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 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
I get asked this all the time in the store… “If you knew what you knew now, and had to buy your cloth diapers all over again, what would you buy?” When I started cloth diapering my oldest son at 3 months, I bought an entire stash of Bum Genius 3.0 pocket diapers. Don’t get me wrong, these diapers are bulletproof and I still have a lot of fluffy love for them, but there were just so many diapers calling my name that I HAD to try. I later added prefolds and covers, and then the flood gates opened. In over a dozen different brands, I now have 40+ pockets and AIO’s, 10 or so fitteds, 2 dozen prefolds and a good selection of covers. So, if I woke up tomorrow morning and all my diapers were gone, this is what I’d buy (after a good, long cry!), mind you, I have 2 kids in diapers: *6 BumGenius 3.0 pocket diapers: these NEVER leak overnight and the waterproof insert stopper keeps my tummy sleepers dry *4 Dream-Eze organic cotton fitteds: the perfect nap diaper, very absorbent! *12 medium Imagine prefolds: an economical way to bulk up your stash *4 Blueberry Coveralls for the prefolds and fitteds: these fit both my boys very well *6 Best Bottom Shells and 18 inserts: This is my favorite new diapering system and I’d love it to make up the majority of my daily stash *6 Happy Heiny Hemp Stuffins: to add absorbency to our overnight diapers *2 Snappis: no prefold-er should be without these! I still love every single one of the diapers I have for different reasons, but I think my husband would appreciate a little stash simplification! Although I’m sure with every new diaper that came out, our stash would grow a little bit… :)
Have you experienced the frustration of having to find a newborn diaper for your baby to wear before they grow into their one-size diaper? How about having a tall toddler who out grows the rise of their one-size diaper before they're ready to potty train? Thirsties has come up with a diapering system that will address those problems.
My oldest son was 3 months old when we started cloth diapering so we were able to use one-size pocket diapers from the beginning. However, when I was pregnant with my second son, I realized we'd have to find a diapering system to use until he grew into his brother's one-size diapers. Most one-size diapers don't fit till baby is close to 10 pounds. Lucky for me (well, maybe not so lucky:)) I have big babies, so that time from birth till 10 pounds is only a matter of a month or so. If you have more petite babies, that can be months! Using disposable diapers for those first couple of months is always an option, but with a newborn going through 12+ diapers a day, that can be very expensive!
Thirsties has introduced a wonderful new diapering system called the Duo Diaper. They were so kind and gave me a size 2 Duo Diaper to try out on my boys. I'm so thankful I gave this diaper a try, it's one of my absolute favorites now! The Duo Diaper is a 2-piece system that has a super absorbent insert (a combination insert of thirsty microfiber and jersey hemp) and a water-proof outer pocket. The pocket comes in 2 sizes (size 1 and size 2) and each size has 2 sets of rise adjusting snaps, making 3 sizes per diaper! This diaper will absolutely fit the average newborn from birth!
One-size pocket diapers are extremely bulky on newborns. The size 1 Duo Diaper starts at 6 pounds and goes up to 18 pounds. That means half as much bulk! The size 2 Duo Diaper starts at 18 pounds and goes up to an astonishing 40 pounds! No more plumber crack from your toddler who is outgrowing the rise of their one-size diaper.
 We've trusted Thirsties covers with their super gussets to contain my sons' EBF poop and you'll be happy to know they've used their trademark gussets on their Duo Diapers, too. And another very cool feature (this diaper is jam-packed with them, hey?!) , a pass-through sleeve that makes for easy insert stuffing AND allows the insert to agitate itself out in the wash. No touching dirty inserts! One of my favorite parts of this diaper and other Thirsties products in the waterproof material on the inside of the diaper that prevents the insert (or prefold in the case of their covers) from peaking out the top. That means my boys, who are tummy sleepers, can wear this diaper overnight and I'm not worried about moisture wicking onto their jammies and sheets!
I'd never pass at an opportunity to show my kids off. Here is my youngest son wearing a size 2 Duo Diaper. He's about 20 pounds. The diaper is on the tightest setting for him.
Here is my older son in the same size 2 Duo Diaper. He's about 30 pounds and wears it on the middle setting. Still lots of room to grow!
My overall impression? This is a quality diaper and an ingenious idea! Why buy a newborn diaper, a one-size diaper and later on a larger diaper for your toddler when you can just buy 2 sizes of Duo Diapers and be assured of a great fit?! This never leaked on my boys, still looks as new as the day I got it and is a cinch to care for. To find out more about the Thirsties Duo Diaper and other great products from Thirsties, request a FREE copy of their catalog or visit their facebook page!
Check back on Thursday for your chance to win a Thirsties Duo Diaper in your choice of size and color!
When my second son, Sean, was born, I was already well aware that one newborn essential was a good swaddling blanket. Little did I know that it would be a lifesaver. Sean’s first two weeks were spent sleeping all hours. Then, like a light switch at the 2 week mark, the screaming began. It was all too familiar to us and we knew right away what was wrong. Like my first son, Ian, Sean has a milk protein allergy. I immediately eliminated all dairy from my diet, but unfortunately it takes 2 weeks to entirely work its way from my system and another 2 weeks to get out of his. In the mean time, we were left to deal with a baby that could not be comforted in any way, except to be swaddled. Not only did Sean spend his naps and night swaddled, for those 2-3 weeks that he was still working the dairy out of his system, he spend the majority of his waking hours swaddled as well. It made him feel warm and secure and minimized the amount he cried. Most people won’t have to use swaddling for such an extreme situation, but it’s nice to know just how effective it really is. There are three main benefits to swaddling your baby. - Babies sleep longer- Because baby is used to being curled up tight and warm in the womb, swaddling mimics this feeling and allows them to relax and feel more secure. Also, babies are born with a Moro reflex that can cause them to startle themselves awake. Being wrapped tightly minimizes that built-in reflex.
- Fewer scratches- When baby is born, they will likely have long, papery nails that can have sharp edges. Because their movements are jerky and uncontrolled, they will likely scratch their face. Swaddling keeps those arms and hands in nice and tight, preventing those not-so-pretty scratches.
- Less crying- As previously mentioned, babies have a built-in startle reflex. The flailing of their arms and legs can scare them, causing them to cry. By keeping their arms and legs tightly wrapped, less crying results!
Our favorite swaddling blanket for Sean was the Snug & Tug. It’s a blanket made specifically for swaddling that features a large pouch that your baby can’t kick out of, and velcro closure to ensure that no amount of wiggling can undo the swaddle. The blanket comes in two sizes and 6 colors. We found that we needed to have at least 2 of these so that there was always a clean one. We did NOT want to have to go a night without one! Some other fabulous swaddling blankets that we have at Nicki’s are the Aden & Anais muslin wraps and the Moby swaddling blanket. The Aden & Anais blankets come in a 2-pack or a 4-pack. They are super soft, lightweight (yet nice and warm!) and come in a variety of colorful patterns. They are very generously sized and can therefore be used for many other things, such a play blanket on the floor, a burp cloth, or a cover while nursing. The Moby swaddling blankets are made of stretchy, 100% cotton in a variety of colors. They have plenty of fabric to get a nice, tight swaddle. Each blanket comes with a matching hat for your newborn and a matching drawstring storage bag. Here is my poor little Sean at a play date with Corey’s daughter, Gretchen. What a difference the swaddle made!
 
~Annie
One of the most popular choices in cloth diapering is the one-size pocket diaper, and with good reason! They fit from not long after birth all the way through potty training, they are easy to take care of, and with all the available color choices, they’re pretty darn cute! If you come into Nicki’s (or check out our website), you might be boggled by the number of choices in brands and styles when it comes to one-size pocket diapers. I’m going to tell you about 3 of our most popular one-size pocket diapers and hopefully help you chose which one(s) best fit your needs! First, let’s look at the Bum Genius 3.0 pocket diaper. This diaper fits starting at 6-8 pounds up through 35 pounds. Of course this will vary slightly depending on the build of the baby. The outside of the diaper is made with a softer, waterproof material and the inside has a stay-dry suedecloth fabric that pulls wetness away from baby’s skin. This diaper comes with a newborn insert and a one-size microfiber insert. Bum Genius 3.0 pocket diapers feature stretchy tabs that allow for a very custom fit and velcro closure. The rise of this diaper adjusts from birth through potty training with a 3x3 design. 
My favorite features of this diaper are the fit and the adjustability. I was able to put my son into this diaper when he was less than a week old and get a good fit. It wasn’t nearly as bulky as many one-size diapers can be on a newborn and he didn’t have any leaks! It’s also very easy to adjust this diaper. The snap up rise is quick to change it from the fit of my youngest son to the fit of my older son. The velcro closure allows me to get a custom fit for each one of them and not worry about being between snap settings. One thing that I find can be down-fall with this diaper is the velcro. In general, velcro tends to wear more quickly than snaps do. Again though, you’ll get a more custom fit with velcro, some people just prefer one over the other. The next diaper I want to look at is the FuzziBunz One Size pocket diaper. This diaper fits from 7 pounds up through 35 pounds, again depending on the build of the child. The One-Size Fuzzi Bunz features a waterproof outer with a soft fleece inner to keep baby’s skin dry. It comes with a small and large microfiber insert and has snap closures. This diaper adjusts a little bit differently than the Bum Genius diaper. There are 8+ elastic settings on each of the legs to adjust for your baby’s size and 4+ elastic settings on the waist. If you’ve ever seen the adjustable waist jeans for toddlers and children, these diapers adjust much in the same way. 
Some of the things that I like best about this diaper is the super-soft fleece inside and the longevity of the diaper. The fleece stays looking new and is always soft against my son’s skin. It doesn’t get stained and keeps him feeling dry, even overnight. Since the elastic is removable and replaceable, these diapers will surely hold up through potty training and have the potential to make it through multiple children. The newest Fuzzi Bunz diapers come with a set of replacement elastic, but if yours is one of the older versions and didn’t, you can request free replacement elastic from the manufacturer within a year of purchase. While Bum Genius diapers close with velcro, Fuzzi Bunz close with snaps. This can be a positive in that snaps tend to hold up to wear and tear better than velcro, but sometimes sizing can be more tricky because the baby may fall between snap settings. This is again a personal preference. Finally, we look at the Haute Pocket One Size Pocket diaper. Haute’s fit from about 8 pounds to about 35 pounds and are adjusted with a snap up/down rise on the front of the diaper. They have a waterproof outer and are lined with a super soft microfleece to keep baby’s skin feeling dry. They come with a small and large microfiber insert that can snap together for extra absorbency for overnight or for older babies. Haute Pockets use EITHER snaps or velcro as their closure system. 
One of my favorite things about this diaper is that you can chose from snaps or velcro for closure. As I mentioned earlier, snaps tend to wear a bit slower, but you are able to get a more customized fit with velcro. If you find that Haute Pockets fit your baby best, you can have a few of each closure in your stash! I also really like the laundry tabs on these diapers. I’ve never had to pick apart a string of Haute Pockets out of the washer that are stuck together because the laundry tabs have released! Haute Pockets were the first one-size diaper to fit my son when he was born. He was just under a week old, and about 8 ½ pounds when a Haute fit him on the smallest setting. While this is great for smaller babies, I’m also finding that they tend to run a little smaller on the largest setting. My 30 pound two year old is able to still squeeze into them, but the rise is getting a bit low for him. This will all depend on the build of your child, though. So there you have a run-down on three of our most popular one-size pockets. Hopefully it will help you make your choice as to which will fit your diapering needs best. In all honesty, it doesn’t hurt to have a few different kinds in your stash. You might find that one diaper will work well for overnights or naps while another may be a better day-time diaper. And the good news is that if you buy any diaper (or diaper cover or training pant!) from Nicki’s and aren’t completely satisfied with it, you can return it within 15 days for full in-store credit under our new 15 Day Wash Program! That way you can find the diaper that does work best for you! If you use one-size pocket diapers, leave your comment to tell us which are your favorite and why! ~Annie
Are you a clothing diapering Mom? Do you love shopping at Nicki's? Would you like to see you and your child(ren's) faces featured on our blog? Sign up to be the next Nicki's "Mom of the Month!"
You'll answer a few fun questions about yourself (hobbies, favorite meal to cook, etc.) and about your experiences clothing diapering (why you started, favorite diapers, etc.) and submit a picture of yourself and your children to show off to all our blog readers!
Send us a brief description of yourself and why you'd like to be featured! We'll select one mom every month and we'll email you with our questions at the time you're chosen! Entries to: annie@nickisdiapers.com.
Can't wait to see you on our blog!
~Annie
If you’re pregnant and planning to cloth diaper your new little one, this post is for you! I’m going to tell you everything you need to get through the first few months of cloth diapering by building what I believe to be the ultimate newborn diaper stash! Actually, I’m going to show you two different examples of ultimate newborn stashes, the first one will be the less expensive route and the second one will be a little bit more expensive. First, a few things… We recommend washing your diapers every other day. This means you’ll need 2 days worth of diapers, plus a few extras for your baby to wear when you’re washing and for those diaper changes that they pee when you’re changing them. So if we’re considering a newborn, you’ll probably need somewhere between 24 and 36 diapers. It’s also important to note that while many one-size diapers say they fit from birth though potty training, most baby's thighs aren't quite large enough to fill them out till about 10 pounds and they may leak through the legs till they're a bit bigger. If you want to start CDing before they reach 10 pounds, the 2 options below are the most popular route with Nicki’s customers. Newborn Stash #1 –The Cheapest Route! 2-3 dozen NB or standard infant prefolds ($29-$43.50 for NB, $32-$48 for infant) 6 NB or XS covers ($43.50 for Proraps, $66 for Thirsties) 2 Snappis ($5.75 for 2-pack) 6 Kissaluv 0 fitteds ($77.70) TOTAL approx. $156-$198 Part of the reason that I cloth diaper is to save money, so when we were getting ready to have our second son, we wanted to go the cheaper route for his newborn diapers. We knew our younger guy wouldn’t fit into his older brother’s OS pockets for at least a month, but we didn’t want to be buying and throwing away disposables in that time. Some people are intimidated by prefolds, but having used them on my toddler, I knew I could handle them on a newborn. Let me tell you, putting them on a newborn is so much easier than a wiggly toddler! At night I preferred the Kissaluvs because they were just a tad easier to be putting on in a more sleep-deprived state. As far as covers go, our most popular for a newborn at the NB and small Proraps and the Thirsties XS. Both of these covers have the extra leg gusset that is perfect for holding in the NB poop. Newborn Stash #2 – A Little More Expensive 2-3 dozen XS AIOs or pocket diapers ($382.80-$574.20 for BumGenius AIOs, $406.80-$610.20 for Fuzzi Bunz XS pockets) TOTAL approx. $383-$610 Some people prefer the ease of an all-in-one or a pocket right from the get-go. If you want something that is most like a disposable, a size all-in-one or a sized pocket might be what you’re looking for. The most popular sized AIO’s and pockets for newborns are BumGenius 3.0 XS (or small) All-In-Ones and Fuzzi Bunz XS pocket diapers. You will need a few accessories to complete your newborn stash, including a diaper pail, 2 pail liners, a few wetbags, some cloth wipes and some wipe solution. That should do it! You’re all ready for your new little one to arrive, at least in the cloth diaper department anyhow! Oh, I should add…since they grow so fast when they’re little, they’ll be moving up into the next size diapers (or into OS diapers) before you know it! If you’re done having children or don’t plan to hold onto the small diapers for the next baby, you can resell your diapers at Under My Crib and get back some of your money to buy the next size diaper!
~Annie
Do you live in the Madison, WI area and are you looking for great deals on gently used children's and maternity items? Check out the Just Between Friends Sale on the west-side this weekend, October 16th-18th! You'll find things like clothing, accessories, maternity items, nursery gear, books, strollers, TOYS!, coats, baby carriers, carseats, highchairs, and furniture!
The sale is at the MAC Sports Center in Verona, WI. Friday from 9:00am-12:00pm shoppers with children can shop and 12:00pm-7:00pm the sale is open to the public! On Saturday the sale is open to the public from 9:00am-6:00pm. On Sunday from 11:00am-2:00pm the half-price sale is open to the public!
Check out their website for more information! www.jbfsale.com
This is a great opportunity to find great deals on things for your little one and also give back to the community. All the consignors are local parents and the sale also benefits local charities!
If you’re new to cloth diapering, or can think back to when you were, you know how confusing it can be. There are so many different kinds of diapers to choose from, not to mention all the accessories. You probably have a million new terms running through your head like prefolds, all-in-one, fitted, insert, liner, and wet-bag, to name a few. Hopefully I can help you clear up any confusion and you can make the right choice about which type of diaper(s) will work best for your situation! First, let’s talk types of diapers. We’ll start with the most basic (and least expensive) and move up to the most expensive and most like disposable diapers. Prefolds- Before knowing much about cloth diapering, you probably thought that cloth diapers were all what your mom and grandma used back in the day with pins and plastic pants. Those diapers are still around and are a lot easier to use than you probably imagine! Gone are the days of pins and plastic pants, though! We’ll talk about that in a second. Prefolds are rectangular diapers with an absorbent pad sewn in. They come in a variety of sizes and thickness as well in bleached or unbleached. Prefolds need to be folded and secure with a Snappi (no more pins, remember?!) or just trifolded. Prefolds are not waterproof so they need to have a waterproof cover put over them. Pros of Prefolds- - Least expensive diapering option
- Fast drying
- No need for as many different sizes
- Versatile - can be used for other functions such as inserts/doublers, burp clothes, rags, etc.
Cons of Prefolds- Fitteds- A fitted diaper is tailored with elastic around the legs and waist to fit closely to your baby’s body. They close with either snaps or Velcro and require no folding. These do require a waterproof cover. Pros of Fitteds- - Still convenient yet less expensive than an All in One
- Easy to use
- Very absorbent - great when used as a nighttime cloth diape
Cons of Fitteds- Pockets- Pocket diapers are perhaps the most popular and well known type of diapers in the cloth diapering world with big brands like Bum Genius, Fuzzi Bunz, and Haute Pockets leading the way. The type of diaper is essentially a waterproof diaper cover with a pocket opening that you stuff a prefold or a specially designed insert into to absorb liquid. Pros of Pockets- - Fast drying
- Gives a very trim fit
- Most like an all-in-one diaper making it very convenient
Cons of Pockets- - Cloth diaper cover with pocket needs to be washed after every use
- Can be expensive
- Need to "stuff" each cloth diaper with a Chinese prefold or insert
All-In-Ones- If you’re looking for something that is most like a disposable diaper, apart from the fact that you wash it, you’re probably looking for an all-in-one diaper. These diapers are an absorbent inner material sewn onto a waterproof cover. They close with snaps or Velcro. Pros of All-In-Ones- - Most convenient
- Easiest to use
- Most like disposable diapers
Cons of All-In-Ones- - Most expensive
- Usually takes longest to dry
Now that you’ve got a grasp on the types of different diapers, let’s look at diapering accessories like inserts and doubles, liners, and wetbags. Inserts and Doublers- A diaper insert is a pad that is used to add extra absorbency without adding bulk and is usually about 3"X11". Inserts are usually used for babies under 6 months old. A diaper doubler is a larger pad that is used to add extra absorbency without adding bulk and is usually 4"x14". Doublers are usually used for older/larger babies. Liners- Generally, a liner is a piece of material (most likely fleece, silk, or a flushable material) that sits between your baby’s skin and the diaper. Liners do not add extra absorbancy but perform other duties! A flushable liner can be used to catch solid poop and can just be flipped off into the toilet as oppose to scraping or using a sprayer. A fleece liner allows moisture to pass through it, being absorbed by the diaper, but keeps baby’s skin feeling dry. Poop is also easier to remove from fleece than from cotton (like a prefold). A raw silk liner also helps keep baby’s skin drier and also has anti-microbial properties that may keep diaper rash and yeast at bay. Wetbags- A wetbag is essential to all cloth diaperers! Toss your dirty and wet diapers into a wetbag to prevent smell and moisture from getting on other things in your diaper bag. You can also loop a hanging wetbag over a doorknob and use it the same way you’d use a diaper pail. Planetwise wetbags and wet/dry bags are specially seam sealed to keep ALL moisture and smell contained! When it’s broken down, it seems a lot easier to grasp, doesn’t it? If you’re still confused or have any questions at all, never hesitate to call us or drop us an email! You can even ask questions in the “comments”. Better yet, if you’re nearby, Nicki does a FREE Cloth Diapering 101 Class at our Madison location where you can see and TOUCH all the diapers in person! Keep an eye on our classes calendar for when the next one will be and come check it out!
~Annie
I will never forget the first time I got fluffy mail. I had been stalking the UPS guy all morning and probably scared the bejesus out of him when I answered the door .7 seconds after he knocked. “Are you Annie?”, he asked. “Yes!” I said as I frantically signed what almost resembled my name. I ripped open the package and there they were in all their glory, 18 brand spankin’ new BumGenius pocket diapers. I quickly stuffed the pockets and lined them up on my couch, organizing them by color. They were the prettiest things (that catches poop) I had ever seen. My son was just 12 weeks old and after weeks of online research, my husband and I had made the decision to take the plunge and become part of the cloth diapering community. At the time, it didn’t seem like much of a community, though. We knew no one in real life that cloth diapered and everyone we had mentioned it to thought we were nuts. But I was staying-at-home with my son and living on one income can be challenging with a new baby. We were getting into cloth diapering to help us save some money and to reduce the number of garbage bags we were hauling down to the dumpster every week! It’s been nearly two years since that first order of diapers came in. My first son, Ian, will be 2 years old next month and I also have a 4 month old son, Sean. My husband of 3 years, Charles, and I are still cloth diapering both boys and if you ask either one of us, we’d probably tell you that getting into cloth diapering has been one of the best decisions we’ve made since becoming parents. Our diaper stash has certainly grown and changed since those initial 18 BumGenius diapers. I’ve branched out to try prefolds and various fitteds with covers. I’ve also tried over a dozen brands of pockets and all-in-ones. I’ve found diapers that I love and diapers that I don’t love. I think that the most important thing that I’ve found through cloth diapering and natural parenting is a strong community of women and parents that support each other in their decisions, no matter what their reasons may be. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to be able to be a contributor to the Nicki’s Diapers blog and look forward to hearing your questions and feedback! You can leave your comments here on the blog or feel free to stop in and pay me and Sean, my spiky-haired 4-month-old, a visit at our new Madison location!  My family... we are diehard Packer fans!
~Annie
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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!
