Cloth Diaper Column – Swim Diaper Edition 2012
Issue #02, May 2012
Welcome to our second issue of Cloth Diaper Column, and our first ever Swim Diaper Edition! I’d like to welcome each and every one of you.
If you’re new to Cloth Diaper Column,
here’s how we’ll work. Every month we deliver new information about
cloth diapers straight to your inbox! We’ll also pull in a timely
article or two.
So, to start it all off, we’ve got a quote to
celebrate moms. Mother’s Day may have come and gone (and we hope you
celebrated in style) but we hope this will remind you that every day
really is Mother’s Day!
— Unknown
Are you planning to take your baby swimming this summer?
The Details on Cloth Swim Diapers
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Cloth swim diapers may be the absolute easiest way to get started
with reusable diapers. Many pools are making swim diapers mandatory for
children under 3. Even if your pool doesn’t require it, or you have
your own pool at home, cloth swim diapers are a great way to keep
everyone safe and healthy.
Whether you plan to to use cloth
diapers or not, purchasing a reusable cloth swim diaper for your little
one can make a ton of sense! Just like your own swimsuit, cloth swim
diapers can be washed and used again and again. These special diapers
can be used alone in place of a swimsuit bottom, or can be worn
underneath another swimsuit.
While there are several popular
brands of disposable swim diapers, they can be very wasteful, and can
add up in cost quickly. But the biggest challenge with disposable swim
diapers is that they can be a challenge to get a snug fit on them once
they’re wet. Since swim diapers are designed only to catch poop, and
not absorb urine, if they don’t fit well, they might as well not be
wearing anything!
For more information, including why you should consider buying a
special swim diaper instead of using one of your unstuffed pocket
diapers, a tip on where to buy larger sizes of plastic pants (if your
pool requires them), plus an overview of popular swim diaper brands in
this complete article on cloth swim diapers.
Many
cloth diaper retailers don’t have a huge selection of cloth swim
diapers. If you’re looking for a great selection, including the
adorable iPlay trunks and tanksuits shown above, .
If you’ve never bought through Diaper Junction, use coupon code AFL550
to save $5 off $50 or more (some restrictions apply). They also have
free shipping for all customers when you order $49 or more!
Wet Bags – Perfect for the Pool!
We
never expected it, but one of the most popular articles on our website
is our photo tutorial on how to make your own wet bag. If you know the
basics of sewing, here’s the perfect rainy day project that can be
completed in under an hour. Make your self a large wet bag for a towel
and swimsuit, or try making a smaller set for cloth wipes and a few
diapers for day trips around town this summer! To check it out, click here.
If you’re not handy, Amazon always has a great variety of affordable wet bags, too!
Sweaty Hot Little Bums…
Are you worried about breathability with your PUL covers during
summer? PUL is a synthetic fabric coating that is oh-so-durable and
waterproof, making it a reliable choice for diaper covers. But as the
temperatures rise, many parents with babies in cloth diapers worry about
their baby’s comfort.
For many, this worry is needless!
Usually babies do just fine in their regular cloth diapers year round,
even when the days get hot. But, if you notice more rashes or a sweaty
hot little bum in your baby’s diaper, here are two ideas that will help
you (and maybe even your little one!) sleep better.
- Why not try wool?
Wool
is a very breathable fabric. Wool is not waterproof, but it is very
absorbent. Are you thinking, “But isn’t wool itchy?” Change your
minds, ladies! You should feel how soft some of these wool covers are.Want to get it on sale? For a limited time, our friends at Our Green House
have Aristocrat wool covers (shown at right) on sale for $9 off!
That’s awesome savings on this Made in Canada wool cover, which has a
double layer of soft, stretchy wool, and comes in 3 sizes (7-20 lbs,
20-35 lbs, plus X-Large for older toddlers!)You can also look
for second hand covers, or try to make your own with old wool sweaters.
If sewing is up your alley, don’t miss this great cover tutorial from Adventures in Fluff. Etsy’s also a treasure trove for covers from “upcycled” wool sweaters.For
more information on diaper covers, plus a special section on how to
prep and care for wool diaper covers, see our article called Baby Diaper Covers Explained. - Take the cover off!
If
you’re not afraid of the odd dampness, why not let your baby go
coverless? This option is also super breathable, and can work great if
you use fitted diapers. Don’t forget, you’ll need to change your baby
every couple of hours when they are coverless (or less depending on how
quickly your baby soaks through a fitted diaper!) This can be a perfect
solution for those hot days when you’re out of doors, but is not
recommended for night-time use, when wicking to bedding and sleepwear
would occur!
Have You Heard?
News from the Cloth Diaper World
We’ve got another chance
to win coming up soon! We’re taking part in the Summer Lovin’ Hop,
running from June 6-20, and we’ll be giving away an awesome Lil Helper
Charcoal Bamboo diaper. There are a ton of cloth diaper blogs
participating in this blog hop so you’ll have several chances to win
baby accessories. And the grand prize is a $1400 baby shower in a box,
including my favorite stroller, the Zooper! Watch Facebook for a
reminder to enter when the contest starts.
Have you seen the new prints from GroVia yet? Click here to take a look.
Which one is your favorite? Is it the adorable Bicycles (on a pale
yellow), Peacocks (beautiful birds on a pink background), Robots (a cute
blue with red and black astronauts, robots, and space ships), or
Woodlands (woodsy theme on pale green)?
Can you help us
round up cloth diaper charities? We’re currently making a list for an
upcoming feature article in our newsletter. Do you know one we should
be aware of? Drop us a quick line or leave us a comment on our Facebook
page, and we’ll be sure to include it!
Introduce a Friend to Cloth Diapering
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started with our newsletter and would love your support! Please take a
few minutes to encourage your friends to sign up to get our Cloth Diaper
Column! We’ve made it easy, just click on this link to send this newsletter to a friend.
Keeping Up
As a working parent, I know how busy your life can get! I always find it
much harder to make a meal plan during the summer. Need some
inspiration? Check out this great list of meal ideas you can make up in a snap. I love the sound of the French bread pizza!
Want to offer me some feedback, or do you have a question? Drop me a line, and I’ll be sure to get back to you.
That’s all until next month! Thanks for hanging out with me!
www.thinkingaboutclothdiapers.com
PS – Have you seen our Cloth Diaper Sales Round-up?
Updated weekly to let you know about all the big sales, you can be
notified about it each time we update when you follow us on Facebook.
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