Nicki's Diapers

Best Bottom Doubler and Overnight Giveaway WINNER!

2012-01-27T09:39:00.000-06:00

Congratulations! Please email annie@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prize!

Sniffle Package Sale and Giveaway!

2012-01-27T09:13:00.002-06:00

Sniff, sniff. Cough, cough. AHH-CHOO!! Tis the season for germs and germ sharing! If you're like me, you're finding your little ones are the most adorable incubators for every little bug and virus out there! There are few things worse than having a sick kiddo. If you're lucky, it's just a cold that will pass quickly, but they can still be absolutely miserable and so can you.

When we had my first son, the hospital sent us home with one of those bulb syringes to clear out his nose when he was stuffed up. If you ever want to get your child to turn bright red and hyperventilate from crying so hard, get out the bulb syringe! I have to agree with their thoughts on it though! Can you imagine having a rubbery plastic thing shoved up your nose when you're already feeling pretty yucky? Then you have to pull it out, squeeze whatever goo out of it you can get, and repeat that multiple times. I'd cry, too.

When we had my second son, I was introduced to the most disturbingly wonderful product ever invented for parents... The Nose Frida Snot Sucker! You place the end of the Snot Sucker up to your child's nostrils. The very tip of it goes in just enough to form a seal with their nostril. Then you control the suction by sucking continuously and gently on the other end. Don't worry, there is a filter and the snot stays FAR from your mouth! You would be amazed just how much junk comes out! The best part of it is, no pain for your little one! The Snot Sucker snaps apart and you wash it with warm soapy water and replace the filter. No need to worry about snot lurking in the depths of the bulb syringe.

Casey is also a mom of boys and she knows all too well about sharing germs! She's had great results using Lusa Chest Rub and shares about it below!

As a child, my parents used the chest rub religiously whenever I coughed or sneezed. I remember so many nights going to bed and hating the sticky feeling of the petroleum-based gel that adhered my pajamas to my skin. LuSa Organics took the benefits of that old chest rub and made it NATURAL and SAFE! For congestion on babies (and adults!) 6mo and older, just rub a small amount into the skin. The soothing and healing aroma of eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree essential oils will help your little one sleep easy. Now I can pull out the chest rub when my kids aren't feeling well, and I can feel happy that I'm putting something natural and safe onto their bodies!

We've put these two products together for our Sniffle Package and taken 15% off while supplies last! You can also enter below for your chance to WIN a Sniffle Package!

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Planet Wise Moo-licious Pail Liner Giveaway WINNER!

2012-01-25T08:11:00.000-06:00

Congratulations! Please email annie@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prize!

Thirsties Duo All-In-One Review and Giveaway

2012-01-24T19:53:00.000-06:00

When I think about modern cloth diapers, one of the first brands that come to mind are Thirsties. Every Thirsties product that I've ever tried has been of the highest quality and has always exceeded my (admittedly high) expectations of cloth diapers! When I heard they were coming out with another new product, I was very excited to give it a try! With 2 currently in cloth diapers, I always have a willing set of buns :)

First, let me tell you a little bit about the new Thirties Duo All-In-Ones! Their signature Duo sizing has the Size One Diaper fitting 6-18 pounds and the Size Two Diaper fitted 18-40 pounds! Each size has 2 rows of rise snaps, giving them a combined 6 rise settings! The inner is lined with a super soft fleece to keep baby feeling dry. The built-in microfiber soaker makes super easy diaper changes with no folding or stuffing. The waterproof outer means no cover needed! These are available in snap or aplix closure.

Emmett is 2 months old and 12 pounds so I used the Size 1 Snap (Mud) on him. He is on the middle rise setting and still has plenty of room to grow in both the rise and waist. I was surprised when I noticed that Thirsties didn't use their double leg gussets on these, but I was so please that it held messes in just as well and the gentle leg elastic didn't leave any marks on his legs. Emmett is a super soaker so one of my favorite things about this diaper is the ability to add more absorbency! There is a pass through sleeve where I can stuff a Thirsties Hemp Insert or any other doubler when Emmett is wearing the diaper overnight. Many one-size diapers are still quite bulky on Emmett, but because Thirsties uses their Duo system, this diaper is really nice and trim!

Sean is 2 1/2 years old and about 30 pounds so I used the Size 2 Snap (Hoot) on him. He is also on the middle rise setting with lots of room to grow (although I hope he potty trains out of diapers before he grows much more ;-)) Sean is a little thicker built and we still did not have any problems with red marks on these. They are SUPER trim and fit great under his jeans! He has INCREDIBLY sensitive skin, so I was thrilled when he was able to wear this overnight (with a prefold used to add absorbency) and wake up DRY and without irritation!

Would you like to find out about more wonderful Thirsties Products? Request their catalog here! Would you like to win a new Thirsties Duo All-In-One in your choice of size, print and closure? Enter below!!

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Diono Monterey Booster Seat SALE!

2012-01-20T01:55:00.002-06:00

Now through February 17th, take advantage of 10% off ALL Diono (Sunshine Kids) Monterey Booster Seats with FREE SHIPPING!

Product Review and Giveaway! Best Bottom Diapers Microfiber Doubler and Hemp/Organic Cotton Overnights

2012-01-19T00:29:00.002-06:00

I didn't think I could love a diaper more, but I was recently proven wrong! Best Bottom Diapers has released new Micofiber Diaper Doublers and Hemp/Organic Cotton Overnight inserts, adding 2 new great options to a line of the most versitile cloth diapers available!

The Microfiber Diaper Doubler is made of 2 layers of microfiber and has snaps on both sides. Simply snap your Diaper Doubler into your Best Bottom Diaper Shell, and snap your Stay-Dry or Hemp/Organic Cotton insert (of the same size) on top! This is a great option for a heavy wetter, nap-time or long car rides! I've found it difficult to find a trim cloth diaper option that is absorbent enough to hold Emmett's heavy wetting. He's teetering on the edge of the next clothing size and in order to get a few more wears from them, we need a trim diaper! I've found these fit the bill perfectly!

If heavy wetting is a concern during the day, imagine what it's like at night! Emmett is still nursing every 3 hours at night, but we've found he is WIDE AWAKE for HOURS if we change his diaper. Enter... the Best Bottom Hemp/Organic Cotton Overnight insert! This insert snaps into your Best Bottom Diaper Shell and you snap a Stay-Dry or Hemp/Organic Cotton Insert on top. This creates a bullet-proof overnight diaper!

You might tag a look at the price tag and get scared off. $9.99 for an insert? The truth is hemp is one of your best options for absorbency but it's often a little pricer. But think of it this way, you'll only likely need 2 or 3 of them (depending on how often you wash) and buying a $9.99 insert to turn your daytime diaper into a night time diaper is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a diaper specifically for night time!

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Planet Wise Moo-licious Pail Liner Giveaway!

2012-01-17T10:35:00.000-06:00

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Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Diapering More Than One Child

2012-01-12T19:24:00.001-06:00

One of the greatest benefits of using cloth diapers is the amount of money that it can save you. That amount is multiplied when you use them for multiple children! If you're like me, you may find that you have more than 1 child in cloth diapers at a time! Now that Emmett has joined our family, I'm finding myself with 2 in diapers for the second time. My middle son is 2 1/2 and although he's partially potty trained (when he chooses to be!), I'm still doing cloth diaper laundry for two!

Here are a few tricks I've picked up along the way:

One-size diapers are the most convenient, particularly diapers that have a snap up/down rise to make changing the diaper size between children a snap (haha)! It's also convenient when you're on the go, bring any 2 diapers with you and you're covered for both kids!
Don't go too long between washing! When you're filling your pail up with diapers for two kids, you may not realize just how many diapers are in there. You don't want your loads to get so big that your washer isn't able to get them clean enough. I would suggest not washing more than 18-24 diapers at a time. If you're using a system like Best Bottom Diapers, you can push that a bit more since they take up less space in your machine.
Relax! Go into each day knowing you're going to be changing a lot of diapers and ENJOY it! Savor those couple one-on-one minutes with that child! Make goofy faces and sing silly songs. Embrace the fact that every cloth diaper you are changing that day is going to be reused over and over again.

Before you know it, you'll have one in diapers, then none! If you're like me, you'll have to get a new hobby :)

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Flats

2012-01-04T19:19:00.001-06:00

When we got our last shipment in of Imagine Prefold and Flat Diapers and I helped count dozens upon dozens of them, I had a lot of time to think :) Think about how I had tried just about every cloth diaper type out there and why I liked each one for different reasons. As I stacked up the pile of Imagine Flats, I realized that was one type of diaper I had never tried. Flats certainly aren't a "modern" cloth diaper, but we still sell quite a lot of them at Nicki's Diapers and I like to be able to share my experiences with diapers when customers ask! So that solved it, I was bringing home a dozen Imagine Organic Flats that night!

You should have seen the look on my husband's face. "These are... diapers?", he asked. I showed him several ways to put them on our 2 year old, and he still didn't understand what makes these better than prefolds (by the way, he is a prefold guru). Here are some of the reasons that I gave him for why people might chose flats:

They are one-size. Meaning, we could use those same flats that we were trying on my 2 year old with the baby I was pregnant with at the time. Extremely economical, especially when paired with a one-size diaper cover!
They are very easy to clean. When flats are completely open, they are just a single layer of birdseye. When washing this allows lots of water and detergent to get the diapers VERY clean!
They are versatile. There are a variety of folds you can do to suit you and your baby's needs. They can also be used as doublers and to stuff pocket diapers.
They are useful after cloth diapering! After your little ones are out of diapers, use your flats to wash your car, as a dusting cloth or general cleaning rag, or to get your mirrors and glass surfaces clean without lint!

Now that our little guy has arrived, I've tried flats on him multiple times. They are so much easier than I had anticipated! Can you imagine how much money you'd save (especially over the course of multiple children) if you used flats and covers exclusively?!

There are quite a few ways to fold flats, probably even more than prefolds. I've found 2 folds that I prefer on my 6 week old. The first is called a pad fold. Basically you just fold it several times till I lays nicely in your cover. Below is a picture of a pad fold in a Thirsties Duo Wrap size 1. The pad fold is nice because it's quick and puts lots of absorbency where you need it.

The other fold that I found to work great on Emmett is the Origami Fold. I would love to provide you with detailed pictures on this fold, but I find it more helpful to look at a video. If you search Origami Flat Folds on Youtube, you'll get lots of great results :) Since Emmett is a heavy wetter, I trifold an XS Imagine Smart Fit Prefold and lay it in the wetzone. I also fold in the wings since he's still pretty tiny around the waist.

In the picture below, I held the flat on with a Snappi before putting the Thirsties Duo Wrap Size 1 over it, but I've also found it nice to just wrap the wings around him and put the cover over the top. I like the Origami fold because it's a little bit more trim between the legs, and it also prevents the newborn poop from getting on the inside of the cover.

Are you wondering just how economical using flats and one-size covers exclusively could be?

3 Dozen Imagine Flat Diapers: 3 x $14.99 = $44.97
8 Imagine One-Size Diapers Covers: 8 x $7.95 = $63.60

That's just over $100! Can you IMAGINE saving that much money?! And you can use those diapers for future children, too!

And just because my little guy's bottom half has been getting so much publicity... here's his sweet face. Can you believe how much he's chunked up?! WUB!

Rockin' Green Products 10% OFF in January!

2012-01-01T09:45:00.000-06:00

For the entire month of January, all Rockin' Green products will be 10% off!

Take advantage of these great deals all month, January 1st through January 31st. No coupon necessary, valid in store and online!

Rockin' Green Cloth Diaper & Laundry Detergent
With three formulas - Soft Rock, Classic Rock, and Hard Rock - to cover all water types, these detergents are gentle enough for baby bottoms and yet strong enough to clean out the yuckiest messes. Rinses clean to prevent buildup. Plenty of natural scents to choose from! No dyes, fillers, enzymes, optical brighteners, phosphates, and it's HE compatible! Just want to try a little? Grab a sample size HERE! Rockin' Green Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer
100% natural compound formulated to battle ammonia stink! Four tablespoons will de-funk up to 20 diapers! Enzyme, phosphate, and SLS free! Rockin' Green Femme Rock
Do you use mama cloth? Femme Rock is a specially designed cloth menstrual pad detergent that will keep your reusable pads looking clean! It is enzyme based to fight tough stains and is scent, phosphate, and SLS free! Rockin' Green Melody Odor Neutralizer & Fragrance Spray
Finally, a spray that's made with all natural ingredients (so it's safe to use around kids and all fabrics) that still smells great! Spray in any area to get rid of any funky smells. Comes in lots of your favorite Rockin' Green scents! Rockin' Green Dryer Ball
Soften your clothes and reduce drying time NATURALLY! No fragrances, dyes, or toxic chemicals. Simply toss the dryer balls in the dryer with your wet laundry. No need to remove them - great for all laundry! 100% wool and 9" circumference, approximately 3oz each. Rockin' Green Shake it Up! Pail Freshner
Add a sprinkle to your wetbag, diaper pail, or trash can to freshen and neutralize odors! Seven fresh scents to choose from! Rockin' Green Magnetic Laundry Scoop
Keep your detergent scoop within easy reach -- just stick it to the side of your machine with magnets! You'll never lose it again! Sides measure 1 tablespoon (with 1/2 tablespoon mark) and 1 teaspoon. Choose one of several fun colors to match your decor!

bumGenius! Freetime AIO WINNER!

2012-01-01T07:24:00.003-06:00

Congratulations! Please email casey@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prize!

bumGenius Freetime All-in-One One Size Diaper Review and Giveaway!

2011-12-23T09:00:00.001-06:00

I had the opportunity to review a new bumGenius Freetime All-in-One and I even get to share one with you! My first impressions were good -- the Albert print I chose is ADORABLE. My husband and I are a little on the geeky side, and even he commented on how cute it is.

I was impressed by how trim the diaper is, even for an all-in-one. The way the inserts are attached and layered makes them spread out for coverage and gets tons of agitation and air flow in the washer and dryer. Some of my other all-in-ones take forever to dry, but this was done with my regular inserts! I definitely feel like there's enough absorbency with the multiple layers of microfiber too, even with my heavy wetter.

The fit was great on my two year old -- the bumGenius stretchy side tabs and trim diaper combined to give a great snug fit. On a smaller baby, the layers can be folded to put them right where they're needed. (I apologize for the lack of pictures, my kids have been sick and the shots I got of him in the diaper were pretty sad-looking!) Overall I really like this new design -- and you have the opportunity to win one, too! (Choice of color and closure depending on availability.)

You can do each one of the entries however you must post back here to our blog and tell us WHAT you did. Be sure you follow the Nicki’s Diapers blog - publicly for your chance to win! We will post our winner on Friday, December 30th!

How do you enter to win? (Each worth 1 entry per day unless otherwise stated)

REQUIRED ENTRIES:

Follow the Nicki’s Diaper blog publicly.

"Like" Nicki's Diapers on Facebook- Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here.

Optional Entries:L ENTRIES

Blog about our giveaway and link back to our site. When you post back here you must link to the URL where you blogged. (2 entries)
Follow Nicki’s Diapers @nickisdiapers on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave the URL where you Tweeted.
Tweet @nickisdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @planetwise #clothdiapers or #wetbags (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @bestbottomdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Like Best Bottom Diapers, Planet Wise and My Swim Baby on Facebook - Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here. (1 entry for each)
Suggest the following facebook pages to your friends: Nicki’s Diapers , Best Bottom Diapers , Planet Wise. You must post back here telling us which friend accepted your page suggestion. (1 entry per page for each person you suggest that LIKES us)
Grab our button and place them on your blog. Post a link to the blog here. (2 entries per blog - per button)
Start or comment on a discussion on the Nicki's Diapers facebook page discussion board.
Blog about your choice to cloth diaper and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com (2 entries)
Tag @nickisdiapers or @bestbottomdiapers, or @planetwise in a facebook post (1 entry for each tag)
Have a friend subscribe to our blog. Post their username in your comment. You can do this as many times as you can get friends to subscribe!
Talk about Nicki's Diapers on any forum and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com.
Sign up for the Nicki's Diapers newsletter (enter your email address on the top right of our homepage).
Start a thread about this giveaway on any baby or cloth diapering related forum and include a link to your thread. (2 entries)
Place an order at nickisdiapers.com, myswimbaby.com or clothdiaperclearance.com between 12/21/11 and 12/29/11. Include your order number in your entry.
Tell us your favorite bumGenius color or print!

GOOD LUCK!!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Circumcision and Cord Stump Care

2011-12-22T09:00:00.012-06:00

Another obstacle people encounter when they decide to cloth diaper from birth is how to successfully use cloth diapers while caring for baby's circumcision and/or cord stump. First, we'll look at how to use the cloth diapers when your baby has a cord stump. Many doctors have different recommendations on how to card for your baby's cord stump, and in my experience those recommendations seem to change every several years! Of course I will suggest finding out what your baby's doctor recommends before following any of this advice.

When we had Emmett, we were told to keep the cord stump dry and it would heal on it's own. Seems simple enough! That meant the only thing we had to do in concern with cloth diapers was to use diapers that sat low enough on him so they went below the stump. The good news is almost all newborn and XS diapers take this into consideration and offer some sort of snap-down or are just cut lower. The diapers that I felt fit him the best when his cord stump was still attached were BumGenius Newborn All-In-Ones, Kissaluv Fitteds size 0, Imagine XS prefolds with Thirsties Duo Wraps or Rumparooz Newborn Covers, GroVia Newborn All-In-Ones, Thirsties Duo Diapers and Rumparooz Lil Joey All-In-Ones. Below are pictures of him wearing an Imagine XS Prefold under a Rumparooz Newborn Cover (left) and Kissaluvs Fitted 0 under a Thirsties Duo Wrap size 1 (right).

The decision to circumcise is obviously a very personal one, so this is not to start a debate on that topic. If you don't choose to circumcise, you have no special care for that area on your little boy (same goes for if you have a girl, no special care!). If you do choose to circumcise your little boy, again check with your doctor to see what they recommend for care.

Our doctor's instructions were to keep the area moist with a zinc oxide-free diaper cream to prevent it from sticking to the diaper. The hospital provided A&D ointment but I was hesitant to use it on our cloth diapers. If you would like to use the A&D ointment, I just suggest using a reusable or disposable liner between your baby's bottom and the diaper to prevent it from coating the diapers. I chose to us CJ's BUTTer on Emmett's circumcision to prevent it from sticking to the cloth diaper. Normally, I would still suggest using a barrier when using a CD safe cream, but since we were only using prefolds in the hospital with the CJ's, I decided to try without it. Natural fibers are generally more forgiving of washing and if I ruined a few prefolds, I wouldn't have been out much. The good news is the CJ's washed out perfectly and within a couple days, Emmett was healed and we no longer needed to use it!

So if you're still on the fence about cloth diapering from birth, there are two more concerns tackled ;0)

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Using Prefolds on a Newborn

2011-12-19T22:12:00.000-06:00

When I first started cloth diapering 4 years ago, I was far too intimidated to use prefolds. I mean a diaper that has the word "fold" in it has to be complicated, right? Wrong! When my oldest son hit about 6 months, I felt like I was in the cloth diapering groove and decided to take on the challenge. I purchased a dozen prefolds and a handful of covers. Two kids later and I'm still hooked! I've found that the only thing easier than using prefolds on a baby is using prefolds on a newborn! Here is why:

Newborns go through a LOT of diapers. You'd think since I'm on my 3rd child, I'd remember just how many. I'm still floored as to how often I'm standing at the changing table every day changing a diaper that I feel like I just put on him! Prefolds are incredibly inexpensive, so with all those diaper changes, you're getting a lot more bang for your buck!
Prefolds are easy to clean! In my experience, prefolds and flats are two diapers that you will rarely have stink issues with. The natural fibers don't hold onto odor like some synthetic fibers do, they sun out stains very easily, and my favorite part.. no folding or stuffing when they're dry! Just stack them up!
Putting a prefold on a newborn is easy peasy. No newborn I've ever met can pull out the alligator roll and try to jump off the changing table like many toddlers do. So if you're still getting the hang of your favorite fold and getting that Snappi on, don't worry! Your newborn isn't going anywhere!
We all have things we look for in a cloth diaper, but when it comes down to it the most important thing is that it contains the poop and pee, and a prefold does this wonderfully! Newborn poop can be runny and explosive, so I love to use a Snappi to contain the mess in the prefold itself. If you prefer to trifold, a snug fitting cover will contain the mess, too. No more poop up the back, out the leg, or anywhere else it manages to get :)

And now onto the part that initially intimidated me... the folding! Google "prefold folds" and you'll find a never ending list of videos and how-tos on a dozen different folds. If you can, try a bunch out and see which suits you and your baby best! I have two folds that I find to be the easiest and I use on a regular basis:

Trifold: This is exactly what it sounds like... folding your prefold into thirds! Quick and easy! Then lay your prefold into your cover of choice and wrap onto your baby! This adds a ton of absorbency front to back and even your husband, grandparent or babysitter can do it! There are two small cons to this technique. It can be somewhat bulky to have so many layers, especially in the back of the diaper. Also, the newborn poop can sometimes get on the INSIDE of your diaper cover, meaning you may have to have more covers on hand.
Angel Wing Fold: This is the fold I use with prefolds 95% of the time. It's quick, easy, absorbent and very trim in the back. While I use this fold on my 2 1/2 year old, it's my favorite on a newborn because it contains all the poop in the prefold and I'm able to get many uses out of my covers. Below are step-by-step pictures on how to do an angel wing fold on your baby.

I've found my absolute favorite prefolds are the Imagine Smart Fit! They are cut more square to reduce bulk. Emmett was 7 pounds 12 ounces when he was born. We started with the Imagine Smart Fit Extra Small and they fit beautifully! They were hands down, our trimmest option. My kids like to give me a challenge, though. All 3 of them have been heavy wetters! The Imagine Smart Fit Small were considerably bulkier on him right away, but gave lots of absorbency. Here he is just when we came home from the hospital at a little over 7 pounds, first in an XS size (orange stitching), then a Small size (green stitching):

Now he is just over 10 pounds at 4 weeks old. We're still using both the Imagine Smart Fit XS and Small. I've found the XS size trifolded makes a great doubler in our small pocket diapers, too! I've also been adding one trifolded into the diaper cover when using the XS with the angel wing fold for some extra absorbency. Again, the XS on the left, Small on the right (both with a Best Bottom Diaper Cover).

Hopefully this may help some of you who were nervous about using prefolds and covers! They really are not difficult at all and there is something so simple and natural about a basic cotton prefold on a baby. Here is a quick price breakdown of what using prefolds for the first 3 months may cost:

2 dozen Imagine Smart Fit XS Prefolds: 2 x $15 = $30

2 dozen Imagine Smart Fit X Prefolds: 2 x $18 = $36

8 Diaper Covers (will vary slightly with brand): 8 x $12.25 = $98

2 Snappi Diaper Fasteners: $5.75

Total: $169.75

In rough estimate, you'd spend about $270 using your typical disposable diaper in the first 3 months of diapering. You can see how much using prefolds and covers will save you, and don't forget that cloth diapers have an amazing resale value (or you can use them on your next children), saving you even MORE money!

Planet Wise Wet Bag Giveaway WINNER!

2011-12-19T21:31:00.000-06:00

Congratulations! Please email annie@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prize!

FuzziBunz Zippered Tote WINNER!

2011-12-15T15:50:00.004-06:00

Congratulations! Please email casey@nickisdiapers.com within a week to claim your prize!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Washing Newborn Diapers

2011-12-13T20:22:00.001-06:00

Anyone who has ever had a new baby knows just how much laundry they produce. It still amazes me after 3 children, just how many tiny pieces of clothing a tiny little person dirties! You might be overwhelmed at the thought of adding in cloth diaper laundry. Here is the good news: Washing newborn diapers is EASY! And when I say easy, I mean that I'd rather wash the 12-15 diapers/day that my 3 week old is putting out than the 2-3 diapers/day that my almost potty trained 2 1/2 year old is putting out! Here is what makes it so easy:

The poop! If baby is exclusively breastfed, there is no need to do any spraying, scraping or dunking to get rid of the poop. While the bright yellow poop (or the hot mustard explosion as my husband calls it) may look, well.. disgusting, think of it as the consistency of yogurt. It's water soluble and will rinse away when you do your first rinse or cold wash in your wash routine.
The smell! Better yet, the lack of smell! I'm not getting all high and mighty by telling you my kid's poop doesn't stink. I'm telling you that newborn poop doesn't stink! Breastfed poop is generally void of a foul odor, which means you are less likely to have to deal with stinky diapers!

I have 2 places I store dirty diapers. I have a dry pail with a Planet Wise Pail Liner in Emmett's nursery and a Planet Wise Hanging Wet/Dry Bag in our bathroom. My 2 1/2 year old's diapers get thrown into the bag in the bathroom (convenient after spraying off a #2) and my newborn's diapers are in the pail (poop and all!). On wash day, I empty both of these into my washer and throw in the liner and bag. I do a cold rapid wash followed by a hot wash with detergent and an extra rinse. All covers and pocket shells go on a folding drying rack and inserts, prefolds and fitteds get tumble dried.

Special Considerations

Stains- It's true that the bright yellow poop does seem to stain cloth diapers. The good new is that even with a stain, they are clean. The other good new is that breastmilk poop stains fade over washing and sun out easily!
Meconium- I've had quite a few people ask me about meconium poop and how it washes out. This was honestly one of my biggest concerns before embarking on this journey! Emmett passed most of his meconium while we were still in the hospital. I didn't use any liners with the cloth diapers during that time. All of those diapers were stored for 2 days in our wetbag before being washed and all came perfectly clean!
Detergent Sensitivities- I don't have to tell you just have sensitive a newborn's skin may be! If you find that your little one is getting a rash or reaction only where their diaper touches, they may be sensitive to the detergent you are using. Make sure you are using something free of additives and free of fabric softener. Although specially advertised to be for babies, Dreft detergent is not a good option for cloth diapers. Also make sure you are rinsing your diapers well after the wash to ensure all detergent it out!

Planet Wise Wet Bag Giveaway!

2011-12-09T21:34:00.001-06:00

A good wetbag is ESSENTIAL to have a good cloth diapering experience! I LOVED using my Large Planet Wise Wet Bag for storing dirty diapers at the hospital. Now you can win one for yourself! -Annie

How do you enter to win? (Each worth 1 entry per day unless otherwise stated)

REQUIRED ENTRIES:

Follow the Nicki’s Diaper blog publicly.

"Like" Nicki's Diapers on Facebook- Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here.

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

Blog about our giveaway and link back to our site. When you post back here you must link to the URL where you blogged. (2 entries)
Follow Nicki’s Diapers @nickisdiapers on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave the URL where you Tweeted.
Tweet @nickisdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @planetwise #clothdiapers or #wetbags (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @bestbottomdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Like Best Bottom Diapers, Planet Wise and My Swim Baby on Facebook - Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here. (1 entry for each)
Suggest the following facebook pages to your friends: Nicki’s Diapers , Best Bottom Diapers , Planet Wise. You must post back here telling us which friend accepted your page suggestion. (1 entry per page for each person you suggest that LIKES us)
Grab our button and place them on your blog. Post a link to the blog here. (2 entries per blog - per button)
Start or comment on a discussion on the Nicki's Diapers facebook page discussion board.
Blog about your choice to cloth diaper and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com (2 entries)
Tag @nickisdiapers or @bestbottomdiapers, or @planetwise in a facebook post (1 entry for each tag)
Have a friend subscribe to our blog. Post their username in your comment. You can do this as many times as you can get friends to subscribe!
Talk about Nicki's Diapers on any forum and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com.
Sign up for the Nicki's Diapers newsletter (enter your email address on the top right of our homepage).
Start a thread about this giveaway on any baby or cloth diapering related forum and include a link to your thread. (2 entries)
Place an order at nickisdiapers.com, myswimbaby.com or clothdiaperclearance.com between 12/9/11 and 12/19/11. Include your order number in your entry.
Tell us your favorite Planet Wise Print!

GOOD LUCK!!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Using Cloth Diapers at the Hospital

2011-12-09T21:07:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe it's been more than 2 weeks since my little guy came flying into the world! At just over 38 weeks, he surprised us by coming earlier than we expected. He also surprised us by being the smallest of our children, weighing in at 7 pounds 12 ounces! He was 2 pounds lighter than my first born and 1/2 pound lighter than our second born! I'm proud to officially present to you, Emmett McIntyre, born at 1:48pm on November 22nd! Here is he in his first cloth diaper ever at not quite an hour old.

We had an incredibly positive experience using cloth diapers at the hospital that we delivered at. In fact, before we were even admitted to the hospital, we were getting great feedback! While in triage, one of the nurses asked me if I worked at Nicki's Diapers. She was a blog and facebook follower :) This brought up the topic of cloth diapers with another nurse and she was very interested to hear about modern cloth diapers and wished she had tried them on her children. While in labor, we told our nurse that we wanted to use cloth, gave her the first diaper for him and showed her how to put it on. As you can see from the above picture, after nearly an hour of loving on our new baby, the first diaper on his bottom was a GroVia Newborn All-In-One.

After we were transferred to our family suite, I set up the "bassinett" drawers with everything we would need to use cloth diapers for the next 2 days. I hung our Planet Wise Large Wet Bag from the handle for easy storage of dirty diapers. All-In-Ones, pockets and fitteds went into one storage slot. Prefolds, Snappis and covers went into another storage slot. Liners, CJ's BUTT-er and my Planet Wise Small Wet Bag filled with Imagine Flannel Wipes went into another slot along with the provided disposable diapers. The picture below is actually taken just before discharge so many of the diapers have already been used.

I think the most important thing to do when trying to have a good experience with cloth diapering at the hospital is to have good communication with anyone providing care for you or your baby. Everytime a new nurse came on shift, we let her know that we preferred the cloth diapers and showed her how they worked (this was the main reason we brought some "easy" diapers like the pockets and all-in-ones). We also let her know that we were ok with a disposable diaper being used on the baby. While it was mainly my husband and I who changed Emmett's diapers, there were a couple times he was brought to the nursery for exams/tests and he returned in a disposable diaper. I'm happy to report they put the dirty cloth diaper in the correct place, though :)

We came home with a nearly full wetbag, and just emptied them into the washer along with the diapers left from my middle son's pail. One load of laundry is a drop in the bucket to the laundry that newborns produce, and in all honestly cloth diaper laundry is my favorite because no folding is necessary :) I highly suggest anyone who is interested in trying cloth from birth bring their diapers to the hospital. I'm so glad we did!

EcoPosh One Size Fitted Diaper Review!

2011-12-08T15:03:00.005-06:00

When the EcoPosh One Size Fitted Diaper arrived, I gushed about how incredibly SOFT they were. I couldn't wait to try one out on my boy, and now I can share my thoughts on them with you! The first thing I noticed about these diapers is that they have some great features that I haven't seen in other fitted diapers. They're made of a unique combination of bamboo, organic cotton, and recycled water bottles which makes them some of the softest diapers I've touched and also amazingly absorbent. The sizing fits a wide range of babies -- 6lbs-35lbs or so. My youngest is about 27lbs now, and it fit him well! It is a stuffable pocket fitted diaper, meaning that you can adjust the absorbency. The EcoPosh One Size Fitted Diaper is made by the same company that makes Rumparooz One Size Pocket Diapers, and features a bamboo version of their great 6r soaker. I found the bamboo 6r soaker to be incredibly absorbent and trim -- the contoured design made it a better fit between my guy's legs, and I liked the option of changing the position of the soaker to put the absorbency where it's needed most. The other unique feature of these diapers is the patent-pending double inner gussets. I found that they really helped to contain even really messy messes (we had a nasty stomach bug come through our house...yuck!) better than any other fitted I've tried! I paired it for nighttime with a wool Aristocrats soaker and the results were bulletproof. No leaks! I am really very impressed with these diapers, and can safely say they are the nicest fitted diapers I've used on my kids. I love them for overnights, and if you wash every other day you really only need two to have a great nighttime diaper solution!

Charlie Banana WINNER!

2011-12-07T09:00:00.004-06:00

Congratulations! Please email casey@nickisdiapers.com within a week to claim your prize!

LuSa Organics WINNER!

2011-12-03T11:38:00.004-06:00

Congratulations! Please email casey@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prize!

Kissaluvs Marvels One-Size All-in-Ones WINNER!

2011-11-30T12:33:00.007-06:00

Sorry we're a day late in posting this, Black Friday and Cyber Monday

(along with Annie's baby coming!) pushed this back a day!

CONGRATULATIONS! Please email casey@nickisdiapers.com within a week to claim your prize! Thank you to all who entered!

Cyber Monday Giveaway Winners

2011-11-30T11:40:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to our Giveaway Winners from Cyber Monday!

All winners have been emailed directly,
and have had their prize added to their order.

Best Bottom Shell Sets

Whitney R.
April W.
Allison F.
Sara P.
Kayla W.
Valerie M.
Cristy G.
Lindsay C.
Jennifer B.
Christian S.

Planet Wise Medium Wet Bag

Ginger B.
Steffany H.
April G.
Carmen A.
Mandie S.
Christine N.
Emily W.
Nancy B.
Kimberly C.
Sherri A.

Rockin Green Mystery Scent

Jessica R.
Amanda F.

Planet Wise Snack Set

Christy Y.
Christine C.
Alycia K.
Amy C.
Amanda A.
Iltaek R.
Lindsay A.
Julie S.
Robert R.
Sara S.

Planet Wise Sports Bag

Elizabeth S.
Paul Y.
Amanda B.
Carl W.
Cinandre J.

Planet Wise Nursing Cover

Elizabeth P.
Kelly F.
Catherine E.
Christie F.
Ryan B.

Planet Wise Pouch and Wipes Set

Dominick Z.
Lora L.
Amanda L.
Sujatha N.
Olguta A.

$100 Gift Certificate

Clent P.

Fuzz Bunz Zippered Tote Giveaway!

2011-11-30T11:00:00.000-06:00

Are you ready for your chance to win a Fuzzi Bunz Zippered Diaper Tote?!

How do you enter to win? (Each worth 1 entry per day unless otherwise stated)

REQUIRED ENTRIES:

Follow the Nicki’s Diaper blog publicly.

"Like" Nicki's Diapers on Facebook- Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here.

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

Blog about our giveaway and link back to our site. When you post back here you must link to the URL where you blogged. (2 entries)
Follow Nicki’s Diapers @nickisdiapers on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave the URL where you Tweeted.
Tweet @nickisdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @planetwise #clothdiapers or #wetbags (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @bestbottomdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Like Best Bottom Diapers, Planet Wise and My Swim Baby on Facebook - Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here. (1 entry for each)
Suggest the following facebook pages to your friends: Nicki’s Diapers , Best Bottom Diapers , Planet Wise. You must post back here telling us which friend accepted your page suggestion. (1 entry per page for each person you suggest that LIKES us)
Grab our button and place them on your blog. Post a link to the blog here. (2 entries per blog - per button)
Start or comment on a discussion on the Nicki's Diapers facebook page discussion board.
Blog about your choice to cloth diaper and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com (2 entries)
Tag @nicki'sdiapers or @bestbottomdiapers, or @planetwise in a facebook post (1 entry for each tag)
Have a friend subscribe to our blog. Post their username in your comment. You can do this as many times as you can get friends to subscribe!
Talk about Nicki's Diapers on any forum and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com.
Sign up for the Nicki's Diapers newsletter (enter your email address on the top right of our homepage).
Start a thread about this giveaway on any baby or cloth diapering related forum and include a link to your thread. (2 entries)
Place an order at nickisdiapers.com, myswimbaby.com or clothdiaperclearance.com between 11/30/11 and 12/13/11. Include your order number in your entry.
Tell us your favorite way of storing dirty diapers when on the go!

GOOD LUCK!!

Black Friday Giveaway Winners

2011-11-28T09:39:00.011-06:00

Congratulations to our Giveaway Winners from Black Friday!

All winners have been emailed directly,
and have had their prize added to their order.

There's still another chance to win! Place and order today for Cyber Monday (11/28/11)
and you have a chance to win in Giveaway Round Two!

Best Bottom Shell Sets

Susan D.
Lauren G.
April W.
Han T.
Lalitree D.
Stephanie M.
Yuki T.
Corey M.
Amanda C.
Lindsay O.

Planet Wise Medium Wet Bag

Jill Ann D.
Christine D.
Emily H.
Katrina D.
Jessica S.
Nelle K.
Erinn M.
Katherine P.
Kelly Anne T.
Angelique W.

Rockin Green Mystery Scent

Sherry M.
Hillary B.

Planet Wise Snack Set

Yuka H.
Amy K.
Genevieve B.
Shelley K.
Michelle S.
Nicole Z.
Melissa B.
Heidi J.
Bryn J.
Christine H.

Planet Wise Sports Bag

Manali B.
Linda B.
Katherine L.
Jennifer H.
Natalie A.

Planet Wise Nursing Cover

Heather G.
Krystal G.
Heather K.
Sara V.
Cyrell B.

Planet Wise Pouch and Wipes Set

Whitney R.
Lynn B.
Karol Q.
Sarah B.
Tiffany M.

$100 Gift Certificate

Laura W.

Cyber Monday Deals

2011-11-27T22:54:00.000-06:00

Trouble viewing images? View online version

Visit our stores!

Nicki's Diapers
Cloth Diaper Clearance
My Swim Baby
Under My Crib

November 27th, 2011

This Monday only (11/28/11) Nicki's will have a second round of amazing discounts!
All purchases will be 10% OFF (Coupon Code: CYBER) with
more additional Freebies and Giveaways.

Many items are reduced and will be included in the additional 10% OFF!
Be sure to check our Cyber Monday Deals Category for extra special savings!



Place an order on Cyber Monday and you have a chance to win one of the items below. To qualify for the giveaway, please add your gender preference and baby weight in the Dropdown Boxes at the bottom of the checkout screen.

10x Best Bottom Set: 1 Shell, 3 Stay Dry Inserts	10x Planet Wise Snack Gift Set	5x Planet Wise Nursing Cover

2x Rockin' Green New Scent	5x Planet Wise Sport Bag	10x Planet Wise Medium Wet Bag

1x $100 Gift Certificate to Nicki's Diapers	5x Planet Wise Wipe Pouch & Set of 10 Wipes



Be sure to check out our "SALE" category for extra special savings!

35% OFF	20% OFF	10% OFF


Buy 4 Get 1 Free	Buy 2 Get 1 Free	Buy 5 Get 1 Free


Buy 6 Get 1 Free	20% OFF	FREE Infant Insert


Buy 5 Get 1 Free	15% OFF	Buy 5 Get 1 Free

	Click HERE to view a full list of Cyber Monday deals on Nicki's Diapers!
New Secret Scent

Oh Katy! Winter Sale!

2011-11-25T08:00:00.004-06:00

As ALWAYS, free shipping on ALL Pocket Diapers at Nicki's Diapers!

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS

2011-11-24T23:19:00.001-06:00

Trouble viewing images? View online version

Visit our stores!

Nicki's Diapers
Cloth Diaper Clearance
My Swim Baby
Under My Crib

November 25th, 2011

This Friday only (11/25/11) Nicki's will have some amazing discounts! All purchases will be
10% OFF (Coupon Code: Black) with additional Freebies and Giveaways.
Be sure to check out all the wonderful Black Friday Deals as well!



Place an order on Black Friday and you have a chance to win one of the items below. To qualify for the giveaway, please add your gender preference and baby weight in the Dropdown Boxes at the bottom of the checkout screen.

10x Best Bottom Set: 1 Shell, 3 Stay Dry Inserts	10x Planet Wise Snack Gift Set	5x Planet Wise Nursing Cover

2x Rockin' Green New Scent	5x Planet Wise Sport Bag	10x Planet Wise Small Wet Bag

1x $100 Gift Certificate to Nicki's Diapers	5x Planet Wise Wipe Pouch & Set of 10 Wipes



Be sure to check out our "SALE" category for extra special savings!

35% OFF	20% OFF	10% OFF


Buy 4 Get 1 Free	Buy 2 Get 1 Free	Buy 5 Get 1 Free


20% OFF	20% OFF	FREE Infant Insert


Buy 5 Get 1 Free	15% OFF	Buy 1 Get 1 Free

		Click HERE to view a full list of Black Friday deals on Nicki's Diapers!
New Secret Scent	Buy 6 Get 1 Free

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales!

2011-11-24T12:00:00.001-06:00

The following specials are valid Friday, November 25th-Monday, November 28th unless otherwise noted!

Rumparooz One-Size Pocket Diapers

Buy 4 or more, Get 1 FREE

Buy 8 or more, Get 2 FREE

Buy 12 or more, Get 3 FREE

Buy 20 or more, Get 4 FREE

20% off the following Bummis products:

Super Whisper Wrap - white and prints

Super Brite - white and prints

Super Snap - white and prints

Whisper Pant

Swimmi

Fabulous Wet Bags - all sizes and colours

Bio-Soft liners - small size only

Fleece Liners

Training Pants

GroVia Products

Buy 2 Get 1 FREE Newborn All-In-Ones

Buy 2 Get 1 FREE One-Size All-In-Ones

Buy 2 Get 1 FREE One-Size Shells
Buy 2 Get 1 FREE BioDiapers

November 25th ONLY
20% off all Baby K'tan Baby Carriers

10% off ALL FuzziBunz Products

15% off ALL Willow Sprout Products

Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales!

2011-11-24T08:00:00.000-06:00

The following specials are valid Thursday, November 24th-Monday, November 28th!

20% off all Boba Products

35% off select Thirsties Products

2011-11-23T11:50:00.001-06:00

Are you ready for your chance to win a Charlie Banana One-Size Pocket Diaper?!

How do you enter to win? (Each worth 1 entry per day unless otherwise stated)

REQUIRED ENTRIES:

Follow the Nicki’s Diaper blog publicly.

"Like" Nicki's Diapers on Facebook- Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here.

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

Blog about our giveaway and link back to our site. When you post back here you must link to the URL where you blogged. (2 entries)
Follow Nicki’s Diapers @nickisdiapers on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave the URL where you Tweeted.
Tweet @nickisdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @planetwise #clothdiapers or #wetbags (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @bestbottomdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Like Best Bottom Diapers, Planet Wise and My Swim Baby on Facebook - Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here. (1 entry for each)
Suggest the following facebook pages to your friends: Nicki’s Diapers , Best Bottom Diapers , Planet Wise. You must post back here telling us which friend accepted your page suggestion. (1 entry per page for each person you suggest that LIKES us)
Grab our button and place them on your blog. Post a link to the blog here. (2 entries per blog - per button)
Start or comment on a discussion on the Nicki's Diapers facebook page discussion board.
Blog about your choice to cloth diaper and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com (2 entries)
Tag @nicki'sdiapers or @bestbottomdiapers, or @planetwise in a facebook post (1 entry for each tag)
Have a friend subscribe to our blog. Post their username in your comment. You can do this as many times as you can get friends to subscribe!
Talk about Nicki's Diapers on any forum and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com.
Sign up for the Nicki's Diapers newsletter (enter your email address on the top right of our homepage).
Start a thread about this giveaway on any baby or cloth diapering related forum and include a link to your thread. (2 entries)
Place an order at nickisdiapers.com, myswimbaby.com or clothdiaperclearance.com between 11/23/11 and 12/6/11. Include your order number in your entry.
Tell us if you were to have your own diaper brand, what you could call it!

GOOD LUCK!!

Cuties in Cloth Contest WINNERS!!!

2011-11-21T17:21:00.003-06:00

First off, a HUGE thank-you to everyone who participated, commented and "liked" our photos! We had so much fun looking at all the adorable Cuties in Cloth! It was a HARD decision and we debated for quite some time! Here are the winners!

The Grand Prize and a $100 Gift Certificate to Nicki's Diapers goes to... Jessica Varney's Cutie, Margot! (picture #88) for promoting and spreading the word about modern cloth diapers!

The Most Creative Picture and a $100 Gift Certificate to Nicki's Diapers goes to... Chrissy Matthews' Cutie, Nevy (picture #12)

BONUS Cutie (because we just couldn't decide!) and a $50 Gift Certificate to Nicki's Diapers goes to... Leslie Turner's Cutie! (picture #39)

Winners, please email annie@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prizes!
**So sorry I originally flip flopped the pictures, I've got big time pregnancy brain right now and also timing contractions while blogging :) There are TWO $100 winners and a bonus $50 winner!!**

Lusa Organics Review and Giveaway!

2011-11-18T06:00:00.002-06:00

This morning was COLD here in Wisconsin. Not as cold as it's going to get, but cold enough that my kids' hats and mittens felt absolutely necessary. And before they head out, there's nothing better than LuSa Organics Cheek & Chin Balm to keep those cheeks from getting *too* rosy in the chilly wind. When little noses run, it also keeps the skin from getting raw due to constant wiping. Slather it on baby's chin to keep teething drool from irritating that tender skin.

When my kids get sick in the cooler weather, it's usually accompanied by mucous. Runny noses can wreak havoc on more than the respiratory tract. My kids get really rashy when they're sick, and LuSa Booty Balm is an awesome solution to any red bottom. I use it so consistently (as preventative) that the lovely smell will forever be ingrained with me as the smell of my children. It's fantastic as a skinned knee salve, cracked winter hands moisturizer, and so much more. I've even used it to treat cuts and scrapes on our dog (she was pretty beat up when we rescued her) as I knew it would be safe for her to lick and ingest!

LuSa Organics is one of my favorite companies not only because of the AWESOME products they make, but also because they're a local (to us here in Wisconsin), small family business. I want to mention that this small business is up for a BIG award -- a Best of Mothering award from Mothering.com! Please feel free to support a fantastic company by voting here: http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1336047/best-of-mothering-personal-care-baby-run-off-poll It's free and easy to register, and voting closes December 2nd at 5pm (PT).

To celebrate their nomination, LuSa Organics has agreed to sponsor a giveaway for you! One jar of Booty Balm and one jar of Cheek & Chin Balm will be given to the lucky winner.

How do you enter to win? (Each worth 1 entry per day unless otherwise stated)

REQUIRED ENTRIES:

Follow the Nicki’s Diaper blog publicly.
"Like" Nicki's Diapers on Facebook- Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here.
"Like" Lusa Organics on Facebook and tell them Nicki's Diapers sent you!

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

Blog about our giveaway and link back to our site. When you post back here you must link to the URL where you blogged. (2 entries)
Follow Nicki’s Diapers @nickisdiapers on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave the URL where you Tweeted.
Tweet @nickisdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @planetwise #clothdiapers #wetbags (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @bestbottomdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Like Best Bottom Diapers, Planet Wise and My Swim Baby on Facebook - Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here. (1 entry for each)
Suggest the following facebook pages to your friends: Nicki’s Diapers , Best Bottom Diapers , Planet Wise. You must post back here telling us which friend accepted your page suggestion. (1 entry per page for each person you suggest that LIKES us)
Grab our button and place them on your blog. Post a link to the blog here. (2 entries per blog - per button)
Start or comment on a discussion on the Nicki's Diapers facebook page discussion board.
Blog about your choice to cloth diaper and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com (2 entries)
Tag @nicki'sdiapers or @bestbottomdiapers, or @planetwise in a facebook post (1 entry for each tag)
Have a friend subscribe to our blog. Post their username in your comment. You can do this as many times as you can get friends to subscribe!
Talk about Nicki's Diapers on any forum and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com.
Sign up for the Nicki's Diapers newsletter (enter your email address on the top right of our homepage).
Start a thread about this giveaway on any baby or cloth diapering related forum and include a link to your thread. (2 entries)
Place an order at nickisdiapers.com, myswimbaby.com or clothdiaperclearance.com between 11/18/11 and 12/1/11. Include your order number in your entry.
Tell us your favorite cloth diaper cream.
Tell us your favorite thing about winter weather!

GOOD LUCK!!

Cloth Diaper Accessories Kit WINNER!

2011-11-17T19:00:00.000-06:00

Congratulations! Please email annie@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prize!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1 Series: Packing for the Hospital

2011-11-17T09:00:00.001-06:00

38 weeks pregnant with baby #3 sounds like a good time to get packed for the hospital... right?! :) My other 2 boys both came at 39 weeks so I guess I can't be putting if off any longer! The good news is I've had my regular hospital bag packed for a week now, I just needed to decide which cloth diapers and accessories to bring!

I'm planning for about 48 hours in the hospital. I know some people like to get home as soon as possible after birth, but my hospital is incredibly baby and mama friendly and it's really like a vacation being there! I openly admit that I milk it for all it's worth :) My first son was 9 pounds 11 ounces and my second was 8 pounds 5 ounces. That makes it somewhat difficult to guess the size of this baby, so I'm bringing a few options with.

It will primarily be my husband and I changing the baby and since we've already cloth diapered 2 kids, we are very comfortable using prefolds and covers for the bulk of our newborn diapers. I do realize that on occasion a nurse or a visiting grandparent may change the baby's diaper so I'm bringing along a few easier options for them, just in case!

Here is what I have stuffed into a Large Planet Wise Wet Bag:

18 XS Imagine Smart Fit Prefolds
6 XS Diaper Covers in a variety of brands
4 XS Fitted Diapers in a variety of brands
6 XS All-In-One Diapers in a variety of brands
A Small Planet Wise Wetbag stuffed with Imagine Flannel Wipes (which I will wet at the hospital)
2 Snappi Diaper Fasteners
12 fleece liners since I'm still unsure about the meconium on the diapers and circumcism care with diapers
1 small stick of CJ's BUTTer again, not sure if this will help with the meconium

My plan is to bring this bag up after the baby is born with his bag of clothing, etc. I have 2 diapers packed into my labor/delivery bag so that the first diaper to go on his tush is cloth! I had my husband decide which ones would be first, since I'm *hoping* he will be the one to put it on him! I'll post more about that with my "Cloth Diapering at the Hopsital" post at a to-be-determined date!

Even the best laid plans can sometimes fall through. I do have 2 dozen Imagine Smart Fit Size Small prefolds prepped and ready to go that any of the grandparents can bring when they visit if they little guy turns out to be not-so-little!

Did you bring your own cloth diapers to the hospital? How does my list sound? I'd love to hear about your experiences!

Imagine Pocket Diaper Giveaway WINNER!

2011-11-16T17:07:00.000-06:00

Congratulations!! Please email annie@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prize!!

Giveaway! Kissaluvs Marvels One-Size All-In-Ones!

2011-11-16T07:30:00.004-06:00

Are you ready to win TWO Kissaluvs Marvels All-In-One Cloth Diapers?!

How do you enter to win? (Each worth 1 entry per day unless otherwise stated)

REQUIRED ENTRIES:

Follow the Nicki’s Diaper blog publicly.

"Like" Nicki's Diapers on Facebook- Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here.

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

Blog about our giveaway and link back to our site. When you post back here you must link to the URL where you blogged. (2 entries)
Follow Nicki’s Diapers @nickisdiapers on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave the URL where you Tweeted.
Tweet @nickisdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @planetwise #clothdiapers #wetbags (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @bestbottomdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Like Best Bottom Diapers, Planet Wise and My Swim Baby on Facebook - Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here. (1 entry for each)
Suggest the following facebook pages to your friends: Nicki’s Diapers , Best Bottom Diapers , Planet Wise. You must post back here telling us which friend accepted your page suggestion. (1 entry per page for each person you suggest that LIKES us)
Grab our button and place them on your blog. Post a link to the blog here. (2 entries per blog - per button)
Start or comment on a discussion on the Nicki's Diapers facebook page discussion board.
Blog about your choice to cloth diaper and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com (2 entries)
Tag @nicki'sdiapers or @bestbottomdiapers, or @planetwise in a facebook post (1 entry for each tag)
Have a friend subscribe to our blog. Post their username in your comment. You can do this as many times as you can get friends to subscribe!
Talk about Nicki's Diapers on any forum and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com.
Sign up for the Nicki's Diapers newsletter (enter your email address on the top right of our homepage).
Start a thread about this giveaway on any baby or cloth diapering related forum and include a link to your thread. (2 entries)
Place an order at nickisdiapers.com, myswimbaby.com or clothdiaperclearance.com between 11/16/11 and 11/28/11. Include your order number in your entry.
Tell us whether you prefer to use a sized or a one-size cloth diaper!

GOOD LUCK!!

Ergo Baby Carrier Holiday Promotion!

2011-11-14T12:00:00.000-06:00

Now through December 25th, buy ANY full price Ergo Baby Carrier (excluding Petunia Pickle Bottom), get a FREE Infant Heart to Heart Insert!

Don't forget, FREE shipping on ALL Baby Carriers at Nicki's Diapers!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1 Series: Prepping Newborn Diapers

2011-11-13T09:52:00.000-06:00

Some expectant moms like to have everything ready for their baby months before they arrive. Others are running around making sure clothes and diapers are ready for baby just days before their arrival! No matter what type of "preparerer" you are, having your newborn's cloth diapers prepped and ready to go is a piece of cake!

Just like any cloth diaper, there are different prepping techniques for different types of newborn diapers. If you are using a diaper with a synthetic material like microfiber, fleece or PUL, it will need just one wash and dry before use. You may also want to wash any wetbags or cloth wipes with your load of diapers.

We suggest prepping your synthetic materials like this:

Warm or hot (not sanitize) wash with CD safe detergent
Extra rinse (any temperature)
Hang dry covers and pockets, tumble dry medium inserts

If you are using a natural fiber diaper like cotton, hemp, or bamboo, you will need to do a little more prep. These fibers have a natural oil on them that needs to be washed off and the fibers need to be broken up to reach maximum absorbency. You will want to wash and dry them 4-5 times before use. They will continue to become more absorbent even after these initial washes, though! If you're due tomorrow and you're trying to figure out how you're going to wash your diapers 5 times, along with 2 loads of baby clothes, your bath towels, and your sheets, no worries! Your cloth diaper friendly detergent is also clothes friendly! I would do your first wash with the diapers on their own, but after that you can mix the diapers with your regular laundry. You do want to avoid using any fabric softeners with your diapers, though.

We suggest prepping natural materials like this:

Warm or hot (not sanitize) wash with CD safe detergent
Extra rinse (any temperature)
Tumble dry medium- your diapers do not have to be 100% dry before your next wash, slightly damp is ok!
Repeat 3-4 more times till your diapers are nice and fluffy!

It's that easy! Once your diapers are ready to go, decide which you'd like to take to the hospital (if you decide to go that route) or get them stacked and ready for baby! Now comes the hard part... waiting for him or her to arrive! :)

Cloth Diapering From Day 1 Series: Building a Newborn Stash

2011-11-10T12:34:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the second installment in our series, Cloth Diapering From Day 1! In this post, we will discuss everything you need to start cloth diapering your baby at birth, including how many diapers you will need (and various options that work well with newborns), what accessories are "must-haves" and what accessories are "nice to have".

First, we'll start with the diapers!

How many diapers? A newborn may go through anywhere from 12-15 diapers/day! If this is your first baby, you might be floored by that number, but don't worry, you'll be a pro after just a few days! Also remember that some of those diapers will be from when baby decides it's "go" time right in the middle of a diaper change! Aren't you glad you can just toss that in the wash instead of throwing it out?! We recommend washing your cloth diapers every 2-3 days to prevent stinkies and stains. Put those 2 numbers together and to successfully cloth diaper a newborn, you will need 24-36 diapers! Remember that if you are using a system that has separate covers (like prefolds with covers or Best Bottom Diapers), you will need on average 1 cover for every 3 diapers.

What kind of diapers? This is really a personal preference and is going to depend on how much you want to invest in your newborn stash and what type of diaper you are comfortable changing. Some people like to have all of the same type of diaper, while others find that different types work best for different situations. I'm in that last group! Since one of our main reasons to cloth diaper was to save money, we like to use prefolds and covers.to make up the majority of our newborn stash since they are so cost-effective! But I'm like many of the sleep deprived moms out there, and the thought of trying to Snappi a prefold on and make sure everything is in the covers during middle of the night changes wears me out! In order to get the most use of our covers, I love using fitteds at night with them so make it just a bit more user-friendly in the dark :) I also like to have several newborn size all-in-ones or pockets on hand for those changing my baby who may not be familiar with cloth diapers, and some uber-trim Best Bottoms for light packing in my diaper bag!

So for me, an ideal newborn stash would be:
18 XS or Small Prefolds
6-8 XS or Small Diaper Covers
6 XS or Small Fitted Diapers
6 XS or Small Pockets/All-In-Ones
3 Best Bottom Shells and 9 Small Best Bottom Inserts

Other very popular options for many of our Nicki's Diapers customers for cloth diapering their newborn:
Option 1 "Economical": 36 XS or Small Prefolds, 10-12 XS or Small Diaper Covers
Option 2 "Easy": 24-36 XS or Small Pocket Diapers or All-In-Ones
Option 3 "Economical and Easy!": 9 Best Bottom Diaper Shells, 24-36 Best Bottom Diaper Inserts

Next, the accessories!

Must-haves: Besides your diapers, there are a few things that I strongly suggest you have on hand to make cloth diapering successful for you! The following things I consider "non-optional":

Dirty Diaper Storage- You will need to store the soiled diapers in either a diaper pail with a pail liner or a hanging wet bag. You can use a simple flip-top kitchen can or a pail designed specifically for cloth diapers. The most important thing to remember is to find one that allows air flow to the diapers. A tight fitting lid actually causes more odor than one that is loose fitting! Most pail liners will have either an elastic top to stretch to fit your pail, or a drawstring. I would suggest having 2 pail liners so that there is always one on the pail when washing. Another great option for dirty diaper storage is a hanging wet bag. I LOVE the Planet Wise Hanging Wet/Dry Bag for several reasons. They are seam sealed so I have zero leaking of odor or moisture. They have an extra "dry" pocket for storing clean diapers and the come in a huge variety of prints to match my baby's room! My favorite thing though, is that they travel SO well! No worries about toting a diaper pail with you, just toss dirty diapers in your Planet Wise Hanging Wet/Dry Bag and zip it up!
Diaper Closures- If you're using prefold or contour diapers, I strongly suggest using a Snappi or diaper pins to close the diaper under your cover. Newborn poop is notoriously runny and by making sure the diaper is on nice and snug, you'll be able to use your diaper covers many more times between washing. That means fewer covers to buy! There are many people who still like to use diaper pins, but I prefer Snappis to prevent poking myself or my baby :)
On-the-Go- Believe it or not, you WILL get out of the house those first several weeks and when you do, you'll need something to store a dirty diaper in your diaper bag. I suggest a Planet Wise Wet/Dry Bag. These smaller versions of the much-loved Hanging Wet/Dry Bags are perfect for keeping a clean diaper and wipes in the front "dry" pocket, and holding in any odor or moisture in the "wet" pocket. You might even find that for quick trips, you can toss your keys and wallet into the dry pouch and leave the big diaper bag at home!
Cloth Wipes- You're using cloth diapers, why not make it even easier with cloth wipes?! 20-30 or so cloth wipes should be plenty to get you 2-3 days between washing and instead of having to have a separate garbage can next to your changing table for disposable wipes, these can be tossed right in with your diapers! You can keep your wipes dry and spray them (or baby's bottom) when changing a diaper, or you can gold them in half and store them wet in a disposable wipes container. Try your hand at making your own wet wipe solution with water, lavender oil and chamomile oil, or use a pre-made concentrate like Lusa Wipe Juice!
Cloth Diaper Friendly Detergent- You'll want to make sure to take care of your diapers and keep them nice and absorbent! Chose a detergent that is free of additives, including softeners. Many people think a baby-friendly detergent is good for cloth diapers, when in reality many of them contain ingredients that may harm your diapers. Nicki's carries a wide selection of detergents that will work beautifully on your diapers!

Nice-to-Have: If you want to make cloth diapering even EASIER, you might want to consider looking into these accessories, although I do consider them "optional".

Cloth "friendly" Diaper Cream- I say that in quotations because I really don't consider any diaper cream to be truly cloth diaper friendly. Some creams are certainly easier on your diapers and if you get a small amount on them, it won't ruin them! My favorite creams are Lusa Booty Balm (LOVE this on dry hands and faces, too!) and CJ's BUTT-er. If you are going to cloth diaper from birth, you will likely have to deal with sticky meconium poop and putting a little cream on your baby's bottom will make it easier to wipe it off. Again, I do recommend using a liner (see below!) with your CD "friendly" cream.
Liners- You can use either disposable or reusable liners to prevent diaper cream (see above!) from getting on your cloth diapers. Fleece liners can also be used to make natural fibers stay-dry. Both of my boys have been pretty sensitive to feeling wet, so I like to keep these on hand to use in our prefolds and fitted diapers.

Are you ready for your chance to win a Cloth Diapering Accessory Kit?!

How do you enter to win? (Each worth 1 entry per day unless otherwise stated)

REQUIRED ENTRIES:
Follow the Nicki’s Diaper blog publicly.

"Like" Nicki's Diapers on Facebook- Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here.

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

Blog about our giveaway and link back to our site. When you post back here you must link to the URL where you blogged. (2 entries)
Follow Nicki’s Diapers @nickisdiapers on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave the URL where you Tweeted.
Tweet @nickisdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @planetwise #clothdiapers #wetbags (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @bestbottomdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Like Best Bottom Diapers, Planet Wise and My Swim Baby on Facebook - Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here. (1 entry for each)
Suggest the following facebook pages to your friends: Nicki’s Diapers , Best Bottom Diapers , Planet Wise. You must post back here telling us which friend accepted your page suggestion. (1 entry per page for each person you suggest that LIKES us)
Grab our button and place them on your blog. Post a link to the blog here. (2 entries per blog - per button)
Start or comment on a discussion on the Nicki's Diapers facebook page discussion board.
Blog about your choice to cloth diaper and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com (2 entries)
Tag @nicki'sdiapers or @bestbottomdiapers, or @planetwise in a facebook post (1 entry for each tag)
Have a friend subscribe to our blog. Post their username in your comment. You can do this as many times as you can get friends to subscribe!
Talk about Nicki's Diapers on any forum and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com.
Sign up for the Nicki's Diapers newsletter (enter your email address on the top right of our homepage).
Start a thread about this giveaway on any baby or cloth diapering related forum and include a link to your thread. (2 entries)
Place an order at nickisdiapers.com, myswimbaby.com or clothdiaperclearance.com between 11/10/11 and 11/16/11. Include your order number in your entry.
Tell us what your essential cloth diapering accessories are!

GOOD LUCK!!

Nicki's First EVER Cuties in Cloth Contest!

2011-11-08T15:39:00.000-06:00

What parent doesn't love showing off their little one?! What better way to show them off than with a fluffy bottom?! The first ever Nicki's Cuties in Cloth Contest starts NOW! The winner will receive a $100 Nicki's Diapers Gift Certificate!

How can you enter? Now through Sunday, November 13th at 11:59pm (CST), email your favorite picture of your little one in your favorite cloth diaper to annie@nickisdiapers.com (please use subject title "Cutie in Cloth"). If you are expecting, creative entries will be accepted :) One entry per household, please!

How can you win? On Monday, November 14th the picture album will be posted and voting will open! Invite your family and friends to our "Like" our Facebook page and find your Cutie's picture in the album. Place your vote by "Liking" the picture. Most "Likes" wins! Voting closes on Sunday, November 20th at 11:59pm and winner will be posted the following day!

Be creative! A runner-up will be chosen by Nicki's Diapers Staff based on creativity! Good luck and have fun!

And since I'm not eligible, here is my Cutie In Cloth almost 2 years ago, sigh :) -Annie

Imagine... less confusion!

2011-11-01T20:52:00.001-05:00

Are you OVERWHELMED and confused?

Uncross your eyes, take a deep breath and grab a cup of tea! Here is a quick and EASY guide of all you need to know about cloth diapers in a CliffsNotes format INCLUDING some of the most affordably priced cloth diapers and accessories available to purchase below.

Why Cloth Diapers?

Save $$$ (lots of money actually - $1000's per baby)
Save the environment (reduce, reuse, recycle...enough said!)
Be healthy (no chemicals, no lead, no worries)
Be hip and cool (okay so cloth diapers won't make you cool but they are turning into the new trend!)
Be cute (I dare anyone to try cloth diapers and be able to fight the urge to take a picture of that cute little cloth diapered tush!)

Evolution of Cloth Diapers - deciphering the different types

Flat Diaper: A big 'ol single layer of cloth that you fold and use as a diaper. A diaper cover is required if you don't want a wet lap.
Prefold Diaper: Someone took that big 'ol piece of cloth and folded it into layers and sewed it hence the name "prefold". Though it has the name "prefold" you will still have to do some minimal folding (don't worry it is EASY!). A diaper cover is required to make waterproof.
Fitted Diaper: Basically added elastic, snaps or hook & loop, and sewing the fabric into a diaper shape. Yup still needs a diaper cover to make waterproof.
Diaper Cover: You guessed it, what you will need to make all of the above cloth diapers waterproof. Diaper covers do not have any absorbency but go over the top of what absorbs making the cloth diaper not leak.
All-In-One Diaper: Take the fitted diaper and diaper cover and sew them together into an "all-in-one" diaper. They are just like a disposable except you wash them instead of throwing them away.
Pocket Diaper: Take a diaper cover and sew stay dry fleece to the inside (yes if you put water on this fleece it will run through and the fleece will remain feeling dry - AMAZING!) with a "pocket"opening to put an insert (the absorbency part of the diaper) into the pocket so only the fleece is touching baby. That is confusing...think of a pillowcase as the pocket diaper and the pillow as the insert.
All-In-Two Diaper: A diaper cover with snaps on the inside for an insert to snap into. You can reuse the cover and snap in clean inserts.

Washing - yuck!

Actually not! Actually really quite easy. Your washing machine does all the work - now is the time to thank your wonderful washing machine for saving you tons of money! After doing this routine several times it will become second nature!

Dump solids into toilet and put used diaper into dry diaper pail (if baby is solely breastfed skip this step or use a biodegradable liner and either flush or discard).
After 2-3 days dump soiled diapers into washing machine (this is the most work you will do when washing your diapers and it lasts only about 10 seconds!)
Cold water light wash cycle with no detergent (rinsing all the "stuff" down the drain where it belongs and leaving diapers ready to wash).
Hot water wash (highest water level, longer cycle) with 3/4 the amount of detergent you would normally use (the Imagine brand likes Tide Original).
Extra rinse cycle at any temp.
Tumble or line dry
DONE! Now was that so bad?!

*No bleach, softeners, homemade detergents or diaper creams without a barrier as these will "coat" your cloth diapers and make them not absorb.

What is the Imagine brand?

Imagine a brand that has been created for YOU! We do not want to simply tell you Imagine is the best, easiest, most affordable, highest quality, etc. We DO believe this but too many just use these words and don't tell you why or how they are different. Imagine is different. We have simplified the options, created diapers that work, and have done it at an insanely affordable price.

How is the price SO LOW?

Imagine is a brand made especially for Nicki's Diapers allowing us to pass the savings directly to you.

No matter who you are, we have thought about YOU!

Imagine a family that is BUSY. We get it, you want to use cloth diapers but you don't have the time or energy to research the hundreds of brands and go through the trial and error period. There is so much to learn about raising a child and your brain is on overload.Imagine is for you! They are cloth diapers created by an expert that has done all the research PLUS trial & error for you and created a brand with all the best qualities. We simply and concisely explain what cloth diapers are, how to use them, and how to choose the best system for your family.
Imagine a family that needs to SAVE MONEY. Let's face it, times are tough and raising a baby can be expensive. Imagine is for you! Not only can you save a ton of money using any type of cloth diaper over disposable diapers but Imagine saves even MORE money. Imagine is cloth diapers and baby products created at an affordable price without sacrificing the quality and fit. Each product has been carefully designed and re-designed to make it the very best while keeping the cost economical.
Imagine a family that wants the very BEST FOR YOUR BABY. We have all read the parenting books and have received an endless amount of parenting advice so we are not here to give more. Imagine is for you! The highest quality materials have been used to make our products great. We have several diapering options so you can choose the best for your family.
Imagine a family that wants to MAKE A CHANGE (no pun intended). It is no secret our environment needs our help. Imagine is for you! Using cloth diapers can help reduce your environmental impact. Yes, using cloth diapers uses more water because you are washing them however water is a RENEWABLE resource that is properly filtered into specially designed treatment plants. Using cloth diapers WILL reduce what you put in the landfills, which are not renewable. It is unknown how long disposable diapers will take to decompose in a landfill and anyone who has had a baby knows dirty disposable diapers can take up A LOT of space. Simply put, our world is running out of landfill space and we need to do something about it NOW for our children.
Imagine a family that wants OPTIONS. We understand every family is different.Imagine is for you! This is why Imagine is a brand and not a product. The Imagine brand was developed to give you an option on what type of cloth diaper works best for your family. Our goal is to offer your family options while taking away the overwhelming feeling too many options can cause. This is one of the number one reasons families who research cloth diapers do not end up cloth diapering their babies. We recognize it is a delicate balance between needing options and having too many options that confuse you.
Imagine a family that LOVES STYLE. Babies are cute. We want to dress out babies in cute things. Imagine is for you! Cloth diapers are cute!! We use bold, fun colors that are sure to make heads turn. You don't have to sacrifice color and style for affordability and function.

If you love the idea of the Imagine Products and want to try them for yourself, enter to win 3 Imagine One-Size Pocket Diapers in your choice of color and closure!

How do you enter to win? (Each worth 1 entry per day unless otherwise stated)

REQUIRED ENTRIES:

Follow the Nicki’s Diaper blog publicly.

"Like" Nicki's Diapers on Facebook- Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here.

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

Blog about our giveaway and link back to our site. When you post back here you must link to the URL where you blogged. (2 entries)
Follow Nicki’s Diapers @nickisdiapers on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave the URL where you Tweeted.
Tweet @nickisdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @planetwise #clothdiapers #wetbags (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Like Best Bottom Diapers, Planet Wise and My Swim Baby on Facebook - Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here. (1 entry for each)
Suggest the following facebook pages to your friends: Nicki’s Diapers , Best Bottom Diapers , Planet Wise. You must post back here telling us which friend accepted your page suggestion. (1 entry per page for each person you suggest that LIKES us)
Grab our button and place them on your blog. Post a link to the blog here. (2 entries per blog - per button)
Start or comment on a discussion on the Nicki's Diapers facebook page discussion board.
Blog about your choice to cloth diaper and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com (2 entries)
Tag @nicki's diapers or @best bottom diapers, or @planetwise in a facebook post (1 entry for each tag)
Have a friend subscribe to our blog. Post their username in your comment. You can do this as many times as you can get friends to subscribe!
Talk about Nicki's Diapers on any forum and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com.
Sign up for the Nicki's Diapers newsletter (enter your email address on the top right of our homepage).
Start a thread about this giveaway on any baby or cloth diapering related forum and include a link to your thread. (2 entries)
Place an order at nickisdiapers.com, myswimbaby.com or clothdiaperclearance.com between 1/1/11 and 11/15/11. Include your order number in your entry.
Tell us why you chose to cloth diaper your little one!

GOOD LUCK!!

Imagine Pocket Diaper and Diaper Cover Review!

2011-11-01T20:41:00.000-05:00

When I first heard about the new Imagine covers and pocket diapers, I was honestly skeptical. The prices seemed so low that I was expecting the quality to suffer. I am so excited to be wrong!

The first thing I noticed when laying hands on these diapers is that they are not cheap and flimsy -- quite the opposite. They are well-made, with good stitching and very high quality snaps, hook & loop, and fleece. The colors are vibrant and the PUL looks and feels more durable than others I've seen. I was impressed before I even tried them on my kids.

Imagine One Size Diaper Covers
I tried out the covers over a Flip stay-dry insert and over an Imagine prefold (large organic) fastened with a Snappi and also just trifolded inside the cover. The fit was GREAT. My kids are currently about 28lbs and 41lbs, and it actually fit both of them very well. The fabric is stretchy enough to get a good snug fit, and the double leg gussets provide gentle stretch to prevent red marks. The fit was trim and held in wetness and mess very well. I especially like the laundry tab -- it is softer than most I've felt but it holds the tab very well! These quickly became my favorite covers.

Imagine One Size Pocket Diapers
The pocket diapers come with a free one-size microfiber insert. Again, the fit on both my boys was fantastic. I had no wing droop, and the fleece around the pocket opening didn't try to sneak up out the back of the diaper. The insert itself was very plush and I found it absorbent enough for my tastes. The fleece is soft and I have seen no pilling. My mother-in-law even commented about how nice they were, and she hates cloth diapers!

Overall I would (and do) recommend these diapers to anyone. The price is an absolute steal, and the diapers are just fantastic. I am thrilled that Nicki's Diapers exclusively carries a line of diapers and accessories that is better than anything I could "imagine."

Econobum Buy 1 Get 1 FREE!

2011-11-01T16:15:00.000-05:00

Now through November 30th, Econobum Single Packs are Buy 1 Get 1 FREE! That's TWO One-Size Covers and TWO One-Size Prefolds for only $9.95!

Planet Wise Snack Pack Giveaway WINNER!

2011-10-26T21:05:00.000-05:00

Congratulations! Please email annie@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prize!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1 Series: Introduction

2011-10-24T19:40:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the first post in a new series on the Nicki's Diapers Blog, Cloth Diapering from Day 1! Many of you have been reading my posts since the Nicki's Diapers Blog started, but let me re-introduce myself! My name is Annie. I've been married for just over 5 years and have 2 little boys, Ian is (almost) 4 and Sean is 2. We are expecting our 3rd little boy (name yet to be revealed ;-)) in just over 5 weeks! I've been cloth diapering for (almost) 4 years and I've been working at Nicki's Diapers for just over 2 years!

Although we started cloth diapering early on with our boys, I wanted to challenge myself to start cloth diapering from day (or minute!) 1 with this baby. I'm not saying I will never use a disposable diaper, or that I will drive myself into the ground in order to make sure a load of diapers gets into the wash at midnight, but this likely being our last baby, we thought it was something different and positive that we could try!

Soo... here's my plan! I have a series of posts planned out, including some that will come before baby even arrives. I will discuss building a newborn stash, what I plan to bring to the hospital, washing and prepping newborn diapers, using cloth diapers at the hospital, circumcision and cord stump care with cloth, and have feature posts on different types of diapers on newborns. I will try to include as many pictures as possible (because who doesn't love newborns in cloth?!) and we will do some fun giveaways along the way! I welcome any and all suggestions on more topics, so if you have an idea, feel free to leave it in the comments on the blog or post it on our facebook page!

I hope you enjoy the ride! -Annie

New Fuzzi Bunz Elite One-Size vs. "Old Style" Fuzzi Bunz One-Size

2011-10-22T20:46:00.000-05:00

We have had a lot of questions about the differences between the new Fuzzi Bunz Elite One-Size Pocket Diaper and the "Old Style" Fuzzi Bunz One-Size Pocket Diaper. If you're not able to get your hands on one at our Madison Retail Store, we hope this side-by-side picture comparison will help answer your questions!

The Fuzzi Bunz One-Size Pocket Diaper has always been one of our best sellers, and in my opinion the improvements that FuzziBunz made have made it even better! Here is what they changed (Black diaper is the "old style" and Tootie Frootie is new Elite):

The super customizable button adjustment is still present (and with the same numbering system) on the Elite Diaper, but the buttons are now hidden so they don't touch your baby's skin. You can still adjust the leg and waist casings individually to allow for a perfect fit for your little one.

The front panel is slightly more narrow and the front of the diaper is also slightly tapered to allow for an even trimmer fit. Again, Tooti Frootie is the Elite, Black is the "old style".

The snaps on the front panel have been slightly changed, removing the inner most thigh snap on each side.

The tabs have also undergone a very slight change in shape as have the snaps on the tabs.

Now included with each Fuzzi Bunz Elite One-Size Diaper are two Minky inserts. They are trimmer (but with the same absorbency), will stain less and will hold less odor than microfiber. As you can see below, the inserts are the same size as the microfiber inserts included in the "old style" diaper. Minky inserts are on top, microfiber on the bottom.

One thing that may not be quite as obvious upon first glace is the improved fleece. It's designed to wear better without pilling, dry more quickly when washing and keep baby feeling dryer, longer during wear.

A question that we have been asked several times is about the size of the pocket between the legs. As you can see from the picture below, this has not changed. In order to maintain a trim fit, the narrow pocket size is the same. The Elite diaper is on top and the "old style" is folded over on the bottom.

Overall, I think FuzziBunz hit the nail on the head! If you were a fan of their One-Size Pocket Diaper before, you will be very pleased with the improvements to the Elite One-Size Diaper! If there was something small you didn't like about the Old Style, the Elite will likely be the answer!

Take advantage of the sale price on the Old Style Fuzzi Bunz One-Size Pocket Diapers before they are gone! This includes the Nicki's Diapers EXCLUSIVE Black Fuzzi Bunz One-Size Pocket Diaper! FREE Shipping on ALL Pocket Diapers at Nicki's Diapers!

Getting Down with the Cloth Diaper "CD" Lingo!

2011-10-19T09:19:00.000-05:00

If you're new to the world of cloth diapering, or still trying to figure things out, you've probably seen your fair share of abbreviations and terms on different cloth diapering forums or Facebook discussions. Making sure you've found the correct diaper for your child can be overwhelming enough, much less trying to figure out what a HHOSS is! We've compiled a list of the most common cloth diapering related abbreviations, including diaper brands, to help you through!

AI2: all in two , usually has a snap in liner
AIO: all in one diaper
AP: Attachment Parenting
ATD: All Together Diapers
BBH: Baby Beehinds
BG: Bumgenius
BOV: bamboo organic velour
BKs: Babykicks
BSWW: Bummis Super Whisper Wrap
BV: bamboo velour
BB: Best Bottom
BB: Blueberry
BW: BumWear
CB: Cotton Babies
CRAT: Aristocrat
CD: cloth diaper
CPF: Chinese prefolds
DSQ: diaper service quality
EBF: exclusively breastfed (you’ll see in reference to how a diaper holds EBF poo)
EO: essential oil
FB: Fuzzi Bunz
FL: front loader (washing machine)
GN: gender neutral
GV: GroVia
HH: Happy Heiny's
IPF: indian prefold
IV: Imse Vimse
JB: Joey Bunz
KL: Kissaluvs
KND: Knickernappies Diapers
KP: Kiwi Pie
LB: Little Beetles
ME: Motherease
MEAF: Motherease Air Flow
NB: newborn
OC: organic cotton
OCV: organic cotton velour
OS: one size - a diaper that usually fits a child from birth up until about 35 lbs
OSS: One-Size Snap
OV: organic velour
PF: prefold
PUL: polyurethane laminate
PW: Planet Wise
RaR: Rump-a-rooz
RnG: Rockin' Green
QD: quick dry
SB: Swaddlebees
SB: Softbums
SC: suedecloth
SS: side snapping
TTO: tea tree oil
UBCPF: unbleached chinese prefolds
UBIPF: unbleached Indian prefolds
UTN: Under the Nile

The list is long and I'm sure there are many that I haven't covered! A few months into cloth diapering, these terms will start to come second nature and you'll be chatting it up with the pros!

Can you think of some terms that are missing from the list? Leave a comment with your additions and we'll randomly draw a winner on October 26th to win a Planet Wise Snack Pack!

Planet Wise Giveaway WINNER!

2011-10-12T08:15:00.000-05:00

Congratulations! Please email annie@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prize!

Best Bottom Diaper Giveaway WINNER!

2011-10-05T08:29:00.000-05:00

Congratulations! Please email annie@nickisdiapers.com within one week to claim your prize!!

Packing Your Diaper Bag

2011-10-04T15:28:00.000-05:00

Hi, my name is Casey, and I'm a recovering overpacking addict.

First, let me preface by saying that I have two kids in diapers. I need more things than a parent with just one child. However, I used to get a little overboard, and I'm hoping that I can help others to avoid my mistakes.

I used to pack at least 5 diapers for each child, no matter what we were doing or where we were going. I used to always pack a change of clothes for both kids. Always extras "just in case." Extra everything. Because you just never know, right?

After stuffing diaper bags full to the brim for well over 3 years (and removing all but one or maybe two diapers when I returned home anyway) I've finally begun to pare down and learn what it is that we really NEED when cloth diapering outside the home. I can honestly say that it's very freeing to have so little along -- and the departure from my normal over-preparedness feels a little like living on the edge (but really isn't).

A few quick tips:

I will suggest right now to buy a SMALL diaper bag in the beginning -- you can't overpack if you don't have room.

Learn to be brutal -- do you really NEED to take along 5 board books to go to the grocery store for a quick gallon of milk?

Be organized. Look for a diaper bag with pockets that will suit your needs. I use my bag as a purse so that I don't have to carry two bags, so I use one pocket to carry wallet, phone, and keys. I love to keep my diapers separate from the rest of my bag, so I use a Planet Wise wet/dry bag. The clean diapers stay in the front. That way I can grab the clean diapers along with the wet bag when a change is needed and nothing falls out or gets buried.

Be realistic. Plan for the time you will be gone. A little pre-planning will help you simplify and also keep you from trying to jam too much into a trip -- something else I'm known to do. If you change your baby every 2-3 hours, and you estimate that your errands will take you 3 hours to complete, two diapers should be fine. I keep a few emergency disposable diapers in my car's glove box.

Pack a prefold diaper instead of a changing mat. It can serve multiple purposes (burp cloth, bib, or extra "just in case" diaper) and can be put through the wash.

Look for a bag that has exterior pockets for bottles/sippy cups to create more room on the interior.

Keep an extra set of clothes for each child (swap out sizes when necessary) in your car's trunk or under the back seat. They're there in case of a mess happening, but you won't have to tote them around everywhere. Remember: Worst case scenario, you have to leave early. Not the biggest deal in the world, it happens to everyone with kids!

So what do you really need to pack? Let's imagine that we're going to run to the store with one child. It's a big trip, and might take us up to 3 hours.

Inside my Planet Wise wet/dry bag's pocket, I'd put two diapers. (If using prefolds, fitteds, or an all-in-two system I would pack an extra cover as well in case of poo.)
I use cloth wipes, so I'd put a small handful inside a Planet Wise small wetbag along with my spray bottle of solution and a small tube/tub of ointment. (The small wetbag keeps any possible leaks at bay, and I suggest using your peri bottle from the hospital -- it snaps tight and is taller/slimmer than most spray bottles, plus it's free and recycled.) I put my small bag of wipes/solution inside the wet/dry bag with the diapers -- when I grab the larger bag for a diaper change, everything I need is right there.I pack a prefold diaper to use as a changing pad or other utility.
I pack a sippy (or bottle) into the exterior pocket.
I pack a non-perishable snack (banana chips work great) into a Planet Wise snack bag. (This isn't entirely necessary, but even short trips can be terrible if a kid gets hungry so I just keep a little something with me at all times.)
Inside my "mommy pocket" I put my phone, wallet, and checkbook. I usually use a carabiner to attach my keys somewhere on the outside of my bag so that I'm not digging for them. I also try to find a pocket that's more accessible (on the front or near the top) for my mommy things.
If I really feel it'll be necessary (we all know those days) I'll pack a small book or toy.

And that's honestly it! You don't need to bring the whole nursery with you every time you leave the house -- I promise. Are you an overpacker, or do you pack lightly?

Best Bottom Diapers Nominated for SheKnows Parenting Award!

2011-10-03T14:41:00.002-05:00

BEST BOTTOM DIAPERS NOMINATED FOR BEST ECO-DIAPER IN

THE 2011 SHEKNOWS PARENTING AWARDS

Fans Can Vote Online For Best Bottom Diapers Through October 18, 2011

Los Angeles, Calif. (September 30, 2011) – Best Bottom Diaper announced their nomination today for best Eco-Diaper in the 2011 SheKnows Parenting Awards. According to SheKnows, the coveted award recognizes outstanding products in the parenting and pregnancy industry based on functionality, quality and convenience. Winners will be announced October 25, 2011 on SheKnows.com.

SheKnows, a global destination for women with the latest news on parenting, health, entertainment and more, created the award program to recognize products within the parenting industry for excellence. The awards span over 50 comprehensive sub-categories that cover everything from baby gates and diaper bags to pregnancy essentials and eco-toys.

“Just like last year, the 2011 SheKnows Parenting Awards nominees such as Best Bottom Diapers, consistently set the standard for quality when it comes to products and services used by parents nationwide,” said Kyle Cox, Vice President and General Manager of SheKnows. “It is an incredible achievement to be selected as a finalist from the hundreds of submissions we review and Best Bottom Diapers has clearly demonstrated they are a leader in the parenting industry.”

As a nominee, Best Bottom Diapers will also be eligible to win an Editors’ Choice Award, which spotlights one specific brand per category chosen exclusively by the SheKnows Editorial Team. Starting September 18, 2011, readers can access voting here!

Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size LOWER PRICING!

2011-10-02T20:41:00.027-05:00

If you haven't already noticed, there is new LOWER pricing on Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size Diapers! These super trim pocket diapers are a favorite at Nicki's Diapers!

While one-size pocket diapers are very popular, using a sized pocket diaper definitely has it's benefits! An extra small or newborn sized diaper will generally start fitting right from birth, whereas a one-size diaper generally starts fitting closer to 10 pounds. Also buying up through the sizes as baby grows reduces wear and tear on the diapers and makes it much more likely they will get through multiple children!

You can now purchase Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size Pocket Diapers at the following prices with FREE shipping on ALL pocket diapers at Nicki's Diapers!

XS: $13.95

Small: $14.95

Medium: $15.95

Large: $16.95

Item of the Week

2011-09-27T12:06:00.000-05:00

~~$20.50~~ SALE $19.25

FREE Shipping on ALL Pocket Diapers at Nicki's Diapers!

Babykicks 3G Bumboo One-Size Pocket Diapers are a super-trim fitting and lined with an incredibly soft 30% Organic Cotton and 70% Rayon from Bamboo. The special fleece gussets allow air flow to prevent rashes and are extremely gentle on baby's legs.

The Babykicks 3G Bumboo One-Size Pocket Diaper comes with a thirsty Joey Bunz Hemp Insert and snaps on the side to make it more difficult for baby to pull their diaper off. Side snaps also allow the diaper to be used as a pull-up cloth training pant!

NEW from Planet Wise! And a GIVEAWAY!

2011-09-27T11:30:00.000-05:00

The folks at Planet Wise have certainly been busy! What can you expect to see rolling into Nicki's Diapers from them in the near future?

New prints in the Planet Wise Wet Bags including some of your favorites from the Snack Line and more Organic prints!
Snack Bags are now available in clear in snack, sandwich, quart and gallon sizes!
Washable, 100% Cotton Reusable Napkins
Lots of new prints in the Planet Wise Snack Bag Line!
Nursing Covers in 14 beautiful prints!
Wipes pouches in new prints, with a snap down design to prevent moisture wicking through the zipper.
Flannel Wipes in fun, coordinated colors.
3 new prints in the Planet Wise Pail Liner; Hoot, Pink Giraffe and Blue Giraffe!

Planet Wise was so generous to sponsor a giveaway of one of their NEW Nursing Covers!

You can do each one of the entries however you must post back here to our blog and tell us WHAT you did. Be sure you follow the Nicki’s Diapers blog - publicly for your chance to win!

We will post our winner on Tuesday, October 11th!

How do you enter to win? (Each worth 1 entry per day unless otherwise stated)

REQUIRED ENTRIES:

Follow the Nicki’s Diaper blog publicly.

"Like" Nicki's Diapers on Facebook- Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here.

"Like" Planet Wise on Facebook- Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here.

OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

Blog about our giveaway and link back to our site. When you post back here you must link to the URL where you blogged. (2 entries)
Follow Nicki’s Diapers @nickisdiapers on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. Leave the URL where you Tweeted.
Tweet @nickisdiapers #clothdiapers (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Tweet @planetwise #clothdiapers #wetbags (1 entry for each unique tweet)
Like Best Bottom Diapers and My Swim Baby on Facebook - Be sure to state your facebook name when you post back here. (1 entry for each)
Suggest the following facebook pages to your friends: Nicki’s Diapers , Best Bottom Diapers , Planet Wise. You must post back here telling us which friend accepted your page suggestion. (1 entry per page for each person you suggest that LIKES us)
Grab our button and place them on your blog. Post a link to the blog here. (2 entries per blog - per button)
Start or comment on a discussion on the Nicki's Diapers facebook page discussion board.
Blog about your choice to cloth diaper and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com (2 entries)
Tag @nicki's diapers or @best bottom diapers in a facebook post.
Have a friend subscribe to our blog. Post their username in your comment. You can do this as many times as you can get friends to subscribe!
Talk about Nicki's Diapers on any forum and include a link to www.nickisdiapers.com.
Sign up for the Nicki's Diapers newsletter (enter your email address on the top right of our homepage).
Start a thread about this giveaway on any baby or cloth diapering related forum and include a link to your thread. (2 entries)
Place an order at nickisdiapers.com, myswimbaby.com or clothdiaperclearance.com between 9/27/11 and 10/11/11. Include your order number in your entry.
Tell us the most unique place you have nursed in public!

GOOD LUCK!!

Item of the Week

2011-09-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

Bottombumpers All-In-One Side Snapping Diaper is an ultra-trim, extremely absorbent diaper that fits like a dream! It's organic cotton inner is gentle on baby's skin.The snap-in soaker is topped with organic bamboo cotton for extreme softness and allows for fast drying. It's completely waterproof to prevent leaks! The side snaps allow it to be used as a cloth training pant when your toddler is potty training!

Through next Tuesday, take $2 off Bottombumpers All-In-One Side Snapping Diapers!

Nicki's Diapers

Best Bottom Doubler and Overnight Giveaway WINNER!

Sniffle Package Sale and Giveaway!

Planet Wise Moo-licious Pail Liner Giveaway WINNER!

Thirsties Duo All-In-One Review and Giveaway

Diono Monterey Booster Seat SALE!

Product Review and Giveaway! Best Bottom Diapers Microfiber Doubler and Hemp/Organic Cotton Overnights

Planet Wise Moo-licious Pail Liner Giveaway!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Diapering More Than One Child

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Flats

Rockin' Green Products 10% OFF in January!

bumGenius! Freetime AIO WINNER!

bumGenius Freetime All-in-One One Size Diaper Review and Giveaway!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Circumcision and Cord Stump Care

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Using Prefolds on a Newborn

Planet Wise Wet Bag Giveaway WINNER!

FuzziBunz Zippered Tote WINNER!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Washing Newborn Diapers

Planet Wise Wet Bag Giveaway!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1: Using Cloth Diapers at the Hospital

EcoPosh One Size Fitted Diaper Review!

Charlie Banana WINNER!

LuSa Organics WINNER!

Kissaluvs Marvels One-Size All-in-Ones WINNER!

Cyber Monday Giveaway Winners

Fuzz Bunz Zippered Tote Giveaway!

Black Friday Giveaway Winners

Cyber Monday Deals

Visit our stores!

Be sure to check out our "SALE" category for extra special savings!

Oh Katy! Winter Sale!

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS

Visit our stores!

Be sure to check out our "SALE" category for extra special savings!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales!

Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales!

Cuties in Cloth Contest WINNERS!!!

Lusa Organics Review and Giveaway!

Cloth Diaper Accessories Kit WINNER!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1 Series: Packing for the Hospital

Imagine Pocket Diaper Giveaway WINNER!

Giveaway! Kissaluvs Marvels One-Size All-In-Ones!

Ergo Baby Carrier Holiday Promotion!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1 Series: Prepping Newborn Diapers

Cloth Diapering From Day 1 Series: Building a Newborn Stash

Nicki's First EVER Cuties in Cloth Contest!

Imagine... less confusion!

Imagine Pocket Diaper and Diaper Cover Review!

Econobum Buy 1 Get 1 FREE!

Planet Wise Snack Pack Giveaway WINNER!

Cloth Diapering From Day 1 Series: Introduction

New Fuzzi Bunz Elite One-Size vs. "Old Style" Fuzzi Bunz One-Size

Getting Down with the Cloth Diaper "CD" Lingo!

Planet Wise Giveaway WINNER!

Best Bottom Diaper Giveaway WINNER!

Packing Your Diaper Bag

Best Bottom Diapers Nominated for SheKnows Parenting Award!

Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size LOWER PRICING!

Item of the Week

NEW from Planet Wise! And a GIVEAWAY!

Item of the Week