Wednesday Winner at Nicki's Diapers

Manda is the winner of one Best Bottom Diaper in the NEW Giraffe print.  Please contact us at media@nickisidiapers.com with your color preference and address.  You have 7 days to claim your prize.  This item will ship once Best Bottom Diapers' new print arrives at Nicki's Diapers which is expected next week.

How to Get Daddy to Love Cloth

Many women get resistance from their partners when it comes to cloth diapering. I'm going to stereotype heavily in this post, and I know there are a lot of men out there who don't fit these generalizations, but just go with me here -- it'll be useful to many, I promise.

So, you want to cloth diaper. Whether it's baby #1 or #6, sometimes daddy isn't on the same page. How to convince him? Try these.

1. Dollars and "sense" - Lots of men (mine included) see things in numbers. Explain to him how much money you'll save, and he might see things your way.
2. Show him it's EASY. - Start him with All-in-One styles or stuff pockets ahead of time for him. Make it just as simple as using a disposable.
3. Take more on yourself. - Tell him he won't have to worry about the wash routines. Take care of that part yourself and you might have a lot more willingness to try.
4. Make it convenient. - Set them out where they're easily grabbed. Make diaper pails accessible. MORE accessible than trash cans.

With my husband, I had to bring in the money savings, explain that it wouldn't be any more work for him (I do the laundry) and I usually pre-stuff pockets as well. He whines when cloth wipes aren't in their bin and when I haven't had a chance to put the clean diapers away on their shelf. He likes to know exactly what to use, where they are, and how to use them. If he thinks there's a chance that he'll do it incorrectly, he's just not going to do it. If your partner is willing to try, make it easy for him to succeed.

You'll be glad you did!

By Guest Blogger - Casey U.

CDAA – Cloth Diaper Addicts Anonymous

It all began as a way to save money. We needed to cut back on things and we had two (yes two) in diapers and the one thing that always came up when money was tight or non existent was diapers. Oh how I hated buying diapers on my grocery shopping trips. Here I was making sure I was watching what I spent and with one quick swipe, you added $40 dollars (for two) to your bill and on top of that, with one quick change, that $40 got thrown in the garbage!

So after much research, we decided to try cloth. At first it was completely economical. I did however love the way their little bottoms looked all fluffy and cute in their cloth diapers but because if costs, we couldn’t afford to completely cloth all the time so we slowly had to build our stash (and in ours I mean mine).

So I was introduced to Nicki’s Diapers. Oh Nicki’s how I love you and hate you, (really I love you but my husband might hate you). At first I was a little overwhelmed but then I got my first deal. I bought 4 diapers for $25! Ok I was hooked and for about a good month I couldn’t stop looking. I had to make sure I got the best deal. I was able to get a bunch of Fuzzi Bunz and for awhile I was satisfied (ok not really but the money maker… aka husband needed a break)

Well I convinced someone to get me diapers as a present (this should have been the first sign there was an…issue). So I was introduced to brand new fluffy, soft, never been used diapers. Oh I was in love! I wasted no time putting them on my son and oh the bright little bottoms waddling around… how can you not love cloth.

For a while I was ok. I stayed away from any of the websites. Luckily the nearest diaper store was an hour away so going that was not an option. So for awhile I think the addiction died down. My son grew out of our first stash and we didn’t have money to buy another one so we switched to disposables (oh the wasted money). I passed on my stash to a friend for her to use (is it normal to miss your diapers?) I did keep the new ones because they were OS so I planned on still using them (ok ok and because I couldn’t bare to part with them).

Well money got tight again and those dreaded disposables were killing me. I started using my 4 diapers and just washing every day. I was then lucky enough to find out our store was giving away free boxes of Econobums. I packed my boys in the car and we drove the hour (over an hour with a two year old and one year old) and got our diapers. This was all it took, one trip to the store and seeing all those cute diapers. I was hooked!

Well I had all these new econobums and some prefolds I bought so I needed come cute covers right? Well I found out that a store opened up locally (oh no, this could be trouble) so I headed there. $50 later I walked out with 2 thirsty covers, fleece liners, disposable liners, some snappi’s and a full blow love and addiction to cloth. It doesn’t help that every cloth diaper store I have been in has a play area so I can shop in peace and my kids are happy.

So here I am, completely in love with cloth diapers. I see it this way; I have boys so I am limited to my fashion choices. How many football shirts or blue shirts can one have? Cloth diapers are my way getting cute without going over board. Who can argue with a little baby bottom in a cow print (I’m expecting that diaper next week and can not wait)? Who cares if I would rather buy diapers then new clothes for myself? So what if my dream job would be to work at a cloth store and get paid in fluff. That doesn’t mean anything…


Ok so I might have a slight problem… Hello name is Christina and I am a cloth diaper Addict!


By Guest Blogger - Christina McMahon

My Unlikely Journey to Cloth

My cloth journey began unexpectedly after venting about my "trash guilt" on Facebook.  I had three little girls all in diapers and the sheer volume of trash that created each day was insane.  I am a big recycler and recyle anything and everything I can yet we were producing an average of one bag of trash per day filled with almost nothing other than diapers.  In my status vent I did not mention anything about cloth diapers, just my guilt over all the disposables. Yet, suddenly everyone wanted to help me learn how to use cloth.  I had no clue so many of my friends even used cloth.  I was shocked and touched at their willingness to help me.  They were all so excited about it and kept using all of these strange and unfamilar terms.  I decided I would humor them and give it a shot.  One awesome friend even offered to send me some cloth diapers to get me started because my number one complaint, or should I say excuse, for not being able to switch was the start up costs.  How could I say no to that?   I agreed to try knowing it would be too hard and I would fail at it.  I had three girls in diapers after all, no one would fault me if I couldn't do it.  Then I could go back to disposables guilt free and be able to say "I tried, BUT......"

I received the diapers in the mail a few weeks later and decided to start slow, using cloth only on my oldest daughter at first.  I didn't want to jump in feet first trying to cloth diaper all three girls 100% of the time because I knew that would overwhelm me quickly.  I decided I would start out part time, only using the cloth during the day while we were at home.  I still used disposables on her anytime we went out and at bedtime.  The first few times I put the cloth on her it was awkward, for both of us.  Diaper changes went from taking about 30-60 seconds to easily lasting 5 minutes as I clumsily tried to get everything on just right.   I couldn't help but chuckle after each diaper change as I watched her walk away funny, like she had been riding a horse all day.  The extra fluff would definitely take some getting used to.
After about 2 days I was shocked to realize I was already getting the hang of it.  It was WAY easier than I had ever expected.  Dare I admit it?  Did I actually enjoy it?  This couldn't be happening, everything was going all wrong.  This was not the plan at all.  She hadn't pooped yet, I knew that would be the end of this silly journey.  Bring on the poo baby girl.

Later that day SHE POOPED!  Finally it was surely over!  I went to change the poop and it wasn't that bad.  What was happening here?

Laundry time rolled around.  I knew this would be "the end".   There was no way the diapers would wash clean.  I started the laundry and it wasn't as gross or hard as I thought.  Our washing machine had so many different options like a prewash, soak, and 2nd rinse cycles, perfect for cloth diapering.  The diapers came out so clean and fresh.  Now what?   Bring it on!

A few days went by, everything was still going smooth.  Dare I try two in cloth?  Sure, why not.  So I put the youngest in cloth as well.  I was still a tad concerned about trying my middle girl out because she is my little soaker.  She can soak through a disposable in an hour to the point where her clothes are wet too.  I knew there was no way these silly little cloth diapers could contain her when a hefty disposable could not.
A few more days passed, now I had 2 in cloth and 1 in "sposies."  OH MY!  What just came out of my mouth?  Now I am using "their" language.  Sposies? Prefolds? Pockets? Covers?  Snappis?  What was this strange new language I was speaking?  My whole day was filled with diaper speak as I bragged to all of my friends about how our journey was unfolding.

 A week in and it was still smooth sailing with the two.  No accidents, no leaks, no blowouts.  I kept waiting for something, anything to go wrong so I could give it all up but nothing ever did.  Then I asked myself  "Do I make the leap?  Do I add a third into the mix?"  Oh what the heck, why not.  So I added a third tush into the rotation.

Now I was proudly cloth diapering all three girls.  Still only part time, only at home and while they were awake but I was doing it.  I had wanted it to be hard.  I wanted to fail so I could say I had tried.  I wanted to be able to say I had put my best effort into it but it was just impossible with three.  Who would blame me then?  I had THREE!  Maybe if it was just one little baby I could do it, but surely not three.  No one would expect that.  I felt so guilty knowing I had started with the intention of failing but ended up enjoying it so much.

So here I am, a little over 2 months into this journey and yes, I have to admit I am loving it.  I am hooked now.  I talk about it constantly to anyone who will listen, willing or otherwise.  I have all of these new words added into my daily speech.  I take pics of my girls in nothing but diapers because they are just so gosh darn cute.  I have 4 kids age 4 and under yet I find myself occasionally catching a little "baby fever" just because I want an excuse to buy some of the teeny tiny newborn cloth diapers.  I have even been using cloth overnight and outside of the house for the last month or so.  So I guess I only have 1 thing left to say......

My name is Christy, and I am a cloth diaper addict.
Ah, it feels so good to get that off my chest.

Happy Halloween Savings at NickisDiapers.com

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What I Have Learned About Cloth Diapering

First and foremost,that it is amazing! I learned that it is very cute and I often obsess over them as his dad thinks I am crazy and they are "just diapers". I definitely disagree! It takes a LOT of research, but when I was pregnant that is all I wanted to do was research the best for my money and my child. That is how I stumbled upon cloth,I figured I was some what green and I would love to be more!

I also learned that his butt was almost never red when we switched after two weeks of sposies! I was so glad he could fit into his one size,and I fell in love! I learned that most of the myths about being hard, real time consuming,and just gross.I have to say, sometimes they do get stinky sometimes. But they are normally in a pail where I don't smell the stink or they are washed right away.

I learned that it was very easy to cloth diaper even when on the go. Actually sometimes we go to the grandparents house three days a week and it is so easy. You do have to figure out your wash routine but after that it is smooth sailing. Plus there is SO many kinds of diapers in cloth! They can be pockets, ai2, aio, prefolds, fitteds, covers, hybrids! The possibilities are endless and you can always find a type of diapering system that works for your needs. Even the grandparents change diapers sometimes!


Lastly, but the best thing I have learned is I am never going back to sposies! Definitely give cloth a chance, and you shouldn't be let down!

By Guest Blogger Samantha (Mom of a 6 month old)

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