De-Stash! **UPDATED***

In preparation for our twins coming in April, we are moving.  Trouble is…it’s a small place, and no washer.  So we are devising a new diapering plan for our crew.

With shared machines at a laundry mat there is always detergent, bleach, and “gunk” in the dispensing cup.  Not wanting to risk contamination, we are going to use only prefolds and natural fibers.

I will not be able to go to the laundry mat alone with four kids ages 3 & under, and I don’t want my husband sitting there every night washing diapers.  Prefolds hold up better when they have to sit for long periods of time, and they are not picky about how they get washed.  They’re cotton!  They are also cheap, so if I ruin some, I won’t be heartbroken.

All that said – it means a pocket diaper de-stash for this cloth diapering mama.  I only have FuzziBunz and Rumparooz.  Most are used, but well cared for {per manufacturer instructions} and have lots of life left.  I also have some brand new items which I was saving for baby #3.  I didn’t know #4 was coming at the same time!

I use coconut oil for diaper rash.  This leaves a pale grey stain in the diaper.  It is not build up.  It is not affecting the function of the diaper.  If it bothers you, then these diapers are not for you.  Most have only minor, small stains.  Some have heavier stains.  All inserts are in great condition.  Some FuzziBunz diapers have replacement elastic, some do not.

Below are pictures and descriptions.  I am packing to move, so I won’t be taking extra pictures or answering tons of questions.  Most diapers have been in a rotation of about 40 pockets for 1.5-2 years.  I built my stash a little at a time, and I don’t remember which are the newest and which are oldest.

If you want a diaper, please email:
doablediapers @ gmail dot com. 
You need to tell me what you want, your full name & shipping address, and your Paypal email address. 

IF YOUR EMAIL IS MISSING THIS INFORMATION I WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT IN LINE!

I will give the first to respond the first opportunity to buy.  I will send a Paypal invoice.  If you do not pay the Paypal invoice within 24 hours I will offer it to the next person in line. 

All prices include shipping to the United States.  Sorry, I will not be able to ship anything internationally at this time.

Thanks for looking!  Click on any picture to enlarge

FUZZIBUNZ PERFECT SIZE DIAPERS
$6 EACH PPD

Small Baby Blue, Small Grape, Small Periwinkle, Medium Kumquat

Insides of diapers – blue, grape, periwinkle, kumquat
each includes 1 microfiber insert

FUZZIBUNZ ONE SIZE POCKET DIAPERS
TWO MICROFIBER INSERTS EACH
$6 EACH PPD

Buttecream, Mac N Cheese, Blueberry {retired color}, Choco Truffle

Insides: Buttercream {no elastic}, Mac N Cheese, Blueberry, Choco

Close up: Buttercream, Mac N Cheese

Close up: Blueberry, Choco Truffle

Spearmint, Apple Green, Crushed Berries, Cotton Candy

Insides: Spearmint, Apple Green, Crushed Berries, Cotton Candy
These diapers do not have replacement elastic.  The inserts with the Cotton Candy diaper are the same size – I am missing one large insert.

Close up: Spearmint, Apple Green

Close Up: Crushed Berries, Cotton Candy

FUZZIBUNZ ELITE ONE SIZE POCKET DIAPER
Includes two minky inserts and replacement elastic
$7 PPD

You can tell it’s the Elite because the buttons for the elastic are encased inside the diaper lining rather than being on the outside of the diaper.

RUMPAROOZ ONE SIZE POCKET DIAPERS
Each includes a 6R microfiber insert {1 newborn insert snaps together with 1 regular medium/large insert}
$8 EACH PPD

Whale Tale, Ladder 6, Gumball {Snap}
Robotronic, Gumball {Aplix}
These are all newer because they are boy prints and my son is the youngest

Inside: Whale Tale, Robotronic, Ladder 6

Inside: Gumball Aplix {no staining – I don’t like aplix so this was rarely used}, Gumball Snap.  Sorry this pic is a little blurry

NEW ITEMS:

NEW WITHOUT TAGS:
FUZZIBUNZ SMALL MAC N CHEESE
$10 PPD

It’s brand new – I just lost the belly band tag for it.  Never used, never washed.

RUMPAROOZ ONE SIZE POCKET DIAPERS
All are in original packaging, snap closures, microfiber inserts
$19.00 each PPD

1-  Spring {green}
1- Crimson
1 – Amethyst {purple}
1 – Kangarooz
2 1 – Gumball

PLANET WISE WET BAGS
A matching set of “Bumble Dot”
1 small, 1 medium, 1 large with handle
$28 PPD

BUMGENIUS NEWBORN DIAPERS
Aplix closure, AIO
$10 Each PPD

1 – Albert
1 – Blossom {baby pink}

If you want a diaper, please email:
doablediapers @ gmail dot com. 
You need to tell me what you want, your full name & shipping address, and your PayPal email address.

The Rash is Back

Well...we went to the dermatologist and were given a third prescription cream to treat Nolan's rash.  The newest diagnosis is that he had a fungal/yeast rash which became inflamed.  So...the first two creams treated the yeast.  The new cream is to treat the inflammation/infection caused by the initial rash.  After three days we finally saw improvement in the rash.  After over a month of painful blisters and red, irritated skin, Nolan was almost back to normal.

 

The dermatologist cleared me to return to cloth diapers.  As soon as I finished up the disposable diapers which I had been using, I started back with cloth.  All of my diapers have been disinfected multiple times with tea tree oil and grapefruit seed extract.  They have been dried in the sun.  They should be good to go...right?

 

Nope.  Well...that is...I'm not sure what the problem is.  But we have splotchy bright red skin, again.  This is definitely getting a little old.  We are visiting my in-laws right now, so my MIL went and purchased another package of disposables.  When we get home I will resort to using bleach and the method prescribed by Kanga Care to disinfect my diapers.  Just to be sure.  I would feel terrible if I have brought the rash back to Nolan's skin because I wouldn't use bleach before.

 

Other factors which may have contributed to the new rash {which is definitely NOT fungal/bumpy as it was previously}:

• We spent Friday at the Chelsea Waterside Park in Manhattan.  Nolan was in and out of sprinklers, wading pools, and sand pits for over 3 hours.  He was wearing a cloth diaper {which got wet} for that period of time.
• A day at the pool on Saturday.  Because Nolan was in and out of the water a lot, I let him wear a cloth diaper {since I don't have any swimmies}.  Perhaps the prolonged wetness irritated his just-now-healing skin.

So, we are not over the hump yet.  We already had a follow-up appointment with the dermatologist scheduled for next week.  Hopefully things will be better before then!

Weekend Reading

Some helpful posts that I read this week…

:: Will Bleach Ruin My Cloth Diapers? By Cotton Babies
Snippet: With the vibrant colors that you love in our bumGenius and Flip cloth diapers, it's no surprise you would be concerned about using bleach. As long as you stick to our recommended 1/4 cup of bleach once a month, it will not harm the beautiful colors on your cloth diapers. So the short answer is "Yes, in moderation, bleach is safe for your bumGenius, Flip and Econobum cloth diapers. Both covers and inserts."

:: Demystifying Diaper Rash, part 1 and part 2 by Cheeky Bums.  Great posts to help you identify the cause and treatment of your baby’s diaper rash.

:: Unglued Mama Mornings, by {in}courage.  Just a great little devotional thought for those of you who struggle to be a morning person {like me!}.

:: How to make Calendula Salve, by Frugal Granola.  The instructions are the preview page to the book Herbal Nurturing: A Family Healing & Learning Guide.  This makes a great diaper rash cream.  I used coconut oil, calendula flowers, and then added some lavender essential oil and vitamin E oil to nourish and disinfect the skin.

Hope you have a great weekend and a safe holiday!

The Doable Details: bumGenius Freetime Diaper {review}

I don’t really like to change things up very often.  When I find something that works, I just stick with it.  FuzziBunz and Rumparooz have worked good for us.  I was hesitant about the bumGenius Freetime diaper when it was first released.

One of my objections to the Freetime is that it is an AIO {all-in-one} diaper.  I don’t have a dryer, and it usually takes a long time for AIO’s to hang dry.  I prefer my pockets and prefolds for this reason.  Additionally, with an AIO if one part of the diaper wears out, you probably have to junk the whole diaper.  Whereas with a pocket diaper, if the cover delaminates, you can still use the insert in a different pocked.  Or if the insert wears out, just buy a new one and continue to use the pocket.

But the Freetime diapers were all the rage, I decided to give them  a spin.  Besides…I really wanted to get my hands on one in a Sassy color!

Fast forward 3-4 months, and this is my favorite diaper.  I’m not kidding!  Now, I don’t think it would matter as much to me if I were diapering a girl.  But this diaper is hands down, the best thing I have found for diapering a boy! 

The Freetime is not a traditional AIO with several absorbent layers sewn into the core.  There are two inserts, each attached at one end of the diaper.  The inserts are then “free-flowing” and can be folded or doubled however you want them. Two sewn seams make it easy to fold and size the inserts.  So…you can double or triple the absorbency right in the front where your little boy needs it fastest, or simply double the layers in the bottom for a girl.

Each insert is microfiber topped with stay-dry fleece, making this a great AIO diaper because it locks the wetness away from baby’s bum. 

I expected the stitching at the inserts to pull away, rip, or tear, as has happened to me with other AIO/attached insert diapers.  This has not been the case, and we use these diapers A LOT!  It is hands down the first diaper I reach for to put in the diaper bag.  It is incredibly absorbent and if I get stuck while out and about and can’t change the diaper, I don’t have to worry about leaks.  It is easy to put on because it is AIO.  It’s also easy to clean when I get home.  I don’t have to stick my hand into a stale pocket diaper that’s been in the wet bag for 4-6 hours and remove the insert.  Just dump the contents in the diaper pail and I’m done.

    

My one complaint is that it’s a bit tricky to use a diaper sprayer on this diaper because of how the inserts are sewn to the diaper.  I found this method on the Cotton Babies blog to be very helpful.  As in, aha!  Why didn’t I think of that? kind of helpful.  But…I still don’t like this particular diaper if Nolan poops. 

I prefer snap closures, and I have always liked the stretchy butterfly tabs on bumGenius diapers.  The Freetime is no exception – the snaps and closures provide a great fit every time.  And because it’s one size, it will grow with my baby and then be used with the next {if there is one}.

So go ahead…try the Freetime diaper.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Back to the Drawing Board

Well, yesterday we headed back to the pediatrician because Nolan’s rash isn’t much better.  He’s been on a prescription cream for a fungal/yeast rash for two weeks without any improvement.  He has some new blisters too, and the doctor said they aren’t fungal, but she’s not sure what they are.

We are now using an antibiotic cream, and then zinc oxide as a barrier cream.  I selected the Aveeno diaper rash ointment this time because it has some natural oat complexes in it to help sooth the skin.  We have also been referred to a dermatologist to find out more about the cause of the rash.

This is Nolan feeding the goats…and himself…at the Central Park Zoo last week!

I really like my kids’ doctor.  She is knowledgeable and didn’t immediately say, “You need to throw out your cloth diapers and use disposable until Nolan is potty trained.”  She did inquire to make sure that we had disinfected them.  Though she asked if we used bleach, she said that the tea tree oil was a perfectly acceptable substitute. {I was glad to learn that my research results were correct}.

So while it seems as if I have killed the yeast in my diapers, the doctor asked me to switch to disposables until we get the rash cleared up and determine the cause for sure.

He is definitely in more pain now, and he runs away when I mentioned changing his diaper.  He doesn’t like to be wiped, or to get in the bath right now because of the rash.  Here’s to hoping we get it cleared up soon!

Eliminating Yeast the Natural Way: Grapefruit Seed Extract

The next natural method that I used to strip yeast out of my cloth diapers was grapefruit seed extract {GSE}.  I ordered a small bottle of it on Amazon for around $8.  I did the tea tree oil strip while I waited for the GSE to arrive.

On another post at All About Cloth Diapers, I found information originally posted at Eco Nuts {which I carried in the Doable Diapers store} recommended GSE as the only method to get rid of yeast. Eco Nuts claims that bleach kills yeast, but not yeast spores.

“Grapefruit Seed Extract: synthesized from the seeds and pulp of the grapefruit, it’s a very broad spectrum microbicide, bactericide, fungicide, antiparasitic, and anti-viral.  Grapefruit Seed Extract is the only natural way to kill yeast spores. It also kills staph, strep, salmonella, and e.coli.  It also kills herpes and influenza!

“GSE has been tested and found to be anywhere from 10 to 100 times more effective against these offending microorganisms than chlorine bleach, tea tree oil, colloidal silver, and iodine.

“For light laundry disinfecting: use 10-15 drops per load.

For heavy disinfecting (when dealing with something nasty or resistant): ½ to 1 teaspoon of GSE to each load of laundry. Wash and dry normally.”

I used the recommended 1/2 tsp. for “something nasty or resistant”.  With the GSE, I added it along with my detergent to a hot wash.  I also did an extra rinse cycle at the end, and then line dried my diapers in the sun.

I am hoping that one of these methods has eliminated the yeast from my diapers.  I will only be able to tell by whether or not the yeast rash returns.  I will update this post in a couple of weeks to let you know how we fared! 

When I had originally contacted Kanga Care regarding the yeast rash, I also wanted to know about disinfecting my Eco Posh trainers which Elaine wears to bed.  They go into the same diaper pail, so I was concerned about cross-contamination.  I found it interesting that for these recycled, and non-color fast cloth items, Kanga Care recommended GSE!  So there must be something to it, if it is recommended for items that cannot be bleached!  Here is what Rose from Kanga Care said:

• We recommend regular chlorine bleach for both your pockets and inserts.  For your Eco Posh, regular chlorine bleach will discolor the fabric, so you can follow this method:
• Run a medium water level load on warm water/warm rinse.  No detergent.  Add 1 teaspoon of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) at beginning of wash. After washer has filled and begins to agitate, stop the washer for 10 minutes and allow shells to soak in GSE water.  After 10 minutes start wash again and continue cycle as usual. 
• After wash, lay in the sun to dry.
• ***Please note, this routine is not recommended for frequent use on shells as excessive soaking and baking in the hot sun can damage elastics and other materials.
• NEXT FEW WASHES…
• ½ to 1 teaspoon of GSE to each load of laundry (with your regular, recommended, detergent.) Wash and dry (in dryer on low) normally.

Eliminating Yeast the Natural Way: Tea Tree Oil

As I mentioned on Friday, we have been battling a yeast rash.  After deciding to put off the bleaching of my diapers, I decided to try two other “natural” options first.

The first method was recommended by several bloggers.  They said to use tea tree oil in a cold wash cycle.  I had some tea tree oil on hand, for using in herbal remedies.  All About Cloth Diapers recommends 3-4 drops for a front loader, and 4-6 drops for a top loader. 

I used about 8 drops with my top loader water setting on high. I started with my normal wash cycle, so that I would be beginning with clean diapers. 

I did a cold rinse, turned the water level down to do a hot rinse with 2 Tbsp. of Tide, and then a cold rinse.  Now that my diapers were clean I added about 8 drops of tea tree oil to a short cold wash.  I followed the rinse with an additional rinse. 

My kids seem to have somewhat sensitive bums…tea tree or lavender essential oils in the wipe solution makes them break out.  I wanted to be sure to rinse completely.

Then I hung my diapers to dry in the sun for about 6 hours.  Now – my diapers get nice and clean with the Tide detergent.  But I couldn’t believe how much more white they were after this process.  I normally hang them to dry outside unless it is raining, so I am assuming this was the tea tree oil.

And…if I only used 8 drops in a top loader completely full of water, I think that there is no way you need 3-4 drops of this stuff in your wipe solution!  That is powerful tea tree oil!  No wonder my little guys bum doesn’t like it in the wipes!

I used this method in two different loads to be sure I had disinfected all of my diapers.  I am considering adding a tea tree wash cycle to my diaper routine once a month, just to keep them fresh and white!