Miranda talks about 2 children in cloth!

One of my favorite parts of cloth diapering is the ability to use the diapers I used for one child to diaper subsequent children. Before I had baby3.0 it was a great plan in my head, but it wasn't until he was born and I actually started diapering him that I fell in love with cloth all over again. One of the biggest expenses with babies is diapers and I didn't have to buy any with the new baby, nor will I ever have to! Talk about getting your moneys worth and saving money!

Some people looked at me like I was crazy diapering two in cloth, and remarked about how much wash I would end up having to do. I'm pretty sure they are the same people who said cloth would be too much wash when I was doing it for just one baby, but I don't do any more laundry now than I did before baby3.0 was born. I was still needing to do a load a day with just one in cloth, whether it was diaper laundry or clothes, and I still only have to do one load a day.

I'm not too sure how typical my cloth experience is for two in cloth; I had (and have) a huge stash of diapers, and I could go days between needing to wash for just toddler2.0. Even now with two in cloth I could do diapers every other day without running out. I have about 60 diapers, so I would have that as my recommendation for anyone planning on diapering two at the same time! Even my old diaper bag (a Vera Bradley) holds enough for the two of them, but I also don't leave the house for long! I'm pleasantly surprised at really how little having two in cloth has changed my regular routine.

Contributed by: Miranda

Using Cloth Swim Diapers

Whether you cloth diaper full-time or just part-time, one of the easiest forms of cloth diapers is cloth swim diapers! Why? Because they're basically just like their disposable cousins, but way better for your baby, the environment, and your wallet! Both disposable swim diapers and cloth swim diapers are made to keep in solid waste. They both let liquids pass through. Think about it - if the disposable swim diapers collected liquids, they would swell up like regular disposables do in the water! Other than the fact that you wash the cloth version, they’re basically the same thing! There are cloth swim diapers that are marketed as such - most are sized, to give the best and trimmest fit on babies [since they are often put under swimsuits]. Some are pull-on style and others are similar to regular cloth diapers, with aplix or snap closures. But you don't technically have to have a "cloth swim diaper". You can always use a cloth diaper cover or shell has your swim diaper. You should be careful as prolonged exposure to chlorinated water can break down PUL so if you choose to go this route, I would use the same shell for your swim diaper rather than using a variety in your stash.

 Another great idea is to use a cloth diaper that may have already delaminated. Since you don't need the swim diaper to be leak-proof, it's a great way to use a diaper that you might otherwise think you need to throw out! No matter what type of cloth swim diaper you decide to use, make sure you have a nice, snug fit around the legs as you don't want any leaks!

Do you use Cloth Swim Diapers? Did you purchase a "Swim Diaper" or use something else?

Miranda talks about SmartiPants Newborn Diapers

most newborns (breastfed at least, not sure about formula fed) gain about half a pound a week. baby3.0 was 6 pounds 7 ounces when he was born (and 6 lbs 2 oz when we went home) so i figured it would be much longer until he outgrew the newborns diapers. of course i have super boobs and he has gained a pound a week. the diapers were sooo cute and tiny, and although i gave them away already (yes, you can resell them but im lazy) i did keep one or two just to remember how small my babies were...

  smartipants AiO newborn cloth diapers were the ones i used most, and were my favorite ones. the velcro made for easy on and easy off during the zillion changes a day we do, and made middle of the night changes so much easier than toddler2.0 and his snaps were. i changed every two hours, and never had a leak until the very end when baby3.0 was beginning to get to the limit for the diaper weight. smartipants are made to fit babies 5-12 pounds, but around 10 pounds i started getting the leaks. the only downside i saw for them was the front goes straight across without a spot for the cord. i didnt start this part of the process until after the cord fell off, but i know many people who start immediately and that detail would be a factor. for $17.95 they are a little pricey for my cheap self when the baby will only use them a short time, but comparatively they are the same price or lower than other newborn diapers. i really did like them for the time they fit, and am going to try out some of the smartipants one size diapers now that we outgrew the newborns!

Taking a look at Lindsey's Cloth Stash

After using cloth diapers for over 3.5 years… I have finally built my perfect cloth diapers stash. I admit – it took a long time {3.5 years!}, a lot of trial and error, testing and reviewing, selling and buying, washing and sunning, but we're here and all that work was worth it.

 Actually, our cloth diapers stash is ever changing. I am constantly finding new favorites - finding diapers that worked well during crawling stages, but for an older toddler just don't cut it. I get lazy and only want to use AIO's so I don't have to stuff, then my daughter will start needing more absorbency so I adjust my stash to more Pockets. It's a crazy cycle keeping up a cloth diapers stash but it sure is fun!

 After lots of experience with using cloth diapers, I've found that these are the diapers that I absolutely prefer. Since my stash changes so often too, it's quite telling when a diaper sticks around for a long time. There is one diaper, that has been in my stash the longest, and you shouldn't be surprised that it's that Fire Engine Red Smarti Pants Cloth Diaper!

 I don't save many cloth diapers – if they're not in the current rotation, I usually sell them to get something that works better. But my Smarti Pants went through both girls and I am ecstatic to finally have been adding more Smarti Pants to our Perfect Stash!

So, how's that for a cloth diapers stash? What does your stash look like? Does it change often or remain constant?

Lindsey is the author behind the So Easy Being Green blog. Once she decided to use cloth diapers on her children, she started making green-er choices in all areas of her life. SEBG is a resource for parents who want to make small changes that will make a big impact on their path to a green-er life.

Miranda's Love for Cloth!

There are so many reasons and things to love about cloth. they are eco friendly. they are cute. they work so much better than sposies. they keep yucky chemicals off my baby's bum. my all time favorite thing about cloth? their reusable nature! when i started cloth diapering toddler2.0 it was not one of my top reasons, or even one of my reasons at all. the thought of being able to use them for another child hadnt entered my mind. after all i had just had a baby, i wasnt planning on a third quite yet!

as soon as we found out we were expecting belly3.0, the hand me down ability of cloth diapers became one of my favorite things about my massive stash. while calming babe down from his utter panic over the cost of another baby and being outnumbered before we had originally planned, i pointed out we wouldnt need diapers at least! all those cute fluffy diapers we had been using with toddler2.0 were perfectly fine, and would also be able to be used on the newest member of the family. of course i didnt get into the minor detail of being able to use them once the baby was 10 pounds, but i handled the newborn stash later.

because we cloth diaper, preparing for baby has been so much easier than i see other friends who dont cloth diaper. while some would lament how we would just be getting one out of diapers (haha no end in sight, hes only 21 months now) and be starting with another one, i think of it as a great investment. no slowing stocking up on diapers before baby gets here to be prepared since we have them. no need for a "sprinkle" or diaper party... we have them! after belly3.0 arrives and is eventually finished using his/her hand me down diapers, they will still have their resale value and continue to be cost effective!

Contributed by: Miranda

One (or more) Things I Love About Cloth Diapers

February is the month of Love. Why not share some of my favorite things I love about using cloth diapers.

• Cloth Diapers save you money – the average baby can use up to $2000 worth of disposable diapers before they are potty trained. Cloth Diapers can cut your cost significantly. Plus you don’t have to make any midnight runs to the store!

• Cloth Diapers are eco-friendly – disposable diapers will sit in landfills for many years before they break down where as cloth diapers can be reused for many years to come.

• Cloth Diapers are super cute – with the modern cloth diaper comes many styles, colors, prints, closures, and even ruffles!

• Cloth Diapers help to prevent leaks and blowouts – I have found that cloth diapers, when used properly will hold in leaks and blowouts better than disposables.

• Cloth Diapers have no chemicals – cloth diapers do not contain chemicals that will be in contact with your baby’s skin for hours at a time. They are all natural. 

• Cloth Diapers can be used on multiple children – this can make the cost savings skyrocket when you use your cloth diapers on multiple babies. Be sure to keep your diapers clean and store them properly when not in use. 

• Cloth Diapers can be sold after use providing additional cost savings – if you are done with your cloth diapers, you can sell them back for up to 90% of your cost depending on the wear and use. Not bad!

What do you love about using cloth diapers??

Contributed by: Julie

Oh, Cloth Diapers, Why Do I Love Thee?

Challenging a SmartiPants Cloth Diapers Blogger to share the ONE reason they love cloth diapers, well, that's like asking why you love your children, isn't it!? I might be stretching it a bit with that comparison, but there are so many reasons why I love using cloth diapers!

  Some super popular answers to this question include:

• Cloth is way cuter than any paper diaper you can find.
• They're better for your baby - cloth has no chemicals and causes far fewer diaper rashes for most babies.
• Cloth diapers are one million times better for the Environment. By choosing cloth, my bathroom trash can gets emptied every month or 2 instead of daily.
• Cloth can be used for more than 1 child. Forget buying disposable diapers every month for every kid you have - cloth diapers have a lifespan that can easily make them last through 2, 3, maybe even 4 children!
• Cloth diapers have been shown to help children potty train faster! Even though we all love using cloth diapers, it sure is nice when anything makes potty training easier and faster!
• And probably most people's first response, and definitely the number 1 reason I love cloth diapers...

I love making healthier choices for my children, I love the cuteness of cloth, I love contributing less to the landfills, but... Money Talks. Can you imagine that $2,500 cost savings!? You could put that back in a Savings Account and start a great fund for your child for college just by not buying them diapers for 3 years! Just by choosing cloth, you can make a tremendous impact on the earth, your child's health, and your family's budget! That's the number 1 reason why I love cloth... with the cuteness factor at a super close 2nd!

  Lindsey is the author behind the So Easy Being Green blog. Once she decided to use cloth diapers on her children, she started making green-er choices in all areas of her life. SEBG is a resource for parents who want to make small changes that will make a big impact on their path to a green-er life.