12 – Flat Cloth Diapers

Mar 19,2012 / By Maria / 4 Comments

Do you have a cloth diaper question? Each Monday, I answer a reader question, and ask for my other readers’ input as well.

Questions don’t have to be cloth diaper related, just email maria at change-diapers.com with “Mailbox Mondays” in the subject, or fill out my contact form for readers, which you will always be able to find on my Contact Page.

Leigh says::

Tell me all things flats! I don’t really understand how they are so simple when the folds seem so confusing…

Carolyn says::

And are there different kinds of flat? (What the HECK are flour sack towels, anyhow??) But do they come in different sizes and materials? (Like prefolds?) Or is a flat always a certain size and a specific kind of material?

Ok, you all know I’m a pocket diaper loving Mama, and I am very glad I don’t have to use flat cloth diapers & pins like our Grandmothers did. Even so, lots of people love flats. They can be very affordable, are easy to wash & dry (they are a single layer of material) and can be customized based on how you fold them. Hannah wrote a guest post about using flats while traveling to Italy.

You can get flats for as little as $1.46 each for birdseye cotton and as much as $7.50 each for hemp flats. You may hear people refer to flour sack towels used as flat diapers as well. They are simply lint-free, absorbent kitchen towels very similar is size and makeup to flat diapers. They are available in different sizes.

Flats are generally about 27″ x 27″ before washing (some you can get larger, like Diaper Rite’s) and can be folded into quarters and used pretty much like a prefold; trifolded, or folded & snappied, pinned or simply placed under a cover. Green Mountain Diapers has a page about flats that includes folding a flat to prefold size with another inside as a doubler, flats on a newborn and many other babies, and a photo tutorial of the origami fold. Diaper Pin’s Diaper Pin Corner has lots of flat diaper posts including a photo demo of the mini neat fold and how to pad fold a flat.

I didn’t participate in Dirty Diaper Laundry’s flats & hand washing challenge last year because I wasn’t able to commit to it the week it was being done. However, I believe 50 (or more?) moms participated & blogged about it.

If I had to choose between diapers or food, I would definitely use flats, t-shirts, towels or whatever I needed to. Especially if I didn’t have access to a washer & dryer. Fortunately I have a stash of modern cloth that I love and my own washer & dryer! I know I need to master all the flat folds so I can really be a cloth guru, but it may have to wait until my little one is a bit bigger and I have a little more time on my hands!

Have you used flats? What do you think of them? How did you fold them?

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bzzagent

Arnold Health-full Bread #imabzzagent

Mar 17,2012 / By Maria / No Comment

I got to participate in the Bzzagent campaign for Arnold (Orowheat in other areas) Health-full breads. I’ve enjoyed their whole grain breads for many years, so I was anxious to try the new breads.

Health-full breads come in 10 grain (5g of fiber, 5g of protein & 80 calories per slice, baked with 10 whole grains), flax & fiber (4g of fiber, 5g of protein & 80 calories per slice, Good source of Omega-3 ALA) and nutty grain (5g of fiber, 5g of protein & 80 calories per slice, baked with whole grains.)

All three have no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, no HFCS and are sweetened with stevia extract.
The bread is a little premium as far as price range at my store, but it’s so much yummier than plain old white or wheat bread. I love that it has so much fiber & protein, but it lower in calories than the other multi-grain breads (and about the same as white bread.)

Soooo tasty with some mustard, sliced chicken, lettuce & tomato. Mmm…

FTC compliance: I received free product from Bzzagent. I was not otherwise compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

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bzzagent

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream #imabzzagent

Mar 16,2012 / By Maria / No Comment

I tried Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream as part of a Bzzagent campaign. I was not able to find this product in the cosmetic safety database, but other products in this line are rated from 4-7. It seems like any skin care products with any treatment or gimmick promised, almost always contain ingredients that up the score.

Right now, I’m using a combination of things I bought free after extra care bucks at CVS, as well as some Mary Kay products. I usually apply a L’oreal anti aging tinted moisturizer with sunscreen, then a little powdered mineral foundation or pressed powder. I don’t generally like face products w/sunscreen, but the L’oreal doesn’t feel greasy.

I was excited because this supposedly is a miracle cream, correcting blotchiness, redness etc. It’s gotten great reviews. Unfortunately, I’m the odd woman out. I first tried applying it to one side of my face only, so I could see the difference, but I noticed no difference at all, unless you count the streaks I saw when I got closer to the mirror.

I applied it to the rest of my face and left it on for the rest of the day, even though the greasiness made me want to wash it off immediately. It never did fully absorb I guess because although the greasiness wasn’t as noticeable at the end of the day, it was definitely still there. My skin is quite dry, and can absorb even heavy creams, so it’s not that my face was just greasy!

I do think it smelled fantastic, but I won’t be using it again. I’m trying to get away from harmful ingredients in my own personal care products, little by little, as my budget allows (my kids come first!) but it’s tough! I have always loved trying new makeup & skincare products, and I just can’t pass up the opportunity, even if it isn’t the “greenest” product!

FTC compliance: I received free product from Bzzagent. I was not otherwise compensated for this post, and all opinions are my own.

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Friday Giveaway Linky Giveaways Linky

Cloth Diaper Giveaways – Roundup for 3/16/12 (Plus Linky for All Giveaways)

Mar 16,2012 / By Maria / 3 Comments

It’s Friday, and it’s time to win some cloth diaper giveaways! Every Friday, I round up giveaways for cloth diapers, accessories & baby wearing items.

If you’d like me to list your cloth diaper, accessory, baby wearing (etc.) giveaway next week, send a link and description to maria at change-diapers.com, or Fill out my contact form for readers.

*My Just Clean Wipe Bits giveaway ends 3/21 and is open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Prizes from Fuzzibunz (no set end date, ends at 25k fans) Entry is through Facebook app, must “like” them on Facebook to enter

*Baby K’tan Carrier from A Nation of Moms (ends 3/16) RC

*GroVia Trainer from Happenings of the Harper Household (ends 3/16) RC

*Fuzzibunz Diaper from Changing Diapers & Sapsmama (ends 3/16) RC

*Thirsties Duo AIO from Eco-Babyz Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/17) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Softbums Diaper from According to Jenny (ends 3/17) RC

*Ones & Twos Diaper from Baby Dickey (ends 3/17) RC

*Babyville Boutique Products from Nicki the Eval Gal Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/17) RC

Rumparooz Lil Joeys from the Mom’s Milk Boutique blog (ends 3/17) RC

*Knickernappies Diaper from Petite Bottoms & Dibs (ends 3/18) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Rumparooz Diaper from The Green Nursery and Cloth Diaper Geek (ends 3/18) RC

*Glow Bug Diaper from Diaper Deals Two Mandatory Facebook “likes” (ends 3/18) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Giggle Life Diaper from Bizzing Bea & The Gnome’s Mom (ends 3/19) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Diaper Rite Diapers from Babble’s Baby’s First Year Blog (ends 3/19) RC

*Perfect Bum Diaper from Mama Loves her Bargains (ends 3/21) RC

*Incredibum Wipes from So Easy Being Green (ends 3/21) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Baby K’tan Carrier from 7 Kids & Counting Mandatory Facebook “like” and Twitter follow (ends 3/22) RC

*Flip Diapers & Planet Wise Wet Bag from Abby’s Lane (ends 3/22) RC

Thirsties Duo Diaper from Letters from Momma Open to the U.S. and Canada (ends 3/22) RC

*Glow Bug Diaper from Surf Mommie Mandatory Facebook “like” (ends 3/23) RC

$15 Mud Butt GC from Cloth Diaper Addiction (ends 3/23) GD

*Wee Pantz Diaper from Daily Mothering (ends 3/24) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Mini Maestro Diaper from So Easy Being Green (ends 3/25) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Lil Helper Package from Manager to Mom (ends 3/25) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Cloth Wipes from Water Rolls Uphill Mandatory blog follow (ends 3/25) RC

*Groovycheeks Diaper from Green Mama Jama Mandatory GFC follow and Facebook “like” (ends 3/26) RC

*Thirsties Duo AIO from Jack be Natural & Earth Faerie Momma Two mandatory Facebook “likes” (ends 3/26) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Booty Buns Diaper from Contemplate Cloth Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/26) RC

CJ’s BUTTer from Contemplate Cloth Mandatory GFC follow (ends 3/26) RC

Cloth Wipes (maybe-mystery prize) from On Being a Mom Two mandatory Facebook “likes” and Facebook comment (ends 3/26)

Rumparooz Diaper from Dearest Diapers & Eco Baby Mama Drama (ends 3/27) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*$20 Haute Bottoms Diaper from Oh the Joys of Boys (ends 3/29) RC

Glow Bug Diaper from Cloth Diaper Addiction Mandatory GFC follow and two Facebook “likes” (ends 3/29) GD

Booty Buns Diaper from Baby Giveaways Galore (ends 3/30) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Fuzzibunz & Rumparooz Lil Joey Diapers from changing Diapers & The Eco Chic (ends 3/30) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

*Tiny Tush Diaper from Padded Tush Stats (ends 3/31) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Sunbaby Diaper from Earth Faerie Momma Mandatory Facebook “like” and vote (ends 3/31) RC

$25 Squishy Tushy GC from So Easy Being Green (ends 3/31) Open worldwide RC

GroVia AIO from Buttercup Baby & Daily Mothering (ends 3/31) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

Fuzzibunz Diaper from Snappy Diapers Mandatory GFC follow (ends 4/1) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Thirsties Duo Diaper from The Anti June Cleaver (ends 4/1) Open to the U.S. and Canada RC

$20 Kissed by the Moon GC from Baby and the Chis (ends 4/1) RC

*Planet Wise Wet Bag from Kissed by the Moon and 4 The Love of Sanity Mandatory GFC follow and Facebook “like” (ends 4/2) RC

Booty Buns Diaper from Mama Loves Her Bargains (ends 4/6) RC

*giveaways that have been listed in a prior week’s roundup
RC Entries collected via Rafflecopter
GD Entries collected via Google Docs Form

You may enter any “family friendly” giveaway in the linky below. The form Blog name – Giveaway Item – Ending date works well. Please at least include the item and end date, and link directly to the giveaway.

View my where I list my giveaways post, to find more places to link up your giveaways!

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Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

CJ’s BUTTer Winner

Mar 15,2012 / By Maria / No Comment

258 people entered this giveaway. The winning entry is #210, which is Bonnie R. Congrats Bonnie, I’m sending you an email so you can claim your prize and choose your scent!

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