Destash? Um, no...

My husband does not need to know how many diapers Britches actually has... Seriously, he has seen them all, he just doesn't need reminding...

I don't think it's excessive, but it is enough that we could go on a week vacation without washing. I like knowing I have more than enough that if our power went out for a week, we'd be fine. As long as it wasn't wash day of course.

I just put together a loaner newborn stash for little Mr. M (who is due in just a couple weeks) out of some of her smaller gender neutral diapers. He has 16 prefolds, 3 covers, and 2 AI2s (one tester and one mama-made I received free with a swap order). Excuse the terrible picture, but the heathens are at it today...

That is plenty for washing everyday. These will go nicely with the dozen one size AI2s and fitteds that little Mr. M's mom ordered from me. Her oldest was born at just over 8 lbs, and my one size diapers fit Britches about then. That should bump her up to a 2 day wash routine. I should destash, but it's nice to have enough diapers to lend and not worry about it! After all, babies do not stay in newborn diapers long. Britches is the exception though, she can technically still fit in all of these.

Besides the diapers, I am making her a wetbag and wipes. I do seem to have a love affair with cloth wipes, I use them for everything. Side note: I have been sick the last couple of weeks, blowing my noise every 2 minutes. My nose is not raw though, because I have used the awesomely squishy cloth wipes. See, useful for everything!

I can't forget that I just received those last chance bumgenious diapers too. As soon as I convert some to snaps, he will have a one-size loaner stash if they need it too! I love diapers!

Last Chance Diaper Pictures

I have written a few times about Cottonbabies Last Chance Sale, so I thought someone might like to see what exactly you get with this sale. I purchase 2 sets, a girl and a gender neutral. Each set was 12 diapers for $24. Remember they retail for $17.95 per diaper. I also purchased 12 refresher kits just in case they needed repairs. here are my diapers:

Here is a close up of one of them. It is in average condition for what I received.

I will be using the prefolds from the Update: $100 Challenge for inserts. So if each diaper did need repair (which they don't) it would be a total of $3.50 per diaper!

$2.00 per diaper + $0.50 per prefold + $1.00 per refresher kit = $3.50.

Amazing!

It doesn't come around very often, but it is totally worth it. At least I think so!

Sew Fun!

I have been having a ball lately sewing gifts for a friends baby shower. The shower was last weekend (I know I'm late putting up pics, busy week). I have had an enormous number of custom orders from the store, so I've had to steal minutes here and there for fun baby sewing.

I have embroidered, appliqued, made up new patterns, and played with adorable boy prints. I love customized gifts. They mean so much more when someone puts their love and effort into them. Some of my favorite gifts over the years have been handmade. A painting, a quilt, an afghan, all so lovely. I remember those gifts very clearly. Hopefully she loves handmade items as much as I do.

Did I mention she is having a boy? This is particularly fun for me, because I have a new girl. I love being able to do projects for both! As luck would have it, another friend of mine is having a boy soon too. So I get to make even more fun boy stuff. Both moms are going to be cloth diapering--Woo hoo! Grizzly doesn't understand why I get so excited about this, but it means more people who will kinda sorta understand my passion.

So, here are my fun baby gifts!

Ok. First up is a Grab Rag! Britches loves hers. It's the "can't get it away from her" kind of love. I designed and embroidered the little man's name on bamboo velour and sewed it up with a cute cotton print and ribbons. I make cloth wipes with the same materials, so it is perfect to use as burp cloth, chew toy, or any other whoops rag. Plus, it's pretty the boy equivalent of pretty.

Next is from a scrap from the Grab Rag, an appliqued t-shirt. I love the little ties on shirts.

Another scrap from the Grab Rag is this Grab Ball. I looked at a beach ball and thought, "Yep, I can make that." It is actually 6 leaf shapes sewn together with ribbon. Not nearly as difficult as it first appears.

Here is a wipes pouch. I love to keep things organized. That way when I am searching for wipes in a panic, Tater can say "It's in the bag labeled WIPES mom, geez." This is a simple pouch made like an envelope. (It's lined with firefighter fabric, you will eventually see a pattern)

Wipes. Boring, but oh so useful. I swear you can never have enough.

More wipes. Seriously, never enough...

A matching changing mat is so necessary. I made this with PUL, cotton, and hidden fleece (to make it squishier). Because I had to play with my embroidery software and machine, I made a cute baby too, with a little A on his helmet.

Here is my favorite! I love this wetbag, it does everything. Well, not everything, but more than you can ask of a wetbag. It has the nice large wet pocket, plus a dry pocket, plus a shoulder strap, plus it's shrinkable. I will do an entire post on the evolution of this bag later. But for now, isn't it pretty.

Here is a newborn fitted. It is so tiny and squishy! It's all bamboo with a knit outer. It almost makes me want another... Almost...

Here is a one size all-in-2. Bamboo velour inside so it's soft.

And my favorite diaper. This is an impossible to find print. I even talked to the designer trying to find more, even she doesn't have a scrap left. Needless to say, I'm glad it turned out!

Here is the whole shebang! I threw in some wipe cubes and organic coconut oil too. Did you know that coconut oil works wonders on diaper rash? It does! Hopefully she likes them as much as I do. Even if she doesn't, I have really loved making everything.

I need to get to work for the other new little boy now. I can't wait to cut into the motorcycle fabric I have saved for him!

Update: $100 Challenge

I have an update to my $100 Challenge! I have recently tried a couple more options that I think everyone should know about.

First up are Alvababy diapers. These are similar to Sunbaby diapers. I find the fit a little larger, so they might be better if you are starting with an older baby. They are very affordable. I found a 20 diaper package for $84.00 and free shipping. 20 diapers should be enough for every other day washings for many babies (not my lovely frequent wetter though).

Here is the link: alvababy.com

Next up is an ultra affordable option, 60 flannel prefolds for $29.95. 50 cents a diaper! Unbelievable. Free shipping again too. I thought these were too good to be true when I ordered them, but they work! I live by the idea that you can never have enough prefolds, but this will get you close. I have used them with a snappi, folded in a cover, stuffed in pockets, as a soaker in all-in-2s. They are so useful. They are a made from a few layers of flannel and are fairly thin, so heavy wetters might need 2 diapers to be effective. A couple of mine frayed a bit on the edge, but it didn't change the effectiveness of the diaper. You can't beat this deal! Pair them with 4 diaper covers of your choice (econobums, thirsties, etc. can be found on Amazon too), and you are good to go. Here is the link: amazon super cheap prefolds

I will keep trying more options and passing on anything I find worthwhile. Remember, I have personally used each of these options, so they do work for me. Hope this helps!

Cloth Diapers: $100 Challenge

I am so excited! My husband doesn't understand how I can be jumping-out-of-my-skin-excited about diapers. Let alone diapers that I am not even going to use! Let me explain...

Some time ago, I was looking at cloth diapers. I was checking prices on prefolds, because you can never have enough. Seriously, they have so many uses. More about that later. I was looking at different options, when the thought that started all of this occurred to me, "I wonder how cheap I could cloth diaper a child?" It is nice to have a variety, but what if someone needed the most inexpensive option?

Then I thought, "I bet I could diaper a child for $100, birth to potty training." I took this as a challenge. The search was on. I started finding more and more options, and I started realizing that I could realistically do it. There are tons of options for making diapers out of old clothes, towels, sheets, etc. But so many people in my generation do not know how to sew or don't have access to a sewing machine, so I stuck with commercially available items that anyone could buy.

I am so excited about this because I truly believe it can help people. Whether you use cloth for financial, health, or environmental reasons, it is a great thing! We have so many low income families in my community, all over the country really. If people knew they could save thousands of dollars, I have to think they would do it. Added bonus: it is so much better for the baby and the environment!

Onto the challenge. I searched every store, every resource I knew. And. I. Did. It...

Here is how...

Note: I used mostly prefolds because they are cheap, easy to use, and last through many sizes. I have also used each of the other diapers listed (with the exception of Econobums covers, which will be here this week).

In the cart cart above, there are:

24 one size prefolds

7 one size covers

1 wetbag

Total: $96.75

This is enough to wash every other day, and should last from birth to potty training. This option even includes a wetbag. You could easily get by with this option and nothing else. Some will argue that "one size" won't fit newborns, but you can make them work if needed. Many One Size diapers fit my daughter at about 8 lbs.

Next option...

In this cart are:

2 one size pocket diapers

9 infant prefolds

12 premium prefolds

4 small covers

4 size 2 covers

Total: $128.50

Some of these are gently used, but I have had great luck with this company. This option would actually be done better if you purchased the small diapers, then sold those to buy the larger diapers. You do not need them all at once.

Next...

12 One Size Pocket Diapers

Total: $24.00

As you can see, this is a receipt not a cart. This one is elusive, so I used an example that I personally purchased. It is only available a couple times a year, but is well worth it. 12 One Size diapers for $24.00. You are reading that correctly. Pocket diapers are very easy too, similar to disposables. You can see I purchased 6 refresher kits with them, but I didn't even need them. These do not come with inserts, but you can stuff them with old towels if you need to (it works!).

Next...

24 Pocket Diapers

Total: $108.00

This is, again, enough diapers to wash every other day. These are also very easy to use. They use snaps, but go on like a disposables.

You can of course mix and match these options. Sunbaby has a $60.00 option for 12 diapers, and you could get 4 of the Econobum sets (12 prefolds and 4 covers) all for $107.80

If you use cloth wipes, that will save even more. Baby washcloths are an easy option. You can also cut up flannel ($2.49 per yard at Joann's right now), even old shirts. If you use these wipe options, you can easily cloth diaper a child for $100... Total, not a month!

I am taking brochures about this experiment to my local help center, baby closet, etc. Like I said, I genuinely believe this can help people. If this helps even one person, the time and energy I spend on this is well worth it...

*All items were found at Cottonbabies, Jillian's Drawers, and Sunbaby. There are many SWAP boards out there with inexpensive choices too; Diaperswappers and BBC CD SWAP are two that I have had great experiences with.

**New update here.

Diaper Stalking

The art/sport of stalking diaper stockings... Is insane. If you have never taken part, stay away! They are incredibly addicting. If you don't understand the lingo here, let me give you a crash course. WAHMs are "work at home moms." These WAHMs can do anything and everything. One subset of WAHMs makes diapers. Not just any diapers, super cute expensive diapers. Most of them stock their stores once a week or so. Because these diapers are in such high demand, you have to stalk their stocking. You do this by hitting refresh, refresh, refresh! Sorry I got distracted by the refreshing...

Anyway, you must hit every .05 seconds until the diaper is listed for sale. Chances are if it is a highly sought after WAHM, you aren't going to get it. After one too many defeats, fluffy moms (meaning cloth diaper moms) snap. They lose it and lose their minds. This is when they call in reinforcements. This is done by begging, pleading, and trading favors with other fluffy moms. Pretty much anything short of trading your first born--which would be hilarious because that would defeat the purpose of the diaper! These armies have one purpose, and only one purpose--to get that diaper! I have only enlisted an army once, though I have helped others many times. Mine was completely necessary. Again, wink. It was for the Zoey diaper. My beautiful new daughter is Zoey, so I just had to get it. And I did. Insert smirk here...

I am in the midst of the craziest stocking I have participated in, the infamous Goodmama. I know, you seasoned Goodmama mamas are thinking I am crazy typing while stalking. I am killing time waiting for stragglers. I have no intention of buying a diaper, but I just had to see what all the fuss was about. Luckily I found a pre-loved one earlier this week, so I can even test them without having to go loco during a stocking.

After observing the crazy fluffy moms on Goodmama's site, I hopped over to Kanga-care. Rump-a-rooz was having a sale. Those mamas were just as crazy! Then the site crashed, chaos ensued, it was what I imagine as the apocalypse. One comment on their facebook wall said it all, "We, the overzealous bargain-hunting fluffy moms have officially broken the internet."

I have stalked my fair share of diapers, and won more than I'd like to admit to my husband. Wink, wink (he sees them all eventually, and really does support my addiction cloth diapering). I get excited about diapers, I have even planned my afternoon around which WAHMs were stalking, only once or twice... But I am continually amazed by the strange and oddest of creatures: the fluffy mom.