Love Cloth Diapers? Love Surprises? Then You'll Love the Fluff Fairy! #flufffairy

Do you love cloth diapers? Do you love fluffy mail? Do you love surprises? Then you are going to love the newest helper over at Kelly's Closet! Let me introduce you to the Fluff Fairy! She is fairy who is full of cloth diaper goodness and fluffy surprises. She has come to create mystery packages each month and deliver them to your mailbox. Are you doing the happy mail day dance yet? Are you squealing with excitement? ..I am!

Each month the Fluff Fairy will package up a special surprise for you that includes one cloth diaper and up to 3 additional accessories. The Fluff Fairy will always make sure to package up one complete diaper combo- whether it is a cover with an insert, an AIO or a pocket diaper, you are sure to get everything you need to use that diaper on your little one. Inside your package from the Fluff Fairy, you will get from 1-3 accessories that include things like detergent samples, wipes, lotion, a teether, advocacy gear or some other fun cloth diapering accessory. The diaper and accessories will vary from month to month so you are always guaranteed to get something new and exciting to try out!     

Since the Fluff Fairy varies the contents of her packages each month, the price each month will also vary. July's Fluff Fairy package is only $26.99! Oh, and another little treat from the Fluff Fairy is that the cost of shipping is included in your package! Isn't she generous?! The Fluff Fairy takes great care when assembling your packages every month. She wants to make sure that you get the right colors (or prints) for your little girl or boy! When you go to place your Fluff Fairy order, you  get to select your color preference and/or closure preferences (if available). No need to worry that you might get a floral print for your bouncing baby boy! (Not that there's anything wrong with that, Michael's favorite color used to be pink) ;) 

The Fluff Fairy has created her packages to be like a monthly subscription, without the subscription and recurring payments. No more forgetting to cancel a subscription! You pick the months you want a Fluff Fairy delivery and only pay for those months! No hassle, no fuss, no muss - easy peasy!

Fluff Fairy packages are available for purchase July 8-15th and they will begin shipping the week of July 15th. There are limited quantities available each month, so what are you waiting for? Hurry on over to Kelly's Closet and snag your very own Fluff Fairy surprise! Order one for yourself or surprise a cloth diaper lovin' mama friend and order one for her! (Can you just imagine the glee?!?)

*It should also be noted that: Fluff Fairy packages may not be combined with any coupons or special promotions (unless otherwise noted) and may not be cancelled or returned.  Diaper Dollar reward points will be earned on your Fluff Fairy purchases.*   

*This post does contain affiliate links. By clicking through them and making a purchase, you are helping to support The Little Hedgehog. Thank you!*

Sprout Organics Toddler Snacks Review & Giveaway! #SproutFoods

#spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Sprout Foods. This could include the Sprout Foods providing us w/ content, product, access or other forms of payment. Check out the new Sprout Foods website at www.sproutorganicfoods.com.

Little Michael loves snacks! If he could eat snacks all day, I think he would. Breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, late afternoon snack, dinner...and then we start all over the next day! He may be part hobbit, I'm not sure yet. Elevenses anyone? I try my hardest to make all of Michael's meals from scratch and include as many organic ingredients as possible. I enjoy cooking and preparing meals. Making things helps me limit Michael's sugar intake and chemical intake (from pesticides in non-organic foods). I try to make him meals that are nutritious, healthy and fun. Sometimes though, I just don't have the time to make every snack from scratch. One way that I like to sneak in some fun "treats" and "surprises" is through organic, pre-made snacks. Sometimes Michael will get his "surprise" at lunchtime and sometimes I squirrel them away in my diaper bag to pull them out at just the right moment...like when we are running errands, at the beach or pool, on a road trip or at the doctor's office.

I have found a great snack for when we are on-the-go! It is healthy and organic too! When we are out running errands, I am guaranteed to hear, "Mama, I'm hungry!" from the backseat. :) I like to be prepared for such moments and have something to keep my little guy happy. Sprout Foods has created the perfect toddler snacks with their Yogurt Bites and Fruit & Veggie Crispy Chews! The snack bags are just the right size to tuck into my diaper bag and the snacks on the inside are the perfect portion for little Michael. They are easy for me to open up and hand to Michael, whether he is in the backseat or sitting in a shopping cart. The snacks are the perfect size for little hands too! I love the organic fruit and veggie combos that Sprout Foods has created and Michael loves the sweet treats! Just because we are out and about is no reason why Michael can't still have a healthy, good-for-you snack...oh and it's also a plus that they taste great too! I am so happy that I have a new go-to snack in the Sprout Foods line!

Sprout Foods generously send us a goodie box that was full of Fruity Yogurt Bites and Fruit & Veggie Crispy Chews for little Michael to try!

There were 8 Fruity Yogurt Bites (2 of each flavor):

• Banana Pumpkin Yogurt with Real Banana Pieces
• Orange Carrot Yogurt with Real Mango Pieces
• Raspberry Yogurt with Real Mango Pieces
• Strawberry Carrot Yogurt with Real Banana Pieces

and 8 of the Fruit & Veggie Crispy Chews (2 of each flavor)

•  Orange Fruit & Carrot
• Purple Berry & Carrot
• Red Berry & Beet
• Tropical Fruit & Pumpkin 

 Don't they all sound yummy?! I love that the flavor combinations are so unique! Michael's favorites were the Fruit & Veggie Crispy Chews. I think that they are like a thick fruit leather with crispy brown rice that gives it a nice crunch. To Michael, they are like candy! His favorites were Red Berry & Beet and Purple Berry & Carrot! The Fruity Yogurt Bites are crunchy and the dried yogurt makes it possible to take this snack out with us, even when it is 100 degrees outside! Michael's favorite was the Raspberry Yogurt with Real Mango Pieces.
  

The "...mission at Sprout is to create organic products for babies and toddlers that taste great - because a love of healthy foods can last a lifetime!" Sprout has created a a line of baby and toddler foods and snacks that feature organically-grown vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins. While Michael is really good at eating fruits and veggies (or at least giving them a try before he makes his finally assessment), sometimes it is nice to pull a snack out of the cupboard and not have to worry about slicing, dicing or scooping. Just tear it open and eat! As a parent, it is nice to not have to worry about artificial ingredients too!

BUY IT

You can shop for these great Sprout Foods products online at Diapers.com and Amazon or you can find a local retailer that carries them. Right now, you can save $1.00 if you shop through Amazon! Check out the coupon below!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader will receive a Sprout Organic Foods sample pack, featuring the NEW toddler snacks - all four flavors of the Fruity Yogurt Bites and all four flavors of the Fruit & Veggie Crispy Chews. 8 snacks total!

***Giveaway is open to the US only. Entrants must be 18+ years old. One entry per household. The winner has 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.***  

Giveaway will end July 13th. 

Entries go in the Rafflecopter form below! Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was provided the opportunity to host this giveaway at no cost to myself. I received the above mentioned product(s) in exchange for this review. This has not influenced my opinion of the product. I have sought to give my honest opinions and experiences on this product. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

Made in the USA Giveaway Hop! {July 4-13} #MadeInTheUSA

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Made in the USA Giveaway Hop, hosted by Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project together with the Green Moms Network! We are excited to bring you awesome prizes that are Made in the USA and valued at $25+ to help you celebrate Independence Day! After entering my giveaway, be sure to visit the other blogs listed under the Rafflecopter form for your chance to win more great giveaways.

I am excited to be partnering with Well Rounded Baby for this giveaway hop! Brittany at Well Rounded Baby gave me the chance to review a cloth diaper that they sell in their shop! I chose to review the Best Bottom system that is made in the USA. I had initially wanted to review the Hedgehog print in snaps, but it sold out so quickly from their shop! So Brittany sent me the cover in Vanilla with snaps and a Large insert, so that I could do a review. She was so sweet and generous to also offer to send me the Hedgehog print as well as soon as it was back in stock in their shop! (Look for another blog post showcasing little Riley wearing the Hedgehog print Best Bottom cover once I get it!) You can read my full review of the Vanilla cover HERE.

Well Rounded Baby was started by Brittany and her husband James. Well Rounded Baby initially opened as a boutique in Las Vegas and as business grew, they expanded and opened the online store!

Well Rounded Baby is a wonderful shop that offers cloth diapers, cloth diapering extras, mama gear, carriers and products for wellness. At Well Rounded Baby, their goals "...is to be able to serve and help more families as they navigate the path of cloth diapering, babywearing, and living greener. We are here to make things easy...  – we would love to help! " One of my favorite design features of the online store is how the diapers are organized! Not sure where to start? Just check out the "Easy Peasy" section. Looking for something simple, then check out the "Back to the Basics" section. Wanting to try out an All-In-Two diaper or a Hybrid diaper? Then you can "Get With the System"! (haha) I just love it when shops can be creative and helpful at the same time! Well Rounded Baby also supports companies that make their products in the US. They have a great selection of diapers and other products that are made right here in the US! They carry brands like Best Bottom diapers, Blueberry/Swaddlebees diapers, Hemp Babies, Rockin' Green, Planetwise, and more!

At Well Rounded Baby, they want cloth diapering, baby wearing and natural parenting to be fun and successful. They happily offer phone and email support for all of our customers! So, if you have a problem or a question, you can stop by the store (if you are a local), visit their Facebook page, call the store or email for help and answers. And, if you happen to be in Las Vegas, make sure you stop by their retail store - Brittany and James would love to meet you!

We want you to be successful in cloth diapering and baby wearing so we offer continued phone and email support for all of our customers. This means if you have a problem, any kind of problem, you can stop by, phone, or email us for assistance and answers. - See more at: http://www.wellroundedbaby.com/pages/las-vegas-cloth-diaper-store#sthash.i2LWFdhw.dpuf

BUY IT

You can shop online at Well Rounded Baby for Best Bottom diaper covers, another item Made in the US or whatever else you little heart desires! I would definitely recommend keeping an eye out for a Best Bottom diaper restocking at Well Rounded Baby! They go fast, so make sure you snap up your favorite color or print before they are sold out again!

GIVEAWAY

Well Rounded Baby wants to celebrate Independence Day with us and they have sponsored the prize package for the Made in the USA Giveaway Hop on The Little Hedgehog. Brittany has generously offered one of my readers the chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate to Well Rounded Baby!

***Giveaway is open to the US only. Entrants must be 18+ years old. One entry per household. The winner has 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.***  

Giveaway will end July 13th. 

Entries go in the Rafflecopter form below! Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

This contest will run through July 13, 2013 at 9:00 pm PST (July 14, 2013 at 12:00 am EST). The winner will be chosen the following day and announced on The Little Hedgehog. No purchase necessary. US entries only. Must be 18 years or older to win.The sponsors provided me with free samples of these products to review, and I was under no obligation to review them if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to The Little Hedgehog and not to Facebook. Please note that The Little Hedgehog, Happy Mothering, the Green Moms Network and the Made in the USA event bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. We will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify the blog you won a prize from within 4-6 weeks for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you.

Thinc Skin SUN! Natural SunScreen Review & Sponsor Spotlight! #CelebrateSummer

Summer is here! I love summertime - the warm (ok, hot) days, trips to the beach, the farmer's market, the pool, the splash pad, picnics outside and so many more adventures fill our days! With any trip outside the house, I like to be prepared for whatever the weather will throw our way! I always keep a spare set of clothes for each boy in the car, extra shoes for Michael, plenty of extra diapers and wipes for diaper changes, burp rags, a baby carrier, etc. Once summertime hits, I like to add some "extras" to our stash in the car for spontanteous adventures or for days when we end up being outdoors longer than expected. I like to keep hats, pool towels, swim diapers and swim trunks for the boys, sunglasses and sunscreen easily accessible in the backseat of the car. I actually keep sunscreen tucked in one of the outer diaper bag pockets, because you never know when you'll be outside longer than expected! Both boys have fair skin and I don't want any baby or toddler sunburns!

When I look for sunscreen to use on our family, I look for all-natural sunscreens that keep the toxic chemicals out of the ingredients. I want sunscreen that I can feel good about and that I know will be a safe choice. Ingredients are key, so, how do ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, sesame seed oil, coconut & macadamia nut oil and a sun safe essential oil blend sound? Well these are some of the healthy, good for you ingredients in the "go-to" sunscreen that has a permanent spot in my diaper bag this summer!

This summer we are staying safe in the sun with Thinc Skin's Balm Baby! SUN! Natural SunScreen. Our wonderful sponsor for the Celebrate Summer event, Kissed by the Moon, was so kind to send me a 2oz. jar for review.

Kissed by the Moon is a family run cloth diaper and natural parenting store where you can find all kinds of cloth diapers for every budget, cloth diapering accessories, detergent, wetbags, baby carriers and so much more! "Kissed by the Moon was created out of a passion for cloth diapering and environmentally-friendly living" and everything in their store reflects that.Their goal is to make cloth diapering fun and they are always happy to help you and answer any questions you might have!

I was thrilled when Kissed by the Moon wanted to send me Balm Baby! SUN! sunscreen! This is an awesome sunscreen that is perfect for your little ones skin (or for adult skin), whether you are playing in the sun, splashing in a pool or having fun at the beach. The Balm! SUN! Sunscreen is full of organic and natural ingredients, it is made in Hawaii and has a waterproof 30 SPF.

Here is the full ingredient list:

• Extra Virgin olive oil
• non-nano 25% zinc oxide
• sesame seed oil
• candelilla wax
• coconut & macadamia nut oil
• vitamin e T-50
• sun safe essential oil blend.

I really appreciate that the ingredient list is short and full of natural, easy to pronounce goodness! The ingredients make it gentle enough for skin and lips too! Since there is zinc in the sunscreen, it can also do double duty as diaper rash cream, because the zinc makes a waterproof barrier. (just make sure to use a liner if you are using cloth diapers!)

The essential oil blend smells so fresh too! It has a light, natural and citrus-y scent to it that I just love. The sunscreen is very white and I was worried that it would leave the boys looking like vampires. I was pleasantly surprised that once it was thoroughly rubbed in, the "whiteness" disappears and blends in nicely. It also rubs in pretty quickly, which is nice when you are dealing with a squirmy baby who has no interest in being slathered with sunscreen! Once rubbed in, it does leave hair looking a little greasy, but it's not too bad. Another plus is that with all of the healthy oils in it, skin is nice and moisturized afterwards.

You can see that the top of Riley's hairline looks a little greasy. But, no white-ness from the sunscreen! It rubbed in so well!

Legs are covered in The Balm! SUN! sunscreen. Perfect way to keep little legs safe from the sun while babywearing.

This is a very easy sunscreen to use and since it is waterproof, you really only need to apply it 1-2 times when you are outside. I am happy to say that after using it on two trips to the beach already, both boys have remained sunburn free! It is so nice to have an easy to use sunscreen that I can feel good about (It got an EWG rating of 2!). Overall, I highly recommend The Balm! SUN! sunscreen and I am looking forward to using on my family throughout the summer!

CONNECT

You can connect with Kissed by the Moon via Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

 

BUY IT

 

You can buy Thinc Skin SUN! Natural SunScreen for $9.99 (along with other summertime and cloth diapering goodies) HERE from Kissed by the Moon.

WIN IT 

Enter to win a 2oz. jar of Thinc Skin SUN! Natural SunScreen and a 2 pack of Clean Sypria dryer balls from Kissed by the Moon as part of my Summer Celebration giveaway package! 

You can enter HERE

*Some of the above links are affiliate links.*

I was provided the opportunity to host this giveaway at no cost to myself. In exchange for this post, I received a the above mentioned product. This has not influenced my opinion of the product. I have sought to give my honest opinions and experiences on this product. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

Summer Celebratio​n Giveaway Hop! #CelebrateSummer

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Summer Celebration Giveaway Hop, hosted by Happy Mothering and The Vagabond Studio along with the Green Moms Network! We are excited to bring you eco-friendly prizes valued at $25+ to help you celebrate the start of Summer!. After entering my giveaway, be sure to visit the other blogs listed under the Rafflecopter form for your chance to win more great giveaways.


Kissed by the Moon gave me the chance to review BALM! Baby - SUN! Natural SunScreen by Thinc Skin (Taylor House Skin). You can read my full review HERE.



Kissed by the Moon is a wonderful online shop that is just packed to the brim with natural goodies for summer, cloth diapers for your little ones bum, accessories, baby carriers and more.

Kissed By The Moon wants to celebrate summer with us and they have sponsored the prize package for the Summer Celebration Giveaway Hop on The Little Hedgehog. They have graciously offered one of my readers the chance to win a 2oz. jar of Thinc Skin SUN! Natural SunScreen and a 2 pack of Clean Sypria dryer balls! Sunscreen is definitely a summer "must have" and this natural sunscreen will keep you sunburn free and keep icky chemicals off of your skin! Dryer balls are a wonderful way to "green" your laundry routine and they are a wonderful way to soften up your laundry while making your dryer time shorter. Or, take advantage of the summer sun and line dry your clothes and diapers, then toss them in the dryer with some dryer balls for about 15 minutes on low to take the sun-baked stiffness out of your laundry! (That's what I do!)

BUY IT

You can shop at Kissed by the Moon for Thinc Skin SUN! Natural SunScreen and a 2 pack of Clean Sypria dryer balls or whatever else you little heart desires!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader will receive a 2oz. jar of Thinc Skin SUN! Natural SunScreen and a 2 pack of Clean Sypria dryer balls from Kissed by the Moon. ($25 value)

***Giveaway is open to the US only. Entrants must be 18+ years old. One entry per household. The winner has 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.***  

Giveaway will end June 30th. 

Entries go in the Rafflecopter form below! Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Some links are affiliate links* This contest will run through June 30, 2013 at 9:00 pm PST (July 1, 2013 at 12:00 am EST). The winner will be chosen the following day and announced on The Little Hedgehog. No purchase necessary. US entries only. Must be 18 years or older to win.The sponsors provided me with free samples of these products to review, and I was under no obligation to review them if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to The Little Hedgehog and not to Facebook. Please note that The Little Hedgehog, Happy Mothering, the Green Moms Network and the Summer Celebration event bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. We will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify the blog you won a prize from within 4-6 weeks for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you.

6 Months!

Riley is 6 months old!!! Say what?!? (He turned 6 months old on 5/27, so he is 6 1/2 months old now) I absolutely cannot believe that Riley is 6 months old already. Half of a year has completely flown by! I know every parent says that...but it is so true! 

 

Ahhh...he is growing so fast! He went from being all wobbly when I would sit him up to being sturdy and secure and staying upright chewing and teething on toys for longer and longer each day. He loves standing in his bouncer and bouncing away. He loves watching his brother run around and sometimes I think he wants to get out of the bouncer to run around with him. Michael can make him laugh...oh noy, can he make Riley laugh! Whether Michael is squealing at Riley, singing to him, blowing raspberries on his belly or shushing him, it's pretty safe to say Riley will be laughing. Riley really lights up when he sees Michael. I have been blessed with two happy, silly, smiley, loving boys!

Riley has really started talking more. It's like he's having conversation sometimes! He's busting out with some serious "Gwa, Gwa's", "Goo, Goo's", "Buah, Buah Da Da's" Sometimes he looks like he's focusing so hard and trying to truly say something. He is also seriously busting out some teeth! We've got two bottom teeth that have popped up through the gums. Poor baby! All-in-all, Riley is such a happy little guy and almost always has a smile ready. Even when he wakes up, he is (usually) all smiles!

We are entering the great, wide world of food with Riley. I truly thought that we would wait until he was at least 9 months before we gave him any food, but every time we ate he would reach out and grab at our food. It became harder and harder to keep food away from him. One night, when my parents were visiting, we were all sitting at the dinner table and Riley was on my lap. He was getting madder and madder and more and more frustrated. Finally, my mom asked why I didn't just see what he thought of some avocado. We mashed up some avocado with a fork, put it on a spoon and handed it to him. Well, he must have really been watching us, because he grabbed the spoon, studied it, focused on it and stuck the spoon in his mouth right away!

6 months is a huge milestone for me with breastfeeding! I am so, so, so thankful that Riley is still nursing! It is such a wonderful bond, I love it and love that we are still going strong!

What a sweetheart you are Riley! What a joy and a blessing! You are my sunshine and I love you!

Fun in the Sun: Summer Cloth Diaper Must-Haves (Kelly's Closet Giveaway)

Summertime is here! The weather where I'm at in Southern California has been hovering around 80-90+ degrees. It's just perfect for going to the pool, beach or splash pad. In our housing community, we have two pools and a splash pad at the local park, plus, we can hop in the car and drive about an hour and be at the beach. We have so many options nearby to be outside, in the sun and in the water! During the summer, I make a point of always having a pool/beach bag packed with fresh supplies. What are my summer cloth diapering "must-haves"? Here's a peek at what I keep stocked in our pool and beach bag:

Swim Diapers

I love, love, love swim reusable swim diapers. It is so nice to be able to wash and reuse them! No worrying about running out of disposables or having to spend money on multiple packs of swim diapers. Just grab them and go! I love the Bummis Swimmi Diaper with it's velcro closure. I can always get a snug fit and I don't have to try to wrestle a wet swim diaper off! I have two, that way I have a spare, just in case!  

UV Swim Shirts

These are a great way to help protect your little ones skin, without having to spend the extra time to slather sunscreen over a wiggly chest. Also, with a Swim Shirt or Tankini, you don't have to worry about water washing away the UV protection (like with sunscreen). I love the fun, bright colors of the Bummis Sun Line UV-Tee and it has a Ultraviolet Protection Factor rating of 50!

Swim Hat

Little Riley has fine, thin hair and a Swim Hat is the perfect way to keep his little head shaded from the suns rays. The Bummis Sun Line Sun Cap matches their swim diapers and is also has a Ultraviolet Protection Factor rating of 50 for some serious sun protection!

Sunglasses

This is the perfect way to add some style to an outfit and keep eyes protected from the sun bouncing off the water and sand. You can even match your little ones sunglasses to their swimsuit!

Sunscreen

Definitely a must-have to protect new baby skin (and adult skin too) safe from sunburns. I really love using Episencial Sunny Sunscreen. It has SPF 35 and UVA+B protection, it is made with natural and organic ingredients, it is gentle and goes on easily. It is perfect for our whole family! I actually keep sunscreen in my pool/beach bag and my diaper bag during the summer. You just never know when you'll end up needing it! We use sunscreen when we are at the pool or beach, at the farmer's market, the zoo or any time we end up being outside for awhile. Sunburns are not cute!

 `

I also keep a few towels with my pool/beach bag and before we head out, I make sure to fill up our reusable water bottles and grab some fruit and snacks in our reusable snack bags.

What are your summer must-haves?

BUY

Are you ready for summer fun? Do you have your beach or pool bag ready and waiting? Or do you still need to do some shopping for those summertime essentials? You can buy any of the items that I mentioned above (and so much more!) at Kelly's Closet. You can also use the promo code: SUNANDFUN to save $5 off your purchase of $25 or more!

GIVEAWAY

Kelly's Closet is also hosting a giveaway! You can enter to win a $100 Kelly's Closet gift certificate below!

***Giveaway is open to the US only. Giveaway will end June 30th.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This post contains affiliate links. Sales resulting from shopping through these links will benefit The Little Hedgehog. I seek to only recommend sites that I also enjoy shopping from. Thank you for helping to support The Little Hedgehog. I was compensated for this post, however, all opinions are 100% my own. *

What did I learn/ How did it go? - Day 7 #FlatsChallenge

I'm participating in this years Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry and today is the last day! Today's topic is: What did I learn/ How did it go?  Do I think others could do this and how could they make it work?

What Did I Learn?

Even though I had previously taken the Flats and Handwashing Challenge with Michael, I still learned some things this time around with Riley. I was worried that doing the handwashing with having Michael wanting to "help" wash dirty diapers. Since I decided to wash by hand in the tub, rather than using a camper style washer or some other contained washer, I didn't want to worry about Michael getting poop on his hands or getting in with the soapy, dirty water. But, I found that even washing with Michael in the bathroom with me and Riley in the bouncer next to the tub, I was able to wash and rinse out the diapers with no problems! Michael had a blast talking to me about the diapers and what I was doing. While he did want to help out, I just explained that since they were dirty diapers, I was going to do the washing and he could help me hang them on the clothes line. Riley did great and was happy as a lark to bounce in his bouncer, chewing on a teether and having mama and Michael talking. 

I also learned two new folds - the Jo Fold and the Diaperbag Fold. I really like the Diaperbag fold and have been finding myself "prefolding" my flats into a Diaperbag fold to use later. I already had a love for covers, but I have truly found a love for flats. I like the folding, I think that it is fun and actually, fairly relaxing. For me, there is a sense of accomplishment after I use one of the folds and then secure it on Riley.

I also found that flats can work overnight. Now, I did have 2 nights with leaks. One night was because I didn't get the cover snug enough around Riley's leg and the other night...I'm not sure. Overall though, 2 leaks isn't bad.  

How Did It Go?

I did it! Seven days without using a washing machine or a dryer on my diapers! I feel really good about doing it. It was a nice change of pace to not have to use my washer and dryer for loads of laundry. It was lovely to hang my diapers outside in the fresh air and sunshine. It felt good to re-learn some of the flat folds - like I was helping to preserve part of the history of diapers. 

I really like using flats and covers - it is such a simple, no fuss diapering system. There is also great flexibility on sizing and absorbancy. All-in-all, it went better than I thought it would. Mainly, I was worried about the poop and traveling with flats. It turns out, I didn't need to worry so much. With the poop, I quickly became very thankful for my diaper sprayer! It was so nice to be able to spray the poop right into the toilet. I think that exclusively breastfeeding helped, since it is water soluble. So, while the poop wasn't fun (is it ever?) it was manageable and much easier to deal with than I thought. 

Traveling with flats was actually just as easy as traveling with my regular rotation of diapers. I took a wetbag and put a few flats in it, some wipes, a spare cover and an extra wetbag for dirty diapers and I was ready to go! We were out for a whole day  at a zoo and I din't have any trouble changing Riley in the bathrooms! Totally doable! 

The only issue that I really had was with the handwashing. The first two days I did great - I washed a load every time I had 3-4 dirty flats and it was easy peasy. Then, I got busy (and a little "blah") about handwashing and things piled up. I really wasn't looking forward to washing a days worth of diapers at once! So, keeping up on the handwashing got a little overwhelming. I am definitely looking forward to using my washing machine again, because, it is so easy to put my diapers in, set it to wash and then walk away to forget about it. No swishing, scrubbing, swishing, dunking or wringing out.

Do I think others could do this and how could they make it work?

I definitely think that others could do this! Using flats and handwashing could work for a family and I don't think that it needs to be as overwhelming as you may think. I completely understand that not everyone wants to do this. But there are plenty of reasons to learn how to use flats and handwash. You could use flats and handwash diapers and clothes when you go camping, if there was a power outage, you don't have a washer or dryer or you can't afford disposables. 

Flat diapers are an inexpensive way to diaper your baby. Handwashing isn't always easy or convenient, but it is easy to do. All you need is a bucket or tub, water and detergent. Line drying is completely doable and you don't even need a full clothes line. I used a portable clothesline and it was super easy to take it in and out of the house to put my diapers outside in the sun. The clothes line folded flat and tucks away next to our fride and is out of the way when not in use. You don't need anything fancy or expensive to diaper a baby!

Would I want to handwash my diapers every day? No. I am thankful that I don't have to. But, if push came to shove and we couldn't afford diapers, especially the re-occurring cost of disposables, I would handwash diapers every single day rather than worry about my baby not having a clean diaper. I hope that challenges like this can help to open peoples eyes to the struggles that some face, as well as the re-usable options that cloth diapers provide. I absolutely love re-using Michaels cloth diapers with Riley. It is such a savings to not have to go out and buy diapers every week!

A Flats Fold Tutorial - Day 6 #FlatsChallenge

I'm participating in this years Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry and today is an open topic day.

Over the past few days, I have gotten pretty comfortable with the same folds and have used them over and over. I have been using the Origami Fold, the Jo Fold and the Pad Fold. These few folds have become like clockwork to me. Before the challenge is over though, I really wanted to try something new. So, today I practiced with the Diaperbag Fold!

Diaperbag Fold Tutorial:

1. Spread your flat out.

2. Fold in the sides toward the middle.

3. Take the front and fold it up toward the middle.

4. Take one side by the corner and fold it toward the middle.

5. Take the other side and fold it toward the middle and overlap it onto your previous fold.

6. Fan out the back.

7. Fold down the back.

8. Take the front and fold it up.

9. Cross the tabs over and it's ready and waiting to go on your baby! You can either use Snappi's, a Boingo or pins to secure it.

Here's the Diaperbag Fold on little Riley!

He looks like a little Sumo Wrestler! Hehe :)

So far, I am really liking this fold. It still takes me a little to get it just right. I do like that I can "pre-fold" it and have it ready to go. It is a pretty absorbent fold too and is a nice, snug fit around little Riley's leg.

*I originally learned about this fold on Dirty Diaper Laundry*

Do you have a favorite flat fold? Anything new you've tried during the Flats and Handwashing Challenge?

What's Working for Me? -Day 5 #FlatsChallenge

I'm participating in this years Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry and today's topic is, What's Working for Me.

I am actually surprised at how quickly 5 days has gone by! In thinking about these past 5 days and what has worked for me, I have also had the opportunity to think about what hasn't worked as well for me.

So, what has been working for me? Flats! I have found a real appreciation for the simplicity of flats. I am loving how hard working flats are. I also am loving the 100% cotton flats and the bamboo and hemp blends (rather than synthetic materials) and am finding myself truly surprised at how absorbent they are. I haven't had any leaks during the day! I have mostly used the origami fold, jo fold and the pad fold. I have yet to try the diaper bag fold with little Riley. I really like the versatility of folds- you can do something easy, like the pad fold or you can get fun with your folds! I have used covers with Riley since he was born and only recently added pockets to his diaper rotation (not during this challenge, of course!). I have enjoyed using flats so much, that I have actually been toying with the idea of selling a good majority of my pocket diaper stash. *gasp!*

I also really love hanging my diapers outside. I definitely think that this is something I will keep doing after the challenge is over. Not only is it better for our energy consumption, but it brightens laundry and makes it smell super fresh! So, overall, the Flats Challenge is working pretty well for me. It's working well enough that I will definitely keep on diapering with flats and hanging my diapers outside.

On the flip side, there are some things that aren't working so well for me. Mainly, it's the washing part. It's not that I can't wash diapers by hand, it's more of a time thing. I was doing just fine the first few days when I would wash the diapers every time I had 3-4 dirty diapers. But then, I slacked a bit and let the diapers from the day pile up in the bucket. I had too many to wash in my little bucket, so I had to fill up the tub. It was much more time consuming and it just took the enjoyment out of handwashing. It's definitely best to stay on top of washing diapers, because once it goes for too long, it is overwhelming and then I just don't look forward to the washing.

The other thing that hasn't been working quite as well as I would have hope for has been night time diapering. Little Riley has woken up wet one morning and damp another. The other mornings he has been dry, so it's been about 50/50 for waking up dry. I'm still working on it though!  

So, there are some pros so far and some cons, but overall, it has been easier than I thought and I have found a new appreciation for the simplicity of flat diapers and line drying really appeals to me.

Are you taking the Flats and Handwashing Challenge? What's working for you? Anything not working for you?