for those soon-to-be new parents? New & Green has gift certificates available in any denomination!
If you’ve ever hunted for information about cloth diapering, you’ve likely run across the instruction to “strip your diapers.” Some sources make this sound like a dire emergency, while other sources ignore it completely. So we thought we’d take a quick look at what stripping is and when it’s useful.
What is Stripping?
“Stripping” merely refers to an easy process that strips any lingering residues from the surface of your diapers. Residues can build up if you use a detergent that has additives or fabric softeners, if diapers aren’t fully rinsed after each wash, or if you have hard water in your area.
Why Should I Strip? (And How Often?)
Stripping isn’t a routine maintenance sort of thing – it’s only something you need to do if your normally soft and absorbent diapers are suddenly leaking or if there’s an undesirable odor that lingers in your diapers even after they’ve been washed and dried.
So, HOW Do I Strip?
There are various methods for stripping your diapers depending on your type of machine. And obviously, regardless of method, start with non-dirty diapers or you’ll have a whole new set of problems to deal with!
HOT water with no detergent(top-loader): Wash your diapers in the longest cycle your machine will allow using the HOT wash cycle and either HOT or WARM rinse. Lift the lid every once in a while to check for soap bubbles - you need to rinse until you no longer see soap bubbles or a film on top of the water during the rinse, which may take as many as 3-4 rinses. But once the soap bubbles no longer appear, your diapers are fresh and fully stripped!
Rock-a-Soak(top-loader & HE): This is a super-super-effective way to get rid of lingering funk and residues. In a top-loader, fill the tub with hot water, add 3-4 tablespoons of Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer, toss in your diapers, and let them sit for an hour or so. After the soak, run them through a hot wash and rinse cycle 2-3 times.
In a front-loader, add your diapers to the basket and put 3-4 tablespoons of Funk Rock in the detergent area of the detergent drawer. Start a quick wash cycle and hit “stop” or “pause” as soon as you notice that the Funk Rock has been washed into the basket and the water has been added in the cycle. Let this sit for an hour or so, then start a long, hot wash and rinse without adding anything else. You will likely need to wash and rinse 2-3 times.
Vinegar(top-loader & HE): You can also add 1/4 – 1/2 cup of vinegar to one of the rinse cycles. This is a gentle way to neutralize the acids and odors lingering on your diapers and it will help lift away the residues. You can add this via the detergent drawer or if you have a Downy ball, just place the vinegar inside and toss it in on top of the diapers.
Dawn dishwashing liquid(top-loader only): In a top-loader, you may also add one squirt of Original Dawn dishwashing liquid to the wash cycle. Dawn has been formulated as a degreaser, so it does very well in lifting off oily residues. (If your child has recently discovered Vaseline or petroleum-based diaper creams and smeared them all over his or her diapers, Dawn is also a very effective way to deal with that laundry issue!) Dawn creates lots of suds, however, so if you want to use this method with a front-loader, you’ll need to scrub the diapers with Dawn by hand and rinse them out before putting them into the washer. As with all the other methods, once the diapers are in the machine, wash on hot and – you guessed it – rinse, rinse, rinse.
So, as you can see, stripping your diapers doesn’t take much more effort than a regular load of laundry and doesn’t need to happen often. The best way to prevent needing to strip in the first place is just to make sure you’re using a long rinse in your normal wash routine or by occasionally adding a second rinse to your routine.
We would like to introduce you to Crystal Di Domizio, this month’s contributor to our N&G Expert Panel. Crystal kindly took the time to answer a few questions regarding the introduction of solid foods into baby’s diet. We love her knowledgable and wholistic approach to making the transition from liquids to solids.
Last month, we asked our 
We know we’ve found ourselves in situations that are more suited for a disposable diaper and feel nauseous at buying them and putting them on our kids knowing what we do and standing for what we stand for, but on occasion, it becomes a necessity. We met the folks at GroVia a couple of years ago at a trade show and sampled this product and quite liked it. Functioned well, didn’t smell of artificial “new baby scent”, and seemed comfy for the littles. We finally decided to bring them on board, in recognition that there are times for some families that a disposable is needed and we wanted you to have a better option. We are interested in hearing what a cloth diaper, natural-minded family thinks about this choice in diapering.
Well that went fast! After recovering from the whirlwind of the holidays, trying to work on all those resolutions (mine are in the fitness and organization categories), we are ready to settle into this new year and get going with our workshops and planning for the spring. Yes, the spring!
This year, we are going to continue to bring you lots of great diapering info to help you along your way but thought we’d also draw on some of the experts that we’ve met over the years. We’ve got some great information lined up for you to help you with your day to day parenting. We can’t wati to share!
We want to test the theory that basic can be beautiful. And simple. Prefolds have been the workhorse of cloth diapers for decades and among all the new innovations, they still remain one of the most popular choices for simplicity and economics. We have the fabulous organic cotton prefolds from Bummis on our shelves and we’re looking for 6 families with babies between 8-30lbs and at least 4 weeks old to test these products for us.
Gift-giving can be one of the joys of the Christmas holiday and it’s always fun to discover just the right gift for a friend or family member.
If you’ve ever hunted for information about cloth diapering, you’ve likely run across the instruction to “strip your diapers.” Some sources make this sound like a dire emergency, while other sources ignore it completely. So we thought we’d take a quick look at what stripping is and when it’s useful.