There are few cloth diapering parents who don’t rejoice over the money they save by switching to cloth. But how can you maximize your savings, especially when life feels a bit... well, tight? Here are a few ideas. Focus on mediums. Babies grow fast, so if you are using sized diapers, like FuzziBunz or the Stretch Bamboozle, focus your spending on the medium size. This is where your child will spend the majority of his or her diapering years.  So if you have a focus on creating a lean cloth diaper budget, consider stocking up on inexpensive prefolds and covers for the first few months, then do the bulk of your spending as your child enters medium sizes, usually around 12-14 pounds or 4 months old on a typical growth curve. One note, however – it is TOTALLY worth it to have a few newborn size diapers on hand. They make life easy in those hectic first few weeks, especially when it comes to containing runny messes. Customer faves at N&G include Kissaluvs Size 0, the new TiniFit, and the AMP Duo small pocket diaper. Mix it up. Include both organic prefolds (the most inexpensive diapers) and one-step diapers such as All-in-Ones (AIO's) in your system. Assuming you wash every two days, we recommend two dozen prefolds and 6 AIO’s or pockets, such as the EasyFit or BumGenius. If prefolds just aren’t for you, consider using one-size diapers, which may be more expensive at the outset, but over time will offer greater savings over other fitted diapers. Don’t skimp. You need enough diapers to go from one wash time to the next PLUS a few extras, say 4-6. Make sure you don’t skip having these extras on hand, as they offer a buffer in case your wash time changes, you get sick and can’t wash at the normal time, your baby has an extra number of messy diapers, etc etc etc.  Also, if you have too few diapers on hand, they will have more wear and tear, which may result in buying more diapers prematurely and add up in the long run. Minimize dryer time. More than 60 percent of your energy usage related to cloth diapering comes from drying your diapers on “hot” in the dryer. The amount you spend in additional utility costs can add up over time, so if you’re really serious about cutting your costs, consider line drying your laundry when possible, coupled with a shortened tumble in the dryer on the “cool” setting. And last but not least, use diapers on more than one child. If you take good care of your diapers, many of them will be in good enough shape to use on a second child. Keep a large tote around to toss diapers in as they are outgrown and you’ll save even more when your next bundle of joy comes along. Definitely a bonus (considering you’ll still have to pay for college down the road).

Eco-friendly materials are definitely the name of the game in 2011. Organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp all satisfy parents who are looking for more sustainable materials, and the BabyKicks One-Size Organic fitted diaper, the Stretch Bamboozle Bamboo fitted diaper, and the AMP Hemp fitted diaper are rising to the top as Parent Favourites. Trend #2: Newborn to One-Size Diapers One-size diapers are fabulous for increasing your savings from infanthood to toddlerhood, but they don't always fit so well in the first few weeks of life. Thus, parents are choosing to pair newborn nappies (the cutest diapers - bar none!) with one-size diapers to get the best use out of both. For N&G parents, the TiniFit, Kissaluvs Size 0, and the new Organic Cotton Newborn Pack are definitely get the top raves for newborn sizing.  BabyKicks 3G, the Tots Bots Easy-Fit, and the Canadian-Made AMP One-Size Duos are rising to the top in popularity for the infant-to-potty-training variety. Trend #3: Back-to-basics Prefolds and Covers We've written many posts on the beauty and simplicity of using prefolds, as well as have a prefold photo tutorial on our main site, and thus it's no surprise to us that a large number of parents are choosing the simple, money-wise option of using prefolds and covers to cloth their babes. You can get these classic diapers in a box set or a la carte. Hemp prefolds are also available individually. Trend #4: Style This trend isn't coming directly from parents, per se, but parents who are wanting to show off their babies' bums have definitely fueled the fire on this one. Look no further than the limited edition artist prints on the Bum Genius 4.0's and Elemental one-size AIO's, as well as all the luscious new Super Whisper Wrap Covers from Bummis. Of course, the EasyFit always gets an honourable mention in the "cute" division, too! So, there you have it. So far 2011 is shaping up to be eco-friendly, stylish, and money-smart, just like all of you. We'd love to know - what trend will top your priority list this year?

We love to hear what you think about the products that we stock here at N&G.  While we spend oodles of time researching and reviewing, it really comes down to your varied, real-life expereinces.  Different families, different babies - it is what makes the cloth diapering world go 'round. Last year on Facebook, we started hosting Parent Review Panels.  And it's been fun! This is how it works.  We select a product from N&G that we'd like to get real-time, real-world feedback on.  We head over to our Facebook page (Have you clicked the like button?) and we put out the call.  Sometimes we are looking for families with babies of specific ages and weights, sometimes we are looking for families using specific diaper covers and sometimes its just open to whomever wishes to participate.  After the call goes out, we collect the responses and select our Parent Review Panel. The parents on the panel receive a product from us, use it and then tell us all about it and show us how it works for them.  There's a few more detials, but we'll let you find that out when you apply to be a Parent Reviewer. Have a look at some photos of past review panels and keep your eyes (or better yet your Facebook News Feed) peeled for the next call for a Parent Review Panel. The EasyFit Parent Review Panel Photo Summary. The Stretch Bamboozle Parent Review Panel Photo Summary.

We've officially left January, but we still have some 2010 roundups for you.  We took a look back to see what accessories hit the top five to make life easier for cloth diapering families in 2010. #5 Kissaluv Organic Hemp Wipes.  These wipes are thin, yet absorbent.  Big enough to clean up a big job and thick enough to avoid any risk of hand-poo contact.  They also work well as mini doublers in the early days.  One feature that is repeatedly praised is the smooth side/loopy side so you can choose what surface works best for the job at hand. #4 Microfleece Stay Dry Liners.  Doing double duty to keep zinc based creams from staining your diapers and keeping bums dry, this seems to be a must have for most cloth diapering families. #3 Fabulous Wet Bags.  These gems came on the scene this year and have been a fabulous addition.  With a zipper and loop and made from the durable, yet light and flexible Super Brite PUL, these make managing the dirties easy when you're out and about.  You can find one in our swimming bag and attached to our stroller handle. #2 Bio-Soft Liners.  Now these go out of our shipping centre in droves.  Making poop management easier is what we like to do and these are our go to solution.  Just ask any parent with a baby that is 6m+.  One tip - if you are into medium or 15lb+ diapers or a diaper with a stay dry inner layer, go for the larges, you'll find them the most functional. #1 Rockin Green Cloth Diaper Detergent.  With formulations to match your water quality and funky names and awesome scents, doing laundry just got easier and cool.  Yes, I said cool.  This has made the lives of many many families sweeter in the smell department. What was your "must have" cloth diaper accessory for 2010?