Planet Wise and Best Bottom Limited Edition "Night Flight" Taking Off Soon!

 Have you seen the new Planet Wise and Best Bottom collaboration, Night Flight?

The adorable bright colors set against a starry sky will be available in Planet Wise wet bags, snack bags, and a Best Bottom cotton diaper. This limited edition collaboration will be flying in on Tuesday, February 16th at 10 am CST to Nicki's Diapers and will also be available at many of your other favorite Planet Wise retailers. Get yours before they fly away!

Traveling with Cloth Diapers

The Incident: Lesson learned, stick with the cloth you love!

When my daughter was just a few months old, she joined us on her first airplane ride. We were first time parents and cloth newbies, and the thought of traveling with cloth just seemed scary. Where would we put the dirty diapers,  how many would we need, what about our cloth wipes? It was just all too much for me.

We decided to go the disposable route, bought a pack from the overwhelming aisle at the store, and didn't think about it again. Until, the incident. I can laugh about it now, I really can. However, flying for the first time with a new baby, long delays, and a lack of sleep insured that I did not laugh about it when it happened.

Our first flight went fine and our baby was a magical sleeper, we didn't think traveling with a baby was so bad. Then our second flight got delayed, and delayed, and delayed. The baby got crankier as time went on and at one point I casually mentioned to my husband that I didn't think she'd pooped yet that day. He shot me a death glare and insisted I not bring it up again, didn't want to jinx things.

We finally took off and our daughter fell asleep snuggled into my arms, enjoying the vibrations of the plane. About half way through she opened her eyes, looked up smiled at me, and let the explosion happen. The result was something that had never before (and has never since) happened when we had her in cloth. Her clothes, my shirt, and my jeans were covered in a putrid brown mess. Everyone around us had their faces scrunched inside their shirts while shooting us death glares. While I had planned ahead and packed her an extra outfit in the diaper bag, I didn't have anything for myself. A flight attendant actually offered to give me a t shirt out of her own luggage, that's how bad the incident was.

We have taken several flights since then, and have never considered anything but cloth. Simply put, we have so much faith in cloth that we aren't going to tempt the blowout gods again. We've learned a few lessons along the way that have made traveling with cloth easier to plan for.

Laundry: What type of laundry facilities will you have access to?

If you're visiting family or friends that have a washer, chat with them ahead of time to make sure they are comfortable with you using it to wash your cloth (and educate them on cloth if they are new to the idea!). One important item to remember is either bring or purchase cloth diaper safe detergent on your trip.

If you won't have regular access to washing facilities, you have a few other options. Some parents prefer to wash in the sink and hang diapers to dry in the bathroom. Flats work well for this since they are easy to pack and easy to wash.

If hand washing isn't something you're interested in, you could consider disposable inserts with covers. They are a much more eco and chemical friendly option than disposables. One option are Grovia BioSoaker Pads, which are fragrance, dye, plastic, and chlorine free. They are also biodegradable and compostable. Flip Disposable Inserts are another option for laying inside covers and they fold down to adjust for size.

Diaper Storage: How do you plan on storing your soiled diapers and for how long?

Depending on how long you will be traveling for and how long you will go between washes, you will want a quality wet bag to store soiled diapers in. A large wet bag easily holds more than a day's worth of diapers for our daughter and we choose to wash more often while traveling. The wet bag can be washed right in the washer with the diapers.

How many diapers to take?  How are you traveling and how often will you wash?

If you are traveling by airplane, calculate how many diapers you'd normally use during that time period and double it to account for delays. If things get real crazy and you're stuck for significantly longer, the ticket counters often have diapers they will provide you with.

Determine how often you will wash your diapers while traveling to determine how to pack. If you are low on space, consider washing every day or every other to save space when packing.

Wipes: Cloth or disposable?

Cloth wipes are easy to travel with as well! Wet them ahead of time with your favorite cloth wipe solution or water and store them in a Planet Wise wipe pouch in your diaper bag. Throw them in a wet bag with your diapers and wash like normal.

If you'd prefer disposable wipes, here's another pro tip for your in case a trash can isn't handy. You can throw those in your wet bag as well and just wash them with your diapers. They don't fall apart in the washer or dryer and you can just throw them away after you're done.

Who else has traveled with a baby in cloth? Any other tips you'd share with others to help make their trip easier?

Our Favorite Cloth Diaper Accessories!

Part of the joy of cloth diapering is how simple and easy they are to use. Once you have a solid wash routine down and have learned the fastest way to get your favorite brand on a rolling, wriggling, tiny human, you are good to go.

However, as many parents have learned over time, there are some great cloth diaper accessories out there that can make your cloth diaper experience even easier. With input from many moms, we’ve put together Nicki’s Diaper's list of favorite cloth diaper accessories. These are the items that the Nicki’s Diapers moms are ordering for their littles on a regular basis and loving!

Spray Pal Diaper Sprayer and Spray Shield

Newborn poop is wonderful! (Who thought you’d hear that?!) The waste from an exclusively breastfed baby doesn’t need to be removed before washing. Just change the diaper and throw the diaper in the diaper bag until wash day, no extra work required.

And then you start solids….oh my! The new colors and textures are a whole new experience and must be removed before washing. You could try the dunk and swish method, but who likes to experience that? A Spray Pal diaper sprayer easily attaches to your toilet for a no-touch solution to poop removal. Pair it with the Spray Pal Spray Shield, and you avoid any excess water or waste making its way out of the toilet. So simple and easy to use!

Imagine Biodegradable Liners

Another option to avoid the poop dilemma once your baby is on solids. Just lay the liner inside the diaper. Once soiled, shake the diaper contents, Imagine Liner and all, right into the toilet. No dunk and swish needed.

Nicki’s Diapers Flannel Wipes

You’re already washing your cloth diapers, there’s no reason not to use cloth wipes as well. Unlike commercial wipes, they are chemical free and so soft on baby’s bottom. The cute prints and super gentle flannel of the Nicki’s Diapers Flannel Wipes can be paired with your favorite wipe solution to save you money and give you a safe and chemical free wipe option.

LuSa Organics Diaper Wipe Concentrate

Speaking of cloth wipes, why not use a wipe solution that will not only clean baby, but also has healing powers as well! The LuSa wipe concentrate is easy to prepare ahead of time by mixing with water and contains a soothing mix of oils, aloe vera juice, and witch hazel combined with essential oils. No chemicals and free of synthetic scents.

Planet Wise Wet Bags

While these are definitely one of our favorite cloth diaper accessories, they have so many other uses around the house as well! We love that they come in three sizes so we can choose which one to use based on our day, and the wet-dry option is perfect for keeping things organized in the diaper bag. Try keeping your wipes and diaper cream in the dry section for easy access and dirty diapers contained in the wet section. We’ve also been known to use these for beach trips, Spray Pal storage, and keeping our mama cloth organized.

Grovia Mighty Bubbles Laundry Treatment

While a good wash routine will keep your cloth diapers clean and stain free, sometimes your diapers could use a little boost. Grovia Mighty Bubbles removes any buildup in your diapers including urine or detergent and it's just so easy to use. Just throw one pod in the washer with your diapers and it dissolves completely and works it’s cloth diaper cleaning magic.

Snappi Diaper Fasteners

Let’s face it, nobody wants to use diapers pins on their baby anymore! Don’t worry, the Snappi Diaper Fasteners are our favorite easy solution for securing flats, prefolds, and fitteds. The grip hook teeth take no time at all to hook onto the diaper and are reliable for even the wiggliest littles. They take just three steps to secure and we love that they come in a toddler size too, giving you extra stretch as baby grows.

Nicki’s Bamboo Doublers

Wouldn’t it be great if none of our babies were heavy wetters? The reality is that whether you have a heavy wetter or not, there are times where you want a little extra protection from leaks. For us, that’s the grocery run that is never actually fast or the long car ride to Grandma’s house. Why do we love Nicki’s Bamboo Doublers for this? They come in two sizes, are made from a combination of bamboo and organic cotton, can be used in any diaper type you can imagine, and are oh so absorbent!

CJ’s BUTTer Shea Butter Balm

You feel terrible when your baby ends up with an angry, red, bum, but you need to make sure to protect your diapers at the same time. One of our favorite cloth friendly diaper creams is CJ’s BUTTer. Our moms have used the healing solution for diaper rash, eczema, dry skin, wind burn, and even stretch marks! The shea butter is so smooth, soothing, and gentle enough for even sensitive babies.

Imagine Baby Leggings

I have to admit, there was a quick discussion about whether these were a cloth diaper accessory or not, but everyone quickly agreed that these cute leggings are definitely one of our favorite accessories to pair with cloth diapers! Think about it, you have a new baby and you’re learning the ins and outs of cloth diapering. Babies poop, a lot! With all of those diaper changes you could be pulling pants on and off, or you could try Imagine Baby Leggings. They’re so cute, keep baby’s legs warm, protect from scraped knees once they’re on the move, and make diaper changes so easy. If you live in a colder area, they are great to layer under pants in the winter to make sure baby’s legs stay warm and protected while you’re holding or wearing them.

Do you have other favorite cloth diapers accessories that we didn't mention? Send us a comment and let us know!

Small Space Must-Have: Planet Wise Wet Bag

We did not start our cloth diapering journey until our son was 13 months old. At the time this busy mom and full-time chemist wasn't sure we would be able to make the switch. As with all of my purchases, I madly read reviews before making my first purchase. (I have been addicted to reading product reviews since creating our baby registry over 18 months ago.) Based on rave reviews as well as my inability to commit space in to a diaper pail in our small home led me to purchase two Planet Wise Wet bags.

We purchased a medium wet bag in “Green Meadow” to use for when we're out of the house and a large wet bag in “Lime Cocoa Bean” for home. I must admit that I am a huge fan of any brand that provides lots of options for colors and patterns and Planet Wise definitely fit that bill. Our large wet bag hangs on a hook next to our laundry station using the loop handle for easy access when it comes time for laundering. Instead of a laundry room we have a cubby or hallway off of our kitchen, and this is the perfect fit for our limited space! My 16 month old son goes through an average of 14 diapers in two days, so the large wet bag has been perfect for washing every-other day and we could even go a little longer if we needed! The medium wet bag that gets tossed in my diaper bag has worked perfectly for days when we are out all day running errands or visiting family across town. I can easily get the 6 dirty diapers he goes through in a day in this bag.

Two of my favorite features are the waterproof inside layer and the zipper closure. The waterproof layer is clutch for my pocket diapers that I take the inserts out of after a diaper change. This would also be important if you're using prefolds, flats or fitted as they are separated from the cover after a diaper change. It is also important for all-in-ones but in my experience not as much since the diapers are self-containing. The zipper closure seems to help a lot in smell control! The fact that we have our dirty diaper wet bag hanging in a hall right off of our kitchen, smell control is a mandatory requirement for our use. It also makes one-handed opening of the bag to deposit a dirty diaper after changing much easier. I don't know that a drawstring closure would be as simple to open & close or effective at containing smell.

A few small critiques of or things I have learned about these wet bags are due to the washing process. The tag that comes on the bag when purchased does not give distinct washing instructions (hot v. cold temperature), the sewn in tag reads only “machine wash.” According to the Planet Wise website, it states to wash them with cloth diapers. This led me to the understanding that using warm water for washing the bags is acceptable. At first, I washed my wet bags with my cloth diapers and I quickly learned this would not work for us. The benefit of the waterproof layer also seemed to make laundering more challenging by retaining water, possibly soapy water. I'm not sure if everyone experiences this issue, maybe it is due to the fact that I use a front loading washer. I now wash the wet bags separately to ensure our diapers get clean. I tend to dry my bags on a drying rack overnight to save on electricity because it is a small load. This timing seems to be sufficient for our needs on most days, so long as it is not too humid in our house! After I have learned these things, I have been extremely happy with the easy care of these bags.

We've enjoyed these wet bags so much that we recently purchased two more, one in each of the sizes that we already owned. Having two in each size will help us on laundry day! (If you love patterns like me, I chose “Mocha Sunrise” and “Playful Paisley.”) If we're ever able to have more children in the future, I would probably only have to get the larger size wet bag. Here is my beautiful Planet Wise wet bag collection!

By Guest Blogger Natalie Chilicki

I Think I Need an Intervention

When I was a first time mom, at the young age of eighteen, I would slap a thin, plasticy Pampers diaper on my daughter's bum and call it a day. The thought of diapers took up less than 1% of my thinking. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever get obsessed with something my child pooped in.

Then my first BumGenius arrived in the mail. From that moment on the need to acquire an uncanny amount of fluff consumed my spare time. Being a beginner, BumGenius was an obvious first choice. After a few friends had me interested in them, I had merely googled "cloth diapers" and BumGenius was displayed all over my screen. My daughter was fifteen months old at the time and I was very pregnant, so I bought gender neutral colors, not knowing there was a variety of brands and prints out there in the cloth diaper world.

Convincing my husband was one of my first challenges. BumGenius diapers are completely daddy proof, so I'm glad we started with that particular brand. I would convince him we only needed "two more" to have enough diapers for the baby we were expecting. Before I knew it I was rushing to the mail box before he came home for lunch, my addiction was growing. And maturing as well.

 I started to investigate many websites that sold cloth diapers. I only looked at "one size" diapers as well, thinking it would be dumb to have to buy more cloth diapers once my son surpassed a size. And fitteds? What was the point of those?!

I was also a sucker for one particular website because they had "rewards" points. But they also had expensive shipping, which was starting to add up. Then I discovered Nicki's Diapers when ordering my first Planet Wise wetbag. It then became one of my "go to" sites. They had everything from babylegs (another obsession that would continue to grow)  and wet bags, to a variety of prints and colors of diapers that no other site offered. Best of all, almost everything I had purchased included free shipping. Not only was it free...but fast. An addict can NOT receive fluffy mail fast enough. Every time an e-mail notification pops up on my phone, I hope it's a tracking number. Or one of those exciting "Your Order Has Shipped" ones.

Cloth diaper give-a-ways were another way to get fluff my husband wouldn't be mad about. It would have no effect whatsoever on our bank account, therefore he could care less. I even used my daughters cuteness to win a Smartipants three pack when she was their "Baby of the Month". It felt like winning the lottery. Lucy was just entertained with the package it came in.

Pretty soon, I was getting curious about those "fitteds" that everyone was trading on my cloth diaper swaps. And those cheaper "pre folds" that looked extremely difficult to use. BumGenius quickly became my boring diaper. I love BumGenius to death but I was wanting more. I really wanted to know what I LOVED.

Before I knew it, I had sold my complete stashes three times to start over. I am currently divulging in a FuzziBunz fetish, I need to have two of every color. There is no telling how long it will last. I swear it's my final stash...until another brand peaks my attention. Sometimes I feel as though I'm the only one this obsessed with cloth diapers. But I know there are other moms out there right now...browsing, acquiring, trading and hoarding Pay Pal money to help feed their addictions. And all the time I'm wondering...do our babies feel used? Because we are using their cute tooshes to purchase mounds of fluff?

By Guest Blogger Mandie Medeiros