I’ve frequented Etsy, the amazing community of online crafters, for several years now. Why it didn’t connect with me that this place “to buy & sell all things handmade” might just produce some of the most creative WAHM (Work-at-Home-Mom) cloth diapers, cloth diaper covers and cloth diapering accessories is a testimony to how my brain works.

For me, Etsy is the place to find original pieces of handmade jewelry, paper products, or bit of whimsy, but cloth diapers? Nope, hadn’t looked there for cloth diapers…until today.

When I ran my first cloth diaper search on Etsy I turned up a surprisingly large number of results; 16,025 results. OH MY. I’ve been finger deep (a little keyboard humor for you) in cloth diapers ever since.

Let me share a few finds with you for grins this morning.

• Titch - This seller creates beautiful hand-knitted and crocheted baby hats, diaper covers, booties and more. Her cloth diaper covers are meant to be decorative as you can see in the post image above. This is a white, standard diaper cover made from 100% acrylic yarn. The seller states, “These little diaper covers are not your regular ’soakers’ but are intended for accessorizing and decorative purposes only. Perfect for your baby’s first photo shoot!” Are they not precious?
• Ginger Snappz, while not known for cloth diapers, sells chic nursing covers and colorful, absorbent and stylish burp cloths. I liked the Berry Dots and Wallflower Burp Cloth Set myself.
• Little Chic Boutique creates Designer Baby Wipes Cases for mommas on the go. These look to be the perfect size for many of the biodegradable, all-natural baby wipes on the market right now. She also carries a line of burp cloths. Check it out, I have cloth napkins that match this print!
• Essie Designs carries baby slings, nursing covers, wash cloth sets, bibs and burp cloths, and wet bags. I first found her wet bags and love all the bright and fun prints she has available. Hey look, this large waterproof wet bag is sporting one of the Kissaluvs Marvels One Size Fitted Diaper prints! Now wouldn’t that make an adorable set to give to some new or expecting mother?
• i l l i a makes “Unique Clothing for Stylish KIDS” - and you won’t find any cloth diapers or diaper covers, but I simply could not resist highlighting these bright orange and pink, girls ruffled bloomers. Oh to have another baby girl running around…
• Sage Old Wisdom has a fantastic tag line…”Everything Our Mothers did RIGHT…with a Modern Twist.” Exactly. She has beautiful, 100% unbleached, cotton birdseye, hand dyed flat fold diapers. They are gorgeous bits of cotton birdseye in lovely sherbert shades! And look at her 100% wool soakers. This one is from an upcycled Polo sweater. She also sews fitted diapers from printed flannel with snap-in soakers of hemp and stay dry microfleece.
• Liberty’s Belle Children’s Boutique makes fleece soakers - she’ll even add ruffles at your request. Check out the Gentle Jungle fleece diaper cover; the Paisley Lady fleece diaper cover, and a few others are also available in small and newborn sizes.
• Marmalade Baby had me at the sock monkey soaker. Made from 100% wool, alpaca/wool blend, acrylic or acrylic blend these sock monkey soakers are knit to your specifications (soaker, shorties, longies or skirted longies also are available). She’ll even lanolize them for you. Okay, this takes the cake - I’m in love.
• Baby Bear will sew you a Yellow Sock Money Serged Diaper to go with your sock monkey soaker from above. Her serged diapers feature a variety of cute prints for the outer fabric and two inner layers of bamboo/cotton rayon fleece with an inner soaker layer of bamboo/cotton rayon fleece/velour. Soooooooft.

The cloth diapers, diaper covers and cloth diapering selections at Etsy go on and on and on…so go and see for yourself!

Like I mentioned yesterday, the world wide web has busted wide open with cloth diapering information - whether you are looking to buy cloth diapers or simply want to learn about them, Google is your oyster!

Once parents have decided they do want to use cloth diapers they have several more decisions to make - first, “What kind of cloth diapers do I want to buy?”, and then, “How many cloth diapers do I need?” Over at Diaper Junction we have comprised an archive of Cloth Diapering How To’s to assist parents when navigating this information for the first time. We present you with how to how to choose cloth diapers for your baby or toddler and how many diapers are needed to cloth diaper your baby full-time.

The Cloth Diaper Report

There are several mommas out there sharing their own experience and information about cloth diapering in their own blogs and today I want to point you to The Cloth Diaper Report. This momma started a blogging series on How to Build a CD Stash, this past Tuesday she began with Week 1: How To Build a CD Stash where she answers the question, “How did you decide on what styles and brands of diapers to purchase?”.

Other Helpful Cloth Diaper Articles

• Cloth Diapering Definitions and Terms for Cloth Diapers and Cloth Diaper Accessories
• How Many Diapers Should I Buy to Cloth Diaper My Baby?
• How Do I Find the Right Size Cloth Diaper for My Baby?

Next Tuesday, The Cloth Diaper Report will blog about “How many cloth diapers are in an ideal stash per child? What is your reality?”. Check out Emi’s cloth diaper reviews or visit our online cloth diaper store and scroll to the bottom of any cloth diaper or cloth diapering product we sell to read personal customer reviews.

How many cloth diapers your baby needs is directly related to the type of cloth diapering system you choose, the age of your baby, and how often you want to wash.

We recommend washing every 2-3 days.

Why?

A diaper that sits is a diaper that stinks. It will be to your advantage, and your diapers’ durability and longevity, to stock up enough cloth diapers to wash every 2-3 days.

We recommend the higher quantity indicated for babies 0-9 months and the lower quantity for babies 9 months and up.

• Cotton Prefold Diapers
  • Quantity per size: 24-36
  • Diaper Covers per size: 4-6
• Fitted Diapers
  • Quantity per size: 18-24
  • Diaper Covers per size: 4-6
• One Size Diapers - We recommend more one size diapers. Since they last from birth to potty training, they will get more use. A bigger supply will reduce wear and tear.
  • Quantity per size: 30
  • Diaper Covers per size: 4-6
• Pocket Diapers - Basically just a diaper cover, pocket diapers require an absorbent prefold or insert stuffed inside. You will need to purchase an equal number of cotton prefold prefolds or diaper inserts to stuff the pocket diapers.
  • Quantity per size: 12-18
  • Diaper Covers per size: N/A (when stuffed, pocket diapers are a diaper and cover in one)
• All In One Diapers
  • Quantity per size: 18-24
  • Diaper Covers per size: N/A
• Contour Diapers
  • Quantity per size: 24-30
  • Diaper Covers per size: N/A

It is a simple equation to figure how many cloth diapers you will need. Are you ready for it? Take the number of diaper changes you will make per day and multiply that number with the number of days you would like to go without doing diaper laundry.

The more cloth diapers you have, the less often you have to wash - and we all know mommas have enough to do as it is, right?

Come to Diaper Junction’s GRAND RE-OPENING and take advantage of our FREE SHIPPING on orders of $75.00 or more!

Many parents who have already cloth diapered their children for the past several years are already familiar with Diaper Junction, an online cloth diaper store that has helped families make GREENER choices for babies & toddlers for over 5 years now!

At Diaper Junction you will find quilted and absorbent, Diaper Service Quality, 100% Cotton Diaper Rite™ Prefolds. These prefolds are custom-made in Pakistan using “Indian” cotton and cut shorter than standard prefolds to fit perfectly inside most cloth diaper wraps! That’s right! You can cut the bulk of your cloth diapers considerably with Diaper Rite™ Prefolds!

Of course all the other recognized brands you’ve come to love are available at Diaper Junction; we carry Fuzzi Bunz, bumGenius!, Bummis, Kissaluvs, Thirsties, and Rumparooz to name a few.

Earth-friendly, quality cloth diapers, diaper covers, and cloth diapering accessories are the foundation of our store, but there is so much more…like cloth diaper pails and wet bags and cloth diaper washing supplies available for purchase in our store.

At every turn we make choices; some choices are truly inconsequential, but other choices, like whether or not to buy cloth diapers and diaper covers for our babies and toddlers, have long-term effects.

Choose wisely…let us help!

Sunday, September 13th, my husband Jeff and I are “leavin’ on a jet plane…” to meet up with Matt and Bryana Guckin of Soft Cloth Bunz and Diaper Junction for the Cloth Diaper Conference and 2nd Annual RDAI Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I’ve never been to Vegas.
Like, ever.
I’m excited.

Some of the retailers and manufacturers I will get to see again, or meet for the first time, are women I’ve been friends with since I ran my own online cloth diaper store. Of course, it has been years since I shipped cloth diapers to the far corners of the earth United States and Canada, but not so long since I worked with women of conviction on volunteer projects such as the Real Diaper Association.

If this is your thing, there is still time to register and participate. September 14 & 15 there will be meetings for advancing, networking and promoting cloth diaper industry.

Sept 14 AM - Member meetings

Sept 14, AM/PM General interest breakout sessions

Sept 15th, 6:30 – 9:00PM – Main meeting

Some of the Cloth Diaper Industry topics to be discussed:

• Jennifer Billock, owner, Over the Moon Diapers, will present the latest research in the cloth diaper industry.
• Shayla Boyd-Gill, owner, Alyahs Alternatives, will present information on networking in the local communities.
• Leah Carter, owner, Better for Babies, will present regulation and CSPIA news.
• Lori Taylor, owner, FuzBaby and Firefly Diapers, will present SEO and social media tips and techniques.

Any ol’ how, if you’re there and you see me…give me a shout, hand-shake, hug…whatever. And if you see me falling asleep during a meeting, give me a gentle nudge and bring me a cup of coffee because I’ve been working around the clock so I could take this break.

Oh, and PLEASE don’t make me guess your name or say something like, “Remember me?!”, because I turn into a driveling idiot when put on the spot and God knows you don’t want me to look like an idiot.

Right?
RIGHT!
Good.

See ya there!

If you are looking to build your cloth diaper stash NOW IS THE TIME!

For a limited TWO DAYS ONLY (8-22-09 through 8/23-2009) Soft Cloth Bunz is offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $50 or more.

Use the code FREESHIP2223 at check-out to get FREE SHIPPING on your cloth diaper or cloth diapering products purchase!

PLEASE NOTE: - This FREE SHIPPING offer is for new orders only.

Although my family quickly jumped on the cloth diaper band wagon, we were unaware of how economical cloth baby wipes were. It had not occurred to us, in our vast research on cloth diapers, to investigate about the use of cloth wipes.

Cloth wipes can be used repeatedly, keeping disposable wipes out of the landfill and keeping money in your wallet. Cloth wipe solutions like bumGenius! Bottom Cleaner can be purchased or even made on your own with low cost (and environmentally friendly) ingredients. We have found the combination of cloth baby wipes and cloth wipe solutions are often more efficient at cleaning baby’s bottom than disposable baby wipes. After use, we simply throw them into our cloth diaper pail along with the soiled cloth diapers.

As mentioned before, parents can purchase all natural, organic, bottom cleaners, or for a cumulative cost savings over time, many websites offer cloth wipe solution recipes. All wipe solution “chefs” suggest only making enough solution for one week, throwing out what you do not use each week. “Chefs” also suggest waiting until just before the wipes are to be used before adding the solution. These practices prevent moldy wipes and solution.

Parents should be cautious with some of the recipes containing essential oils. Be sure to use a carrier oil, which helps to dilute the essential oil (thus reducing the probability of an adverse skin reaction). Also, some oils may cause skin reactions for sensitive children.

Here are some sites that offer recipes for wipe solutions:

• Homemade Baby Wipes Recipes at Natural Birth and Baby Care
• Cloth Wipe Solution Recipes at Zany Zebra
• Homemade Baby Wipes Recipe at TipNut.
• Make Your Own Wipe Solutionat Ezine.

Do you have any cloth baby wipes suggestions or links to share?

Over at Soft Cloth Bunz we realize that summer is hard on a family’s budget, so we are implementing a sale to SAVE $5.00 on orders of $50.00 or more!

If you plan to cloth diaper your baby on the way, your new newborn, or maybe even making the switch now that your baby is a little older, take advantage of this time of savings!

NO COUPON IS REQUIRED to save $5.00 off your order. Just visit Soft Cloth Bunz, select from a variety of dependable baby products, and check-out! It is that easy to save on your cloth diaper purchases!

In my last post, Reducing Household Waste, I mentioned a few ways that families can recycle.

In today’s post, I will expand on more ways that families can recycle and save money.

Below, you will find a collection of DIY websites for making different cloth diaper accessories from used household goods.

CLOTH DIAPERS

• All-in-ones: This site offers different ideas for ways to make All In Ones using shower curtains, t-shirts, sheets and towels.
• Free patterns of different types of diapers:
  • All-in-ones
  • Faux Fuzzi Bunz
  • Training Pants
  • Baby Doll/premie diapers
  • Prefolds
  • Pocket Diapers
  • Many others

DIAPER COVERS

• “Longies” made from thrift store wool sweaters
• Side Snapping Cover
• Hand-knit Wool Diaper Cover

CLOTH WIPES AND/OR SOLUTIONS

• Cloth Wipe Patterns:
  • My Happy Crazy Life
  • Make Baby Stuff
• Cloth Wipes for purchase: Sometimes purchasing a few cloth wipes is all you need to develop your own pattern–get a feel for what you like/don’t like, what size works best for you and your baby’s bum, etc…
  • Soft Cloth Bunz carries a variety of cloth baby wipes
  • …as does Zany Zebra
• Wipe Solution Ideas:
  • Zany Zebra offers over 10 different wipe solution recipes

DIAPER BAGS

• Diaper Bags made from a placemat!
• Customizable diaper bag pattern

WET BAGS AND BURP CLOTHS

• Make Baby Stuff

Free patterns for cloth diaper products can be easily found searching your favorite web browser (I used Google). Please post any additional websites that you find (or have found) helpful in the comments!

If you live in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area, you can keep on top of upcoming and current Natural Parenting and Cloth Diaper Events through Soft Cloth Bunz’s Local Events page. A local hub for all seeking to cloth diaper their babies and/or make more environmentally friendly decisions, our brick and mortar store hosts Cloth Diaper Workshops, as well as occasional events for like-minded and/or non-profit organizations.

Visit our family-friendly establishment and get to know us. And if you know of any attachment parenting group, GREEN minded organization, other families using cloth diapers in our area, natural birth instructors, La Leche League leaders, midwives, doulas, etc…tell them about us too!

What’s happening in May 2009?

• 05/03/09 - Earth Day Celebration
  Visit our cloth diaper booth and GO GREEN at Earth Day 2009 on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at Mount Trashmore Park (one of the nation’s first recycled landfills) in Virginia Beach from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. Free and open to the public with ample onsite parking, this family-friendly event strives to say goodbye to those granola stereotypes of the environmentally conscious and invites you to refresh your approach to making our world a healthier place. With many interactive exhibits and activities, this event will give you a chance to discover and explore effective, convenient and cutting-edge ways to green your lifestyle.
• 05/16/09 - Cloth Diaper Workshop 2 pm
  Join us and learn about the benefits of cloth diapering as well as how to use, wash and care for the many different styles. This is a free workshop and space is limited. Please contact us to sign up and/or for more details.

Soft Cloth Bunz has helped parents cloth diaper their babies for nearly a decade now; we have seen cloth diapers and cloth diapering products evolve to better meet the needs of babies, parents & guardians, and we are at the ready to share what we know with you, both in our online cloth diaper store, as well as in our first brick & mortar store.

DON’T FORGET! Find out more about our Local Cloth Diaper Store Events in Hampton Roads.