Ironically, I am NOT Made in the USA

We have been getting lots of questions lately regarding which of our brands are Made in the USA. Almost all of them are with a few big exceptions.  The very popular Mother-ease, Aristocrat and Bummis diapers and covers are all made way up north in Canada.  Imse Vimse (fun fact: Imse Vimse means “Itty Bitty” in Swedish) is a Swedish brand and Snappis, like the amazing World Cup we all just witnessed, come from South Africa.

Here is a list of some of our absolute favorite diapers, covers and accessories proudly Made in the USA.

But I am!

All Together

Baby Kicks

Drybees

FussyButt

Happy Heinys

Happy Tushies

Kissaluvs

Leslie’s Boutique

Mommy’s Touch

Rocky Mountain

Sheepish Grins

Stacinator

Swaddlebees

Thirsties

Wahmarama

Wahmies

Am I the Tie That Binds?

I was all set to site down and write a blog post about swim diapers. After the “Poo in the Pool” fiasco of Memorial Day during which our local pool was closed for an hour, in 90 plus degree weather, due to an unfortunate disposable swim diaper that did not work, I was fired up and ready to write. Just buy a reusuable swim diaper. Imse Vimse are good. They work. They don’t inconvenience your neighbors. They are cheaper in the long run and better for the environment. Plus, they are cute! I had it all planned out. Then, I sat down and read the Sunday NYT Styles section…..

In the Sunday NYT section, tucked away behind an article on the gorgeous, classy Iman, the Gore’s marriage implosion, and the tall lady from Glee marrying a woman from my alma mater, was an article about a French Intellectual (their term, not mine) who opines that some of the tools of motherhood that I espouse, cloth diapers, breastfeeding, natural childbirth, are just chains that are keeping women from achieving their full potential. Elisabeth Badinter, as she outlines in Conflict: The Woman and the Mother (Le Conflit: la femme et la mere) believes that the advances of modern times, disposable diapers, the plastic (now BPA-free glass) bottle and epidurals which were designed to help free women and keep them independent and liberated are being discarded in favor of greener, more eco-friendly, and she would say, harder choices. Choices that are rolling back years of feminist advances in favor of a lifestyle that chains women to motherhood.

So, as you can see, not what I wanted to read on a happy, peaceful, Sunday morning. Mommy Wars a la Francais. Unlike the US based Mommy Wars which seem to focus mostly on the Working Mom vs. Stay at Home Mom dynamic, this was all about the movement toward a greener, cleaner lifestyle. She classifies the heightened eco-awareness amongst many of today’s moms (and dads!) as just a passing fad and one, that left unchecked, is going to derail decades of advances for women.

After I got over my initial anger and frustration at what I believe to be this woman’s limited point of view, I guess I understood a bit of what she was saying. Yes, women are making different choices than perhaps their mothers would have made. I can see how the women who blazed the trail for working women (moms or not) would be upset or frustrated that so many who follow are choosing different paths and perhaps not fully appreciating their struggles and sacrifices. But, isn’t this okay? Isnt the beauty of where we are in society that it is okay that we have a choice? Bottles might allow women to return to work sooner but breastfeeding is cheaper and easier for many (not all, as my own experience would attest). Cloth diapers are better for the environment and our pocket books. So many live their lives in a medicated state, isn’t it okay and rather cool that some (once again, not all, as my crash C-section would attest) choose to experience a major life event drug free and clear? Why are these things bad?

I do agree somewhat with one point she makes. That we, as a society, have idealized what the “perfect” mom does (cloth, breastfeed for 12 months or more, natural childbirth) and those who opt to not do these things or, even worse, try and cannot succeed in doing these things are left feeling like a failure. As if they did not check off all the “Good Mommy” boxes and are not as dedicated as the moms who do. So, what do you think? Are women who choose cloth and breastfeeding and natural childbirth rolling back decades of feminist advances? By making these choices are we reducing our freedom and limiting our professional options? Are the women who choose to not incorporate these elements into their parenting portfolio “Imperfect?” Or, in the end, is the “Perfect” mom one who loves her child and does the best she can in her own individual way taking into account her own, individual circumstances?

Kissaluvs Marvel in Mocha

Just read an interesting statistic from the Clean Air Council. In America, 570 disposable diapers are thrown away every second. That is 49 million a day. As a country, we pay $350 million annually just to pay for them to be disposed and they will still be essentially intact, in the landfill, polluting ground water 300 years from now. I am not writing this to be depressing, although it undoubtedly is. I am writing this to be encouraging. So, on these cold, snowy days during a winter which has already seemed unnecessarily harsh and long, I know the last thing I want to do is another load of laundry and drying of my diapers. It would be so easy to bundle up and head to Target and get a box of sposies and just be done with it. However, as small as my contribution might be, in the end, it does matter. So, stay strong and keep cloth diapering. It really IS important.

No BPA or toxins in me!

Interesting article article from the Environmental Working Group about BPA toxins and newborns. A recent study detected an astounding 287 toxic chemicals in newborn cord blood including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and Teflon chemicals. Of these chemicals, 180 are known to cause cancer, 217 are toxic to brain and nervous systems and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal developments in animal tests. Experts believe rising rates of birth defects, asthma, neuro-developmental disorders and other serious diseases in U.S. children are resulting from these early chemical exposures.

BPA is one of the world’s highest production-volume chemicals and is widely used in the production of:
- Plastic water bottles
- Plastic gallon milk bottles
- Plastic microwavable plates, overware and utensils
- Tooth sealants
- Canned foods and soda cans
- Baby toys, bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups

So, what can you do? Mercola suggests the following:
- Buy and eat organic
- Eat wild-caught and not farm-raised fish
- Eat whole foods and not processed foods
- Use glass rather than plastic food storage containers
- Have your tap water tested and install a water filter if necessary
- Use natural cleaning products
- Use natural toiletry products. Northern Essence is one of our favorites for our kids.
- Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners
- Replace Teflon with ceramic or glass cookware
- Search out and use toxin-free alternatives in all aspects of your home and life (cloth diapers, reusable menstrual products, non-toxic paints and floor coverings.)
- Replace your vinyl shower curtain

Good luck making as many of these changes as possible. Every little bit helps in keeping you and your family healthy.

Bummi Whisper Wrap Froggy Print

We used Bummis Super Whisper Wrap for our daughter with prefolds. We really loved this cover. We had no leaks at all with the whisper wrap and always felt as if they provided superior coverage. The Whisper Wrap was always the cover I would reach for first in my stash. They were very durable and didn’t seem to suffer despite multiple launderings.

In addition to the high quality of the Whisper wrap, I really loved the colors. The frog print was my favorite but I also really loved the Flower print and Star Baby. One of the best parts of cloth diapering over disposables is all the great prints and colors available.

One little known fact of the Whisper Wrap is that it can be used, in a pinch, as a swim diaper. When our normal swim diaper was not clean, we were able to use the Whisper wrap (without a diaper underneath) as a substitute. We just used a size smaller than normal and had no problems.

I really feel as if the Whisper Wrap is the unsung hero of the cloth diapering world.

Wash me!

What detergent for my cloth diapers? I get asked that question ALL the time. And I don’t answer. I feel bad for wiffing on this one but the only answer I have is “It depends…..” There are so many variables (type of washer, hard water? soft water?, wash routine? skin sensitivity?) that there is no one size fits all algorithm.  I wish there was.  Then I would stock only that detergent and sell it far and wide and make lots of money.  Sadly, just doesn’t work that way.

Having said that, I wanted to share this article I read in the Wall Street Journal.  Who knew the Journal would prove helpful to us CDing parents?  The title of the article is “The Great American Soap Overdose” and the gist is that we use too much of the stuff. That we are ruining our clothes and our machines through detergent overkill.  We are operating under the typical American assumption of  ”If a little of something is good, then a lot of it is better.”  The problem is, with detergent, Super Sizing just causes problems.

Compounding an already bad situation, the detergents are becoming concentrated meaning we need even less than before. Additionally, the preponderance of HE washers using less water means we need even less than that. All of this combines to create a situation in which clothes look tired, machines start to smell and, important for us CDing parents, diapers lose absorbency and need to be stripped even more frequently than before.

Too much detergent causes too many suds which lifts all the dirt that has been washed out of the diapers up to the top of the machine (like high tide), above the water level, so it isn’t washed away. This leaves residue on the diapers which cause them to lose absorbency and softness and fades them. How many rinses do you do now to make sure there are no suds left in the machine and than your diapers are truly rinsed? Use less detergent and should be able to cut that down considerably. Not only making your wash routine easier but saving water for the planet and money for your pocketbook.

So, what can be done? First and foremost, use less. Much less. Pay attention to those little lines on the cap of your liquid detergent or the scoop on the dry. The manufacturers don’t make them easy to see as the more you use, the more they can sell. They are not in the business to make this easy for you. So, do it yourself.

The most interesting point of the article was that, really, unless the diapers or clothes are super soiled, you really don’t need to use detergent at all. That the agitation provided by the machine is sufficient to loosen dirt in almost every situation. Not sure if I am ready to go that far in my wash routine, but I am going to try. Detergent is expensive and with three little boys into mud and phenomenally messy eaters, I am ALWAYS doing laundry. ALWAYS.

A pretty pocket diaper

Pocket diapers seem to be all the rage these days.  Pocket Cloth Diapers are cloth diapers that have a waterproof outer with a soft inner that wicks moisture away from babies skin.  There is a “pocket” opening where you place a pocket insert or something absorbent.  Pocket diapers will not function without an insert or some kind of pocket stuffer.  Some people have found that prefold diapers make wonderful pocket inserts.  They are economical and superbly absorbent.  They may increase bulk, though, so this depends on your personal tastes.

There are many choices in pocket cloth diapers.  Among our favorites are the following:

bumGenius 3.0

bumGenius in Grasshopper

The bumGenius 3.0 is the work horse of the pocket diaper category.  The best selling bum Genius 3.0s have a waterproof exterior, a soft, non-piling inner, natural gussets which contain even the gnarliest messes and stretch to fit tabs just like the disposables have.  They come in wonderful colors and are great all-around diapers.

Fuzzi Bunz

Fire Engine Red Fuzzi Bunz

Fuzzi Bunz makes a terrific pocket diaper.  It has a super absobent insert, a soft fleece layer, adjustable snaps, stretchy leg elastic and a soft waterproof exterior.  The Fuzzi Bunz comes in multiple sizes as well as one size allowing you to find the perfect option for your child.  In addition Fuzzi Bunz are offered in a vast array of colors from gorgeous pastels to vibrant bold hues.

Rocky Mountain Diapers

Rocky Mountain Diaper in Berry and Lime

Rocky Mountain Diapers are wonderful pocket diapers proudly made in the USA.   Rocky Mountain Diapers innovation is an internal adjustment system that allows for a trim fit tailored to each child’s body type.  This system is similar to that of children’s waist bands in their jeans.  There is soft suede on the inside next to baby’s skin and fade resistant PUL on the outside to keep them waterproof.  The sizing adjustments allow parents to use the same diaper from newborn to potty learning.

Happy Heinys Pocket Diaper

Happy Heiny's in Cow Print

Happy Heinys Pocket Diapers use only custom milled fleece. There are no leg casings which allow for better fitting diapers and contain messes better without leaving red marks.  The Diapers are available in a variety or solid colors and fun prints.  These diapers have been tested for 12 hours or more at night with absolutely no wicking for most babies.

Thirsties Duo Diaper

Duo Diaper in Mango

A recent entry into the Pocket Diaper category is the Duo Diaper from Thirsties.  This diaper copies the technology of Thirsties best selling Duo Wrap diaper cover.  This diaper’s fit technology is such that two sizes should take the average family from newborn to potty learning.  Like its competitors, the Duo Diaper combines a waterproof outer with a soft and absorbent inner.  These diapers have a microfiber terry and hemp combo insert amounting to 7 layers in all.  Like other Thirsties products, these diapers come in simply spectacular colors and are made in the USA.

These are all wonderful diapers that are welcome additions to any cloth diapering parent’s stash.  All can be purchased at Cottontail Baby an online natural parenting store run by a committed to organics and all things natural WAHM.

Hug

While it might seem that our expertise is focused exclusively on the tail end of a baby, we care about the brain too!  We do talk about subjects other than diapers, wipes and Snappis.  We often get asked by new moms about our favorite children’s books for toddlers.  While we are absolutely NOT experts in kiddie lit, we have kids and we know what they (and we) loved.  So, in no particular order, here our our Top 10 Toddler Books

1. Hug

2. Goodnight Gorilla

3. You are My I Love You

4. Dear Zoo

5. Chuga Chuga Choo Choo

6. Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What do you See?

7. Wild about Books

8. The Going to Bed Book

9. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb

10. Is Your Mama a Llama?

So, that is our list.  What is yours?

Thirsties Duo Diaper in Meadow and Rose

Wonderful Thirsties recently introduced the Duo Diaper.  It is a natural evolution of their terrific Duo Wrap Diaper Covers which have been best sellers since their introduction earlier this year.  These Diapers are great as they have a wonderful snap system that allows you to adjust the diaper to fit your growing baby.  So, instead of having to buy multiple sizes, just TWO sizes should get you through from newborn to potty learning.  I love that.  Like everyone else, we are working on being more frugal and making every dollar we spend count a little more.  This helps a tremendous amount.

Honeydew

Orchid

Like all Thirsties products, these diapers come in wonderful colors.  Currently, honeydew and orchid are my favorites. They have all the high quality features we have come to expect from Thirsties.  Great leg gussets that stop leaks from happening, microfiber terry and hemp insert that is super absorbent and a great sleeve design that allows for easy stuffing.  Everyone should have these as part of their stash.  They really are that good.

So, have you tried a Duo Diaper?  If so, what do you think?  Do you love them as much as I do?

bumGenius Buy 5, Get 1 FREE!

Stop on over to Cottontail Baby for the great end of year bumGenius 3.0 sale. Buy 5 of these wonderful diapers and get 1 free! Free shipping, too! What better way to great the new year than with this wonderful addition to your stash. bumGenius are the perfect AIO diaper. Great for every day and especially wonderful for babysitters and Grandparents. No stuffing, no covers or pins. Just take one off and slap another one on. Nothing could be simpler.

Buy 5, get 1 FREE!!