Many thanks to the close to 100 respondants that gave us the virtual thumbs up, wholeheartedly stating that they would recommend us to a friend. We appreciate your kind words and are working through some more continuous improvement projects to ensure that we are delivering the best customer care possible.
We’ve randomly selected a winner for the Shake it Up Pail Freshener and if it was you, you’ve been emailed. Because we chose not to collect names with our survey and to protect everyone’s email from spam bots we will not be publishing the email address of the winner.
But if the winner would like to head to facebook and let us know what you think of the product, we’d sure like to hear.
Again, thanks so much for your efforts in helping us to continue to improve and thank you for choosing us to support you through your diapering days. Customer care is the centre of our business and it’s what we love about what we do!
What did you do (from a working perspective) before your baby arrived?
In my professional life I am a Registered Nurse.
Are you currently at home with your baby/children or working in/out of the home?
I am currently at home on maternity leave.
How old is your baby?
I have 2 children. My son is 29 months old. My daughter is 5 months old.
When did you decide to cloth diaper?
When I was pregnant with Mr. H I had read an article online about the effects of chlorine on children and how diapers are one of the main sources. I went into a local store looking for some advice but came away discouraged. I was then at a baby shower for a friend and found out about your website and signed up for the trial.
When did you start cloth diapering?
I started cloth diapering when my son was 3 months old. I started by doing your trial program and have never looked back.
What is/are your favourite diaper(s)?
I am in love with Fuzzi Bunz! I initially used the Perfect Size and have added a few of their One Size diapers. I like them because when I first started using cloth diapers they were the only ones that used snaps rather than hook/loop closures (I like not having to do the maintenance). I just started using Bummis and Kushies training pants.
My day in a nutshell
6:30 am – If I am lucky enough that Miss M has not yet woken up; my husband’s first alarm goes off. I have yet to figure out his logic about the snooze button because all it does is wake me up since he doesn’t get up for another twenty minutes. I guess it is the little things like this that make me love him so much.
7:30 am – Usually I hear stirring from one if not both of my children. So starts the plotting of how I will breastfeed Miss M, get Mr. H on the potty and not loose my mind in the process. I have started potty training Mr. H so I usually try for a short potty time while I change Miss M at the same time. Stories in “Mommy and Daddy’s” bed give me time to breastfeed.
8:15 am – with a cloth diaper on Miss M and a cloth trainer pant on Mr. H our day can officially begin. Breakfast and getting 2 kids dressed quickly is not a task I have mastered yet. However, a shower is my equivalent to coffee so it has to be squeezed in. Thank goodness for hot water! Mr. H likes the big brother task of entertaining Miss M who patiently sits in her bouncy chair.
8:45 am – it is time to get out of the house! I usually change Miss M prior to leaving and check for any accidents from Mr. H. I have come to realize that it is worth the effort to take the kids out. You can catch us out and about in the Lonsdale area. Strong Start and story time are currently our favourite past time.
10:30 am – I try to take Mr. H to the potty while out, which I have come to realize must look like a day at the circus with a 5 month old strapped onto my chest. Oh well, all in a days work. Right? I also change Miss M’s diaper while out and use our Bummis wet bag to carry home the dirties.
12:30 am – Lunch gives me a break, a moment to check my Facebook and e-mail. I must keep up with the outside world somehow
1:00 pm – NAP TIME!!! Both kids get new diapers at this time. After a couple books and a glass of milk Mr. H will go down first giving me a chance to breastfeed Miss M and put her down as well. During naptime I prep dinner and hope to catch a nap of my own.
3-ish – Mr. H is awake followed shortly by Miss M. Potty time and fresh diapers are put on. We usually go to the park or the library prior to dinner.
5:00 pm – my husband is home and dinner is served.
5:45 pm – playing, reading books and tidying up keep us busy till its time to get ready or bed.
7:00 pm – Mr. H has a bath with dad. One last try on the potty and Mr. H is ready for his diaper. Stories and teeth brushing lead to bedtime.
7:45 pm - Miss M has been bathed and we are ready to start diapers!
I currently live in building with shared pay laundry, so to save money I have decided to do the cold soak in the tub. I wear rubber gloves to ring them out and I must say my tub has never been cleaner as I am forced to clean it every other day along with the diapers.
8:15 pm – All kids are now asleep! Time to finish the diapers. I ring the diapers out and put them back in the diaper pail. They are washed on hot and I do a cold rinse about every second time. I have not seen any increased leaking with missing the rinse.
8:45 pm – Having more than one laundry machine means I can wash clothes and then combine the laundry with the clean liners in the dryer. I still hang the waterproof liner and now I have clean diapers and trainers for the next 2 days ?
I must say that I am not always done diapers by 8:45 pm and some days it is almost 10pm before I am done. I try to remember that I am doing my part for the environment and limiting chemicals from being on my children’s skin.
9:00 pm – Clean, organize, and read the New and Green Blog!
We want to know what makes a mama, papa and baby happy when comes to the dirty work of cleaning bums. We have some brand new wipes in stock and some new-ish (and reportedly fabulous) locally made bum wash as well and we’re looking for 6 families 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.
Thanks to our host Gymboree North Shore and our fabulous guests, we had a rockin’ time at the Sale.
There were lots of bargains to be had and lots of happy mama’s going home to wrap their baby’s bottom in some of the best cloth diapers we know.
Everyone who RSVP’d to the event was entered into our prize draws. If you purchased somthing at the sale, you got another entry and if you brought a friend, you got one more entry.
Drumroll, please….
1. Winner of the BabyKicks 3g One Size Diaper is: Sarah Pivnick
2. Winner of the 1 month of FREE classes at Gymboree North Shore is: Carina Chow.
Want to check out photos of the event? We have a few of the crowds, the playspace at Gymboree and the empty tables at the end of the sale. Head over to our Facebook Page to check them out.
We’ll be posting washing instructions and another deal for our fans on our facebook page in the next while. If you’re not a fan of the facebook page, head there for the info and details.
Should we make this a regular event at New & Green? Would you like the opportunity to sell your diapers to other families? Let us know in the comments below.
In June, our family participated in the Father’s Day Run for Prostate Cancer. At New & Green we ran a few promotions and decided to donate a portion of the sales for June to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of BC. We want to do our part in ensuring every Daddy we meet has the longest, healthiest life with their little one.
So, thank you. For your support, for shopping with New & Green and for helping us to give back.
No matter whether you have a front loader or a top loader, you’ve likely tried a few different things to get your wash routine just the way you like it.
Today we’re posting four hacks to help you know your machine even better.
For Top Loaders
Don’t be afraid to change the amount of water you use. Often it’s tempting to just set the machine on “extra large load” so that you’ve got tons of water for washing and swishing and rinsing. However, if you’re washing only a day or two or diapers, especially if you use lots of pockets, it can make a big difference to reduce the amount of water so that the diapers aren’t just swimming around, but are instead rubbing against each other, which is what gets them really clean.
Change the temperature of your water heater, not just the dial on your washing machine. Many detergents activate most efficiently between 55-60° C (130°-140°F), including Rockin’ Green, which is also the range at which most bacterias are killed. If you reduce your water heater to this temperature range, you’ll not only save money on your monthly bill, but you’ll get the most efficient wash as well.
For Front Loaders
The secret in the detergent drawer… Many HE washing machines arrive in your home set to use liquid detergent. Some cloth diaper manufacturers even tell you that liquid detergent is the only way to really get your diapers clean – but you already know the right temperature, enough water, and an appropriate wash time is a dynamite combination with any type of detergent, as we’ve discussed several times in our laundry science series.
It’s easy to change your machine to accommodate a powdered detergent, such as Rockin’ Green or Country Save. Just open the detergent drawer and either pop out the detergent cup or raise the bar that’s there and you are now equipped to just scoop your powdered detergent straight into the detergent slot – no more fussing around dissolving your powdered detergent in warm water! Fantastic!
Check out the Front Loader Database. We’ve written several posts on how to tweak your wash routine to make life easy with a front loader, but the owner of Rockin’ Green Soap has taken it even a step farther. She has put together a database of different brands of front loader machines and specific wash routines that tend to work with each model. Check out the database, use the information, and submit your own routine if your own works well for you!
One of the best perks to cloth diapering is the money you save by using reusable diapers instead of disposable ones.
When you can use all those diapers for a second child, your savings are multiplied – not to mention you get to keep using all your favorites!
Here are four tips for packing your diapers away to keep them fresh and protecting your investment.
Wash them with plain ol’ hot water
Wash all the diapers to store away in a hot wash cycle without any detergent. This will make sure to remove any detergent residue that may be lingering on the fibres that can eat away at elastics and synthetic fabrics over time. It will also make sure you start without any residue when you unpack them again. Also, if you decide not to use them with another child, it makes them all the more ready to donate or sell!
Put the diapers through an extra dryer cycle
You want to make sure your diapers get packed into their storage containers completely dry so that no mold can grow. Put the diapers through an extra dryer cycle or outside for a full day on a hot, sunny day to make sure they are thoroughly dry all the way through, especially for fitteds and AIO’s.
Use sturdy, dry storage containers
Rubbermaid-style totes are ideal for this situation, as they offer dry storage, keep insects and dust out, and protect the diapers in case of unforeseen circumstances, such as leaking pipes and flooding. Large garbage bags can also work, but be sure to store them off the floor and set them in a place where they won’t get ripped open. Avoid cardboard boxes or baskets that can facilitate mold and mildew growth. In our moist BC climate, spores and fungi grow easily!
Store them in a temperature consistent place
Put your storage containers in a place that won’t vary considerably through the seasons – that is, avoid damp garages, storage sheds that get super-hot and humid, and basement suite closets that have no air circulation. This will make sure moisture can’t infest your lovely fibres to grow molds and mildew.
Taking care of your diapers will ensure that they last you for years, saving you time and money. Do you have other tips for storing cloth diapers for long-term?
It’s summertime and it’s that wonderful time of year when many parents choose to potty train. Reaching the milestone when your child is ready to understand and (dare we say) celebrate using the toilet is a monumental one – if you’re at that time, congratulations!
In that spirit, we thought we’d offer a few pointers for making the switch from using diapers (be they reusable or disposable) to using cloth trainers.
Cloth trainers exist for the same reason that disposable ones do – to provide “support” for your little one when he or she is ready to move out of diapers but not yet ready to be full-time in underwear. They catch the dribbles and small messes that are inevitable during this time and they provide a bit of extra time to get to the potty.
The biggest difference with cloth training pants, however, is the immediate feedback your child gets when the trainer gets wet. Disposables are so well designed these days that they lock moisture away from your child’s skin, and thus there’s very little bio-feedback for your child when they’ve eliminated. With cloth, however, there is the sensation of being wet, which often translates into a child more quickly learning his or her body’s urges and the sensations that accompany them.
Cloth trainers also save you beaucoups bucks. If your child uses training pants for six months, the cost for disposable pants is easily well over $300. If you invest in cloth trainers, the cost is approximately $78, regardless of how long your child needs them.
A potty training tool
Training pants are a wonderful, helpful tool in whatever method you choose to use in helping your child learn to use the toilet. However, they are not substitutes for diapers – trainers are designed to catch a few dribbles here and there, but not as much as a diaper. Also, to anyone who has ever had to take off a poopy trainer (since trainers are designed to pull on and off like underwear), you know that that’s only something you want to do if you really have to – diapers make dealing with poo nice and simple, while trainers….. not so much.
Bummis makes bums cute!
Bummis training pants are one of the best-crafted, most reliable training pants on the cloth diaper market. Even better, they’re Canadian made and super-kid (and parent!) friendly.
Kids can pull these on and off easily by themselves, which boosts their confidence and doesn’t rely as heavily on you in the later stages of potty training (always a plus).
We’ve raved about them on our product page, so be sure to read all about them!
Your Turn
So, mamas (and papas) – what tips and tricks did you use when you were potty training? How did training pants help (or hinder) your endeavors? Leave a comment!
Some may argue that cold water is best for environmental reasons, while others declare that hot water is required for diapers. And a common question at our Cloth Diapering 101 workshops is whether or not it’s required to use the extra-hot sanitizing cycle for diapers. What’s the real scoop? How does temperature affect the cleanliness of the load – and getting out stains?
First off, we should make sure we’re all familiar with the basic wash routine for cloth diapers – a rinse on cold, wash on hot, and rinse on cold. (We know, we know – for most readers, this is de rigueur, but we just like to make sure everyone’s on the same page…. )
Of the three temperature settings available on most washing machines – cold, warm, and hot – each has its particular role and effect on your diapers. For example, cold is great for just getting plenty of water through your diapers while offering good environmental and budgetary savings, but if you’re wanting to get a fresh batch of stains out, you might want to change the first rinse to warm. Why? Because it’s recommended to remove a stain at the same temperature at which it was set, so for ice cream stains on a shirt, you’d want to use a cold rinse, but for diapers, you’d want to use warm, since they were created at body temp!
Also, keep in mind the temperature at which your water heater is set, as your hot wash will be at that temperature. (Although also keep in mind that the water may come out 2-4° Celsius cooler than what your water heater dial says, depending on how much pipe the water has to go through in its travel between the water heater and the washing machine.) Many detergents activate most efficiently between 55-60° C (130°-140°F), including Rockin’ Green, which is also the range at which most bacterias are killed, which is why it’s recommended to use a hot wash to clean your diapers.
But what about the sanitize cycle, which super-heats the water above 65°C (150°F)? There are a few factors that come into play here. One, this high temperature tends to weaken synthetic fabrics, including PUL and elastics, so it’s definitely not recommended on a regular basis and may even void your warranty. (Check out the BumGenius site as an example.) It also adds a significant amount to your energy usage for washing diapers, which adds up on your monthly bill.
The only time we recommend a one-time extra-hot sanitize wash is if your child has had a serious bacterial diarrheal illness, such as rotavirus, or a severe, prolonged yeast infection. Even then, check with the manufacturers of your diapers before you do a super-hot wash if you’re worried about your warranty, as there are other ways to deal with lingering spores as well.
If you’re interested in finding the right balance between getting a good hot wash and not scalding yourself (and your children) at the sink, check out these tips from the City of Vancouver and BCHydro for saving money and making your heater more efficient.
What did you do (from a working perspective) before your baby arrived?
I work as a medical/surgical LPN.
Are you currently at home with your baby/children or working in/out of the home?
Home with my daughter
How old is your baby?
3 months
When did you decide to cloth diaper?
Many, many years ago. As long as I can remember I have planned to cloth diaper my children.
When did you start cloth diapering?
2 weeks after Claire was born
What is/are your favourite diaper(s)?
Right now I love my Micro Doodlez. Very trim on my 10-lber, nice and absorbent. The only downfall is that they take sooo long to dry! (Hey Pamela – have you considered Easy Fits – they offer that same great trimness AND a much reduced dry time!)
My day in a nutshell
8:30 am – Claire starts fussing, I roll over and nurse her trying to get her to go back to sleep…I’m not much of a morning person, so this is how most mornings start. She starts kicking and cooing after she is done eating, so I know I’m done for….Time to get up! We head into the nursery to change and dress her for the day. Today is BootCamp day, so I get dressed in my workout clothes and brush my teeth while she plays on the bed.
9:10 am – Alright Monkey, your turn! Diaper change…EEK! Guess I didn’t get the new diaper on quick enough and she peed everywhere. She thinks it’s hilarious when she does that, full of smiles! Clean her up, new diaper on. Reach for the clothes, and hear the unmistakable sound of a full diaper….I turn to her, and with my cutest baby voice “You’ve GOT to be kidding!” I don’t mind though…It’s moments like this that I’m glad I use cloth, so I don’t care if a diaper is only worn for a minute….Just get to pick another cute one!
9:30 am – We go downstairs, Claire spends a bit of time in her swing while I have breakfast and get us packed for the day.
9:50 am – We head out the door for some Stroller bootcamp. Time to work off the babyweight!
11:30 am – Home from bootcamp, thank goodness it wasn’t raining today, and Claire napped through! Feed & change Claire, and then she spends some quality time with her bouncy chair while I take a shower.
12:15 pm – put Claire in the Ring Sling and start the laundry. Diapers go into the wash for a quick wash on cold, extra rinse, heavy soil, with one scoop Funk Rock
12:30 pm – Claire isn’t liking the sling today, so she goes into her exersaucer/jolly jumper while I put on the coffee and make some lunch.
1:15 pm – Nap time! Nurse Claire to sleep in the sling, and turn the diapers on for their wash load. Heavy duty, Heavy soil, Hot/cold, extra rinse, with two scoops Rockin Green Classic. Sit and enjoy coffee while Claire naps.
3:20 pm – Claire starts fussing, nurses a little, and then dozes off again.
3:40 pm – Yay, DH is home!! He puts the diapers in the dryer for me, low heat, sensor dry.
4:00 pm – Claire is up for good….Hand her over to DH for some Daddy-Daughter time while I make supper.
5:00 pm – she’s hungry again….Nurse her, then feed myself!
6:00 pm – DH is going to be out for the evening, so they enjoy a bit more quality time while I have some quality Mommy time and fix her bibs! I spend some time sewing some snaps onto them, as they are all too big for her skinny neck and the drool just skips them altogether!
7:00 pm – Back on Mommy Duty. Claire feels warm, and has been pretty snotty and fussy all day….Temp of 101, bit of tylenol, nurse her to sleep, wrap her up in the Woven Wrap for a nice cozy cuddly Mommy nap.
7:30 pm – Take the diapers out of the dryer, and realize they’re kind of smelly….Ick! I’ve never had this problem before, so I do a bit of reading. Toss them all in the laundry sink with 4tTbls Rockin’ Green…..we’ll be rockin’ a soak overnight.
8:30 pm – Up to bed, Nurse Claire to sleep while I read a bit, then doze off myself.
Next morning….
Wow, I can’t believe the water the diapers are soaking in is still warm! Toss them in the wash on Quick Wash, Hot/Cold to rinse out the yuckies. Half hour later, I do another hot/cold quick wash cycle with 4Tbsp. funk rock, and let them soak for an hour. Another quick wash, hot/cold, extra rinse, and into the dryer they go! Finally, 20 minutes later, they come out smelling fresh, cleaner than they’ve ever been!
As the days are getting warmer and we enjoy the long summer days, it’s easy to get inspired to line dry your diapers rather than rely on the dryer to do the work. The sunshine is great for your diapers, you can save money, and there are many ways to make the task work for you.
Inside or Outside?
Whether you choose to dry your diapers inside or outside doesn’t matter – they dry equally well. When you dry your diapers outside, they get the benefit of the UV “bleaching,” but they also can become stiff if they are dried in the direct sun. Drying inside minimizes the “stiffness” factor, but can be slower to dry. Basically, the slower the drying time, the softer the diapers will be (not to mention fresh!), so if you’re drying outside and don’t need to benefit of the sunbleaching, either stick the diapers in the shade or double them up.
A Rack to Fit Every Family
A drying rack – There are many varieties of drying racks, which you can find at pretty much any retailer from IKEA to Amazon.com to your local hardware store. Some offer multiple rods on which to hang your diapers, while others offer “shelves” of a sort on which to lay items flat.
The advantage of a drying rack is that they are completely foldable, making them a “must” in small spaces and very versatile for where you can use them.
Here are just a few varieties to give you some ideas:
(Please note, New & Green does not have any connection with any of the companies or individuals listed nor do we endorse any of these products specifically. These links are provided for the sake of illustration only.)
A clothesline -This very traditional way to dry clothes outside is a perennial favorite among line-drying enthusiasts. The plus is that there is nothing to store, but you do need to have sufficient space to string a line.
A clothesline can be as simple as a heavy rope tied between two trees or two chairs or as complex as a pulley system with heavy-gauge wire. A stationary, swiveling clothes rack outside can also be useful, especially if you don’t have many places to afix a line. Whichever system you choose will only be dictated by the space you have available and your personal preferences.
And of course, creativity is the name of the game. Sometimes, especially when traveling, you just have to use whatever is available! (Click through to see how one clever mama made do in her family’s hotel room – thanks to Flickr user medigerati for the wonderful photo.)
Line Drying Accessories That Make the Job Easy
Clothespins – Clothespins (also known as clothes pegs) are extremely useful, especially on a clothesline. If you make sure you have them ready and handy, say in an old handbag hung on a hanger or in an empty coffee can you can move along with your feet, hanging your diapers will be a breeze (not to mention they won’t blow away in a breeze!). Clothespins come in various materials – metal, wood, bamboo, etc. – and in a variety of styles – slide on, clip on, pinch-grip, etc. They’re generally quite cheap – $5-6 for a couple of dozen, though obviously that will vary according to material.
Spray bottle – a spray bottle is useful too when line drying. If your diapers are getting too “crunchy” while they dry or are drying too fast, spritz the diapers with a fine mist. This will soften the outside while the middle continues to dry.
What are your preferences when it comes to drying your diapers “au naturel”? What has worked well for you?
As your baby moves from those tiny infant days to the big run-around toddler days, different size diapers take care of all your diapering needs. If you’ve chosen to use one-size diapers, obviously you’ll need to decide when to change the snap settings to get the best sizing at every step of the way. If you’re at one of times, congratulations on this milestone in your baby’s growth!
Here are few things to watch out for to know it’s time to change to the next snap setting:
When the rise falls below the top of the hips, you know the diaper no longer comes up high enough to provide adequate coverage on the front of the diaper. The “rise” is the height of the diaper in the front – this often indicates the the back of the diaper is a bit short as well, so it’s definitely helpful to extend the rise at this point by moving up one snap setting.
When the leg openings become tight, that can also be an indication that the diaper is on the small side. Leg openings should be somewhat snug in order to keep messes where they belong, but if you can no longer fit one finger in between the leg elastic and your baby’s leg or if the elastic is leaving significant indentations in your baby’s skin, then it’s time to re-evaluate.
It should be noted, however, that tight leg openings can occur for other reasons, as well, so you should check out other fit issues before changing your snap settings. If you have a wonderfully chubby baby, the legs will probably become tight before the rise becomes too short, while if you have a long legged, lanky babe, the leg openings may never become too tight before it’s time to switch. Tight leg openings are merely a companion symptom. (Leg openings should never gap, however, so look for a different culprit if changing the snap setting results in gaps around the legs!)
However, if the diaper is tight around the waist and difficult to get on, that’s a good sign that your baby is ready to move to the next snap setting.
If pee regularly starts leaking over the top of the diaper, regardless of the rise, it may be time to change the snap setting. This can be due to a boy who tends to point upward or a girl who sleeps on her front – however, before you decide that changing snap settings is the best way to solve this problem, consider doing some “problem solving” by making sure to tuck your boy downward when you change him or by adding extra absorbancy to the front of your girl’s diaper.
The makers of BumGenius, one of the most popular one-size diapers on the market today, offers a helpful comment to keep in mind as well: Remember, babies change shape frequently as they grow up. You may have times when your relatively young baby is using their one-size diapers on the largest setting. The same child may be on the medium setting several months later due to increased mobility.
Also, one extra note for those of you who use Fuzzi Bunz One-Size diapers: Even though Fuzzi Bunz’s version of the one-size diaper uses elastic instead of snaps to change sizing, these guidelines still apply. However, the elastics allow more settings than snaps do, so you may choose to adjust them more or less often, according to what works best for you and your child. If you ever find yourself trying to find the “right” adjustment for your child, use this handy chart to find suggestions that may work for you.
Here’s the best to all you fantastic mamas as your child grows and hits many milestones in the first few years of life!
Thanks to everyone who entered our contest last week. The comments were read (everyone LOVES Vairdy’s work!) and counted for a total of 63 entries.
We randomly selected Chelsea as our Winner for the Photography Shoot and Krista as our Winner for the BabyKicks 3g Pack. Congrats to you both!
Come on back to our facebook page and post photos of your winnings – we’d love to peek!
Stay tuned for more ways to get involved with N&G!
PS – If you’d like to pick up a few BabyKicks 3g’s of your own, we’re offering you 20% off until August 5, 2011. Use the code BK3gBLOG at the checkout for your discount to apply.
We’ve had a few questions of late about using the bumGenius Pocket Diapers for newborns and here’s what we’ve been saying.
There are pros and there are cons.
Let’s start with the Pros:
This diaper comes bundled with a newborn insert (the absorbent part of the diaper) that is small and trim so it doesn’t overwhelm your baby, make his or her bum too huge.
This diaper also comes with a one size insert that will grow with your baby. Usually parents switch out the mini newborn insert for the one size insert at about 10lbs and this will take them right throught. There may be a point where you’ll need a boost of absorbency (toddler naps & nights) at which point you can pull out that mini insert and use it as a booster.
It will grow with your baby and you won’t need to purchase another size of diapers. You won’t have any “diaper clutter”.
If you have two in diapers (a newborn and toddler), you can use the same set of diapers for them both.
No learning curve for the other diaper-ers in your life, as they only have to learn one style of diaper (and then they get to perfect it by practicing 7000 times!)
Now, let’s take a look at the Cons:
As with any One-Size Diaper, it needs to have extra material to accomodate for it’s growth up to fitting a toddler. This can make it seem overwhelming to figure out how to put it on a teeny little newborn.
They do have a little more “poofiness” to them because of this extra material. If the inner material is not well approximated to the baby’s skin, this can be a cause for leaking (but this can be remedied – see the video for a tip).
While we typically recommend a set of 24 diapers, we recommed 30 if you are going with a One-Size to decrease the wear and tear over 2-3 years. This will be a higher up front cost, but over the course of your diapering days, you’ll still be ahead for only having purchased one set of diapers.
Have a look at the Learning Series Video Tips for using a bumGenius Pocket Cloth Diaper with Newborn to learn two specific hacks to make this diaper fit well and decrease the incidence of leaking during the newborn phase. The video was created before the 4.0′s were released but the concepts are transferable and work well on both the 3.0s and 4.0s.
Whether you decide to cloth diaper your newborn while you’re still at the hospital or whether you start in the first few days, there are few things to keep in mind that will make those early weeks a breeze.
Containment
Since young infants take in only liquid and their little tummies and colons are still developing, their stools tends to be quite runny and are part of every diaper change. Also, since their bladders are quite small at this stage of life, their amount of pee is not copious. Thus, containment is more important for this stage of diapering than absorbancy is.
Until the umbilical stump falls off (somewhere between 4-16 days), it’s important to make sure nothing rubs against it to aggravate it and that there’s enough air flow to keep it dry.
Meconium is the blackish-green tar-like substance that your baby cleans out of his or her system in the first day or two of life. It is sticky and stains diapers easily, so we definitely recommend investing in a few liners with which to line your diapers. There are flushable options, natural fibre options, and fleece options – so every parent’s diapering objectives can easily be met. Liners are also great through the first few weeks as the baby’s stools go through various phases (not to mention colors and consistencies!) These make clean-up easy and minimize staining.
And of course, if you do get any stains on your diapers, setting them in the sunshine for a few hours will do wonders for whitening your diapers and erasing stains.
Skinny Legs
Babies come in all shapes and sizes – some have lovely rolls of baby fat while others tend to be long and skinny. What to do to keep the diapers fitting if you’ve got a lanky child?
One issue that often frustrates new parents is that the small diapers they so carefully researched and purchased before their baby was born don’t seem to fit. And it’s often true – there is something about newborns that makes an 8-pound newborn fit differently in a diaper than an 8-pound, 6-week-old infant.
Despite the intent of various diaper manufacturers to have larger diapers “fit from birth,” more and more leaders in the cloth diaper industry, New & Green included, are recommending that parents set aside their one-size and sized diapers until about 6-8 weeks of age and use newborn-sized diapers at birth. There are some great options that will allow you to keep using those newborn prefolds long past the newborn stage, and avoiding all that extra bulk definitely makes the extra investment worth it.
And as always, if you don’t want to purchase extra diapers, you can always rent them. Easy!
But now, we want to hear from you – how did you successfully get through those early days? What made the difference in your family?
Many thanks to the close to 100 respondants that gave us the virtual thumbs up, wholeheartedly stating that they would recommend us to a friend. We appreciate your kind words and are working through some more continuous improvement projects to ensure that we are delivering the best customer care possible.
Today our featured mom is Candace.
We want to know what makes a mama, papa and baby happy when comes to the dirty work of cleaning bums. We have some brand new wipes in stock and some new-ish (and reportedly fabulous) locally made bum wash as well and we’re looking for 6 families to test these products for us.
One of the best perks to cloth diapering is 
If the topic of laundry fascinates you as much as it does us, make sure you check out our other Laundry Science posts!
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As your baby moves from those tiny infant days to the big run-around toddler days, different size diapers take care of all your diapering needs. If you’ve chosen to use 
