A Unique Potty Learning Chart

So yeah, potty training a boy is not happening as easily as it did with my girl. Most moms told me, now I believe it. I see now that it is more "parent intensive" with boys than with girls. Okay, so my sample size of two children doesn't mean it's true for everyone, but that's my observation! I really wish we started earlier, much earlier - like in some countries where babies are potty learning when they are less than one year old and guess what - it works!

Baby T turned 3 in November, his birthday came and went. Now I'm left with a boy who is mildly interested in the potty. Well at least he is over the fear of it he used to have. I kid you not, he would scream be very uncomfortable at the sight of it. What really helped us is abandoning the potty entirely and switching to the toilet with a Little Looster (awesome product, LOVE it!) that Baby E has been using since she was three. This marked the turning point of actually having time on the potty without fits, of course this means I had to entertain him long enough for him to sit there and eliminate. This meant books and stories with my hands as puppets. 

Then I had another idea that went off in my head like a bulb. I used to tell myself I'd never be the mom using potty training charts for my kids! Of course the moment came when I actually though it would be a good idea. I didn't want to make a boring traditional chart though, it goes against out free-thinking life-learning tendencies. So I came up with this quick road drawing and we got car and construction vehicles stickers (there are tons of fun ones like these and these and these). He loves it and there is definitely progress! Now I hope we will not be needing stickers forever, but it has worked to motivate him and now he sometimes asks to go, though half the time I just put him on the potty myself. 

There are also plenty of neutral stickers like these and these or girly ones if you have a little princess, my daughter would love these and these. You can get really creative with scenes and themes! Draw a jungle, a castle, a highway, or a zoo - whatever your kids like. Some of the Melissa and Doug sticker pads come with habitats already drawn, perfect if you're not really into drawing your own. 

The key for us is having little boy undies that he wears at home so he becomes very aware of when an accident happens and more thoughtful about when he has to go. Even better when he can run around without any bottoms at all, but it's not always possible with a very curious 6 year old sister. Unless he is wearing a long shirt that covers his bum, I will put undies on him It's been really hard to find ones without annoying cartoon characters! Are you with me on that? We've had success with the fit of these on our super slim boy. If finances weren't as tight, I'd love some organic undies for him like these and these.  

It also helps when there is an older sibling, these two are inseparable. He witnesses that his older sister doesn't wear diapers and goes on the toiler all by herself. She can also be helpful in telling me when he has to go even if I'm not in the same room and may be busy editing photos from a wedding or photo session for Borisyuk Photography. Other times she just let's me know that her baby brother is already stinky or there is "clean up on aisle two". Those are not fun! That's why when he is in real undies, I try to at least be in close vicinity to prevent accidents!

How is potty training going for you? Do you have a little boy? If you've been there, tips are welcome!

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you and helps offset some of the cost associated with pouring our time and energy into this site. Thank you!

Fluffmas | Mini Kiwi AIO Cloth Diaper Giveaway | US + CAN

We are really excited to be part of the FluffMas Giveaway Hop hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network! I know many of my readers cloth diaper or want to try cloth diapering, so this is a perfect fit. Each participating blogger in this hop has a fabulously festive and fluffy prize for you, so be sure to hop around to them all and don't miss the fantastic Grand Prize featuring Buttons Diapers, Balm Baby, and SprayPal!  You can enter to win the FluffMas Grand Prize here.

Our fabulous sponsor today is Mini Kiwi cloth diapers of Canada. This north-of-the-border brand crates high performing, super absorbent cloth diapers. Their impressive product line consists of this All-in-one diaper as well as a pocket diaper, nighttime diaper, diaper covers, bamboo prefolds, training pants, cloth diaper safe rash cream, detergent, cloth diaper liners, and wet bags. Here is a little bit about this brand...

Mini kiwi is born from the meeting of parents and entrepreneurs wishing to reinvent the baby world by offering a range of eco-friendly, modern and quality products. We have forged strong partnerships with designers, artisans and artists from here and elsewhere. Our primary mission is to make the cloth diaper a trendy and reliable object.
We work hand in hand with several local seamstresses that are at the heart of our creative spirit and high quality of our design.
Our collaboration with a Mexican entrepreneur, mother of three children living in a small village in Mexico has emerged following an impromptu meeting and a heated discussion revolving around motherhood and cloth diapers.
In Canada, we generally choose cloth diapers for ecological reasons and to avoid chemicals coming in contact with baby. In this small Mexican village, cloth diapers are used primarily to save money.
With time, our dreams became intertwined. We wanted to create a high quality cloth diaper and she wanted to start her own sewing business and create jobs locally. Through our partnership, we employ eight fairly paid full-time workers, in a workshop managed by a young mother and her family.
Mini kiwi continues to grow and we now manufacture products in Canada and Mexico. We have a dozen employees who work with us to manufacture, promote and distribute Mini kiwi products.
All of our fabrics, thread, velcros and elastics are manufactured in North America, Our packaging is manufactured in Canada and kept minimal for environmental concerns. We try to give a second life to our packaging. Discover our line of dress-up characters on each packaging.

One of you will win two Mini Kiwi AIO charcoal bamboo cloth diapers. It fits babies from 8 to 35 pounds, is naturally antibacterial and odor neutralizing, dark color hides stains, large absorption capacity, inner gussets prevent leaks at thighs, and has adjustable absorbency. It is available in many fun prints and colors, even owls and a space theme!

Enter to win in the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit their website

Connect on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Don't forge to also enter to win the grand prize below and also enter the other cloth diaper giveaways in the linky at the bottom!

Cloth Diapers Rock! {It Could Be Love Giveaway} #pomonalove

If you love cloth diapers or know someone who does, this one's for you. More than 10 sponsors coming together for this really great giveaway event! We were invited to share this event with you by Project Pomona, one of our favorite brands that creates cloth diaper friendly pants for babies and toddlers. We love them so much because the fit is incredible both on a disposables and cloth diapers - they are great for every kid! Baby T is still wearing his pair, they still fit.

If you've been reading Eco-Babyz for a while, you know we cloth diaper and we are big fans. Yes, I'll be honest there are days I wish I didn't have cloth diaper laundry on my list. But I quickly get over that simple because I don't have to spend money on disposables again and again, I never have to run to the store when I run out. We still use disposables for travel, but one package lasts us for months! When we are home, Baby T is always in cloth.

Even with constant battling of stink issues because of our hard water, we're still sticking to cloth diapers. Now that we have built a stash, it just would not make sense financially to spend money on disposables. With that said, I can't say I'll never use disposables full time. I can't say what will happen as we add more babies to our family. I'll never look down on a mom that uses disposables (though I may or may not educate on what's in the ones baby is wearing!). That's why I love Pomona Pants - it will work no matter what we use!

Without further ado, please check out this awesome event and support these wonderful small businesses. Be sure to visit all the wonderful participating blogs too! Open to US and Canada, ends February 14th. 16 winners will be chosen. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this post, but an exchange of social media promotion. At the end of the event one participating blogger will be chosen to win a prize. 

Lil Helper Cloth Diaper Giveaway | Ditch the Disposables Green Hop

Love cloth diapers? We're here today to help you ditch disposables and not just diapers! We are delighted to be part of this awesome hop where each blogger is giving away a reusable product!

Welcome to the Ditch the Disposables Giveaway Hop, hosted by So Easy Being Green.

This giveaway hop is dedicated to all the wonderful, reusable products available. A fabulous group of bloggers have come together to offer you some great giveaways of reusable products so you can... ditch the disposables! Be sure to hop around to all the blogs involved on the linky below and don't miss the Ultimate Green Family Grand Prize worth $320!

Here is some FYI from Lil Helper!

Remember our review of the Lil Helper Charcoal Bamboo Cloth Diaper back in May? Well, they are generously sponsoring our giveaway for an ultimate ditch-the-disposables prize! You'll love this diaper on your little one! It has a great fit, custom absorbency (day time or night time use), and the charcoal in the diaper neutralizes odors. The diaper is designed by dads who are aerospace engineers, enough said! I love this blend of simplicity and high tech and I'm sure you will too!

Visit Lil Helper

Connect with Lil Helper on Facebook and Twitter 

Follow on Pinterest

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck on ditching the disposables - now increase your odds of winning the best reusable products by entering more giveaways in the Hop, including the Ultimate Green Family Grand Prize!

This prize includes a $50 Gift Certificate to Glass Dharma, glass straws handmade in the USA, and a Softbums Cloth Diaper Starter Kit {includes a wet bag, 3 shells, and 6 inserts! You'll also find the new Merry & Bright Tote Collection from SnapSac resuable bags, a $50 GC to Lunapads.com, and a roll of 12 Unpaper Towels from TheUnpaperTowel.com!

ENTER THE GRAND PRIZE.

So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Ditch the Disposables participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Eco-Babyz did not receive payment for this post and is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Potty Training Tip: Low Tech Entertainment

Baby T will be two years old next month, it's hard to believe! Lately I've been coming up with ways to keep him entertained long enough for him to go on the potty - which is easy in theory, but tough with a very active toddler who is always on-the-go. 

I kind of wish I tried the '3 day naked potty training' method over the summer when it was warm. Now I feel it's too chilly to do that, but I still recall the few times he asked to go potty himself or sat on the potty to pee just because he wasn't wearing anything and he totally understood that he can't pee on the floor. In the country I come from (Russia), most toddlers are potty trained by 18 months, it's just the norm. Disposable diapers are expensive there and cloth diapers aren't 'modern' or convenient, most just use prefolds. I so want to be done with diaper laundry, it's not hard, but I still want a break if we ever have another baby (yes, there is talk about that around here).

My tip today is pretty simple as you can see in the photos. No fancy iPad or tablet, no smart phone. Just good old-fashioned motor skills development with an empty quart yogurt container with clear lid (we love Stonyfield), a slot that I cut out, and a handful of change. It kept him happy and busy long enough to go on the potty and then some, he didn't want to leave. Of course you know your toddler best, if he or she is the type that would put the change in the mouth, you might want to skip this and instead take a big cardboard box, cut a slot, and save up a bunch of junk mail letters for the child to throw in the slot and play 'mailman'. Or 'postal carrier' if you want to be politically correct. 

He can wink! Want to play?

Oh, and guess what? After he was done, Baby E and him played with this for another hour! Yes, there were stray pennies here and there which I had to fish out from under the couch, but they had fun and I had time to wash dishes and prep lunch. 

What's your low tech potty entertainment tip? 

Flip Hybrid Cloth Diapers Review

Have you ever wanted diapers for baby that can be both cloth and disposable depending on the situation? The Flip Hybrid Diaper System can be both and it adapts to your baby's needs. We received the system to try out and we're here to tell you all about it.

While Baby T is slowly transitioning to the potty, we still use cloth diapers for nap time, bedtime, and some Eco-friendly disposables when we travel. It was great to try this hybrid system that adapts so well to whatever we need at the moment. 

First, I really like how simple it is and that it's easy to care for. There is no stuffing, no need to match inserts to diapers, no need to take insert out, the cover and insert dry fast. You can also further simplify by choosing hook/loop or go with snaps if you wish.

Flip one-size cover

Flip one-size cover with one-size stay-dry insert, turn this microfiber side down and tuck under flaps!

Second, the options that are available are really versatile! The stay-dry insert is good for sensitive skin that doesn't do well with a wet diaper. Not a fan of synthetics? No problem, you can choose the organic cotton inserts. Have a heavy wetter? Choose the organic cotton night time inserts. Plane travel or road trip? You can use the easy-to-rinse covers with disposable inserts for convenience. It's nice to have these choices, I actually like all three for different purposes. Plus if you had a situation like mine with hard water ruining all the microfiber diapers, it's really easy to switch to organic cotton without having to toss the covers! At least you recover most of your investment.

Flip Cover with Stay-Dry one-size Insert on 22 month old

Last but not least, it is a budget friendly system. The Flip covers retail for $14.95 each and are usually even cheaper at competitive online retailers. The stay-dry inserts come in packs of three one-size inserts ($14.95) or six newborn inserts ($11.95), also available in a combo pack of two covers and and six one-size inserts for $49.95. You may find all the available combinations here. A three pack of organic cotton inserts is $18.95 and a combo of two covers with eight inserts is $59.95. The night time two-pack of organic inserts is $22.95. A package of eighteen disposable inserts is $5.95.

Consider that you would most likely shop around for the best price and you want to buy once and use it birth to potty training, your investment would look something like this (of course it would depend on what material you prefer, but say you wanted to try all of it):

• Flip Day Pack, 2 covers, 6 stay-dry inserts $49.95
• Flip Day Pack, 2 covers, 8 organic cotton inserts $59.95
• Flip Night Time inserts, 2 pack $22.95
• Flip Day Time organic inserts, 3 pack $18.95
• Flip Day Time stay-dry inserts, 3 pack $11.95
• Flip disposables inserts, 6x 18 packs $14.85
• Total: $193.45 vs. $2,000 - $3,000 for disposables

The Flip covers are a little on the thin side, but don't let that deceive you, they function just as well as any quality cover. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do over time. The one-size inserts are generously sized to absorb a lot of liquid, they are slightly larger than the average cloth diaper insert because they do not need to fit in a pocket. Since the diaper cover has no absorbent material, you get a very trim fit even with these large, plush inserts

The Flip Hybrid Diaper System is a great choice for those that like options and want to cloth diaper on a budget!

Check out the Flip Diapers website

Connect with Flip on Facebook and Twitter

Summer Baby Loving | $25 Thanks Mama Gift Card Giveaway

 

We are really excited to be part of the Summer Baby Loving event with some fabulous bloggers! We are giving away a $25 gift card to spend at Thanks Mama on anything you like - cloth diapers, baby toys, natural skin care products, feeding gear, or even use it toward a stroller purchase! Here is a sampling of items you can buy at $25 or less:

During the Summer Baby Loving Blog Hop Giveaway, hosted by Cloth Diapering Again, The Inquisitive Mom, and Our Piece of Earth, we are celebrating babies and mamas! There are two grand prizes up for grabs, one open to US and Canada, and one open just to the US.

Don't forget to enter the grand prizes after you enter here for the Thanks Mama gift card!

Go here to enter to win a grand prize!

Each blogger has a prize worth at least $25 on their blog, so hop around on the linky and enter to win some summer baby loving.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eco-Babyz, Cloth Diapering Again, The Inquisitive Mom, Our Piece of Earth, and Summer Baby Loving Blog Hop Giveaway participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment.

I received no compensation for this post. 

Smart Bottoms AIO One-Size Cloth Diaper Review

If you are a cloth diapering family, I'm sure you can relate to the delight of some cute new fluff arriving in the mail! I've noticed the Smart Bottoms brand cloth diapers a few months ago and ever since then it's been a diaper I really wanted to try on Baby T. 

Since we have been having issues with hard water and stink, I've been slowly converting our stash to natural materials like cotton, hemp, and bamboo, instead of microfiber - which harbors stink very well. So this came at a perfect time. This diaper will be mostly used as a night time diaper and it is great for the purpose, though I need to pair it with a small doubler for Baby T.

We absolutely love this trim fitting, one-size diaper! There are so many practical features that stand out. I love that I don't have to touch the soiled diaper, it's easy to just throw in the wash - no pockets, no inserts. The middle soaker folds out into a long strip and the awesome thing about that - you can customize where you want the absorbency (and it dries super fast)! If you have a boy you know what I mean when I say "Need some major absorbency in the front!" This is perfect for heavy wetter Baby T, I love that I can just fold it into a double layer closer to the front - his backside is almost always dry anyway. 

This diaper has such a trim fit on 23 pound, 20 month old Baby T. He has gotten pretty skinny with all the heat and running around this summer, this diaper can handle skinny and chubby, and everything in between. The four rise settings make for a really adjustable fit on any baby. I love the elastic in the back to catch anything and everything. 

Perhaps the only issue we've run into is that the waist runs a little small for using both of the top snaps. Although, even then it fits better than many other diapers we have. There is also an easy fix for the issue if you have a little chubster, Smart Bottoms sells waist extenders so you can get an even better fit. 

One of my favorite things about the company is that it's a small family-owned business and the diapers are 100% made in the USA. With that in mind, the price of $23 per diaper is very reasonable, especially considering you are getting an organic cotton diaper. Smart Bottoms also sells cute training pants, which would be perfect for Baby T since he mostly wears trainers during the day time. Though don't let that fool you, he rarely goes on the potty himself, I mostly have to put him there. :) The Smart Bottoms swim diaper looks really adorable too. 

I highly recommend Smart Bottoms if you are looking for a high quality cloth diaper made in the USA with natural fabric against your baby's skin!  

Lookout for a giveaway tomorrow! 

Visit Smart Bottoms

Connect with Smart Bottoms on Facebook and Twitter 

Follow on Pinterest

Lil Helper Charcoal Bamboo Cloth Diaper Review

We love discovering new cloth diaper brands here at Eco-Babyz and when I've stumbled on a diaper made of a material that combats stink issues, I had to try it. This Charcoal Bamboo Cloth Diaper from Lil Helper - a small Canadian company, has quickly become a favorite of ours. 

It's luxurious. It has an amazing fit. It comes in just one size. It doesn't show stains. The adjustable absorbency can even handle my heavy wetter. There is just so much I want to tell you about this diaper and this company that I'll have to break it down to make it easier!

• The first thing that struck me is the outer fabric, it's not polyester PUL, it's bamboo PUL! It's waterproof just the same way as other diapers on the market, but the outer fabric is super soft, luxurious bamboo fabric. Love it!
• The two removable liners are made from charcoal bamboo and micro terry = a ton of absorbency and the versatility to have a trim fit if you use just one insert. They liners both attach to the inside with a snap, no loosing them in the wash and fast drying time! (Want to know how charcoal bamboo is made?)
• The charcoal in the diapers neutralizes most of the ammonia in the baby's urine. Yes! That's been our biggest cloth diapering problem. The fabric also adheres to Oeko-Tex standards, is hypoallergenic and naturally antibacterial.  
• The diapers are one-size, so no need to buy several different sizes (7 to 35 lbs)
• For every 3 diapers sold Lil Helper donates one to families in need in Canada, usually those that have a hard time paying for disposables and want to try cloth - single mothers or low income families.
• Lil Helper diapers are designed by aerospace engineers! No, really! Take a look at their crazy design drawings!

Our photos don't do justice to this amazing diaper! My camera isn't back from the repair shop yet... But here is Baby T, he loved this diaper and didn't want to take it off after the photo shoot. No wonder, it's one of the softest things I've ever felt! Baby T now only wears cloth diapers at bed time, nap time, and outdoors, the rest of the day he wears cloth trainers. It takes several washes for a diaper to reach full absorbency. We only prepped it with two washes so far and it worked great for daytime for 4 hours on our heavy wetter! I can only imagine what it will be like with 6+ washes, it's definitely a perfect night time solution and that primarily how we will be using it. 

We also love the little Drawstring Wetbag we received and the Bamboo Stay Dry Liners. The wet bag is perfect for the diaper bag and holds 3 to 4 diapers. I'm sure it will also see a lot of swimsuits this summer! The stay dry liners are amazing, and as you can read on the website "Thank goodness you have the services of two unemployed aerospace engineers who readily spend time trying to solve your poop related quandaries."[smile] These 50/50 bamboo and polyester liners are soft against baby's skin, the bamboo is naturally deodorizing, and the polyester wicks moisture away from the skin. They are made in Canada and are $5.99 each.

The Charcoal Bamboo Cloth Diaper retails for $24.95. If money was no object, I would replace my whole stash with these honestly because I'm fed up with battling ammonia with our hard water and Baby T's intense pee. Lil Helper also makes the Organic Bamboo Cloth Diaper ($22.95) and the Original Cloth Diaper with cotton liners ($19.95). If you want to know, they are made in China - and here is the back story for your peace of mind. All of them have great reviews from cloth diapering families. They also have a variety of Canadian made accessories - bamboo change mats, bamboo mattress protector, and cotton flannel receiving blanket to name a few. Shipping is fast and free in Canada and U.S. with purchases over $79 and returns are hassle free.

We are spoiled now. I don't know if I'll ever find another diaper that I like more than this one. Sigh. On a positive note, now I know what to say when someone asks "If you could have just one kind of cloth diaper for your whole stash, which would you pick?"

Visit Lil Helper

Connect with Lil Helper on Facebook and Twitter 

Follow on Pinterest

Fluffy Mail: Cloth Diaper Giveaway Hop {May 1 - 15}

We know many Eco-Babyz readers love cloth diapers so we are excited to be part of the Fluffy Mail Giveaway Hop, hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network! We have four great sponsors you'll love!

If you're a cloth diapering Mom or Dad {or plan to be}, you know that one of the most exciting things about cloth diapers is... Fluffy Mail!  There's just something special about opening up a package of adorable fluff!  I've teamed up with over 30 other bloggers to bring you LOTS of chances to get the best kind of Fluffy Mail - a Giveaway Win!  So be sure to hop around to all the other giveaways at the bottom of this post before the event ends on May 15th!

PRIZE 1 (open to U.S. residents):

Project Pomona

These mom-created jeans and khakis are made to fit all babies, whether in disposables or cloth diapers. Amazing fit and they grow with baby - so they save you money. One winner will have their choice of Project Pomona jeans! Read our review. 

Super Undies

Potty training days made easier with reusable waterproof potty training pants in pull-on or snap-on styles. One winner will receive their choice of potty training pants for their child. Read our review. 

PRIZE 2 (open to U.S. and Canada residents):

Lil Helper

Tired of fighting cloth diaper stinkies? Try Lil Helper Charcoal Bamboo Cloth Diapers! They are naturally deodorizing, anti-microbial, and hypoallergenic. One winner will receive the Charcoal Bamboo Cloth Diaper. Read our review.

Monkey Doodlez 

Just in time for summer, Monkey Doodlez makes cute reusable swim diapers that will save you some cash. One winner will receive a swim diaper of their choice. Read our review. 

There are two entry widgets, one for Project Pomona and Super Undies and one for Lil Helper and Monkey Doodlez, so there will be two winners! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Fluffy Mail participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Eco-Babyz did not receive payment for this post. We are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Super Undies Training Pants Review

It's hard to believe Baby T is 18 months this month already! He has been very interested in the potty and he has actually been using it ever since he could sit up. Of course it's not exactly 'potty training' in the usual sense of the phrase, but in our experience making the potty a part of every day life early on makes the transition our of diapers a lot easier and usually faster (less laundry for me, yay!). My parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents can attest to that, it's just something they did with their kids in centuries past because hand washing prefolds all day wasn't exactly fun!

We are really excited to try the Super Undies snap on potty training pants on Baby T. I love that they are 'real undies' but I still get to have my dry floors and couches. They are designed for the toddler to feel the wetness and they are easy to pull on and take off while still giving you the option to unsnap it for those messy accidents. They do have pull-on potty training pants, but we tried the snap-on version. This is the back of the diaper, the snaps are in the back so that they are hard for a toddler to access - great thinking!

Back of the diaper, rear snaps

This Super Undies illustration below gives you a good idea of what it looks like. It has a pass through pocket in the middle where you can optionally add some absorbency if needed, say for car rides or when you are out of the house. Love that flexibility! It certainly doesn't have the same absorbency as a cloth diaper and it shouldn't, since of course it is meant for potty training. It is helpful though to have the option to add extra because let's face it, not all potty training scenarios are the same. It's great when you are home, but when you are out and about, the last thing you need is to realize you forgot a change of clothing for your kid!

Lest you think we have everything figured out here at Eco-Babyz, I'll tell you a good story! This review was going to be posted yesterday, until I realized I took photos of Baby T in the Super Undies on BACKWARDS! Ha! So I had to re-photograph this super active munchkin in hopes of getting a few photos that aren't completely blurry one.more.time. That's the back story - just thought I would give you a good laugh. So yes, this below is the front of the Super Undies that snap in the back. At least now I know. As you can see, a great, trim fit!

Front of Super Undies

Super Undies contain accidents very well. How do I know? On some days, like last week, I put undies on him knowing full well that I will forget to put him on the potty and that he will not yet ask to go himself. So I know these hold a lot! I pretty much used it as a diaper, with just a tiny cotton insert for a booster. I love cloth trainers because they are easier to wash than cloth diapers. Love that they fit so well under clothing too. 

Back of Super Undies

This is how they snap on, on the tightest/smallest setting below. These size small Super Undies are made for 2-3 year olds, they fit great on my 28-ish pound 18 month old. Since there is another larger snap setting, these will easily work for us until about 2.5 to 3 years old. You may get somewhat mislead by the photos - but no, they do not leave any marks on the baby, they are not tight or constricting. Rather gentle on the tummy and thighs. 

Side of Super Undies

Super Undies come in many sizes, we tried the smallest. Believe it or not, their 5 sizes go all the way up to 7-10 years old. This is great for special needs kids or older children who happen to have accidents (I know that's not fun because I went through that as a kid, my poor mom!). Such cute, waterproof, reusable 'real' undies are hard to find in larger sizes I'm sure. They retail for $19.95 to $23.95 depending on your choice of size and snap/pull-on style. If you happen to have a bed wetter, they also make bedwetting pants (that will save you some sanity, these are $29.95 to $34.95. Parents have rave reviews for these!

Baby T loves his Super Undies!

Super Undies is owned by a Christian mom who started it as a hobby, looks like it has really taken off! I love seeing small, mom-owned businesses succeed. If you have a toddler, I highly recommend trying Super Undies! You'll love the great fit, versatility, and the peace of knowing accidents can be contained!

Visit Super Undies

Connect with Super Undies on Facebook and Twitter 

One of you will win a pair of Super Undies during the Fluffy Mail giveaway that starts today! 

Disclaimer: I did not receive payment for this post. I was provided a sample of the product for review purposes. All opinions are genuine and my own. 

Project Pomona Jeans Review {Giveaway Soon!}

Perhaps one of the few cons of cloth diapering is that sometimes it's hard to find pants that fit right. I've actually even had this problem with disposables, some manufacturers just have no clue how high of a rise the baby's pants should have to at least cover their bum! That's why I'm so excited to tell you about Project Pomona! Ever since I've spotted these a few years back, I was hoping we would try them with our babies someday. Doesn't Baby T look handsome in these? That's his "Mom, quit taking photos" look above. 

We are very thankful to have had the opportunity to try the Pomona Pants on our boy. We received the slim fit Organic Kumquat Cuff Pants in size 3 (18 mo to 2T). With the precise sizing chart, it was easy to find the right fit. Our boy is about 28 pounds, just so you have an idea of what this size is suitable for.

These are absolutely perfect on our little boy. I love everything about them! I love that they are soft and not stiff, they are so comfortable for him to wear. I can't stand stiff baby jeans, they just lay around in the closet because I don't feel like putting 'wooden' pants on him. The Pomona Pants are so soft and the gentle elastic at the back of the waist gives the baby or toddler freedom of movement. 

Perhaps my favorite thing about these is that they grow with baby, both the waist and the cuffs are adjustable - so they last for longer than just one season. You know me, I always size up for everything! With Pomona Pants there is no need to, they will naturally fit much longer than regular pants. The snaps at the waist have many settings, truly for skinny and chubby babies. The cuffs look fabulous rolled up, but they will last at least an extra year with those generous 3.5 additional inches! They look very classy, they go well with any outfit and there are many different color options for cuffs, or pants without any cuff colors if you prefer. 

I can say these are easily the best fitting pants Baby T has. With the Slim Fit Pomonas this is true for times when he is wearing a disposable, a trim cloth diaper, and even a moderately bulky cloth diaper. I just love that his bum is always covered, even when he is doing that cute toddler squat. There is so much freedom of movement in these pants! He is always bothered by others, but in these he doesn't even notice he has them on. Because of the snap-on design, there is a lot of room in the hip area for any size diaper and for moving around. 

I must say these are also very easy to put on and take off, they make diaper changes easier and would actually work great for potty training as well. The gentle elastic makes them easy enough to pull down without a whole lot of effort - yet on their own they stay up without sliding off baby. That's just how versatile they are, on a cloth diapered baby, disposable diapered baby, or potty training toddler - always a great fit! Baby T happens to fit all of the above categories right now!

Pomona Pants are reasonably priced at under $30 for a handmade in the USA product. Unlike other pants, your baby will get a ton of wear out of these! You could buy cheaper pants for half the price, only to have the baby outgrow them in half a year. The Pomonas will last and last for many seasons! They easily replace about three traditional kids pants sizes. In case you're loving the fit and versatility, Project Pomona also has a much anticipated new release - cargo shorts! 

All Project Pomona pants are made by hand in Houston, Texas and finished to order. The owner and designer of Project Pomona is a wonderful mother, Meghan designed Pomona Pants for her own cloth diapered children after she found that none of the gently used jeans and cords they were gifted actually fit her babies. I love mom designed products, these pants are just genius! 

Visit Project Pomona

Connect with Project Pomona on Facebook and Twitter 

Follow on Pinterest

One of you will win a pair of Project Pomona pants during the Fluffy Mail giveaway that starts May 1st! Come back Wednesday! (PS: there is also another Pomona giveaway you can enter that ends in just a few days)

Disclaimer: I did not receive payment for this post. I was provided a sample of the product for review purposes. All opinions are genuine and my own. 

How to Cloth Diaper {Dear Best Friend...}

Now that we've been cloth diapering for almost four years, I feel at least somewhat qualified to give out advice to new moms who are contemplating it! You know what though? What I know means little to you because every baby is different and there is no such thing as the best cloth diaper. What works for one may not work for another. 

Biggest Reasons to Cloth Diaper

Save Money: You can save at least $600 each year, per diapered baby, when you switch to cloth. We actually save $920 each year because our preferred Eco disposables would cost us more than the average diaper! Cloth diapering accessories only run about $30 a year for us.

Healthier for Baby: Synthetic chemicals and fragrances in disposable diapers have been linked to health issues, especially in male babies. Moreover, we find there are simply little to no issues with rashes when our babies are cloth diapered. (Some chemicals in disposables: dioxin and tributyl-tin, etc.)

Environmentally Friendly: Instead of filling our landfills at every diaper change, you are getting the most life out of a reusable product. Something that was once the norm is now 'green'! The amount of water you use to wash diapers, especially in an HE washer, is much smaller compared to the amount of water it takes to create one disposable diaper that you'll use once and throw in a landfill. Even if it isn't, as some may argue, the above two reasons are enough for us to cloth diaper!

What You'll Need

Depending on the stage you're starting at, here is a quick summary of what you will need. This is the no frills minimum to get you started. Newborns require more diaper changes, of course, toddlers not as much. But toddler's diapers are not as easy to wash because they eat solids. You can always build your stash and find out what you like more as you go along, but this would get you started.

Newborn

• 18 or more diapers: Prefolds with covers are really popular with newborns, they just work! They are the most economical route as well. I found that prefolds worked best for the first three months before one-size diapers fit the baby comfortably. You could also try pocket diapers (like Fuzzi Bunz or bumGenius pocket), all-in-ones (like the Thirsties AIO or the bumGenius Freetime), or fitteds with covers (like Thirsties Fab Fitteds or Bamboozles). 
• Snappi: A must for prefolds, a Snappi keeps it on and makes it easier to use. It's good to have a couple but we did just fine with one for the 3 months we used prefolds. Of course you can skip it if you've decided you want to use AIO diapers, pockets, or fitteds. 
• Flushable liners (optional): To minimize staining and keep your diapers newer longer you may use some biodegradable liners that make removing poop really easy. I've tried them on a couple of occasions and didn't like having the extra step of putting a liner in. You can also just use reusable stay-dry liners for the same purpose. 

Toddler

• 10 or more diapers: One-size diapers are great for toddlers since you never have to buy a size up, you get what you pay for. I started diapering my 6 month old many years ago with just 8 diapers and washed them every day! I would recommend 10 for washing every day with a little wiggle room and 14 - 18 if you want to wash every other day. I recommend trying an all-in-one, a pocket diaper, and fitteds with covers to see what you like most first. I kind of like having all of the above and using them for different purposes (night time, day time, out and about). 
• Stay-dry liners: If you use natural fiber diapers like cotton, hemp, or bamboo, stay-dry liners are a must. They will keep your toddler's bum dry even with a soaked diaper. For a newborn I found them not necessary because you change the diaper so often anyway. Great for toddlers who will spend 2 to 4 hours in one diaper. 
• Doublers/soakers: If you have a heavy wetter or a toddler, you'll need doublers for extra absorbence, especially for night time. I find hemp to be the most helpful material for heavy wetters like my son. 

Both

• Wet bags: You'll need at least one large and one small wet bag (to keep in the diaper bag). 
• Laundry Detergent: What works for you will depend on your water, washer, baby, and diapers. I have always referred to this handy chart to help people choose a diaper detergent, I would only consider those that get 4 stars. Personally we use Charlie's Soap and it worked well for us. Right now I'm experimenting with others to see if there is something that would work better with our hard water. 
• Wipes: Since you'll be doing diaper laundry anyway, it makes sense to use cloth wipes as well. They are gentle and soft on baby and superb for removing the icky stuff. I much prefer cloth wipes to disposable ones, it's like a mini bath for baby at each diaper change. Our favorites are Bamboobino and Kissaluvs Knit Terry Wipes.  
• Diaper Sprayer (optional): We've never had a diaper sprayer, you can do just fine without it. But there were moments I wish I did! Those stuck-on-sticky-poop moments. If you have any level of poop phobia, this is great to have. 
• Drying rack or diaper line (optional): While you can dry the diapers in the dryer, it shortens their life span. I've always line dried all of our cloth diapers and we use a folding drying rack inside the house, if I could I would use a retractable line outside to dry them - the sun is great at removing stains and bacteria!

Insider Cloth Diapering Tips

Don't think too much: There is an overwhelming amount diapering options today and a huge amount of information. While it's good to read some and have a little basic knowledge, avoid spending too much time on that. It's a piece of cloth. To catch poop. For just a couple of years, plus or minus. Don't stress over it! Just dive in and you'll learn the ropes in no time!

Choosing a material: Microfiber/polyester diapers are usually cheaper, but eventually you may run into stink issues with them, which often happens when your baby eats solids or you have very hard water. Cotton, hemp, and bamboo may be more expensive, but are easier to care for in the long run and don't loose absorbency over time as microfiber tends to, they actually become more absorbent. The biggest reason I'm still using microfiber? The stay-dry aspect, I like diapers that keep my baby's bum dry and that's why I use stay-dry liners with all natural fiber diapers we have as well. That's because wet diaper = rash. I can't exactly change him every hour!

Aplix or Snaps: This will depend on your preference. For ease of use, aplix/velcro most closely resemble disposables. They are also easy for a toddler take off and tend to wear out faster. We prefer snaps because they last indefinitely and my toddler can't remove the diaper.

Cloth Diaper Sampler: A great way to see what you like before committing to one diaper is to try a cloth diaper sampler that let's you experience different types such as prefolds, all-in-ones, pocket diapers, and fitteds.

Great Resources for More Info:

Since my blog isn't just about cloth diapers, I don't really go in depth on the subject, but these bloggers do! They know their stuff front to back and all around.

Diaper Jungle Detergent Chart
Washing Cloth Diapers (Change-diapers.com)
Newborn Cloth Diapers (Change-diapers.com, photo heavy!)
Cloth Diaper Giveaways (new linky every Friday at Change-diapers.com)
Lanolizing Wool Cloth Diaper Covers (Padded Tush Stats)
Intro to Cloth Diapers Video (Padded Tush Stats)
Cloth Diaper Dictionary (Padded Tush Stats

We have reviewed a ton of diapers here at Eco-Babyz, here they are for your reference:

Omaiki AIO
Little Fawn Organics Fitted
Watch Me Be Green Wool Longies
Thirsties AIO
Thirsties Fab Fitted (snaps) and Duo Wrap
Babykicks 3G Pocket Diaper
Sprout Change Hemp Prefold and Wool Cover
Cutey Baby Diapers
Real Nappies
The Little Bee Co. Bitty Bee and Bee Changed Diapers
Babee Greens
Grasshopper Diapers (no longer produced)
Tiny Tyke Diapers
Hippeez Fitted Diaper
Sunbaby One-Size Pocket Diaper
Go Green One-Size Pocket Diaper
Rumparooz One-Size Pocket Diaper
Fuzzi Bunz XS Pocket Diaper
Tail Feathers Bamboo One-Size Fitteds
Smartipants Little Smarti Newborn AIO
Baby Snickerdoodles Wool Soaker
Ecobubs Wool Pocket Cloth Diaper
Smartipants One Size Pocket Diaper
Thirsties Duo Diaper Pockets
Preston's Pants One-Size Pocket Diapers
Motherease Sandys
Thirsties Fitteds (aplix)
Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size and One-Size Pockets

What's your best cloth diapering tip? 

Cloth diapering questions?

What do you love about cloth diapers?

This post is part of a series called {Dear Best Friend...}. See previous posts below:

Pregnancy Must Haves

There is Only One Mom Like You

How to Pick the Best Stroller for Your Baby

Surviving the Glucose Test

Baby Must Haves, Nice-to-Haves, and No-Need-to-Haves

My Best Friend Will Be a Mom!

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you. Thank you!