Monday Mommies: Whitney C.

This weeks featured Mommy is Whitney C. If you would like to be featured as a Monday Mommy (or Daddy) go here and fill out the form and email it to me at kristina(at)thecoffeycan(dot)com

1. Tell us a little about yourself, where you are located, how many kids you have, little ones in cloth, etc.-

My name is Whitney, and I live in Texas where my husband John and I own a small photography business, and I am starting my journey to become a birth doula. We have a 12-month-old son named River, whom we have been cloth diapering for about eight months. I have a blog over here (Leaves of my Tree) where I often discuss cloth diapering and other natural parenting topics.

2. What made you decide to give cloth diapers a try?

When I was pregnant, I heard about cloth diapers from a lady's blog. I honestly had no clue people still used cloth diapers, and it sounded so weird. What made me want to research cloth diapers was the cute designs. They looked so modern and convenient, which made me curious. Through my research, I discovered cloth is better for the earth, a baby's skin, and your wallet, which is a win-win-win in my eyes. I was discouraged when I realized using cloth would be more complicated since we don't have our own washer and dryer, and would have to use a laundromat. However, I was encouraged by many cloth diapering mamas, and just decided I might as well try it. I felt like I was jumping off a cliff! I was so nervous and so afraid it just wouldn't work out, and that I would fail. But, just like every other mom who "just started" and is still doing it today, I didn't fail, and I am so happy it worked out for us. And washing the diapers at a laundromat really isn't as bad as I thought!

3. What did your family and friends think when you told them you were going to use cloth? What did they think when they seen the new modern diapers available?

I know some people thought we were crazy, but a lot of people seemed pretty interested in it, too, whether or not they would consider using cloth. We received many questions [and still do] and I'm always happy for a chance to talk about cloth. I'm not sure if I'm "converted" anyone, but I have had a few friends switch to cloth. And of course, we get a lot of comments about River's cute "pants" or "bloomers"... I love being able to say, "it's actually a diaper!" which always sparks a conversation.

4. What was your very first cloth diaper? Do you still use it?

My first cloth diaper was a Cloth-eez prefold and a Thirsties Duo Wrap, and yes, we still use it.

5. What type of diapers does your stash primarily consist of; pockets, aio, one size, pre-folds, flats, hybrids, etc.? Which ones do you prefer to use? The first one you grab?

Right now we are only using prefolds and PUL covers, my favorites being Chinese prefolds and Thirsties Duo Wraps. I am going to start buying some different brand pockets here and there; I really want to try them out, and have something other than prefolds for babysitters, who usually end up using disposables.

6. Do you have a favorite place to hang out and talk or learn about cloth ; a blog, message board, facebook page, etc.?

I love diaperswappers.com! I just recently started reading the message boards, and I can't believe what I've been missing. A whole website dedicated to butt fluff -- ah, perfect. :)

7. What cloth diapering item, besides diapers, do you consider to be a must-have accessory?

I don't own many accessories -- our cloth diapering life is pretty simple. But I would lovelovelove to own a diaper sprayer. No more rubber gloves, no more dunk and swish!

8. Do you have any special ways to wash or strip your diapers?

Since we don't own a washer, I find rinsing each diaper in cold water, including the pee diapers, after each use cuts the time and cost at the laundromat. Then just go straight into a hot wash and then one more cold wash [since a plain old "rinse" ins't really an option on the washers].

9. If you could share just one tip with someone who is just starting out with cloth or considering using cloth, what would be your best piece of advice to them?

Don't buy a whole lot of the same diaper all at once. Buy three prefolds here, one pocket diaper there, a cover or two in a different brand... this way if you end up not caring for something, you don't have twenty of the same thing. And what works for one person doesn't work for everyone, in terms of both products and a wash routine. When I was first starting out, I bought a dozen Cloth-eez prefolds because everyone was raving about them, but I ended up loving my Chinese prefolds so much more! And we dove right into using Charlie's soap, because it was what was recommended by a lot of websites, but I did not like it one bit. Now we are using Tide, but not quite sure if it will work for us. It's a process and a journey, one to learn from and have fun with!

Doopsy Diaper Review

Doopsy Diaper gave me the opportunity to use and review their diaper. It is the original version of the diaper. The new version has a double row of snaps on the waist line as well as a larger rise to fit the baby's longer!


Here is what I received with the Doopsy SD diaper:
-shell, microfiber insert, bamboo insert, and super doopsy water proofed back soaker

In the picture above you can see on the bottom a long skinny piece. That is Doopsys unique soaker with a water proof backing. I have iy opened up in the picture and when you go to use it you have to fold it into itself and then put the bamboo insert inside, like the picture below.
The outside of the diaper.
That diaper on my (just) 2 year old.

My experience with this diaper:
-The diaper seems to be very well made and sturdy, like it will last a long time with out coming apart.
-The outer material is really durable.
-The snaps hold well and don't pop open.
-I thought this diaper was really absorbent. The inserts are really nice. I didn't use the microfiber insert in here yet with the others. I only had a couple of leaks towards the beginning and I think that was because I didn't wash it enough.
-It takes a time or two to get the hang of folding in the insert and stuffing it with the bamboo but the combo is super absorbent.
-This is a pretty trim diaper, not my bulkiest.
-I found that this diaper(original) ran quite small. It says it will fit up to 35 pounds. I put it on my 27 pounder and the rise was really low and the waist snaps were out farther then they normally are on my other diapers. This diaper fit my infant perfectly. He is around 15 pounds, I had the rise all the way open and the snaps on the waist were about in the middle so room to grow.
-Overall I was very happy with this diaper. It worked well and is built well.
-With the new version the diaper is bigger so it will fit better on the bigger babies who need a longer rise.

Would you like to buy a Doopsy? The prices range from $15.95 to $17.95 depending on what style diaper you get. So good prices.


*. This Product is being given by the Doopsy company. I was not paid to do this giveaway. I received a Doopsy SDto test and review. This review is of my own personal opinions.

Monday Mommies: Lori C.

This weeks featured Monday Mommy is Lori C!

I am a first time mom to a 6 month old son. We live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We've been cloth diapering for 2 months now. I'm a Pilates and Gyrotonic® trainer, and even though technically I am on my one-year maternity leave, I am back to teaching a few hours a week.

I decided to give cloth diapers a try mostly because of the impact disposable diapers have on the environment. When I did the math (10-12 changes a day for a newborn!), that is a lot of disposables going into the landfill and taking years to decompose. While I realize that the cloth diapering manufacturing process and the energy and water used for washing them also has an impact on the environment, I believe that in the end, cloth diapers make more sense. Financially, I will have spent less on cloth diapers (as long as I don't let my cloth diaper addiction get out of control) than on disposables, and if we do have another child, we will be able to use them again.

We had a diaper consultant from a local company come to our house to help us decide which brand/type of cloth diapers would be best for our family. It was great - she brought samples of all the types of diapers they carry, and went over the benefits of each one. We decided to go with Applecheeks sized pocket diapers, with bamboo inserts. We love them! An added bonus is the fact that Applecheeks are made in Canada, so we were able to support a Canadian product.

Here is our diaper drawer:
A lot of people still have the misconception that cloth diapers mean diaper pins and waterproof pants. When I showed my family our pocket diapers, they were surprised at how cute and easy to use they were. Many of my friends are already cloth diaperers, so I had many people I could ask for advice.

Do you still use the first diaper you purchased?
We are still using our first cloth diapers, Applecheeks :) We currently have sized pockets (Applecheeks and AMP) and bamboo sustainablebabyish fitteds for night. We have a rainbow of colors, but my favorite is the Sailor Blue.

What are some sites you like to look at for cloth diapering?
I check out the diaperswappers.com message board once in awhile, and the applecheeks and www.sogreenbaby.com's blogs are good resources as well.

A must-have cloth diapering accessory is a wetbag... although they can be like a shoe or purse addiction. So many patterns, choices, colors! Who can choose just one?? Also fleece liners - makes clean-up so much easier!

What washing routine do you use?
Still trying to figure out the best washing routine - we use either Rockin' Green Rage against the Raspberries Hard Rock or Claudia's Choices. Pre-wash cold, heavy-duty wash, with 2 extra rinses seems to do the trick. Any stains get sunned out on our deck :)

Cloth diapering is not as hard to do or as gross as you might think! If you can take advantage of a local company that do diaper consultations or diaper trials, it's a good way to figure out which cloth diapers you like best. Also to know that there are great resources out there (such as Cloth Diaper Addiction) to help you out along the way.

WiggyRoll Review

Have you ever left the house and forgot to grab your little ones blanker? WiggyRoll is the perfect solution for you! I was given the oppertunity to review a WiggyRoll and really love it!

What is the WiggyRoll?

Introducing the first ever, easy to use, infant carrier blanket! Made with durable 100% anti-pill fleece, the WiggyRoll is a long-lasting way to keep your bundle of joy snug and warm. Using precise measurements, the WiggyRoll neatly tucks into any carrier with no overhang. The WiggyRoll offers a detachable fastening system that allows for quick removal without causing any disturbance to your baby. Our unique, compact design provides convenient storage both on your carrier or in any baby bag. Patent Pending

Price: $29.95

I received the Dino Camo print which is super cute!

All rolled up the blanket is nice and small so it doesn't get in the way.

There is a piece of fabric that roll around the blanket and closes with Velcro.

Here is the blanket slightly unrolled. On the left you can see the opening where it attached around the buckle of the seat.

Here is the blanket completely unrolled.

Here is the reverse side of the blanket.

The blanket rolls up and hangs below the seat. I attached it to our little rocking chair and it worked great!

And here is the blanket in use by my bubble maker. It fits nicely up over him and tucks under his sides.

My experience with this product:
-I am very happy with the WiggyRoll. It is very well made and is a great idea. I know that with two young boys I always seem to forget a blanket. But with the WiggyRoll I can always have one with me.
-The multiple prints and solid colors are great. Often times when prints are offered there are not always good choices for boys but WiggyRoll has cute choices.
-It took me a few tries to figure out how to roll it back up but after trying and looking online I was able to do it. Its easiest to do if you roll it up while its hooked to the seat while learning.
- Nice and compact, not bulky or in the way.
-The material is strong and the blanket is well made.
-Its a great size for the car seat!
Here are a couple of pictures pulled from WiggyRoll's website:

Want to buy it? Go here.



*This Product is being given by the WiggyCo company. I was not paid to do this giveaway. I received a WiggyRoll to test and review. This review is of my own personal opinions

Night time Diapering: Drybees Fleece Pocket Diaper

Okay tonight is the last night of my night time diapering series. I hope I have been able to show everyone some different ideas for night time diapering. Its so hard to figure out what to use. I will end tonight with my favorite night time diaper. I use this diaper on my E-man. It s the Drybees Night time Fleece Pocket diaper.

Here is some information about the diaper from the Drybees website:

These diapers are made with the same well loved diaper pattern as other DryBees Diapers. Made with Heavy Weight Malden Mills Windpro Fleece
these diapers are perfect over night and heavy wetter diapers.
Where other night time diapering systems have failed - DryBees Fleece Pocket Diapers have been the answer for many families, including my own.

DryBees Fleece Diapers feature our specially milled suede cloth.
Milled in the USA specifically for DryBees. Leg Casings keep a snug yet gentle fit against your baby's leg to help keep them as DRY as can BEE!

Because of the nature of the fabrics used to create DryBees Fleece Pocket Diapers you will find they are more bulky than your typical PUL pocket
but are an amazing solution for night time and heavy wetting babies.

Here is the front of the diaper. I have the yellow!

Here is the diaper opened up.
Here is the front of the diaper opened up.
Here is the magical part of the diaper...the super soaker, aka...SuperDo by Knickernapies.
This thing can hold a lot of pee!

My experience with this diaper:
- I LOVE THIS DIAPER! We have had this diaper for a while now and my toddler is a massive superdooper heavy wetter. Take your heavy wetter and multiply it by 20 and that's how much my kid pees. Okay maybe not that much but you got my point. He pees a lot. So in this diaper I have never had a leak!
-So super soft, washes up great and is really cute.
-Extremely bulky. It gives my little guy the biggest butt ever but its so worth it and it doesn't seem to bother him at all!
-The pocket is easy to stuff and easy to remove. I like that I dont have to pull the insert out through the front of the diaper like I do on his other diapers.
-This is a pricey combo...19.95 for the diaper shell and 12.95 for the insert. But worth every penny. I might even get a set for my infant to have.