To cloth diaper while traveling – or not?

That is the question!

We switched to disposable diapers for a few days when our travels took us where laundering would be hard to predict... However! Our Little Man had so many “blow-outs” in the church nursery – at least once during every service (except one!) at a three-day missions conference – that I was repeatedly wishing he’d been wearing cloth...

We have yet to experience a “blow-out” with cloth diapers! (Gotta love ‘em!) So! Due to the messy experiences of this past weekend, I’m seriously considering using cloth diapers on the road. The big question will be a place to launder them. As those who cloth-diaper full-time know, you can only go so long with a bag of wet and dirty diapers!

I'd appreciate any insight from full-time cloth-diapering moms – especially any who are traveling (full-time).

How's cloth diapering goin'?

As much as travel has allowed, I’ve been working on cloth diapering – using the six cloth diapers I have on hand:

• the two BumGenius (from the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds trial package)
• the SmartiPants (from the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds trial package)
• three BumGenius (from Diapers.com)
  

  (A $10 certificate redeemed from Pampers Gifts to Grow points helped pay for these!)

Our “diaper pail” has been a very frugal version of a “wet bag” – i.e. a giant-sized Ziploc bag!

I’ve been finding diaper liners to be a great help. If unsoiled, these can be washed and reused, too!

For laundering, I started with Arm & Hammer Sensitive Detergent (because I had some on hand). It worked well. Following a friend’s recommendation, I later took advantage of a $10 coupon for Soap.com and was able to get a tub of Charlie’s Soap for $5.00! My little ones tend to have sensitive skin, so this is an especially great product for our family.

Six diapers – with a place to launder them – have worked okay, and I was even brave enough to keep a cloth diaper on “Chubbs” for a Wednesday evening service at a church we visited. I figured I would forewarn the ladies in the nursery when I signed him in, asking them to page me if they were not comfortable with the idea of changing a cloth diaper. (As it was, I ended up in the nursery with him, so I was the one on-hand to change him anyway...)

Stay tuned for a detailed review of the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program...

Zulily Deals: Seersucker Dresses for $11.99

I'm excited about Zulily, a fabulous new online store offering daily sales at up to 90% off on top-quality apparel, gear, and other goodies for moms, babies, and kids!

Today's deal (good through 6:00 a.m. PST on 03/10/11) includes seersucker dresses for $11.99! These are great for summer travel!

Isn't this one cute?!

Sizes range from 0-3M up to 6X.

Use the following coupon codes to save even more on your order:

GA1189 – $5.00 off $50 purchase

GA9331 – $5.00 off $50 purchase

COUPCAB316 – 10% off $30 purchase

Membership for zulily is free! Check 'em out!

(Thanks, Fiddledeedee Mom!)

How's it goin' – with cloth diapers?

I posted a picture and detailed list of the cloth diapers included in the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program in my previous post. I probably should feel embarrassed that I'm so excited about the colors of cloth diapers – but it's exciting to be excited about something so mundane and routine but necessary...

  

Here's what we're learning so far...

We don't really like:

• The GroVia Diaper: The insert is bulky; the fabric is stiff, and Baby seemed to be uncomfortable in the diaper.
• The Prefolds: We tried one of the (four) prefolds once, and Daddy wondered why we'd fight to get it folded and put on just right when the pocket diapers are so simple?! (We're also on the road a lot and don't need the risk of leaks prefolds tend to represent.)

So, we're planning to return the four prefolds and Snappy fastener as well as the GroVia diaper wrap and liner. According to instructions sent with the package, I can get store credit for items I return – and I plan to use that amount to get a couple more of the brands we're really liking! (Keep reading!)

We like:

• The BumGenius, SmartiPants, FuzziBunz, and Thirsties – all the Pocket Diapers: We really like all these. It's hard to pick a favorite...
• We're learning that the BumGenius (with two inserts) are best for night-time and naps. The record for us so far has been 14 hours non-stop at night! We're loving not having to change a diaper in the middle of the night when we're groggy...

However! I also learned that I should not be trying to go all night with a cloth diaper – when Baby puts poo in it. We did once (I could smell the poo while I nursed!), and our poor little guy got a very bad diaper rash – his first ever – on his legs. (And I felt terrible!) Amazingly, the diaper (BumGenius with two inserts) still didn't leak! But the elastic bands rubbed his chunky thighs, resulting in a pretty serious rash. Since rash creams can reduce the absorbency of cloth diapers, I took a break for two full days, giving the affected skin time to heal. (Thankfully, it healed nicely with Dr. Selby's Crema Curativa, a "miracle cream" from back home in Uruguay...)

We started back to cloth diapering this morning, using Caldesene Baby Powder as insurance on the thigh area. So far, so good!

We're living and learning... (That's why we signed up for the trial run, eh?)

FREE Dinner at EarthFare with $10 Purchase

Sign up on the new EarthFare.com to receive the weekly email newsletter, and get a coupon for the makings of a free dinner (with a $10 purchase at your local EarthFare)!

The dinner includes:

• Rustic Mashed Potatoes (16 oz container from deli)
• Organic Baby Carrots (16 oz bag from produce dept)
• Fresh Whole Chicken (1 from meat dept) OR Veggie Burgers (1 box from freezer)

Since you have to spend $10, you can look at this (healthy!) deal as a B1G1 deal...

Laughter: The BEST Medicine!

At least laughter would work much better than these supposed "remedies" from the 1800s!

Click on the picture to view a larger version.

The hilarious collection of ads from various old newspapers was part of the decor in a fast-food restaurant we recently visited.

What do you think?!

I'm joining Sharon and friends at Good, True & Beautiful...
Just for the JOY of It!

We're cloth diapering full-time!

Yep! The package arrived just in time for us to take it on vacation with us. I'm excited because the condo unit where we're staying has a washer and drier, making my experiment that much easier – and more frugal!

Here's what's included in the Changing Diapers, Changing Minds Program for this cloth diaper trial:

I must admit that I'm loving the cool colors!

Baby seems to be enjoying the experience, too!

1 Kissaluvs Fitted Diaper (green)
1 Thirsties Duo Wrap (meadow)
1 Thirsties Duo Pocket Diaper (mango)
1 Smartipants One-Size Diaper (aqua breeze)
1 Fuzzi Bunz Perfect Size Diaper (chocolate truffle)
1 BumGenius V4.0 One-Size Pocket Diaper with Snaps (moonbeam)
1 BumGenius V4.0 One-Size Pocket Diaper with Snaps (grasshopper green)
1 GroVia Shell ONLY (vanilla)
1 GroVia Organic Cotton Soaker Pad
1 Snappis Diaper Fastener (pastel blue)
2 OsoCozy Indian Prefolds
2 Bleached Chinese Prefolds
5 sample sheets of Flushable Liners from Imse Vimse

Previous to starting the experiment, we were having blow-outs with disposable diapers every time Baby put poo in his pants. We were concluding that he needed the next size up which, unfortunately, we did not have with us. Yes, our Little Man is tall for his age...

UH, OH! (Again?!)

So, I started this cloth diapering experience with a bit of hesitation... BUT we've been very pleased with the fact that none of the cloth diapers have leaked so far! And I'm being very daring, too. For example, Baby wore one of the BumGenius diaper with double inserts for 14 hours last night – and still no leaks! Even Daddy, who consistently helps with diaper changes, is impressed. And we're becoming more and more impressed, using cloth diapers even when we're out and about...

Stay tuned...

Amazon Mom: Pampers Diapers 30% off + free shipping!

I'm waiting for my package of cloth diapers to arrive... (Yes, I know I "just" ordered it, but I'm excited about this new adventure!)

Meanwhile, I'm still keeping an eye out for good disposable diaper deals. (We'll still need those when we travel...) So, I was excited to discover the benefits of Amazon Mom* – a great FREE program for caregivers of children!

Amazon Mom currently has a good deal going on select packs of Pampers diapers: Pampers Cruisers Diapers (Size 3, 160 Count), for example, which are 16% off!

Plus, you can get 30% more off! Here's how:

• Sign up for Amazon Mom. (It's free!) You'll automatically qualify for a 15% discount off your diaper order plus free two-day Amazon Prime shipping.
• Then select the Subscribe & Save option to get an additional 15% off. (Subscribe & Save is flexible! Per Amazon.com, you can change your order status – and even cancel your enrollment – at any time!)

Right now, you can also use the 20% off (one-time use) coupon code (expiring 02/28/11) from the December issues of either American Baby or Parenting Early Years to make the deal even better!

And if you pay the remaining balance with Amazon.com gift cards earned through Swagbucks, you can really sweeten the deal! (Read my posts on Swagbucks to find out how that works.) 

*Here's how Amazon Mom works:

• Sign up and get three free months of Amazon Prime – i.e. free two-day shipping on most Amazon.com orders (with no minimum order amount required)!
• Get 30% off diaper orders by using the Subscribe & Save delivery feature.
• Earn an extra month of Amazon Prime with each $25 order from the Baby Store.

new adventures

LONG time no post...

It's not that I haven't been bargain-hunting...

• We've been traveling, preparing for ministry on the foreign mission field.
• AND our Good Shepherd blessed us with our second (big!) Bundle of Joy at the end of October!

So, I'm more interested than ever in finding good bargains – especially good diaper deals! But priorities have taken precedence over blogging about bargains.

And I'm about to embark on a new frugal adventure: Cloth diapering! Full time! (Or at least as full-time as "full-time" travel will allow!) And I'm excited!

I took advantage of an offer from Jillian's Drawers that was just too good to let pass...

And I'm now waiting (rather impatiently!) for my package of diapers to arrive...

My friend Julie (at A Year with Mom and Dad) was very kind to review the offer for me! (Thanks, friend!) Basically, I'm going to be able to try out a variety of cloth diapers risk free! (And I am getting a little bit of savings over what I would pay if I ordered each diaper individually.)

I'm planning to chronicle my new diaper adventures here. So, stay tuned...

Diaper Deal at Rite Aid!

For the Mommas posted details about the great diaper deal going on at Rite Aid this week!

Here's how the deal worked for me in Greenville, where most stores are being remodeled as they merge with Save-a-Lot:

(All printable coupon links are posted at For the Mommas.)

Buy three jumbo packs of Huggies Diapers – $10.99 each
Use $5.00 off $25 Purchase Video Values Coupon
Stack with two $3.00/1 printable coupons
Stack with $3.00/1 coupon (from a recent mailer)
Stack with $1.00/1 Huggies Video Values Coupon
Pay $17.97 (plus tax) after coupons
Get $2.00 UPRs per pack of diapers ($6.00 UPRs total!)
Submit for SCR #70 and get $10.00 Rite Aid Gift Card in the mail

My total came to $1.22 per jumbo pack of diapers (including tax) after coupons, UPRs, and gift card.

What a deal!