Nicki's February Mom of the Month

Name: Nancy B

Hometown: Monona, WI

Occupation: Research specialist with the Dept of Ophthalmology at the University of WI-Madison

Children: Abby, 3, Maggie 11 mos.

How did you decide to cloth diaper? I wanted to cloth diaper my babies because it's a very traditional way to parent. My grandmothers cloth diapered their children, my mother cloth diapered her children, and I wanted to do the same. My husband was on-board from the very beginning because of the environmental benefits and as he learned more, he became a big cloth diaper supporter for health and financial reasons as well.

What types of cloth diapers do you use? When the babies are young, from birth to about 8 months, we really prefer prefolds. When they get to that wiggly stage, when it's nearly impossible to get them to hold still for longer than 10 seconds, we find it easier to use Sandys fitted diapers. At night, we like to use either a bamboo fitted or a Sandy fitteds with a doubler and a wool cover or longies.

What is your favorite cloth diaper and why? We love both our prefolds and our Sandys. We've used the same diapers on both of our girls and find that both prefolds and Sandys are real workhorse diapers. They're still going strong! In fact, my Sandys were all obtained second-hand. Some of them have seen the bottoms of more than 5 babies by now and yet they have no wear issues at all. The snaps and elastic are fully functional and none of them are stained. For covers, we love the Motherease Air Flow covers. I'm a huge fan of snaps and gussets and my husband loves the MEAFs.

What is your favorite non-mommy related activity or hobby? doll-making, sewing, knitting, cooking, biking. I like making things, just about anything. (And yes, doll-making is a non-mommy related activity. I've been a doll maker since I was 5 and designed dolls for Pleasant Company for 4 years.)

What type of music do you play in the car when you don't have your children? You mean I can do that? Get out without the girls? LOL. Seriously, though, I usually dont' listen to music. I commute during the times when NPR is playing various programs so I usually listen to that. News, social interest stories, etc.

What would you tell someone who is just starting out? Give cloth diapering a fair shot. Don't just buy the bare minimum to try it for a day and don't buy department store prefolds. Buy enough diapers to feel like you can make a real committment to it and make sure that the quality is good enough to not drive you batty. Also buy enough of the tools to make it easier, such as a sprayer, liners, wetbags, etc. It's only when you really put your heart in it that it becomes not only do-able but easy and enjoyable. Also, try to be active in an online diapering community. The advise and experience available there is priceless.