Mom Review: Gro-Via Stay Dry Soakers

by Ivee Higa

Background: For those of you not familiar with GroVia, they make All-In-One (AIO) and All-In-2 (AI2) diapers. AIO diapers are most like disposables - clean diapers are ready to be put on baby and after being worn, the whole thing must be laundered. AI2 diapers consists of two parts: the shell and an absorbant pad. GroVia shells can be used for multiple diaper changes;  wet or soiled pads are replaced with fresh ones.  Their AI2s are also called Hybrid because of the option to use either a disposable pad or a reusable fabric pad. The pad that I am reviewing is one of the 3 pad options to use in the GroVia shell. For more information on GroVia, visit their website:  https://www.gro-via.com or FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/GroViaDiaper.



Description: The Stay Dry Soaker Pad is made of one layer of micro fleece (top layer against baby that wicks moisture away so they feel dry), four layers of hemp/cotton blend, and a layer of waterproof backing. The shape of the pad is oblong with the back slightly wider than the front. The underside of the pad has 2 snaps which secure it to the shell. GroVia's cloth pads are uniquely sewn together to allow better washing and faster drying.The pads also have leg gussets to contain mess (vs gussets on the shell). The gussets on the Stay Dry are made of soft micro fleece.



Performance: After prepping the pads the minimum 3 times, I noticed the fleece top was looking a bit wrinkly because the attached hemp/cotton layers had shrunken a little. Other than that, the soakers felt the same - soft and flexible.  



Our first test was during the day. When I snapped the pad into the shell and laid the diaper down, the top layers sat on top of the leg gussets. I arranged the leg gussets around the top layers then put the diaper on my son.  When I picked up my son, the pad stuck out of the shell in the back and when tucked in, the diaper was bunched up. I chuckled at my son's "fluffy butt."

Although a bit poofy in the back, the diaper is trim - all fit within his onezie. My son (7 months old) crawls and also stands up so I liked knowing the Stay Dry wouldn't be too stiff or wide for him to move around in because it's so flexible. About 2 hours later we did a diaper change.  I was surprised to see the front of the pad bunched towards the middle of the diaper and barely covering my son's privates! But his skin was still dry. 
 
The fleece top didn't even feel wet. Maybe a little warm, but dry. I had to look between the layers to find the front half of both layers wet. Because the soaker got squished downwards, the shell was a little damp. I let it air out and continued to use it in rotation throughout the day. It just wasn't as fresh smelling.

Our second test was at night. I add a booster to my son's nighttime diaper and did the same thing with the Stay Dry. This time however, I didn't worry about the leg gussets. But I did make sure to pull the front of the pad up as far as it would go before closing the diaper around him. I honestly was a bit worried when I put my son to bed - he's a tummy sleeper and I kept thinking about the bunched up pad from earlier that day!  Almost 6 hours later I did a diaper change. The Stay Dry and booster were soaked with pee but didn't leak. My son's skin was a little sticky but he was not red.  (Same as with his usual nighttime diaper.) I had to feel the fleece top several times to determine that it was slightly moist -- it felt more dry than wet. The Stay Dry was not as bunched up as the initial daytime test.  But probably due to my son barely moving around rather than my extra effort of pulling the pad up when diapering.  



Poop: Since those initial testings, we have also changed a couple poop diapers on the Stay Dry. There are no stains on the fleece top or lingering odors on the hemp/cottom layers. My son's poops are solid so I can't speak for how it would contain younger babies' liquid poop. I'd worry that it might be messy if time is not taken to arrange the leg gussets around the top layer. And even at that, the top layer doesn't really lay flat (because of the shrunken hemp/cotton) so accidents might still happen.  

In Comparison to the Original Organic Cotton Soaker Pad: 
My son is primarily diapered in GroVia AI2s with the Original Cotton Soaker Pad. I add a homemade fleece liner (which goes between the pad and his bottom) to help him feel dry. That extra piece of fabric actually intimidates my husband from changing diapers.  So imagine my excitment when I heard GroVia came out with a Stay Dry (all attached) Soaker Pad! When I first opened the Stay Drys (in my car in the parking lot!), I thought they were much wider than the Originals. When measured against each other, they are actually the same size.  After further comparison, I figured out that the top layer of the Originals are narrow, giving the Stay Drys the illusion of being wider.

The Stay Drys were just as soft and flexible after prepping. I remember being a little disappointed after my Originals finished laundering for the first time - they weren't as pliable as out of the package. (Good thing its stiffness doesn't affect the absorbancy.) The Stay Dry takes about half as long to dry compared to the Original. When put in the dryer for half an hour on medium, they are completely dry and ready to use. (The Originals would either need another round in the dryer or finish drying on the line.) 

I also noticed that the Stay Drys are much lighter when they come out of the washer than the Originals. Does the longer drying time of the Originals and lightness of the Stay Drys say something about their absobancy? Hemp is known to be more absorbant than cotton, but the Stay Dry only has 4 layers of hemp/cotton compared to the Original's 5 layers of cotton. All I know is we haven't had any leaks with the Stay Dry and the rare leaks we've had with the Originals was due to diaperer error.  

Here's a side by side comparison of the pads in shells, ready to be put on baby:

On the left in the airplanes shell is the Stay Dry.  

On the right in the green shell is the Original. (They are both at the medium rise setting.)  Once snapped into the shell, the back of the Original pad meets the back of the shell. As you can see, the back of the Stay Dry lays higher than the back of the shell.  That exposed part needs to be tucked in once the diaper is secured - an additional step. And, as I mentioned, this creates "fluffy butt" which you do not get with the Originals.  Notice also how the pads differ at the front of the shells. The Original looks like it would stick out the top of the diaper, but it actually ends up being just right. As you can see, the Stay Dry starts out low even before going on baby. Maybe not as much of a problem for girls, but not adequate coverage for boys. I even tried pulling up on the Stay Dry as I closed the diaper on my son (rather than just holding the shell). Same result at (daytime) diaper change - exposed privates and a damp shell which would become stinky.  

The top layer of the Originals fall into place between the leg gussets on its own. Arranging the Stay Dry leg gussets around the top layer was something I was only willing to do once. Not doing this extra step has been fine for us but maybe because my son is on solid foods and a tummy sleeper. 

Under clothes, you really can't see a difference between the two pads. But you can instantly feel the difference - the Stay Dry feels much softer/squishy than the Original. Here you can see the slight fluff difference:


Final Say: The Stay Dry Soaker Pads can stay in our cloth diaper stash because they: keep my son's skin dry, launder/dry well, are trim fitting, and haven't leaked.

Conclusion: Despite its great features, the Stay Drys are not my "go-to diaper" because: the shell gets damp (even after making sure the pad is pulled up well in the front) and the extra step to tuck the pad in in the back.

The Stay Drys would be good for: girls (the bunching would be in their wet zone), families who air dry diapers (feels half dry out of the washer), pocket diaperers who want to lessen their laundry (shells can be worn multiple times), and diaper changers intimidated by flapping fleece liners (the fleece is attached).

Baby A Mom Review: bumGenius Freetime Diaper

by Amanda Tutt

I have been waiting anxiously to get my hands on the bumGenius Freetime diaper and am so excited to write a review about it.

The other day while I was perusing Facebook, my favorite cloth diaper retailer Baby Awearness announced the Freetimes had arrived and they were looking for testers to review the product. Within minutes of their post I was on the phone with debit card in hand to secure my spot as a tester. (Then I sent a text to my neighbor and fellow cloth obsessed friend to let her know and within minutes she too was on the phone securing her spot).

Now onto the review, which is divided into the following components: Description, initial thoughts, drying time, nighttime, ease of use, and fit.

Description:  The bumGenius Freetime is an All-In-One (AIO), One-Size (OS) cloth diaper. That means everything you need is in the one item (no adding inserts, or a cover, or anything) and it adjusts in size to fit your baby from approx. 8-35 lbs. The typical AIO is just like a disposable, but made of cloth. The advantage to AIO’s are they are super easy to use, but the downsides are they take longer to dry and you cannot add extra absorbency should you need it (like at night). However, the Freetime is not your ordinary AIO and has been designed to address the downsides to the AIO. Instead of sewing the soaker into the middle of the diaper they have 2 semi-attached inserts; one at the front and one at the back. You can leave them flat so they overlap each other in the middle, or you can fold them to add extra layers of absorbency where needed.

Initial thoughts: The diapers looked so beautiful and perfect in their packaging which I immediately ripped off the second I go to the car.  I inspected it and of course it seems to have the high quality that I have come to expect from bumGenius products. I carefully undid the hook and loop and attached them to the laundry tabs. I noticed how soft the interior was and naturally rubbed it on my cheek. I am telling you it is so soft that I want to wear it. After I got over the softness, I inspected the semi-attached inserts (I will call them flaps for the review) of the diaper and I am going to be honest, I held it up, let the flaps fall and thought, “This is the craziest diaper I have ever seen.” I spent a little time playing with the flaps, folding them in different combinations and started to become a little skeptical of how easy this diaper was going to be to use, and although I was excited about the new features having a crazy, flappy diaper allowed, (fast drying time, putting extra layers where needed, and no stuffing.),  I was thinking it might just be a giant pain and not worth it.

Drying time: I washed the diapers and threw them into the dryer (note: according to the care instructions the Freetime should be line dried—I choose to dry my diapers in the dryer on low) for the drying time test. One of the claims/features of this diaper is with the new crazy design it will dry faster. And by faster I mean compared to AIO (all-in-ones) that typically take a little extra time in the dryer (which I find to be extremely annoying—I want everything dry at the same time b/c I hate when I am stuffing diapers and I have random dipes, or diaper pieces that are still wet and I have to go all the way upstairs to put the back into the dryer)! I closed the dyer door, and shook my pointer finger and said, “Good luck little diapers, you can do it, dry fast!” (Elapsed time) Buzz! That’s the dryer, up the stairs I bounded. I opened the dryer and dug around of the free times and sure enough they were dry along with the rest of my stash!  Yay, score 1 for Freetime! (That is just a saying; there are not real points to be obtained in this review).

Nighttime: I got the diapers prepped and ready to go just in time for bed time. I was getting my son’s stuff ready for bed while daddy had them in the bath.  I always get his diaper and pajamas out and on his changing table so I am ready for the wrestling match that is required to get the aforementioned items on him. I have the diaper open and am playing around with the flaps and debating what to do. I had to decide which way I wanted to lay the flaps: Both of them flat or fold the front one for extra upfront protection for my boy. And I had another issue, typically I put him to bed in an older version BG with 2 inserts and they are both (the inserts, not the baby) saturated in the AM. Now the Freetime has 5 layers of microfiber built in, but he usually has 6 layers on, and I was not in the mood to wake up in the middle of the night with a wet baby, so searched around for an insert to add to the diaper. I am picky about the amount of bulk I will put on my child, I do not like to send him to bed with a huge diaper butt. I found a BG newborn insert that came with my 4.0 and it fit perfectly at the bottom of the Freetime diaper, plus it did not add a ton of bulk. I placed it under the crazy fold out flaps and laid the back one over it and folded the front wing in half for the extra upfront protection. Bath time finished, the wrestling match ensued and resulted in bedtime. I closed my sons door, shook my pointer finger and said, “Good luck little diaper, you can do it, keep the sheet dry!” (Elapsed time) Pop! That is the sound of my son’s monitor; I reach up grab it, squint and see his smiling face standing up in his crib, so I bound down the hall the get him. I pick, him up and pat his PJ’s and yes, they are dry! I wrestle him out of his Freetime and into a different diaper and hand him off to daddy so I can inspect the effectiveness of the diaper. I am a weirdo, I know, and this next sentence will prove it. I check out the diaper and was impressed to see that the front wing was soaked, the insert was wet and the back half was damp. I find it exciting that his little hiney was pretty much dry! * I have used the Freetime this same way for several other nights and am happy to report that the results were the same.

Ease of use: Now this one is tricky, because I don’t exactly think it is hard to use, but it is not as simple as other types of diaper either.  I think the tricky part came mostly from deciding the best way to place the flaps in the diaper, but once I decided how I wanted the flaps the actual putting on of the diaper was not any different/more difficult than any other diaper I have used. Okay that might be a lie, there is a potential learning curve to making sure the flaps stay how you want them when you  put the diaper on the baby, but that is affected by many factors like how you have the flaps, and how cooperative your baby is (mine requires wrestling). I have other diapers that have a sewn in or snap in insert that I have to hold into place as I put it on my son and this is the same as those. (I am not sure if that makes any sense at all, it does to me, but I wrote it). One concern I did have was what it was going to be like when I had a poopy Freetime to deal with.  I was not concerned about how well it would hold the BM, but how it would work to get the poops out of the diaper with as little mess as possible. I finally managed to get the opportunity to test my concern.

Now, I do not use liners or have a diaper sprayer, so I have to go at it the old fashioned dunk and swish.  It did take some fancy maneuvering to hold the wings, and dunk the diaper, but I prevailed and managed to get the poopoos off of the diaper and the diaper in the pail with no mess.  It was not the easiest thing I have dealt with, but in no means is a deal breaker.

Fit:  I love the fit of this diaper, it fits my 27lb 1 ½ year old great and he still has room to grow.  I want to point out how trim the diaper is—remember it has 5 layers of absorbency; which for most diapers means and extra insert and we all know what extra inserts mean—lots of bulk.  Not with this diaper, it has the extra absorbency without the extra bulk.  I will be recommending this diaper to anyone who complains of a heavy wetter child that is leaking through other diapers.  I would like to see how this diaper fits on a small baby.  I think with the crazy flap design it will allow for a trimmer fit on smaller babies.  When I used the BG pocket on my son when he was little the insert drove me crazy.  It snaps down so it will fit in the diaper on the smallest setting, but then has this weird extra bulk and it drove me crazy.  I really wish I had the free times when he was little. One of the features of BG diapers is there unique butterfly closure with stretchy tabs.  The Freetimes have this feature as well and they allow for a great fit every time.

To sum it up I think it is pretty evident that I really like this diaper. It does everything it says it will do, it is made of great quality and add new features and options to the modern cloth diaper. It may look a little crazy, but in this case, crazy makes for an absorbent, trim, and fast drying diaper!

To read the additional Baby A mom review, check out Savannah Cooper-Hughes' of Eight Days A Week's thoughts on this diaper!

Super Balls

I come to you with a hidden laundry secret, particularly for my cloth diapering mamas.

Wool dryer balls will save you time and money.

These seemingly simple little balls reduce drying time, are safe to use (all natural fibers also make them antimicrobial and they can be safely scented too!) and will help you keep your diapers longer because the less time they are exposed to the high heat of a dryer the longer they last. That time you save also cuts the electricity you use so, bonus savings! They have also been shown to naturally soften your clothes and diapers without chemicals and reduce static.

So how do they work?

They work by improving the circulation and air and heat in the dryer. Unlike the plastic ones you may have seen, these are quiet and chemical free, they have no rough surface bumps to catch on your clothes and the natural fibers of wool reduces any unpleasant smells too. Just toss a few in with your clothes or diapers and let them work their magic! The more you throw in the bigger the savings but the makers recommend you start with four in each load.

You can find these amazing dryer balls at Baby Awearness of course, and I highly recommend them to any cloth diapering mamas because they really will help your diapers live a little longer. After a while PUL that has been washed and dried on high temperatures will start to wear out, or the aplix will start to curl and need replaced, these are normal in the life of a diaper but this is a simple, effective way to reduce that wear and tear.

As far as a sustainable living choice, you don't have to have a baby in diapers to benefit from these little laundry savers because the same magic works for your clothes.  If you're concerned about the environment the decrease in the use of electricity is great and since they're made of wool and not plastic they are less harmful to produce (plus sheep can grow more wool).  Less time spent waiting on laundry or buying new clothing, less static and softer clothes with no chemicals and more money in your pocket is a good thing for any family!

Sage Mamas Making A Difference

Sway Davis of Naughty Nappies™

As we gear up for our anniversary celebration on 8/28, we want to build the excitement with some sneak peeks along the way.

We will be having a fabulous sidewalk sale during our anniversary event. Six local vendors -- all talented, unique crafters -- will be selling their lovely handmade wares (seemingly a rarity these days). Be sure to stop by to see their creations, everything from toys to jewelry to hand-painted organic tees.

One of our favorite mamas participating at the sidewalk sale is Sway of Naughty Nappies™.

Self-described as "ecologically fashionable, cloth diapers made with love," Naught Nappies™ is quickly building a following of moms. If you're looking for some cool, hip, one-of-a-kind original diapers with the couture touch, then Sway is the one to seek.

Recently, Sway was kind enough to take a moment from her sewing to chat with us about her life as a cloth-diapering mom who also happens to make cloth diapers for a living:

BA: Please share how Naughty Nappies was born.

NN: We started cloth diapering our baby when he was about 2 or 3 weeks old. We used Dolphin Diaper Service for about 2 months and decided we were going to slowly start building our own stash because we realized it was really easy to wash the diapers ourselves. However, after a while we wanted something other than green and navy.

Babies are in diapers most of the time. Because of the warm weather here in Hawaii, our son always runs around with just a t-shirt and a diaper, and I thought, why not make them fun and fashionable? It was actually my husband who really pushed me to make our first homemade diaper. The first few were made out of old t-shirts. It was exciting and fun for us to see our little man run around with a Transformer diaper on his bum. I kept on with the diaper making and thought it would be cool to have these available for other moms as well as a way to bring in a little extra income.

BA: How do you balance your business, crafting, and mommy life?

NN: I don't! (LOL)Although important, finding a balance in life right now is still a tough thing to do... Our son is now 13 months old and we don't call him Danger Baby for nothing. My husband works long hours so our baby is mostly with me. He requires constant attention when he's up and about so I usually work only when he's napping, after everyone's gone to bed or before he wakes up in the morning. I've never been a morning person, but I found myself liking getting up early, sip on some coffee and sew, it's peaceful.

BA: What inspires you to create, in work or in life?

NN: It just kind of come to me; "stuff" would just pop up in my mind. I've always been interested in fashion and have always wanted to design and make garments. I guess this is a starting point for me, and a lot of times I think of my diapers as "clothes" when I design them. NaughtyNappies Couture line is one example.

I love going to fabric and crafting stores! I'll walk around and look at something and think: "What can I do with this?" "How about that?"

I'm still trying to make that "perfect" diaper, one that's more then just putting fabric pieces together, one that's going to really "wow" but you can throw it in the wash everyday instead of requiring tender care due to delicate materials.

BA: Your diapers are so cool and hip -- people must stop you in the streets and ask you where you bought them, right? What do they say when you tell them that you made them?
  
NN: Thanks for thinking that =). Well, the few that do think it's really awesome, once in a while you get people asking if I make adult sizes... LOL

BA: Anything new from you we can look forward to at the sidewalk sale on August 28th?

NN: Aside from regular pocket diapers, I will have a very limited numbers of NaughtyNappies Couture available. I will have some organic fitteds as well as will debut our Danger Baby products, which will be mommy and baby-related items, such as organic breast pads and shoulder straps for bags and strollers.

Is This Thing On?

An Exploration Into Snap vs. Velcro™ Closure Systems

As I began writing this, I realized that I must preface it with truth. I am NOT a veteran cloth diapering mom. As a matter of fact, I am quite the novice when it comes to cloth diapering and the many options associated with this aspect of green parenting. Over the past few days I have slowly begun transitioning my son from disposables to the ever-so-comfy pocket diaper. While I am not sure where we will land in the cloth diapering world, one thing is for sure -- if we decide to go with a traditional CD, my recent experience dictates snaps are NOT my friend! Of course, it’s up to you to decide what’s best for you and your baby.

While it may seem like something pretty silly to debate, this subject remains ever-present in women’s restrooms, locker rooms and support groups the world over. Well, maybe not locker rooms. Okay, so maybe not the world over either but this is definitely an issue that many cloth-diapering mamas seem to face. Apparently, it’s not uncommon to find yourself knee-deep in covers, liners and poo before you ever realize you prefer one over the other. 

Over and over again, in our classes and in sidewalk conversations, the consistent consensus seems to be whether one should choose a Velcro™ or snap closure system.

Which one reigns supreme?

Let’s compare, shall we? 

VELCRO™ Pros
    •    Provides an adjustable fit that you can customize to suit baby’s changing size
    •    Easy to use

VELCRO™ Cons
    •    Can be noisy and disturb baby especially in the newborn stages
    •    As baby gets older, may become easier for her to unfasten
    •    May wear out over time and need to be replaced

SNAP Pros
    •    More durable than Velcro™ in many cases and may last longer
    •    Will not attach to other diapers in the laundry
    •    Baby is less likely to detach snap

SNAP Cons
    •    Not as adjustable as Velcro™
    •    Harder to replace Velcro™ than snaps

Ultimately, the choice is yours. It all comes down to making a decision that best fits your wallet, lifestyle and baby. Happy snappin’! (Or ripping Velcro on and off, if you do so choose!)

~ Kennesha Buycks

Recycle Your Rags Into Diapers

Sway Davis is one haute mama.

Founder and mommy behind Naughty Nappies™, her "other burgeoning baby," Sway has taken cloth diapering up a notch. From her first diaper made from an old t-shirt, today Sway is sewing style into diapers for one and all.

When Sway started making her own cloth diapers for her firstborn, she and her husband didn't realize that they were on to something big. While Naughty Nappies™ does feature its own prints and patterns, Sway encourages her customers to bring in their own materials in the form of t-shirts, old clothes, and other sources of recycled fabrics for custom-made diapers.

For Sway, her business is not just about diapering. “I want to think about it as a sort of lifestyle, a way of helping the earth become a better, healthier place and take it back to where it used to be, where the land is not filled with plastics and water is not contaminated because of the toxic waste we are producing... Diapers don’t need to be the dreaded necessity for every family. It’s about having fun and expressing yourself while paving the road for future generations. I want my baby to be as fashionable as I am. I want to look at babies and say: ‘Wow, that’s some awesome SH*! (no pun intended).’”

Needless to say, Baby Awearness is just as excited and happy to have a mom like Sway in our local cloth diapering circle. If you are interested in having custom cloth diapers made, contact Sway and she will be happy to work with you.

Diaper Repairs by Naughty Nappies™

Sway Davis, founder and mommy behind her burgeoning business, Naughty Nappies™will now be offering diaper repair services to Baby aWEARness customers. If you have any cloth diapers in need of new velcro tabs or even snap closures, contact the store and we can help you make arrangements to get them as good as new again.

Cloth Diapering 24/7

Baby A's Holli Shiro, cloth-diapering wonder mom, offers some great tips on how to make your cloth diapers work harder at night so you and your baby can get more sleep. 

Problem:  Your baby is completely saturating their diaper at night.
    1.    Change the “stuffing” in your pocket diaper. You can add a second microfiber insert (most pocket diapers come with two), stuff it with a hemp doubler in addition to your microfiber insert or try a cotton prefold inside the pocket instead of microfiber.   If your baby is a tummy sleeper, put the folded part of your insert in the front.
    2.    Try a fitted diaper with wool cover.  If adding doublers or changing the stuffing in your pocket diaper isn’t helping, try a cotton/hemp or bamboo fitted diaper paired with a wool cover.  Wool covers can absorb 30% of their weight in liquid while still remaining breathable and waterproof.  For parents of heavy wetters, this system is the ultimate nighttime solution. 

Problem:  Your baby’s diaper isn’t saturated, but it’s leaking in the front, back or sides.
    1.     Adjust the rise of your pocket diaper or diaper cover.   Try setting your pocket diaper to the next size up to give more coverage and to close the gap between the inside of the diaper and your baby’s clothes.  
    2.    Make sure you have a good snug fit around your baby’s legs.  Sometimes you may not have a great fit if you’ve been stuffing more material in the diaper for absorbency or if your leg elastic is stretched out.  If you can’t get a snug fit with a pocket or AIO diaper, try switching to a prefold with Snappi (so it goes around your baby’s legs) or fitted diaper with a gusseted PUL cover or stretchy wool cover.

Problem:  You’re using a natural fiber diaper at night, but you want the wicking properties of a microfiber pocket diaper.
    1.    Add a fleece liner.  A fleece liner will help whisk moisture from your baby’s skin  while allowing liquids to pass through, helping your baby stay comfortable at night. (HS)

The Tao of Poo

The Truth About Poo and Cloth Diapers by Ashley Sidell

What is your first thought when someone says “cloth diapers?” Many think that there is no way they want to rinse poo off a cloth diaper. Or what about stains and the smell? There is a lot to know when it comes to poo and cloth diapering. The truth is, it isn’t as bad as you think!

First, let’s discuss the various types of poo there are. And, all poo is related to what they eat.

Meconium
Meconium is the thick, black, tar-like substance babies pass as their first stool. It will stain anything it touches. Most likely, your baby will pass this substance before their little bottom even touches a diaper, but if not, you can use a biodegradable liner to protect your diapers which you simply flush away when finished. Also, prefolds are an inexpensive option.

Breast Milk
Next, we have breast milk poo. We know this as a very “liquidy” substance that many parents mistakenly think is the hardest to clean. In fact, it is the easiest! Breast milk  poo is water-soluble and will easily rinse off of diapers. Many moms don’t even rinse this type of poo off the diaper before tossing it into the pail. They simply do a pre-rinse cycle on their washing machine prior to running the diapers through a normal washing cycle. 

Formula, Cereal, and Solid Foods
For formula-fed babies, the poo will be a little more green and thicker in texture. Also, when you introduce cereal and other solids to their diet, you will find that baby’s poo will be thicker and clumpier. This type of poo doesn’t have to be so terrible to clean. There are a few ways to tackle this: flushable liners, toilet-paper-scraper method, a thrifty spatula, and for the ultimate cleaning tool: a diaper sprayer! Flushable liners are easy to use and can be quite handy when out and about. Some mommies just take a little toilet paper, shake off what they can and scrape off the rest and toss whatever is left into the diaper pail, letting the washing machine do the rest. I have found that even using a cheap kitchen spatula (specifically designated for this duty) can do a great job at scraping poo without the worries of actually touching it! 

Now comes the fun part! My favorite tool is the diaper sprayer! It is an awesome piece of equipment that even dads can appreciate! It hooks to your toilet tank and has an adjustable pressure valve (so you don’t spray poo bits all over yourself and the walls!) All you have to do is spray the poo off and flush it away. It is also great for cleaning various household items and potty training seats.

There you have it, you now know how to tackle the poos.

There is no more dunking and soaking to remove poo bits from cloth diapers. It’s quite easy and before you know it, you will be cleaning diapers without even thinking about it.

Now, how do we get dad to embrace cloth diapers too? More on that next time! (AS)

Ashley is part of our Baby aWEARness Ohana, who works on community outreach and education about cloth diapering and natural parenting to our local military families. Her passion for natural parenting is an inspiration to all of us. Thanks for enlightening us with your knowledge and experiences!

There is always an opportunity to learn about cloth diapering here at Baby A. If you can't make our monthly installments on the first Saturday of every month at the store, then check your calendars to see if you can attend any of the sessions in our new series on select military bases. (Just click on the flyer for details). Not just for military moms, our friendly staff will be available at these community centers to teach you how to cloth diaper, answer any questions, and inspire you to take the plunge into green parenting.

Of course, you can always drop into the store at Manoa Marketplace and we will be happy to give you a cloth diapering demonstration, one-on-one.

GroVia Diapers Are Here!

Also known as an all-in-two diaper as well as a hybrid style, GroVia cloth diapers are convenient, efficient, and not to forget, oh-so-cute! Paired with organic cotton soaker pads (inserts), the covers feature very sturdy hook and loop velcro in a variety of bright colors and prints. Snap covers are available in vanilla only.

GroVia all-in-two diapers are like AIOs except that the cloth insert is removable by snap closures. Diaper changes are quick and easy since the same cover can be reused for multiple changes until it is soiled. For naps or overnight diapering, thin but absorbent organic boosters can be used without adding bulk.

GroVia is also formerly known as GroBaby, and all covers and soaker pads from the previous brand name are interchangeable with the updated, newly christened GroVia products.

Cloth Diapering 101 in a Nutshell

The following information is a great handout for caregivers. Parents who want to cloth diaper can use this to encourage family members, sitters, or others who will help watch baby to cloth diaper as well. If you cannot print this out, always feel free to stop by the store and we can give you copies of this handout. 

It’s Easy!
Modern cloth diapers are as easy to use as disposables. Elaborate folds, pinning, dunking and swishing are no longer necessary. Instead of tossing used diapers in the trash, you’re putting them into a closed diaper pail or zippered wet bag to be washed and re-used.

Why Are More and More Parents Choosing Cloth?

•  Saving Money 
• a full-time supply of cloth diapers cost less than half of what disposable cost and they can last through multiple kids!
•  Environmental Benefits
• Over 300 lbs of wood, 50 lbs of petroleum feedstocks and 20 lbs of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for ONE baby EACH YEAR*
•  Each disposable diaper takes 250-500 years to break down*
•  Health Benefits
•  Cloth diapered babies experience less diaper rash and they are not exposed to harsh chemical gels and toxic byproducts from the bleaching process.
•  Dioxin (a carcinogen), Tributyl-tin (hormone-disruptor) and sodium polyacrylate (similar to the substance linked to toxic shock syndrome) are some of the chemicals that can be found in disposable diapers.*
•  Human feces is tossed into landfills inside disposable diapers adding to contamination of ground water and spreading of diseases. With cloth diapers, poop is immediately discarded into the toilet so you won’t have poop-filled diapers sitting in your home all day long. Not only is human waste getting disposed of properly (so raw sewage isn’t going into the landfill) you’re cutting way down on potential odors.

* Real Diaper Association

Types of Cloth Diapers

All-In-Ones
These diapers have a waterproof cover on the outside and absorbent layers on the inside.  They easily fasten on with Velcro or snaps.  This is a one-step diaper.

Pocket Diapers
Pocket diapers have a waterproof cover on the outside and a microfleece layer on the inside which goes next to baby’s skin and wicks away moisture.  There is a pocket where you stuff a microfiber insert for absorbency.  You can customize the absorbency of the diaper by adding more or less inserts in the pocket or changing the material of the insert (microfiber, cotton or hemp).

Prefolds + Covers
Prefolds are usually made of cotton and have extra layers sewn into the center.  They can be fastened around baby’s legs with a Snappi or diaper pins or folded in thirds and placed inside a waterproof cover. 

Fitted Diapers
Fitted diapers are usually made of cotton, hemp or bamboo.  They are contoured and fasten around baby’s legs with Velcro or snaps.  To be waterproof, they require a cover.

What To Do With Wet and Dirty Diapers
Many parents get a kitchen-size trash can with a lid and line it with a waterproof bag called a pail liner, designed to hold cloth diapers.   Wet and dirty diapers can be stored in the pail until wash time (usually every other day).  Flushable liners are available to contain solid waste.  Place the liner inside the diaper.  It will catch solid waste and let liquid pass through the liner and poop can be picked up and flushed down the toilet.  Another option is getting a diaper sprayer to attach to your toilet.  Hold the dirty diaper over the toilet and use the sprayer to rinse waste into the toilet.

To Snap or Velcro, To Buckle or Tie ー That is the Question!

If you're planning on going to the upcoming Baby Expo, stop by, say hi, and enjoy a fun lesson on cloth diapering and babywearing from the knowledgeable and friendly staff of Baby Awearness at the upcoming Baby Expo 2010.

The Baby Expo takes place at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
May 15th (10am - 5pm)
May 16th (10am - 5pm)

Cloth Diapers 101
Saturday, May 15 at 12:30 p.m.
Demonstration Room

Cloth diapers have come a long way since yesteryear when no one had a choice. If you're still thinking diaper pins and bulky square cloths, then get ready to enter the renaissance age of cloth diapers. Today's cloth diapers range the gamut of styles, fabrics, and even colors and patterns! Learn the difference between pocket diapers, all-in-ones, all-in-twos, prefolds and more. Cloth diapers are the latest essential for savvy, eco-friendly parents and babies.

Babywearing 101
Sunday, May 15 at 12:30 p.m.
Demonstration Room

Come learn the basics of babywearing, or if you have questions about a carrier of your own, bring it along and we can help you feel confident about using it. We will compare Mei-Tai, soft-structured carriers, and slings as well as cover all their various positions: front, back, and side. Discover why babywearing is a wonderful and easy way to bond while still being able to parent on-the-go. (LL)

Roots Remedies Baby Butt Wash: New at Baby aWEARness

From Tara, the maker of Roots Remedies:

"When I was pregnant with my first child my husband and I were befriended by a cloth diapering couple who were members of our co-op. They were excited to pass on to us the exquisite hand-stitched cotton diapers her mother and sister had made for their babies. Their children had been born in Japan where everyone drinks green tea with every meal. They told us that in the hospitals in Japan the nurses would pour the left over tea from the pot into a bottle when the meal was finished. Then they would use it on the babies bottoms when they changed their diapers, to prevent diaper rash. When I gave birth to my daughter, I looked at that beautiful baby skin and thought “no wipe is touching this bottom!”. I remembered the green tea story and did some research. It turns out green tea is used for this purpose in Japan because it is full of tannins which aid in the healing of tissue. It also neutralizes the PH creating an environment that won’t harbor rash-causing bacteria. I added soothing, healing aloe and nature’s great anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-viral agent: grapefruit seed extract (GSE). I like to put a little bit on a soft cotton washcloth and dab baby’s bottom between diapers. I stay away from spray tops because they can’t be recycled and clog easily. As cloth diaper veterans who used this product on two children, my husband and I agree that a squeezable bottle with a flip-top is the best container for quick-change functionality. You can soak a few soft clothes in Roots Baby Butt-Wash and carry them with you in a baby wipe carrying case for outings. Because of GSE’s ability to kill germs, it can even be used to clean baby after number two."

I'm currently using RR Baby Butt Wash with my daughter Audrey and loving it!
Contains no chemicals, preservatives, alcohols, detergents or perfumes.
Natural and organic ingredients: organic green tea, organic aloe, GSE, essential oil of lavender.
Hand crafted with aloha in Hawaii.

Give Green This Holiday Season!

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season. We just got in Kissaluv's Organic Cotton/Hemp Fitted Diapers in. Made of a mix of naturally durable and anti-bacterial Hemp, and certified Organic cotton, our new diapers take green and sustainability seriously. And now, even better, the newly redesigned V.2.0 Kissa's pack in yet more bang for the buck as the M/L size fits babies 15-40lbs. Buy the diapers once the baby grows out of the newborn stage and you're all set until potty training! Features that make these diapers so special: Superb fabric that brings the goodness of organic cotton and the durability of Hemp fibers Super Trim design, yet very absorbent Snap-in soaker provides enough absorbency even for heavy wetter's Our trademark ruffled legs and proprietary elastic which almost guarantees no-blowouts Sturdy polyacetal resin snap closures- easy for parents, not-so-easy for curious toddlers! Simple easy snap on design sure to be appreciated by moms, dads and grandparents alike Overlapping wings to ensure a good fit for skinny and chubby babies alike See our organic fitted diapers on babies! If you have a expecting moms in your family, Kissaluvs are a newborn favorite. Read on for more eco-friendly gift ideas or come visit us in store! All our love to your blossoming babies, Ashley and Nicky

The Reusable Swim Diaper Perfect for your water loving keiki! Toss out all those bulky, gell-filled disposable swim diapers and switch to a diaper that is a swim diaper and bathing suit in one. Wear it alone or under a swim suit or swim trunks. Do not add anything to the inside; you do not want a swim diaper to be absorbent - it would just absorb pool water and could weigh the child down. The design is based on containment. Make sure it fits snugly without leaving red marks. When you get out of the pool, make sure to put on an absorbent diaper to prevent accidents. The One-Size Reusable Diaper Cloth diapering has come a long way since the days of pins, rubber pants and soaking. In fact, with today's top-of-the-line reusable diapers, cloth diapering is not only better for baby, it's better for your budget and the environment. With modern advances in cloth diaper design, they're easier to use than disposables and provide a sustainable alternative to the excessive waste generated with traditional disposable diapers. No more late night diaper runs, diaper rash, expensive diaper creams or constantly taking out the trash. A quick trip to the washing machine is all you need for three to four days of clean, highly absorbent, non-toxic diapers. For more info, check out my DIY Cloth Diapering Article in the Winter Issue of Green Magazine. Waste Free Lunches If you have ever been to a school cafeteria after lunchtime or glanced over at a Styrofoam filled trashcan in front of your favorite local eatery, you know how waste intensive our midday eating habits can be. With Waimanalo Gulch and other landfills reaching their capacity, it is time for Hawai'i to adopt a cleaner, greener way of fueling up. Consider the concept of the waste-free lunch. A waste-free lunch is prepared and served without disposable packaging or food waste. It is successfully achieved through the use of reusable water bottles, cloth napkins, stainless steal cutlery and lunch containers like bento box sets which promote appropriate portioning to lessen food waste while simultaneously scrapping the need for plastic baggies, plastic wrap or tin foil. Buying in bulk-nuts, beans and rice-also reduces the amount of trash entering the waste stream. Bulk items can be purchased and prepared regularly without all the excess packaging.

Non-Toxic Toys!

We have a wide variety of non-toxic toys for your growing keiki. From the always popular Sophie the Giraffe, to Melissa & Dougs wooden sushi set, we have the perfect toy for your babies and toddlers!

Klean Kanteens In 2004 Klean Kanteen™ introduced the first personal hydration bottle made from stainless steel to give health and environmentally conscious people an alternative to plastic. We have yet to see another bottle company, stainless or otherwise, that makes a product comparable to our high quality, handcrafted bottles or that commits to strong environmental and labor standards. Klean Kanteens are the PERFECT gift for the whole family! They come in 12oz, 18oz, 27oz and 40oz sizes.

Coming Soon! The FLIP Diaper System A Reusable/Disposable Hybrid Diaper by the makers of Bum Genius

Why Flip™? Cloth diapering has never been so easy! · TOSS the used insert into your diaper pail · REPLACE the insert with a clean one · REUSE the cover. The one-size cover and insert adjusts to fit most babies from 7-35 pounds. Flip features: · A waterproof shell, so no extra cover is needed. · Wipe the inside of the cover out and use it over and over again! · Form fitting elastic to prevent leaks. · Patent pending comfy butterfly closure. A feature that is unique to cloth diapers made by Cotton Babies. · No stuffing involved just tuck insert under flaps and go! · Choose between a one-size Stay-Dry Insert or a one-size Certified Organic Cotton Insert. · Disposable inserts are also available for use while traveling. · Patent pending 3x3 adjustable snap system to fit most babies from birth to potty training.

December at Baby aWEARness

Happy December everyone! This year is really flying by. We hope you all had blissful Thanksgivings! Our final Vaccine Lecture of 2009 is THIS Sunday so please sign up ASAP if you are planning on attending. Space is limited. We are also extending our store hours this month. We will be open Monday - Saturday, 10-6pm. We look forward to seeing you in the store soon! All our Love to your Blossoming Babies, Ashley & Nicky

Super Baby Foods Taught by: Ashley Lukens December 6th, 3pm Fee: $15 Introducing solids and transitioning your baby to a solid food diet can be a confusing and at times overwhelming experience. Super Baby Foods is a class designed by a mom for moms. This class will not only teach simple ways of preparing food for your growing baby, but ways to save money and time as well. Based on the best selling book, Super Baby Foods, the Feingold Diet, macrobiotics, and homeopathic/naturopathic medicine, this class also gives you the tools you need to select food that will promote baby's overall health and well-being. Class fee includes information and recipes! Vaccine Lecture December 6th, 5:30pm Its that time again!! Come join us for an evening with Dr. Madeleine Portuondo, local naturopath and midwife, who will be repeating the fabulous vaccine safety lecture for those of you who missed it the first couple of times. Dr. Portuondo is a wealth of knowledge and the 2 hour lecture covers everything from immunology basics to vaccine preservative components and more. It is truly a must-hear event for parents of young children. I was astonished at how little I knew on the topic. Limited to 25 people so please RSVP to ashley@babyawearness if you would like to attend. Cost is $20 person/$35 couple and includes a very comprehensive packet of information. As always, shopping after the event for attendees will include a 5% storewide discount! Sunday, December 6th. 5:30pm. Announcing: A New Diaper Package Just in time for the holidays! I've recently fallen back in love with my prefolds. This package is meant to give you enough pocket diapers to last a few days while also providing prefolds for your at-home convenience. Infant Prefold/Pocket PLUS package - $325 (12% savings) 12 Infant Prefolds (bleached or unbleached) 12 Pocket Diapers (Fuzzi Bunz, bumGenius, Mommy's Touch, or solid Happy Heinys*) 2 Snappis 2 Thirsties covers 1 Pail Liner 1 Wetbag 1 Charlies If you are interested in learning more about our other diapering packages, please visit us in store! Water Safety Lecture General Water Safety Practices for Adults and Children Fee: Free! Presented by: Jenni Matheson and Jens Trumpa of ISR Swim School When: December 13th, 4:30pm In a Water Safety Class Jenni Matheson and Jens Trumpa, Certified Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) Instructors, will provide helpful tips on safety in and around the water to ensure that a safe environment for children and their families is created. Facts about drowning statistics indicate that water can be a serious hazard in a child's life. Yet even simple measures of safety can prevent tragedies. Learn and raise your awareness about aquatic safety practices. This class will touch on general water safety measures, specific beach safety tips, what to consider when swimming in the ocean and other bodies of water. If you have your own pool or not, it is important to be aware of pool safety and practices to ensure that everyone is safe. Pool parties are popular, but they are also the host of most water accidents that could be prevented. Learn that keeping children safe in, on, and around the water involves several layers of protection that will lead to a life time of fun in the water. Safety with a smile. Infant Swimming Resource (ISR): Providing informational talks, offering aquatic self-rescue™ swim lessons and raising the awareness of water safety helps ISR Swim School with their mission, which is to ensure that not one more child drowns.