Day 2 (April 17th): Real Simple Real Diapers Waste Reduction – Waste Reduction, Environmental benefits,

I have always been a bit of a tree hugger, so using cloth diapers just seemed like the natural choice. There are many people who argue that the water it takes to wash cloth diapers uses more energy than it does to make, dispose of and bury a disposable diaper. 

I am not a scientist, but I have found some very interesting articles on the subject. I will not go into all of the (boring) details, but will share some facts that we can all (hopefully) agree on.

First, I want to say that an item that can be worn hundreds of times is more time and cost efficient than something that can only be worn once and thrown away.  There's a reason why we don't wear disposable underwear.

Yes, this is actual disposable underwear. Google will help you find the weirdest things you never really wanted to know existed.

There is no wondering if you have a diaper for your baby to wear-you always have cloth at home. Hopefully, you wash it and it's ready, otherwise there will be naked buns to view until the laundry is done! You've already saved a trip to the store because you don't need to buy diapers. With gas prices these days, every mile counts!

When using cloth diapers, there isn't extra trash to take out so you are saving valuable time. You don't have to do extra cleaning because the diaper genie smells and you can't get rid of the lingering scent. I have never known anyone to use a diaper genie and it not have a smell, so you can argue, but that's my experience. Now, some people put every dirty diaper into a plastic bag and then throw it in the trash. I do notice this cuts down on stinkies in the house, but honestly, you must see why I would be against this. 

When using disposables, I find that you really have just as much laundry to do as if you used cloth diapers. How can this be?!? Well, it's simple. With a super pooper like Baby J, anytime she was in a disposable she would have a blowout and I would have to wash that outfit and whatever else poop might have escaped on and touched. Honestly, I probably did more laundry those two weeks of using disposables. Never again! 

Check out this blowout story! Poor mom!

Finally, once people become cloth diaper users and learn all about the CD safe detergents and the evils of the laundry world, they become more green in the rest of their clothes washing and usually in their homes as well. It's like the beginning of a beautiful relationship with the environment: taking one step at a time to preserve our planet and keep it green for our children and those that come after them.

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Cloth Choices: Cloth Diapering Systems

Prefolds/Flats

These are the traditional diapers that many people are familiar with. These are the most economical choice and require some type of fastener like a Snappi, Boingo or diaper pins and a diaper cover. With prefolds and flats, you can reuse the cover multiple times if it is still clean. Many people use two covers a day for pee diapers and just let the cover air dry after each change.

Diaper Covers

Diaper covers are made with a variety of materials. PUL diaper covers are made of the same type of material used as the waterproof layer in Pockets, AIOs and Hybrid Diapers. Covers can be used with prefolds, flats, fitteds and a variety of inserts.  

Fitted Diapers

These are similar to AIOs, but do not have a waterproof layer so they usually need some 

type of diaper cover. Fitteds are a popular choice for people looking for organic materials and more absorbent options for their children. With a fitted diaper, you can reuse the cover if it is still clean.

Pocket Diapers

These diapers are made of an inner layer and a waterproof outer layer. There is an opening in the front or back of the diaper to stuff an absorbent insert. Pocket diapers are extremely customizable when it comes to absorbancy and fit. Many people choose one size options, but most brands have sized available for those who want a trimmer fit or need a larger size for older children. Each time a pocket diaper is used, you change the entire diaper and wash it, insert and all. You should not re-stuff a pocket with a dry insert.

All-in-Ones (AIOs)

Everything is built together in an AIO diaper. The inner, outer and absorbent layers are all sewn together so there are no pockets to stuff or extra covers needed. All in Ones are the most similar to a disposable diaper. With an AIO, you take off and wash the entire diaper each time your baby uses it.

Hybrid Diapers or All-in-Twos (AI2s)

Very similar to AIOs, except the absorbent insert snaps or lays in the outer shell of the diaper. These are a great economical choice because the outer shell can be reused throughout the day by just changing the insert. They are quickly becoming one of the most popular choices for parents looking for an economical, yet convenient way to cloth diaper. 

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Win a Year's Supply of Lulu's in the Fluff Detergent!

Do you want to win a year's supply of Lulu's in the Fluff Glamour Wash Detergent? Of course you do!

Lulu's in the Fluff was created by a work at home mom to use on cloth diapers when other detergents were not getting the job done and causing rashes.  It is formulated to be safe to use for babies who have the most sensitive of skin! It works great on cloth diapers and all of your regular laundry.

Lulu's in the Fluff comes in both a regular formula and a hard water formula, so you can get the detergent that fits your water style! Hesitant to buy a full bag of Lulu's before trying it out? No problem! You can purchase generous size sample bags as well! Any time  you switch detergents, you want to give ample time for the new detergent to get out any gunk left behind from what you used previously. This is especially true with Lulu's! It's so amazing that it will get out any funk and residue left behind so it may take a few washes to get your diapers truly clean.

The giveaway sponsored by the manufacturer is for six full size bags of Lulu's in the Fluff Glamour Wash! That is a year's supply of laundry detergent and worth over $80!



To enter the giveaway, simply fill out this form and tell Lulu who your favorite retailer carrying Lulu's in the Fluff is! (That would be where you put BUM LUXURY!) It will take less than one minute of your time. How easy is that?

Entries for the giveaway will be accepted until April 30, 2012.

In addition to the awesome giveaway from Lulu's in the Fluff, Bum Luxury is offering a 10% discount for all Lulu's in the Fluff detergent purchases now until April 21, 2012. Use code GLAMOUR at checkout for the discount.

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Meet Me on Monday Week 28

Never Growing Old, the writer of MMOM has taken a sabbatical, but she will be back next Monday to resume her old hosting spot! :) I did do one of the MMOM posts with the author of Acting Balanced, but it was difficult for me to remember to do it. Now, I'm back in the saddle and have checked out her new feature, Monday Quiz About Me and so I'll be joining this week so that I can stay on my horse! 

She will have four questions and the fifth one is a question I ask my readers to respond to, so here goes: 

1. Which three words would describe you best?

Dedicated, funny, passionate

2. Describe your favorite place in the whole world.

I love the beach and being in the water. Ha! Brad Paisley's song, Water, just came on my player! Perfect! I'm ready for the summer and have been begging my husband to come swimming with me, but he says it's still too cold. Yet, he turned the A/C on today...hmmmm...I say he's a wuss! 

3. Sunsets, Sunrises or Full Moons?

Sunsets-Arizona has some of the best I've ever seen. I've only been up for sunrise once-well, one that I watched and that was years ago on the beach and Cancun. Ah, memories! Full moons?? What are we-werewolves?

4. If you were to get reincarnated what or who would you want to come back as?

Well, I like being human, but if I came back as something else, I would probably want to come back as a spoiled dog. A nice lab that gets to eat, play, go on long walks and sleep! :)  

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

This is our first baby, Chloe

5. Have you finished your taxes yet? 

I have not. We have an appointment tomorrow. I am a procrastinator, but this delay has been my husbands, as my work was all done in late January/early February. :)  



 

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First Fluff Friday: Grovia AI2

It's been a few months since I did First Fluffy Friday. To be honest, I haven't forgotten, I've just been so busy with everything else that I've left my blog behind. :( My goal for April is to bring it back and we are going to start with a First Fluff Friday post! I thought you would like that.

I have been using the Grovia AI2 for months. I brought them into Bum Luxury in 2011. I wanted to offer my customers the cutest prints and an AIO option. I also thought having a hybrid option would be nice for those customers that can't commit to cloth 100% of the time. 

I chose the Mod Flower print to try on Baby J because I love the simplicity of it and then I added a 2 pack of organic cotton soakers. 

This was taken when Baby J was 15 months old.

The soakers are very high quality and thick to hold maximum absorbancy. The soakers are one piece, but they are sewn in a way that allow for the fastest drying time. The top layer is only sewn down on the ends, so the middle can be pulled away. This is similar to the way a Knickernappies LoopyDo or SuperDo insert is sewn. The only problem I have with this design is that it makes cleaning a poopy diaper more difficult. I use a diaper sprayer 99% of the time and poop can get caught in the nooks and crannies of the soaker. Of course, Baby J loves to poop in the Grovia AI2!

I have never had a leak with the Grovia AI2 so it's a great option for nap time or long car rides. I do not like that the soaker is not stay dry because I can tell it irritates Baby Js skin after wearing it. She's always got a little redness after I take it off. Not a rash, just that sitting in a wet diaper look. Using a fleece liner fixes this problem right away. Grovia also now offers a stay dry option for their soakers, too!

The other con to the Grovia AI2 that I have noticed, is that the organic cotton shows stains more easily than a fleece diaper and it is more difficult to sun out. They aren't super obvious, but I know they are there. This is with any organic cotton material, but it bugs me because I like to have the cleanest looking diapers possible! 

The shell has two snaps on the inside for the soaker to attach to. The Grovia shells and soakers are the only diapers I have seen with this particular style of snap. That means that other AI2 systems and inserts are not compatible with the Grovia system. 

The inside of the Grovia shell has a mesh lining. The mesh lining throws me for a loop. I don't believe that the Grovia AI2 shell can be used as many times as other shells and covers because urine gets on the mesh and then the whole system needs to be washed. I have used the shell twice before washing, but wouldn't use it anymore than that because I know there is urine getting on the shell and I don't want to put that back on Baby J. 

This shows the hybrid version of the diaper with the biosoaker inserts.

The outside of the shell is made of TPU. It is very similar to PUL which is what a majority of cloth diaper pockets, AIOs, AI2s and covers are made with for their waterproof parts. TPU uses heat instead of chemicals to forge the two pieces together though which to me means even better for the environment and baby. 

I love the Grovia AI2 fit. It is so trim and they are super easy to put on. They seem extremely comfortable for Baby J and I have never experienced any fit issues.

This isn't tight, my daughter just has a very big Buddha belly! Again, at fifteen months.

My overall concern with the Grovia AI2 is price. Compared to many other AI2 options, they are a bit on the spendy side and are more comparable price-wise to a pocket diaper. For a shell and two inserts it is $17.45. The quality of the diaper is definitely why you find the price point to be a bit higher for this system. The organic materials are always going to be more expensive than a synthetic alternative.

If you are interested in getting the system for yourself, head over to Bum Luxury's Grovia page and check out all of your options!

You can also try to win one for yourself here: