11 – Discolored inserts

Jan 24,2011 / By Maria / No Comment

Every Monday, if I’ve received a submission, I will answer reader submitted questions. Questions don’t have to be cloth diaper related, just email maria at change-diapers.com with “Mailbox Mondays” in the subject!

Rachell says:

Hi Maria

I have a question about inserts.
Some of my Microfiber inserts have discolored to a light brown with darker brown streaks. Is this ok? And what can cause this?

Rachell

Hi Rachell. The first thing that comes to mind is discoloration from mineral deposits in your water. Do you have hard water? Do you notice buildup/stains in your sinks, bathtubs/showers or toilets?

Is your other white laundry (non-diaper laundry) discolored too? Are you having stink issues? Was the discoloration gradual or sudden? What is your wash routine?

I know that’s a lot of questions! If you have hard water, you will most likely be having buildup issues in your sinks etc. and be having stink issues with your diapers. If that’s the case, you may need a detergent designed for washing cloth diapers hard water, like Rockin’ Green’s hard rock.

If you’re not having any of the other typical hard water issues, you may need to switch up your wash/rinse routine a little bit. I do get a little bit of streaking staining when a messier BM seeps into the insert. The best treatment for stains seems to be some good, old fashioned sun!

Another thing to try (if you don’t have an issue with bleach) is to wash the inserts only with about 1/4 cup of bleach. Then, continue to rinse the inserts until there are no suds and no residue in the water, and you no longer smell the bleach.

I do think the cause of the discoloration is most likely to be deposits from your water, but if you aren’t having any issues with stink or repelling, it’s really just a cosmetic issue!

How about the rest of you, have you had this type of discoloration? Did you discover what was causing it?

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Weekly Friday Giveaway Roundup for January 21st, 2011

Jan 21,2011 / By Maria / 2 Comments

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Giveaway roundup time! Every Friday, I link to cloth diaper giveaways (plus accessories, baby wearing stuff etc.) I’ve found. Each post is also accompanied by a linky where you can enter any giveaway, as long as it’s family friendly.

If you’d like your cloth diaper, baby wearing (etc.) giveaway featured, send a link, description and photo (if you have one) to maria at change-diapers.com.

This week’s giveaway finds:

My GroVia AI2 Giveaway (sponsored by Bippy Diapers) ends 1/25

My Bummis Super Whisper Wrap giveaway ends 1/27, open to the U.S. and Canada

Little Squirts Diaper, Wipe & Soaker from Simply Stacie (ends 1/28) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Sprout Change Diaper from The Willow Store and Fabulous Family Revies & Giveaways (ends 1/28)

Rumparooz Diaper from Kelly Wels (ends tomorrow, 1/22)

Happy Heinys Diaper from Luv My Two Girls (ends 1/27)

Sprout Change Diaper from The Willow Store and One Little Mister (ends 2/4)

Cloth by Tel Pocket Diaper from Simply Stacie (ends 1/30) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Maxwell Designs Wet Bag from Toots n Tots and Simply Stacie (ends 1/30) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Bummis Easy Fit Diaper from Chubby Cheeks Thinks (ends 1/29) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Bummis Easy Fit Diaper from Mama to 4 Blessings Mandatory GFC follow (ends 2/9)

Happy Heinys Diaper from Bippy Diapers and Bottom of the Sixth Mandatory GFC Follow (ends 2/3)

Mother-Ease Diaper and Cover from Alternative Housewife Mandatory GFC follow or Feedburner subscribe (ends 1/31) open to the U.S. and Canada

Tiny Tush Diaper from Mommy of 1 and Counting (ends 1/29)

Tiny Tush Diaper from All Aboard the Review & Giveaway Train (ends 2/2)

Baby BeeHinds Wrap from Dirty Diaper Laundry (ends 1/31) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Doodle Dypes Diaper from Dibs (ends 1/24)

Planet Wise Hanging Wet/Dry Bag from Your World: Healthy and Natural Mandatory GFC follow (ends 2/1)

Cloth Diaper/Baby wearing prize package from Diary of a Devil Dog Wife Mandatory GFC follow (ends tomorrow, 1/22)

Kawaii Baby Heavy Wetter Diaper from Empty Uterus Syndrome (ends 1/24)

Organic Caboose Diaper from Makobi Scribe Mandatory GFC follow (ends 1/23)

Bum Essentials Diaper from Bottom of the Sixth Mandatory GFC follow (ends 1/26)

Gift Certificates to Cozy Kids from Thrifty Wifey Mandatory Facebook “like” (ends 1/25)

$15 Credit to Bootyful Baby Boutique from The Rabbitt Hutch Mandatory GFC follow (ends 1/29)

Zookies Diaper Cover from Love Lives Here (ends 2/1)

FuzziBunz One Size Diapers from Kelly Wels (ends 1/28)

Kissaluvs Marvels AIO from Cloth Diaper Addiction (ends ?)

GoGreen Cloth Wipes from One + One = Four Mandatory GFC follow (ends 2/10)

Planet Wise Hanging Wet/Dry Bag from Cars, Trucks & Teething Rings (ends 1/24)

Bumgenius 4.0 from Lindsay’s Family Reviews Mandatory GFC follow (ends 2/1)

GoGreen Pocket Diaper from Familylicious Reviews Mandatory GFC follow (ends 2/6)

Dream Makers Designs AIO from Crazy 4 Fluff Mandatory GFC follow (ends 2/4)

Thirsties Duo Diaper from A Mommy’s Blessings Mandatory GFC follow (ends 2/4)

Giveaways still running from last week:

Punkin Butt Organic Wipes Solution Concentrate and Bottom Balm from The Mommy Goods and All About Baby Boutique (ends 1/23)

Bummas Wipes from The Momccupation Mandatory GFC follow and Facebook like. (ends 1/22) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Nana Pants by Betsy Diaper from Goodbye Disposable, Hello Cloth Mandatory GFC follow (ends 1/31)

Rumparooz Lil Joey from Diaper Junction and Monkey Tales Mandatory GFC follow (ends 2/1)

GoGreen Champ Pocket Diaper from Modified Momma Reviews Mandatory GFC follow and Facebook “like” (ends 1/31)

GoGreen Champ Pocket Diaper from Mommy is Green (ends 1/27)

Tiny Tush Elite Pocket Diaper from Happenings of the Harper Household Mandatory GFC follow (ends 1/24)

AMP Diaper from Adventures of the Domesticated Mama (ends 1/24)

Applecheeks Diaper from Simply Stacie (ends 1/24) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Bummis Cloth Diaper Kit from Terraloving (ends 1/31) Entry is through a Facebook app, which requires you like the Beterra Facebook page.

Sweet Pea One Size Diaper Cover from Dirty Diaper Laundry (ends 1/24) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Nicki’s Best Bottom Diaper from Simply Stacie (ends 1/24) open to the U.S. and Canada

Bumbledoo Mama Cloth from SaPsMaMa (ends tomorrow, 1/22)

Bambino Mio Intro Kit from Childish Notions and Simply Stacie (ends 1/26) Open to Canadians only

Bumwear Training Pants from Kelly Wels (ends today, 1/21)

Homegrown Mommy wipes from Real Mom Reviews Mandatory Facebook “like” and Facebook comment (ends 1/27)

$10 Abby’s Lane GC from Fabulous Family Reviews & Giveaways (ends 1/27)

$20 Thanks Mama GC from Crazy 4 Fluff Mandatory GFC follow (ends today, 1/21)

AMP Diaper from Simply Stacie (ends 1/27) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Bummis Wet Bag from Simply Stacie (ends 1/27) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Thirsties Duo Diaper from Monkey Tales Mandatory GFC follow (ends 2/5)

Tiny Tush Elite One Size Pocket Diaper from One Little Mister (ends 1/24)

My Baby’s Green AIO from The Not So Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom (ends 1/25)

Comfy Rumps Diaper from That Mama Gretchen (ends 1/31) Open to the U.S. and Canada

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

Check out where I list my giveaways to find more places to link up your giveaways!

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Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Thirsties Duo Wrap & Duo Hemp Prefold Winner

Jan 21,2011 / By Maria / No Comment

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Well darned if I didn’t just type “dup” instead of duo again, sheesh!

122 people entered this giveaway, with 220 entries in all. The winning entry is #166, which is Kimberly Stephens!

Congratulations Kimberly, I’m sending you an email now!

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Bummis Super Whisper Wrap Review & Giveaway (CLOSED 1/27)

Jan 20,2011 / By Maria / 8 Comments

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I’ve been wanting to try one of Bummis wraps, even though I really don’t need any more diapers. I got a gift card to an online cloth diaper store for Christmas, so I snagged a super whisper wrap in the celery dot pattern, newborn size (7-10 lbs.) The wraps are also available in small (8-15 lbs), medium (15-30 lbs), large (30 lbs) and extra large (40 lbs/white only.)

Bummis has 5 types of diaper covers, and this chart compares them all, to clear things up for confused people like me!

The super whisper wrap has aplix closure tabs that can cross over:

It has 2 mil PUL laminate sandwiched between 2 layers of polyester for added durability, and it feels quite sturdy.

It has a fairly generous cut, and can be used with prefolds, inserts or fitted diapers.

Bummis notes that the newborn size of the super whisper wrap is good for bigger newborns, but the Super Bright (exposed inner PUL, leg gussets, more lightweight, great for skinny babies), Super Lite (1 mil exposed PUL, trim fit, very lightweight) and Bummi Original (coated nylon and polyester mesh, very lightweight, very very trim, no elastic, use with inserts/prefolds only) will fit smaller newborns or preemies, starting around 4 pounds.

Here’s the Super Whisper Wrap Newborn size measured folded and stretched:

I called in my usual diaper model for help:

Here he is in a newborn disposable for comparison:

Here’s the wrap over a Kissaluvs size 0 fitted:

bummis super whisper wrap over kissaluvs fitted

and over a trifolded prefold:

Here it is compared to some other newborn diapers (to compare size):

The cut/shape reminds me of the Bummis Swimmi swim diaper. I can’t put the newborn cover to the test of course, but it is a very sturdy, durable cover, and a great value at $12.95! See fit on my newborn.

Giveaway: Bummis is offering one of my readers a Super Whisper Wrap in his/her choice of size and color.

Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below. I love your comments (leaving a comment is a good way to remind yourself you entered), but comments don’t count as entries! Mandatory entries include name, email address and what other ~~Bummis~~ ~~product you’d like to try. You can receive a bonus entry if you “like”~~ ~~Bummis on Facebook~~.

I will accept entries until Tuesday, January 27th, 2011 at 9:00 P.M. Eastern. I will select a winner using random.org’s true random number generator and notify him/her by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is chosen. View my giveaway rules page for complete details. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

# of entries received as of January 27th at 8:55 P.M.: 250

https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dDRIdzM5T245ZEdzeVRsaS1qVUVBRWc6MQ

FTC compliance: Although Bummis is providing a product to the giveaway winner, I did not receive product or other compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

Update after using on baby.

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Babykicks Newborn/Small Hemp Prefold Photo Review

Jan 20,2011 / By Maria / 2 Comments

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It’s no secret that I’m more of a pocket diaper type Mama than a prefold Mama, but I’ve heard great things about Babykicks hemp prefolds. I wanted to something to go with a newborn wrap I bought with a gift card (I know, I know…it’s an illness!) so I snagged a newborn/small size from sewcraftybaby for $6.59, less a new customer discount, and got free shipping too!

Babykicks are hemp and organic cotton, and are 2 layers on the sides and 3 in the middle.

Here it is before prepping (washing and drying about 3 times to remove the natural oils and fluff up the fibers.):

Here it is after prepping (you can see how much fluffier it got):