Meet Cheryl, the CEO of Monkey Doodlez Diapers, a Canadian, Mother-Owned and Run Company that has a unique commitment to us Canadians!  Pour yourself a cup of tea and get to know Cheryl, the maker of the popular and trim AIOs and fabulous wet bags and pail liners.

First of all, can you tell us how many children you have and their ages?

I am the mother of 4 wonderful and amazing children; Taylor (8), Brendan (5), Gavin (3) and Claire (9 mos).

What inspired you to start Monkey Doodlez?

My oldest child was in disposables because quite simply, I didn’t know any better.

Like every parent, I wanted my child to have the best of everything and with the influence of media bombardment; I thought that disposables were it; and the “deluxe” ones at that.  I was concerned about the cost and the garbage, but I thought that if this is what people do, then I guess we’ll do it too.  My concerns for the garbage were realized within 3 days after my daughter’s birth; I was shocked at how much garbage they really made.  I briefly considered cloth, but I was not prepared to fold up flannel squares fastened with safety pins and topped with rubber pants, as that is what I thought cloth diapering was.  We continued using disposables of all brands until she was a little over 2 years old when I noticed small pellets on her bottom during a diaper change.  I was very concerned about this, particularly having a daughter and wondering where those little beads of mysterious content might end up, so I started researching about what exactly went into a disposable.  What I learned was very upsetting.  That day she was introduced to panties and the potty and we never looked back.

By this time, I was expecting our second child and was absolutely determined to use cloth on him; even if it meant pins and rubber pants.  My husband wasn’t quite sure what to make of my decision, but wisely opted to not argue with a pregnant woman.   I did some research and was pleased to find that there were more modern cloth diapers on the market, so I purchased several varieties as well as some fabric and patterns to sew some at home.  We had moderate success with the purchased ones but I was very bothered that seemingly everything was made with polyester microfiber for absorbency and they were all designed to be very bulky and very wide.  While microfiber is indeed an absorbent material and that a really wide diaper will likely hold more than a trimmer cut, polyester is hot and wearing the adult equivalent of a beach towel between your legs just can’t feel good.   I decided to make my son some diapers that were more designed for his comfort as well as functionality.

So, armed with my grade 7 home-ec background and a few yards of fabric, I pulled out my old Kenmore sewing machine and budgeted a weekend to design a better diaper and make enough to last my son for a few months – after all, how hard could it possibly be to sew a diaper?  I wanted an all-in-one design that was easy to use, trim fitting and that had cool, natural fibers next to my baby’s delicate skin.

About 70 prototypes and about a year and a half later, the Monkey Doodlez design was complete!

What is your best advice to parents that are just starting out with cloth diapers?

To all the parents trying cloth; thank you!  Choosing to use cloth diapers is so much more than a “how”; it’s a lifestyle.  You are saving your child from chemical and dust exposure, saving the earth from thousands of tons of garbage, saving money in your wallet and setting an example to your child right from birth, on responsibility.

When you first try cloth it’s really important to understand that a cloth diaper is not a disposable diaper.  They do not absorb in the same way, they do not fit the same way, they do not have the same life cycle, so do not expect to be able to compare them as if they were the same.  If you expect an apple to be an orange because they are both fruit, you will always be disappointed.

When you approach cloth diapering, there are many choices on the market; from a basic prefold cloth diaper system to a ultimate convenience one piece All-in-One (AIO).  You need to determine what factors are most important to you.  For example, if budgeting is at the top of the list, you may wish to consider prefolds and a cover, or for ease of use you may want to investigate AIO options.  A knowledgeable retailer that focuses on education and customer service will be invaluable to help you make your decision as to what is right for you and your individual needs.   Many stores, such as New and Green, offer trial programs which may give you more insight into what works best for you.

Thanks Cheryl.  We spent a LOT longer chatting with Cheryl and have more to share.  Stay tuned next week for more on what makes MD’s a uniquely Canadian Company & Advice to Moms dreaming of beginning their own business.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 7:58 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.