{ Disclosure: I received a free diaper from SoftBums to review; all opinions are my own — full disclosure statement }
Although I haven’t talked about it, I have been cloth diapering with Graham just as I did with both Mia and Lincoln. Back when I first started cloth diapering in 2010, I wrote a whole slew of articles on it. This was mostly because I found it difficult to get my footing in the beginning and I wanted to help others who were intimidated by cloth. You can find those articles here.
Monday, April 22 is Earth Day; and it’s the perfect time to stop and think about how we can help protect our precious environment one small step at a time (because there are lots of little things we can do).
I have long been an advocate for green living, and over the years have found some products that are not only good for the environment, but end up saving me money, too.
So in honor of Earth Day, I thought I would share some of my favorite “green” products with you!
My little man wearing his Babyville Boutique diaper cover
A while back, I mentioned that JoAnn Fabrics was now carrying a line for DIY cloth diapers and I was super excited about them. I began cloth diapering with my first child around 3 months, and really wanted to start at birth with baby #2. But since babies only wear newborn diapers for 4-12 weeks (depending on the size of your child), I didn’t want to spend money on purchasing some newborn cloth diapers that would barely get worn. I figured I could save some money if I made my own and thought this might be the answer I was looking for.
I’ve had these on my to-do list for a loooong time, but since I have some leftover PUL fabric from making cloth diaper covers, I think it’s finally time to whip some out. This tutorial from Just Another Day in Paradise uses vinyl tablecloths, but either fabric would work. I prefer PUL because I can throw the bags in the wash machine for a quick cleanup when they get really messy. A quick handwash with soap and water will work too.
Fashion blogs focused on purchasing more vintage and thrifted clothing seem to be popping up everywhere these days. It’s definitely inspired me keep my eyes open at thrift stores and try to find some diamonds in the rough at a fraction of the cost of regular clothing stores. Although it can be a lot of work, it’s also extremely satisfying to walk away with something great at a discounted price.
Of course, shopping recycled clothing is a great way to save money, but did you know it’s also a huge help to the environment? I must admit, although I know the environmental benefits of recycling, I hadn’t really thought about it in terms of clothing until I read this post on my friend Shayna’s blog, Second Hand Challenge.
I woke up to a lovely surprise in my inbox this morning. JoAnn Fabrics has launched the Babyville Boutique on their website, which is full of adorable PUL fabrics for making waterproof diaper covers, cute snaps, fasteners, and elastics, and books and patterns for making cloth diapers.
I’ve read that potty training a cloth diapered child is easier; generally it’s because cloth diapers don’t pull the moisture away like disposable diapers, and as kids get older, they start to get uncomfortable with the wetness much quicker.
When I had my daughter and decided to use cloth diapers, I knew I also wanted to make a reusable pail liner instead of using trash bags (both to save money and to be more “green”). Most pail liners retail for anywhere from $15-30 online, but I knew I could make one cheaper by purchasing PUL (polyurethane laminate) at Jo-Ann Fabrics – especially if I used a coupon.
As you know, I try to recycle, reduce, and reuse as much as possible. Not only does it save money, but it creates a cleaner, safer environment for our kids and future generations to live in. I’m not super crazy when it comes to going green, but I think there are simple, practical ways that everybody can make small changes in their life.
This week, I was inspired by just a couple of ideas that I found on Pinterest. Check them out:
10. A travel-sized wetbag. This is a waterproof bag that can be washed. It will hold all your dirty diapers while you are out and about and usually does a really good job of containing the smell as well.
