And the Winner Is...

The time has come for the winner of the two Lynifer Diaper Inserts to be drawn. I was hoping for slightly better numbers, but this was my first giveaway. Thank you to the ladies who did enter and for you ideas for blog names.
Now on to the good part...

The winner is....

Anonymous said... 

groovers4him@bellsouth.net
I like the title of the blog,
"Love Worth Waiting For" 

The winner has been notified and will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will have to draw again.

Thank you again to the ladies who entered!

Giveaway Extended!

Due to the low number of comments, I will be extending the giveaway of the two Lynifer inserts until August 10th. I am also going to add to the mandatory entry as I fear it may be scaring away readers. So, go, have fun and maybe enter a certain giveaway. :)
Until next time... Happy Reading!

Lynifer's Diaper Insert Giveaway! ~CLOSED!~

I know this has been a long awaited post.  I have wanted to post this for weeks now, but life has kept me from it. Well, now here you go!
The time has come for my very first giveaway. I am super excited for this one for many reasons. One, it's the first giveaway for my blog. Second, these items were made by Me. I have a small little in home venture where I sew all kinds of things. I call my venture Lynifer. Now, seeing as I am the one that made these inserts, having me review them, wouldn't be right. I had two wonderful mommas test two different styles of my inserts. Now for the reviews given by the testers...

I love Lynifer's cloth diaper inserts! My favorite is the contoured insert because it is so absorbent and is super soft. It fits perfectly inside my Bum Genius 3.0's! The insert washes up very nicely and it is my "go to" insert for nap and nighttime diapers. Thanks!

These cloth diaper inserts are the best I could have hoped for! I am a big fan of her contoured design that I slip inside my MotherEase diapers. They are obsorbent and soft without being too bulky. Lyn has hit the mark with this design that washes just as nicely as it wears. I've had them for months and they still look great! 

About Lynifer's Inserts: Each insert is made from a total of 5 layers. The top layer is soft flannel. There are two inner layers of microfiber terry, and then there are two layers of cotton. Liquid tests that I did showed that these inserts could hold up to 7 ounces of liquid.


Buy It: These diaper inserts can be purchased through Lynifer's website for $2.50 each.

Win It: I am giving one winner a set of my diaper inserts. One winner will receive a straight cut insert and a contoured insert as well.

Mandatory Entry: Okay, so right now my blog's name is just Lynifer's blog. I am thinking of changing this to a more catchy or fun name. For the mandatory entry, I would love for you to either give me an idea for my blog's new name, or tell me your favorite blog title/name. One name idea that has been thrown around has been Sew Thrifty Lynifer, as an idea of where I might be going with the name and theme. If you cannot think of a blog title, feel free to name your favorite diaper.

Extra Entries: (be sure to leave a seperate comment for each entry)
1: Publicly follow my blog via Google Friend Connect. - 1 entry
2: Subscribe to my blog emails via feedburner. - 1 entry
3: Blog about this giveaway and be sure to leave a direct link to this giveaway as well as Lynifer. - 2 entries
4: Become a fan of Lynifer on Facebook. - 1 entry
5: Follow me on twitter. -1 entry
6: Tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to include @whocg23 in your tweet. This can be done daily until the end of the giveaway.  Please comment with the link to your tweet.- 1 entry per day


This giveaway is open to US residents only. Giveaway will end on August 10th at 11:59 pm. The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours from the time the email is sent to respond. I will also post the winner on my blog. I will pick the winner via random.org.

New to Cloth - Accessories

I am going to have one last post in this series before the big finale of my first series. If you read my posts, you already know that we are setting up to have our very first give-away. I am super excited for it. Now on to the post itself.
One thing that can be daunting when it comes to using cloth diapers is having to consider all of the different accessories out there. What do you really need, what is just for kicks, and what is an absolute waste of money? Well, I want to share what accessories I use, ones I have considered, and what I would love to have.

First off you can't CD (in my opinion) without some great wet bags. I have two travel sized wet bags that rotate in and out of the diaper bag. I also have a wet bag duffel that I use as a pail liner. I made this duffel actually. Having a wet bag is a wonderful thing. If you buy one that is of good quality, it will contain the stink and wash clean. All you will have to do is empty it in to your washer and then throw it in with the diaper wash. Having a few great wet bags will make your cloth life much nicer.

Next on the list of accessories is wipes. While you could continue to use regular baby wipes, they shouldn't be flushed and they can't be washed. So, you will have the cloth diaper for the wet bag, the poo for the toilet, and then wipes for the trash. That is just too much, to me. I know a lot of moms use cloth wipes if they use cloth diapers. For newborns, I can consider it, but for my two year old, I don't want that mess. I prefer to make my own flushable wipes for him. It is really simple and you can just flush the dirty wipe with the mess from the diaper. Cloth wipes are even easier since you just toss it in the bag with the diaper and wash with your laundry. Very simple if you ask me.

Some moms swear by their diaper sprayer. I do not have one. Usually I don't need one. I would love to try one out, but they can be expensive. They may be a great thing, but I don't think they are always necessary.
Liners. This is how I get around the mess issues with my diapers. I have found flushable diaper liners to be a wonderful thing. I will even go so far as to say that the new GroVia bio-liners are the best. They cost less then other brands and work better. :) All you have to do is put a liner in the diaper. When baby makes a mess, toss it in the potty with the mess and you are good to go. If you have septic, you may have to be careful. I sometimes let the liner sit in the water a bit before flushing so it have more time to breakdown before going through the pipes.

Now one last thing, there are several accessories that can be nice to have, but I feel that really to cloth diaper you don't need much more than the diapers themselves. That should be the point really. One great thing about cloth is that rashes are decreased greatly. My son almost never gets a rash now unless he is in disposables for longer than normal. If you do have to use a rash cream, make sure it is one meant for cloth diapers. Others can ruin your diapers by making them repel something fierce. Again, GroVia has a great balm that is in stick form and you never have to actually touch the balm; just rub it on baby's bottom.
I know there are many more accessories out there for cloth diaper users. I don't really use many. I wanted to highlight what I use and what I think is a good thing for moms to consider when making the switch to cloth.
Do you have a favorite diapering accessory? Feel free to comment to let us all know. I always strive to learn from other moms. We are a community of learners and mothers, lets share the wisdom. :)
Until next time.... happy diapering!

New to Cloth - Stripping

Today's "New to Cloth" post is all about stripping, and no not taking off clothes, but taking off residue. :) Sorry, just a little humor injected by the side of my brain that makes sure to censor what Hubby may try to say.
So, every now and then cloth diapers may need to be stripped. Stripping is needed when there gets to be a build up of residue on diapers. This can be from the detergent you use or just from normal washing and drying. Fabric softener can actually cling to your dryer drum and then transfer onto cloth diapers when they are drying in the dryer. This can cause build up. If the detergent you use isn't completely made just for cloth diapers, it can cause a build up after many washings.
Okay, now on to the meat of all of this. Stripping can be very easy to do. One of the easiest ways to strip your diapers is to wash like normal but then rinse, rinse, rinse, until you do not see any more soap bubbles in the rinse cycle. When your washer is in the middle of the rinse cycle and it has been agitating the diapers for a moment or so, open the lid or otherwise stop the machine. If you see bubbles that are caused by soap and not just the agitation, you need to keep rinsing. Once you reach the point that you no longer see bubbles, you can finish out the rinse and then dry and you diapers are stripped.
One thing I like to use when stripping my diapers is vinegar. Vinegar is great for cutting through residue and it also acts as a natural fabric softener. I would use it in every wash except that it can break down elastic faster than normal wear.
I have heard of the Dawn method and I tried it once, but it really isn't the greatest. It can actually do more harm than good. Dawn is meant for the sink and it can hurt a washing machine. So, now I avoid the Dawn method and just do the rinse method with some viegar as my primary mode of stripping my diapers.
If you have ever heard of Rockin' Green detergent, you may also think about buying a sample of their product and use it to soak your diapers. It can remove a whole ton of dirt and residue from your diapers. I use it all the time now with the diapers and I really don't have to strip my diapers now.
When I do use Rockin' Green to soak my diapers, I fill my tub with super hot water and 3-4 tbsp of Rockin' Green and my diapers. Then let them soak for as long as you can. I like overnight. Then drain and wash like usual, not using any soap. if you don't want to use your tub, just do this in your washer, and stop the agitation process for the length of the soak you want. When you are ready to wash the diapers, just let the wash cycle finish up with the two rinse cycles.
I hope you have found this post to be of some help. It took me weeks to check out a bunch of different ways to strip my diapers when I first started, and everyone had different opinions. This is what I have found works the best and easiest.
Until next time....Happy Diapering!

New to Cloth - Easy to Wash

Thanks to Mama to 3 Blessings, the next topic in my series will be all about washing your cloth diapers. Don't let the washing of cloth diapers scare you! Really, it is not difficult to wash cloth diapers. You also won't be adding that many loads of laundry per week either by switching to cloth.
When buying new diapers you will need to prep them. you always want to follow manufacturer's instructions, but usually this means to wash in HOT water and dry anywhere from 2-5 times before use. Diapers will also gain absorbancy as they are used and washed more. How great is that!?!
If your Little One makes a particularly messy diaper and you want to rinse it before stains get too bad, rinse the diaper in COLD water, rubbing it with a bar of white soap. White soap (like Ivory) works wonders. I can't believe how much it can do!
Now on to my regular wash routine...
First I keep my dirty diapers in a dry pail. This is just a regular trash can with a lid that I put a duffle sized wetbag in. Lids on cloth diapers pails are a HUGE thing, it helps keep any odors you may experience from getting in to the room too much. The wetbag I made has a square for me to put essential oils on to help with odors as well.

 my wetbag duffle in the pail

Okay, so from the pail the bag and dirty diapers so straight in to my washer. You will want to make sure inserts have been removed from the diapers so they get cleaned. I wash my diapers when the pail is getting full and that is about every 2-3 days.
First I start with a COLD rinse with some baking soda. This can help with reducing staining. 
Second, I set my washer up on the longest cycle possible and as HOT as possible. I use Rockin' Green detergent and they state to use 2-3 tablespoons per load of laundry. I usually use two tablespoons and it works well for us. 
Third, set your washer to do an extra rinse after your wash cycle. This helps to ensure that all the detergent is rinsed clean from your diapers.
I then put all my diapers in the dryer. I do have two GroBaby (now GroVia) shells that say they should not be put in the dryer in order to last longer. Also, I do not put covers in the dryer, I don't know why, I just don't.
When we move we will have the ability to hang our clothes outside on a line. Then I can start hang drying more of the diapers.  The sun is a wonderful thing for diapers, especially stained ones. Sun is a natural bleacher.

So, that is my washing routine. Sounds easy, right? Well, it really is and I only end up with two or three more loads of laundry than our normal wash.
Don't let the washing of cloth diapers scare you!
Until Next time....Happy Diapering!

Cloth....What is out there?

Next up in my series "New to Cloth" is Cloth...What is out there? This post will focus on the different types of cloth diapers. There are many different types of cloth diapers out there and when you are first starting in the world of cloth, it can be a bit daunting. I would suggest finding two types of diapers that you would like to try out and then buy just a few of those types. Who knows, you may not like them at all. When I first started with the idea of cloth, I loved the idea of the gDiaper. We bought a starter pack with two diapers, three liners, and some flushable inserts. Let me tell you where they are now. In one of the "extras" boxes being hardly ever used. What I thought would be a fav of mine, became one of my least favorites. Then again, I originally thought that we would be a hybrid family and not go full on cloth diapering. You see how that turned out....can you say ADDICTED! :)
Okay, back on track, here are the different types of cloth diapers.

All-in-one (AIO): An All-in-one diaper is really just that, all parts in one diaper. They usually have three parts to them. There is the waterproof outer, the soaker (sewn in) and then an inner layer to wick moisture away from baby's skin. All the parts are sewn in to one diaper and it is usually the closest to disposable. I like AIOs, but they do take longer to dry since there are more layers involved. A lot of time I have AIOs take two Heavy Dry cycles in my dryer. There is elastic at the legs and usually the front and/or the back to help keep messes in.

All-in-twos (AI2):  These diapers are just like AIOs, but the soaker is removable or only partially sewn in. This is to help cut down on drying time. I have seen AI2s that have two soaker parts and each one is sewn to either the front or back of the diaper. Soakers can also be snapped in. There is elastic at the legs and usually the front and/or the back to help keep messes in.

Pocket: A Pocket diaper has the waterproof out layer and an inner liner. Then it has a pocket in either the front or back for stuffing an insert in to the diaper. These diapers can allow for the most customization in my mind as you are fully able to choose how much absorption power you add to the diaper. The insert is then removed for cleaning and helps with a fast drying time. There is elastic at the legs and usually the front and/or the back to help keep messes in.

Fitted: Fitted diapers do not have a waterproof layer and need a cover. These diapers are all about the absorption as the layers are all basically there for soaking up wetness. They are held closed with either snaps or hook and look closures. This can make them perfect for use under wool or fleece covers. One primary way that fitteds differ from contours is that they have elastic at the legs.

Prefold: Prefold diapers are layers of absorbant material that have been folded in such a way to have more layers focused at the center of the rectangle. These need to be folded and then secured with pins, snappis, or a snug fitting cover. There is no waterproof layer so you do need to use a cover of some sort. They tend to come in a number of sizes to accommodate babies changing size from birth to potty training. This can be one of the most inexpensive ways to cloth diaper as they can be bought fairly cheap.

Flat: The flat diaper is the most like what mothers used of the past. It consists of a flat piece of cheesecloth like material that needs to be folded to provide more absorbing power. Again this is not waterproof so a cover does need to be used.

Contour: A contour diaper is alot like a fitted diaper except that it does not have elastic in it. Also many times these diapers do not come with snaps or hook n loop, so you need to use a cover, pins, or snappis.

Hybrid: Hybrid diapers are a type that is a little newer on the cloth diapering front (at least in my eyes). These diapers come with a waterproof shell that you then snap a soaker in to or lay in a disposable (usually flush-able) biosoaker. Some moms prefer these when traveling, but they can also be nice when just making the transition to using cloth.

Diaper Cover: Diaper covers do just that. They do not have soft inner layers or any soaker material. They are a waterproof layer used to cover non waterproof diapers. Covers can be made from PUL coated materials, wool, or fleece. Covers can usually be used for more than one diaper change as long as they do not become soiled.

Inserts: Inserts are made from absorbent material and mostly used in pocket diapers. There are a variety of different sizes, shapes and materials that they can be made from, like cotton, hemp, micro-terry, and bamboo.

Doublers: Again, the name implies the use of this product. These are meant to help increase the amount of wetness a diaper will soak in, but they cannot act on their own. They are usually made from fewer layers of material (1-2 layers).

I hope this was an informative post for those who are just considering cloth diapers. I know it is a lot of information, but there is a lot of different types of diapers, and each mother has her own opinion of what is best to use because each child is different. Some kids don't do well with AIOs but do well with contours because of sensitive skin issues with elastic. This is something you may have to try a few types to find what works best for you.
Until next time....Happy Diapering!

Cloth Diapering Links!

I get asked all the time if I know some good websites for interested mommas to check out and get more information about cloth diapering. Well, now I am putting them in to a post so you can always come back and check them out. If need be, I will also update this post with new great links when I find them.

I am adding this to the "New to Cloth" series so that moms can easily find this post along with great other posts geared for those new to cloth diapering or just considering it.
I am leaving the urls totally visible so that even if the links do not want to work, you can still copy and paste.

First let me show you some Fellow Bloggers who have helped me a lot when it comes to cloth diapers.
Coupon Mommy of 3 - http://www.couponmommyof3.com/
Family of the Cloth - http://familyofthecloth.blogspot.com/
Happily Domestic - http://happilydomestic.blogspot.com/
I'd Rather Be Changing Diapers - http://www.ratherbechangingdiapers.com/
Makin' It - http://beccasclothdiaperblog.blogspot.com/
Mam Dweeb - http://mamadweeb.com/
Minnesota Mamas Must Haves - http://www.minnesotamamasmusthaves.com/
My Silly Monkeys - http://www.mysillymonkeys.com/
Obsessed Cloth Diapering Momma - http://obsessedclothdiaperingmama.blogspot.com/
The Eco-Cheap Mom - http://www.ecocheapmom.com/

All about cloth blogs:
Cloth Diaper Blog - http://www.clothdiaperblog.com/
The Cloth Diaper Report - http://www.theclothdiaperreport.com/
Dirty Diaper Laundry - http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/ (great video reviews of diapers)
Thanks Mama - http://blog.thanksmama.com/ 

Company Blogs:

Kelly's Closet - http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/
AppleCheeks - http://diaperingrevolutionary.typepad.com/a_reusable_diaper_revolut/ 
Bum Covered Diapers - http://bumcovereddiapers.blogspot.com/
Bummis - http://blog.bummis.com/
Cotton Babies - http://clothdiapers.blogspot.com/ 
Earth Angels Diaper Co - http://diaperdiscussions.blogspot.com/
Soft Bums - http://loveclothdiapers.blogspot.com/
Knickernappies - http://knickernappies.blogspot.com/
Nicki's Diapers - http://nickisdiapers.blogspot.com/
Nifty Nappy - http://niftynappy.blogspot.com/
Rump*a*rooz - http://rumparooz.blogspot.com/
The Diaper Wagon - http://diaperwagon.com/blog/
Green Diaper Queen (FuzziBunz) - http://greendiaperqueen.blogspot.com/
Urban Fluff - http://urbanfluffblog.blogspot.com/
Katydid - http://katydidcloth.blogspot.com/ 

Company Sites:

Happy Heinys - http://www.happyheinysonline.com/
FuzziBunz - http://www.fuzzibunzonline.com/
BumGenius - http://www.bumgenius.com/
Rocky Mountain Diapers - http://www.rockymountaindiapers.com/ClothDiapers.html
Rump*a*rooz - http://www.rumparooz.com/
Knickernappies - http://www.knickernappies.com/
SmartiPants - https://www.smartipants.com/
*I have personally tried each of these brands and recommend them.

Stores or purchasing sites: 
DiaperSwappers - http://www.diaperswappers.com/
Kelly's Closet
Diaper Junction
Cotton Babies - http://www.cottonbabies.com/
Diaper Shops - http://diapershops.com/ 

The next post on the varying types of cloth diapers will be coming soon.
Until then....Happy Diapering!

Why should I cloth diaper?

Welcome to the New to Cloth Series on Lynifer's blog!

I am like many cloth diapering mamas who get asked the infamous question, "Why?" Well, here is a post solely dedicated to answering that question.

Cloth Diapers save Money: let's face it, with a young child (or a child of any age), money can be an issue. They cost a lot of $$. I always liked saving money where I could, but it wasn't really a big deal until LJ came along. Then I really started to pinch pennies where I could and as much as I could.  Everyone can find tons of sites out there that will save how much an average family may be able to save when using cloth versus conventional disposables. Really though each family needs to sit down and think about how much they are going to save themselves.

I want to share a recent bout with disposables to give you an idea of the savings.

Recently LJ and I went to Connecticut to visit Hubby while he was up there for work. I bought a "jumbo" pack of size 3 Luvs diapers for the trip. It cost about $8 for the jumbo pack that holds 36 size 3 diapers. That pack lasted the week. So, now, think of this. At two years of age I went through 36 diapers in one week and spent 8 dollars. Multiply that by one year and you are spending $416 dollars to diaper one two-year-old child. This is a time when they are not going through as many diapers as when they are infants. As an infant, LJ could go through a jumbo pack in like 3 maybe 4 days. I would say that since we started using cloth I have spent maybe $300 on cloth diapers. Yes, that may sound like a lot, but you know what? I can use those diapers for our next child, and it is still less than I would be paying for one year of disposables for a two year old. 

Oh, and I plan to sell any diapers I can when we are done using them, so there is a bonus for us and chunk of that cost given back. That makes for a happy mommy.

Okay. I must stop myself and get back on track...

Reason two to use cloth:  

Cloth Diapers save the Earth: Every disposable diaper you use, has to be thrown away. Where do they go? In a landfill where they will sit for a very long, long time. What happens to cloth diapers after they are used? They are washed and used again. When you are done using cloth diapers, you can sell them. I am like almost every other mother out there that used to use disposables and I had never heard that you are supposed to put the poo from every diaper (cloth or not) in to the toilet. But poo aside, disposable diapers are filled with varying chemicals and plastics that will not go away, no matter how long they sit. Certain things just cannot be broken down by nature. Those chemicals then can stay in the soil and contaminate it, leaving it unusable by plants and animals, us included.

Cloth Diapers are Healthier for Baby: You know those chemicals I said are in every disposable diaper? Before it hits the landfill, you have those chemicals next to your baby's skin. Have diaper rash? Those chemicals could possibly get in to your baby's body through wounds. If antibiotics can get in to your system to help you when you get a wound, why couldn't chemical compounds found in the diapers you are using?

Cloth diapers are also healthier for baby because they can allow baby's skin to breathe more. This also reduces diaper rash. To all ladies out there that think cloth may increase rashes, they don't. They make things a whole lot better because the chemicals aren't there and the natural, breathable fibers are there.

Cloth Diapers help with Potty Training: A lot of kids that are cloth diapered are potty trained earlier than their disposable diapered pals. I have heard estimates of 6 months earlier or more. My son was 18 months old when we started to cloth diaper. Before cloth he had no interest in even thinking of telling me when he was wet or messy. Within about two weeks he was started to pat his diaper when wet or messy. He has remained pretty constant with this routine now ever since. There is a very real possibility that he could be trained by 2 1/2 years of age. What is the average age of boys being potty trained? I believe you could be looking at 3-4 years of age. 

Cloth diapers do wick away moisture and let the bum breathe, but they do retain the feeling of slight wetness, which tells the child they have gone potty and they need to be changed. Yes, disposables hold more wetness away from baby, but that doesn't help them potty train, it hinders it. If they don't feel the sensation of being wet, how will they learn when they need to go?

Cloth Diapers are Better: Yes, they truly are for many reasons. I have less leaks than we do with disposables. I also have a lot less blow outs. Modern cloth diapers have been made to conform to baby's body and keep wet and mess in while letting the air in as well. Many moms who make the switch will say they experience a lot less leaking than they do with disposables, and I am one of them. When LJ is in a disposable, I have to go with the sizes they give me, where with cloth I can make the diaper fit him like it is supposed to. The legs of one size diapers can be adjusted to fit the baby. 

Lots of cloth diapers have elastic around the legs, but also around the back area to help keep messes in as well. A good friend of mine is testing out cloth for the first time and I will bet that one thing she will finally be able to get away from is the blow outs she experiences all the time with the disposables. Breastfed babies have different poo than table fed babies and it can make for more blow outs at times. Cloth holds it where it is supposed to be, in the diaper!

And lastly, but certainly not least:

Cloth Diapers are so much Cuter! How many different colors or patterns do you find on disposable diapers? Not many. First off, the color is usually white with maybe a pattern on it. The patterns are usually one of like three out there with maybe some slight variations. Most disposable diapers are made in a hand full of factories. Store brands are made right next to name brands with almost no difference. 

Cloth diapers are only limited by the design of the materials that the makers find. There are many cloth diapers out there that are actually made by moms. They are made from organic materials to old T-shirts. Top of the line Hemp to cotton to wool. You name it, you can probably try to make a diaper out of it. You can get every color in the rainbow in your diaper stash and then go and get all the patterns you crave as well. A girlie-girl can have all pink and purple flowers on her diapers while he mans-man brother can have camo. You just can't get that with disposable. 

So, I have tried to list many reasons why moms make the switch to cloth over disposables. I hope I didn't bore and I helped inform. Next up in my "New to Cloth" series will be the different types of diapers out there. 

Until next time... Happy diapering!

New Series starting soon!

In the next few days I will begin a series of posts geared for the beginner cloth diaperer. I will go through basics like types and such, but also give some of my own advice as to what I do, what I like and don't like, and also cover reasons for switching to cloth. I want to open this post up for anyone (even those who do cloth diaper) to post questions in the comments section. These can be questions you have about using cloth, or questions you have been asked. Then I will work to answer those questions in the coming posts. I hope to make this as interactive as possible, so please, feel free to leave a comment. :) I hope to have the first post "Why should I cloth diaper?" in the next day or two.
Until then...!