G Diapers

Okay, so we have given you a couple cloth diapering tutorials and gone over both the Bumgenius and Fuzzi Bunz super easy cloth diapering systems, but even though you want to be a green mama, you're still not sure that you can commit to cloth diapers? Well, then we have the perfect diaper for you. G diapers combine the best of cloth with the convenience of disposables...a hybrid diaper, if you will. G diapers (the "G" stands for green) consist of a machine washable soft cotton outer diaper ("little g pant") with a flushable, plastic free, biodegradable liner. When baby needs a change, just take out the liner and flush, compost or toss it. Place a new liner in baby's "little g pant" and you're good to go. Since the diapers are breathable and plastic free, your baby will be less likely to get diaper rash. The liners are 100% biodegradable, and will compost in 50-150 days. Check out this video to see just how easy G diapers are to use.



And if you're still not sure about cloth diapering, let us try one more time to tap into your yoga loving, canvas bag toting, organic eating, earth loving side with this video, courtesy of G diapers.



G diapers are in our store now. For more information you can check out the G diapers website, or come into the store for a personal one on one tutorial.

bumgenius 3.0 cloth diapers

We are continuing our cloth diaper education series today with a lesson on bumgenius 3.0 cloth diapers. Bumgenius cloth diapers are designed to make cloth diapering easy. Dads and babysitters alike love the bumgenius 3.0's. The velcro stretch tabs make these cloth diapers go on and off as easy as disposables, even on the most wiggly little baby. The diapers are a one-size daiper, designed to fit your baby from birth to 35 pounds.

The bumgenius 3.0's are pocket diapers. An absorbent insert is stuffed inside the waterproof cover. The diapers come with a one size insert and a newborn insert, which can be used on newborns to keep the diapers from being too bulky, or can be used with your one size insert to give you extra absorbency at nap times or outings.

I scoured youtube for a good bumgenius tutorial and this is the best one that I could find. In this video she stuffs her diapers with a microfiber towel but bumgenius diapers come with inserts that are very absorbant, so don't worry, there is no need for you to run out and purchase a microfiber towel.



As always, if you have questions or want to learn more about cloth diapering, please leave a comment, visit our Facebook Fan Page and start a discussion, or come into the store for a tutorial.

Cloth Diapers 101

If we convinced you that you should use cloth diapers in our previous post, then you are probably curious about the various types of cloth diapers that are out there. Here is a breakdown, sure to broaden your cloth diaper vocabulary:

Prefolds: Prefolds (above) are the least expensive cloth diaper system on the market today. Chances are you own a set of Gerber prefolds and you are using them as burp cloths. Prefolds have multiple layers of absorbency, with the most absorbent layer in the middle. They are often referred to as 2x6x2's, 4x8x4's, etc. The numbers refer to the layers of absorbency. When putting a prefold on a baby you can either fold the diaper around the baby and pin it, or you can lay the prefold into a diaper cover like a Bummis Super Whisper Wrap, which Velcros or snaps close just like a disposable diaper. When the prefold becomes soiled you just toss the prefold into your diaper pail and as long as the cover is not dirty you can place a new prefold into the cover that was already on baby. Prefolds are inexpensive, but they are not the most absorbent or user friendly cloth diaper out there.

Pocket Diapers: A much more popular, and user friendly choice, pocket diapers have a layer of fleece sewn into the diaper cover and an opening in the back of the cover, so that the diaper can be stuffed with an absorbent layer. With velcro and snap closures, the diapers go on and off just like disposables. When a pocket diaper is soiled, both the cover and the absorbent layer must be washed. When your diapers come out of the dryer, stuff the absorbent layer into the pocket and your diapers are ready for use. Pocket diapers are more absorbent than prefolds and pretty easy to use, unfortunately they are also more expensive too.

All-in-Ones (AIO's): All-in-ones are the easiest cloth diaper to use. The absorbent layer is sewn right into the diaper cover, so there is no stuffing or folding. The diapers go on and off just like disposables. While AIO's are the easiest diaper to use, they are not very absorbant, and they take a long time to dry. They are best used during the day (especially since they are so husband and babysitter friendly) but they are not recommended for night time and long naps.

Fitteds: Fitted diapers are a pocket diaper or an AIO that are designated to fit a certain size baby. These diapers will give you the trimmest fit and are best for cloth diapering a newborn. The downside to buying fitted diapers is that you have to keep reinventing your diaper stash as your baby grows.

One Size: One size diapers (like the Bumgenius 3.0 and the Fuzzibunz diapers we carry at Nurture) adjust in the front and on the sides so that they will grow with your baby. One size diapers are great if you are choosing to cloth diaper in an effort to save money. However, one size diapers can be very bulky on small infants and may not fit a newborn baby.

There are a lot diaper choices out there but most cloth diapers are only available for purchase on the internet, so it's hard to tell what you are getting. We now carry FuzziBunz One Size cloth diapers and Bumgenius 3.0 cloth diapers at our store, so feel free to come in and take an up close and personal look at our diaper stash.

Should You Use Cloth Diapers?

Is cloth diapering becoming mainstream? It may be hard to believe, but many parents have switched to cloth. Even some celebrity moms like Julia Roberts and Maggie Gyllenhaal are toting cloth bottomed tots. These aren't your Grandma's cloth diapers. Gone are the days of pins and rubber pants. The new cloth diapers of today snap and velcro close. Pocket diapers and all-in-ones allow users to customize their absorbency, and they come in a variety of fun colors and prints.

So, have you ever thought about switching to cloth? Here are some of the facts you should consider.

Skin Care and Health Concerns:

A study done by a disposable diaper manufacturing company shows that the incidence of diaper rash increased from 7.1% to 61% with the increased use of throwaway disposable diapers. This could be due to the chemicals and dyes used in disposable diapers, among which is sodium polyacrylate (the absorbent gel) which has been linked to toxic shock syndrome, allergic reactions and is potentially lethal to pets. If you cut a diaper in half and look at what is inside the diaper you may be surprised to find the unnatural elements you are putting against your baby's most sensitive skin every day.

Since disposable diapers are more absorbent than cloth diapers, a child may be changed less often when they are in a disposable diaper (sidebar-babies who wear cloth diapers tend to potty train faster, since they can feel when they are wet). This can also lead to diaper rash, as the bacteria in the child's waste is sitting against their skin for long periods of time.

Environment:

It is estimated that a diaper takes 500 years to decompose. It takes around 80,000 pounds of plastic and over 200,000 trees a year to manufacture the disposable diapers for American babies alone.

While some people argue that the water use and detergent run off of cloth diapers is just as harmful to the environment as disposables, the fact is the amount of water used per week to wash cloth diapers at home is about the same amount consumed by an adult flushing the toilet four to five times daily for a week. Also, when flushing solids from a cloth diaper down the toilet and washing the diapers in a washing machine, the contaminated, dirty water from both toilet and washing machine go into the sewer systems where they are properly treated at wastewater plants.

Cost:

In today's economic climate many parents are choosing to switch to cloth in an effort to save money. It is estimated that parents spend anywhere from $50-80 a month on diapers. One child will go through an average of $2500 in disposable diapers. Cloth diapers average about $18 a diaper, and with many one-size diaper options out there, you may only need to buy 18 diapers to get you through your child's diapering days. The cost of laundering your cloth diapers comes to about $4 a week, when you factor in detergent, water and energy costs. So, if you purchase 18 cloth diapers and you diaper your child for 3 years your total comes to $948, a significant cost savings. Your savings are furthered if you use your diapers again for subsequent children. Also, cloth diapers have a great resale value, so when you are finished with your diapers you can sell them on a website like www.diaperswappers.com and get some of your money back.

Convenience:

Of course disposable diapers are more convenient than cloth, but with todays velcro and snap fastenings, cloth diapers are just as easy to put on and take off as disposables. If you're a little squeamish when it comes to poop, they now have cloth diapering accessories that make it even easier, like flushable liners you can lift out of the diaper and flush down the toilet, and diaper sprayers that rinse the mess into the toilet. And although you will be doing more laundry with cloth diapers, it is only about 2-3 loads a week, and unlike your normal wash, there is no folding and sorting involved, just toss it in the washer, the dryer and presto...clean diapers are ready for your baby's bum!

We at Nurture are so impressed with the cloth diapers of today, we have decided to carry an assortment of cloth diapers at our store. They are just coming in this week if you want to stop by and check them out. We will continue to educate you on cloth diapers and the various brands we carry over the next few posts. Stay tuned!