Fluffy Goodness and More at Mama's Emporium {Rump-a-rooz Cloth Diapers}

When I make purchases I try to stay aware of local businesses. While it isn't essential that every purchase I make be local, I love to try and give back to the community. Especially when local means a WAHM.

WAHM = Work at Home Mom... like me!

And while the most recent WAHM I've been working with isn't in So Cal, she has a fabulous online presence with a great selection of products made in the USA. You might remember my post about my daughter's new fabulous nail polish?

Well, Mama's Emporium sells more than just nail polish as I mentioned before. They also sell fabulous fluff. And the fluff below is made in the USA!

I received this gorgeous Rump-a-rooz diaper in the mail a few weeks ago and boy have we had fun testing it out! Not only is this pattern to die for, the diaper also works very well.

Absorbency and Options
What I loved about the diaper as soon as I opened it was the fact that there were many different options for stuffing the diaper. And I was lucky enough to receive not only a microfiber insert, but a hemp insert as well. And we all know how I love hemp!

As I said, Rump-a-rooz gives you options when it comes to inserts:

• Rumparooz MicroFiber 6r Soaker Set-
• Rumparooz Bamboo 6r Soaker Set
• Rumparooz Hemp 6r Soaker Set

Each insert comes with 5 layers! 3 layers are Newborn/Booster and 2 layers are contoured. That means a LOT of added protection in these inserts. And added protection means no leaking!

What I love about the hemp inserts is that because they're so absorbent, I can use this Rump-a-rooz as a nighttime diaper for my daughter. Since she isn't a heavy wetter like my son, this diaper is more than enough for her night time needs.

Contoured and Snug Fit
Another fabulous feature of this diaper is the fact that it's double gusseted in the legs. That means that I don't have to worry about leaks of any kind. There's even an extra gusset at the back of the diaper as well in case anything moves upwards while my daughter is sitting (if you know what I mean).

The Rump-a-rooz one size pocket diaper is also meant to be used throughout each stage in your child's life. From newborn to toddler, this diaper can be snapped down or up to fit perfectly every time.

Since my daughter is petite, I have been using aplix closures on her diapers but recently she started to take her diapers off due to the ease of lifting the aplix tab. So I've had to turn to snap closures instead and that can sometimes be difficult to allow a tight fit for her little waist.

But with the options I have to snap this Rump-a-rooz in place, I have no problem creating the perfect, snug fit every time we put this diaper on her. Its as if this diaper was made to fit her body.

Stylish and Classy
My daughter's gorgeous Lux print is just one of the many options of patterns and colors that Rump-a-rooz is available in. I had such a hard time picking out a pattern that would be perfect for my girl but as soon as I saw this pretty pink diaper, I was in love. And so was my daughter!

As soon as I put the diaper on her, she grabbed her pearls and her nail polish and headed outside so I could take a few photos. Of course we only got a few of her actually looking at me. The rest of the time she was playing with her car and water table. And she sure looked fabulous!

Rump-a-rooz also includes solid prints as well such as Rootbeer brown, Amethyst purple, Tulip pink, Crimson red, and many more. For a full page of all of the patterns and colors available check out Mama's Emporium's website.

Interested in cloth diapering but aren't quite sure where to start? 

Rump-a-rooz would be a great diaper to have on hand for an easy transition to cloth diapering. We love this diaper for night time use and as an emergency diaper in the diaper bag since it's simple and easy to use while out and about.

For more information about Mama's Emporium, head on over and check out their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter. There are always awesome sales, contests, and new product information announced!

The Simmworks Family Blog will be participating in the upcoming Green Family Giveaway starting September 15th. Find the perfect green items for your family and much much more!


I am pleased to announce that Mama's Emporium will be including a $25 gift card towards any purchase in their store for one lucky winner on the Simmworks Family Blog. So remember to head back and enter to win!



Disclaimer: I received a Rumparooz diaper for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Super Undies - Our Nighttime Saving Grace {Potty Training}

When I began our potty training adventures this second time around, the one thing I worried about was staying dry at night. My son was very good about staying dry when he was younger. In fact, after 18 months he would wake up with a dry diaper 5 out of 7 nights. Sometimes even more.

When we potty trained the first time we had no issues. He stayed dry all night and woke up from naps sweaty but again, no accidents.

But since he had worn Pull Ups at night and during naptime after his regression, we needed to figure out a solution to getting him back on track in controlling his need to go when he was in a deep sleep. Our solution to our night-time dilemma was Super Undies!

What are Super Undies?

Like cloth diapers, Super Undies have an inner layer of microfiber cloth to allow for little accidents to be absorbed and not get the sheets and clothes wet. If extra protection is needed, Super Undies also has a removable insert to place inside the trainers like a pocket diaper.

There are two types of daytime use Super Undies, the Pull On Potty Training Pants and the Pocket  Potty Training Pants. To learn more about the differences of the two watch each of the videos shown on the website (links above).

For most people, Super Undies are the perfect green solution to potty training pants. Instead of going for the disposable trainers, you would simply purchase a set of Super Undies to use until your little one got the hang of holding it in and waiting to get to the toilet.

They are super easy to pull up and down, just like underwear, but don't have as much bulk as a cloth diaper. They're also a heck of a lot more stylish than the plastic pants I've been handed down by relatives.

And they're simple and easy to wash. Since these aren't diapers and aren't meant to hold in a lot of urine, they can be washed in what you wash your undies with. I simply throw our Super Undies in with the darks or the towels... whichever needs to be done first.

Super Undies come in a variety of colors. I had my son help pick out the color of his and got him involved in knowing exactly what they were for and how they were just for emergencies. 

Nighttime Potty Training Solution

Since we already have daytime potty training covered, and have continued to use underwear, the only time we needed a little extra reassurance is night time when my son occasionally still has an accident when he either wakes up too late or doesn't make it to the bathroom in time in the morning and has an accident on the carpet outside of the bathroom (or next to his bed).

For the first two months after he was trained we had him wear his Super Undies to bed for an added sense of reassurance. He felt better because he knew that even if he didn't make it in time, he wouldn't make a mess everywhere. And we were happy because we don't have to change his sheets as often.

Because the Super Undies have a removable insert, you can decide whether or not to add in more absorbency or leave the insert out. Either way, you're saved from having to clean up the messes accidents leave behind.

Super Undies also has a pair Nighttime Undies if you need a little more protection.

The Investment

At a reasonable base price of $19.95, and a potty training kit starting at $125, you can purchase all of the Super Undies you need for the cost of less than 5 months worth of diapers or disposable trainers How's that for savings?

Even if you're only looking for a night-time and nap-time solution, Super Undies are a safe bet! And I'm fairly certain that potty training would have been a heck of a lot easier had we invested in Super Undies before trying Pull Ups. I think a lot of frustration and miscommunication between myself and my son could have been avoided.

You can purchase Super Undies on their website here. Or if you're looking to purchase locally, check out a list of their retailers here.

The Noise Girls have yet again put together an amazing giveaway event just for your family! The For the Family giveaway event starts on September 1st so please remember to hurry back and enter for your chance to win.

And Super Undies has joined in on the fun to offer one lucky reader a pair of Super Undies in this giveaway. Head on over and like them on facebook or follow them on twitter to stay up to date on new products and promotions!

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Super Undies for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Just for Baby Giveaway Hop with Earth Mama Angel Baby

Welcome to the Just For Baby Giveaway Hop!

This Giveaway Hop is hosted by Fabulous Finds and Mama Chocolate. This Giveaway Hop features everything under the sun you’ll need for baby. Be sure to visit each blog from the linky below and enter for your chance to win some really amazing prizes! This event will end on August 10th at 11:59pm EST.

The Simmworks Family Blog will be giving away an amazing prize package retailing at over $40!

Earth Mama Angel Baby is including one of my favorite kits for baby! Seriously... all of my favorite products in one little package. ARV $19.95.

A Little Something For Baby Includes:

• Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash 1.67oz
• Angel Baby Bottom Balm 1oz
• Angel Baby Lotion 2oz
• Angel Baby Oil 1 oz

To read about my love for Earth Mama Angel Baby head here. 

I'm also including a Little Bee Co Bee Changed Bamboo Solids in African Rain (that gorgeous light blue color in the basket). ARV $21.95.

Interested in winning? Simply fill out the rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

Cloth Diaper Butler {#clothdiaperhop Sponsor Spotlight}

Ever since I've started cloth diapering I've never been one to be easily grossed out. However one of the tasks I dread with cloth diapering is getting the poo off.

Now I have never had to touch poo nor has it ever gotten close enough to touch me. I simply take the diaper to the toilet, plop whatever is in the diaper in the toilet, and then spray off any excess. And sometimes in that process my hand does get wet. With clean water. That is until I got this handy package in the mail!

The Cloth Diaper Butler is a nifty invention that allows you to hold the diaper in the toilet without using your hands!! Simply clip

I first heard of the Cloth Diaper Butler while I attended the Great Cloth Diaper Change this year. It was part of the auction of cloth diaper items and as soon as I heard what it did I knew I had to have one!

EcoNuts {#FluffyXmas Sponsor Spotlight}

Eco Nuts™ was conceived as a company that could transcend the cleaning industry in becoming a leader in environmentally responsible practices. They are environmentally friendly in their operations and socially responsible in dealing with our customers, partners and suppliers. All of their products are cruelty and paraben-free, vegan, tested only on humans, and utilize recycled or recyclable packaging!

I received a sample package of EcoNuts soap nuts at the #hautegreen Social Hour back at BlogHer'11 and fell in love with it's simplicity and ease. I just had to toss the bag of soap nuts into my wash and let them do their thing. I didn't have to worry about measuring out the liquid detergent, pouring it in and waiting for the machine to fill/agitate a bit before adding in the clothes.

The best part about EcoNuts was the fact that I could use their products not only on my cloth diapers but my other laundry as well. EcoNuts are very versatile when it comes to laundry and it's because it's so gentle on fabrics. EcoNuts is safe to use on the kids and our clothing (including my baby's clothes), the sheets and towels as well as our beloved cloth diaper stash.

I have to admit that I was a little hesitant about using them at first. I really didn't think that a bag of soap nuts would actually be able to get our clothes clean. But I tried them none-the-less. The first thing I washed were my darks. When the clothes came out of the wash they passed the sniff test! And when I got them out of the dryer I knew they were clean. Next we did whites. A few of my whites (read: my son's shirts) needed a little boost and I confirmed that OxyClean is ok to use alongside the EcoNuts.So with a boost of OxyClean the next load came out perfectly clean AND white.

I also wanted to try the nuts out on my cloth diapers. Since I heard about EcoNuts at a cloth diapering event I knew they were CD friendly but wanted to see for myself if they were a great solution to our detergent needs. I've had many mamas in search of the perfect CD friendly detergent ask me what I use. And now I have a product I feel 100% comfortable sharing with them. Not only did my diapers come out clean, we didn't have the leaking/absorbency issues that we did every once in a while when using another liquid detergent. Using the soap nuts meant no detergent build up and no need to strip our diapers! Although I still do so every 2-3 months just to ease my mind.

EcoNuts doesn't just sell soap nuts, they also sell liquid detergent and an array of cleaning and natural bath and body products. So if you're looking to do away with the harsh chemicals found in most brand name household cleaners and are in need of an alternative, eco-friendly method instead check out these awesome products!

A little more about EcoNuts packaging:
EcoNuts strives to have as little impact on the environment as possible with their packaging and products, and that means no plastic in every instance it can be avoided. Whenever possible, EcoNuts incorporates recycled, repurposed, sustainable and organic materials.

Every box of Eco Nuts™ purchased is one less plastic detergent bottle, and their goal is to remove 1 million plastic bottles from ever making it into a landfill or using precious resources in order to recycle that plastic.

Why Aluminum?
The choice of recycled carboard for the Eco Nuts™ is obvious, but we reviewed and settled on aluminum to contain our liquid. Aluminum can be recycled endless times – over and over again. It is more energy-efficient to recycle aluminum than ever before.

Aluminum can recycling saves 95% of the energy needed to make aluminum from bauxite ore. Energy savings in 1992 were enough to light a city the size of Pittsburgh for six years. (Can Manufacturers Institute 1993. The Great Aluminum Can Roundup.)

We want to promote and support the recycled aluminum industry in the United States. It conserves energy as well as supporting small towns that depend solely on the aluminum production plants. Without those plants, thousands of people would lose their jobs.

EcoNuts' Commitments:

• To lead by example with socially and environmentally responsible business practices.
• To use only sustainable, non-toxic ingredients with zero hazardous waste generation.
• To offer superior quality in all our products and packaging with environmental integrity.
• To provide excellent service to our customers, vendors, employees and the community.
• To support local and global charities, environmental and community groups to the best of our ability.

Purchase and Giveaway Information

EcoNuts can be purchased on their website or on Amazon. You can also check out EcoNuts on facebook and twitter where you'll hear the latest on sales, product information and much, much more! There's currently a sweepstakes and photo contest going on now. You can enter to win a box of EcoNuts and some cloth diapers too!

EcoNuts has generously offered to include a medium size box of EcoNuts soap nuts (that's 100 loads worth!) in our Merry Fluffy Christmas giveaway package. How awesome is that? Not only do you have a chance to win cloth diapers, wipes, wipes spray, and dryer balls but you also can win soap nuts too! Remember to come on back to the blog on December 1st to start entering this amazing fluffy package.

Disclaimer: I received a trial size package of soap nuts (10 loads) from EcoNuts at the #hautegreen Social Hour for review purposes only. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. I only promote products I believe in 100% and will always disclose this information to my readers. The Amazon link above is my Affiliate link.   

The Willow Store {#FluffyXmas Sponsor Spotlight}

Catherine Bolden, founder and mom behind The Willow Store, created this company in 2005 to share her dedication and respect our Earth, for our children and our reusable future. All of the products sold at The Willow Store are ethically manufactured in the US, they strongly support small business, and living wages. The Willow Store chooses only the highest quality materials, and organic whenever possible, sourced in the US whenever possible.

Catherine was kind enough to allow me to review the wool dryer balls found in her store. Now I'm pretty familiar with dryer balls and have been using a set I received from an Etsy seller. However over time we've actually lost them due to a certain 2 year old who decided they were his balls and were for play, not for the dryer. Luckily I now have a new set of three dryer balls that I love just as much as the other set. Maybe even more since they're slightly larger.

The dryer balls were different from the ones I owned before. For one, as I said before, they were a bit larger. And second, I didn't have to wash them before use. I just tossed them in the dryer and hit the start button. Super easy and no prep is always good in my book. I've been using the dryer balls for about 2 weeks now and they've kept my clothes soft and fluffy and my cloth diapers feeling great. I love the fact that they're great for all cloth. And I especially love how soft they make our sheets. Another added bonus is that they've helped speed up the dryer time for my comforters and large blankets. Not sure how but they dry a lot faster! 

Do you use dryer sheets and fabric softener?  Have you ever noticed a film like feel to your clothes after using these products? That's the chemical residue that makes your clothes feel soft. And it can be pretty irritating if you have sensitive skin. Wool dryer balls are the natural solution for softening your clothes without chemicals. Made completely from US wool, they help your clothes (and cloth diapers!) tumble dry softly, and reduce the drying time by up to half. To use, simply toss 2-3 balls in your wet dryer and start. No need to remove them from the dryer when you are done, just keep them there for the next load!

The Willow Store's dryer balls are approximately 9” circumference (about the size of a tennis ball). You'll want to use 2-3 balls for fastest drying. These won’t harm your clothes or cloth diapers at all. The balls are 100% wool, so some natural pilling may occur over time but all you have to do is pick it off and continue use. These balls are available in natural cream or hand dyed in a variety of colors. The colors are safe for any color laundry, the dye used is fiber reactive, and will not bleed onto your clothing. And the best thing about them is that they last for many years and you don't have to continue purchasing dryer sheets!

Purchase and Giveaway Information

The Willow Store has kindly offered to include a set of wool dryer balls to my Merry Fluffy Christmas package and I couldn't be more thrilled. Not only will my package include cloth diapers, wipes, wipes spray, and inserts but it'll also include the items needed to care for your cloth diapers as well. Now I'd say that's a pretty great package!

To find out more about The Willow Store please visit their website. You can also find them on facebook and twitter where you'll always hear the latest on sales, new products and much more!

Disclaimer: I received a set of wool dryer balls from The Willow Store for review purposes only. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. I only promote products I believe in 100% and will always disclose this information to my readers.  

Artsy Fartsy Foo Foo {#FluffyXmas Sponsor Spotlight}

When I first started learning about cloth diapers I frequented one message board on a daily basis. There I learned about BumGenius, Happy Heiny, Fuzzibunz and much, much more. But I also learned about some wonderful WAHM companies who made amazing diapering products also. And one of those companies is Artsy Fartsy Foo Foo.

From all of the buzz on the message boards, if you had a problem with nighttime leakage, her hemp inserts were the ones to buy! And these inserts are hot! If you didn't stalk her store on stocking day you might not get a chance to purchase some of these amazing inserts. So I waited patiently and one day I was lucky to remember what time and date she was stocking her store and jumped on as soon as possible. I scored 4 inserts and did a little happy dance.

Once I received the inserts I learned that no prepping was needed. Yup, that's right. Artsy Fartsy Foo Foo already preps the inserts before sending them off. Do you know how much time (and water) that saved me? Lots! So I threw them in the wash with the diapers and got to using them that day. And wouldn't you know? My super heavy soaker of a boy couldn't leak through these suckers. I paired my Artsy Fartsy Foo Foo hemp insert with a Bububebe fitted diaper and had the perfect night time solution for my boy. Paired with an adorable wool soaker and we were set. No more wet bedsheets, no more wet Mommy.

A great thing about hemp is that it isn't just for nighttime. You can use these inserts in any pocket diaper or you can lay them under a soaker in a fitted for extra absorbency. They can be paired with microfiber, bamboo or just about any other soaker or insert you may have. And hemp is an amazing material. It really does soak up a lot and holds onto it. The inserts that I have are about 2 years old and still work amazingly well. No microfiber stink, and no sign of wear at all.

Artsy Fartsy Foo Foo also makes Milk Maids. Now what exactly are Milk Maids? They're nursing pads that really do the job. Just like the hemp inserts, you will have no leaking when using your Milk Maids nursing pads. They hold quite a bit of milk and are super comfortable. Plus you don't get the ring boob effect like you do from other nursing pads because these are large enough to cover just about the whole boob (and I'm not super small...).

Purchase and Giveaway Information

Artsy Fartsy Foo Foo has generously included 6 hemp inserts to include in my giveaway package for the Merry Fluffy Christmas event coming up at the beginning of December. With so many amazing prizes from quality stores in my giveaway package you will not want to miss this awesome event!

Head on over to Artsy Fartsy Foo Foo's facebook page or check out her Hyena Cart store or Etsy store for information on stocking dates, pricing and availability.

Disclaimer: I purchased my own Artsy Fartsy Foo Foo products. All opinions are 100% my own. I only promote products I believe in 100% and will always disclose this information to my readers. 

Changing Diapers by Kelly Wels {#FluffyXmas Sponsor Spotlight}

I want to start out by saying how much I wished Changing Diapers existed when I first started cloth diapering. The only information I had was a very resourceful message board and a few internet sites. Nothing all in the same place and nothing as straight forward as this book. But after reading through it I've found a new love for cloth. Kelly Wels has really done an amazing job encompassing the world that is cloth diapering.

I'm so excited to be able to have this book available to give to friends who are interested in cloth diapering but need more information. I've had quite a few friends ask for cloth diapering resources and always have to email multiple links about different types of diapers and options. Now I just have to ship this book to them and I'm set! I still love having my friends over to show them exactly how cloth diapers work because I'm a visual learner but having this book as a resource for questions they may have at a later time is so great. This will be my staple baby shower gift from now on.

The best part about the book is it's simplicity and size. It's not overwhelming at all. And it's broken down quite nicely into different chapters that flow nicely. Plus you get extra tips and stories along the way to keep you entertained while you learn (don't you wish we had those in the text books in school?). And an added bonus? One of the diapering chapters is titled "Daddies and Diapers." How perfect is that? Cloth diapering is not just for mamas. Dads need to get involved too. My husband can wash cloth diapers and knows how to put on and use them too. He isn't as good at the folding and putting away part but I can do that. Getting dads involved in the process only makes it easier on both parents.

Kelly's research is extensive and she didn't just stop at one or two diapers or diaper shops. She reviewed and polled many, many cloth diapering mamas, stores and manufacturers. She not only went to the experts who make cloth diapers, she went to moms and dads who are using cloth diapers already. The information and research is put in a simple, easy to read form that even a sleep deprived mother or father can read and comprehend.

Purchase The Book and Giveaway Information

You can buy a copy of Changing Diapers on Kelly Wels' site or on Amazon here (affiliate links). And you can find out more about sales and awesome information by checking out Changing Diapers on facebook and twitter. You can also follow Kelly Wels on twitter and facebook. She is an awesome resource and is super friendly too.

Kelly Wels has been kind enough to include one Fuzzibunz diaper in my Merry Fluffy Christmas giveaway package. The diaper will also come with a super cute "I'm a hip mom and love cloth diapers" temporary tattoo. The tattoo is even eco-friendly! So make sure to come back to this blog from December 1st through December 5th for your chance to enter this awesome giveaway!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of Changing Diapers: The Hip Mom's Guide to Modern Cloth Diapering for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are 100% my own. I have also included affiliate links in this post leading you to Kelly Wels' site and Amazon.com.

Aqua Blossom {#FluffyXmas Sponsor Spotlight}

When I first found Aqua Blossom on Etsy it was love at first sight. Natural ingredients, yummy sounding products and most importantly relaxation for mama written all over each product in the store. But not only does Aqua Blossom have amazing products for your beauty needs, they also have an amazing Lavender & Tea Tree Oil wipe solution spray for cloth wipes.

I jumped into cloth diapering with both feet and once we started using our cloth diapers I didn't buy another disposable. But cloth wipes... I didn't think I could do it and stuck with my Kirkland brand disposable wipes. When I started cloth diapering with my daughter I started to have a change of heart and decided to give cloth wipes a try. And with the cloth wipes I needed to find a great wipe solution for when I needed a little extra help.

When I received my bottles of wipe solution spray from Aqua Blossom I immediately opened up one of the bottles and took a whiff. Ahhh... the lavender immediately hit my nose and I was instantly relaxed. Maybe my daughter's bum would feel the same way after I used it. So I sprayed a bit on, wiped and diapered her little tukas. She seemed to enjoy it and even giggled when I sprayed her.

Along with my large bottle for the changing table came a small trial size bottle to use in the diaper bag. This pair is the perfect addition to any cloth diapering stash. Not only is the solution soothing and gentle, but it makes diapering a bit easier. And now I don't have to throw anything but the waste away. Everything either goes in the toilet or in the wet bag. And I feel a bit better when we go to Costco and don't have to pick up another pack of wipes.

Here's a little bit more information about Aqua Blossom from their store:

"Our goal is to provide quality bath, body, and beauty products at affordable prices. All of our products are made in small batches using natural ingredients. By using ingredients found in nature, like plant and fruit oils, butters, and essential oils, you get naturally healthy skin without all the chemicals found in most commercial beauty products."

Not only do they sell the awesome wipe spray but there's an array of creams, scrubs, lip balms and much more! Aquablossom's facebook and twitter fans receive news and discounts first! Like Aquablossom on facebook and follow them on twitter to keep up with the latest and greatest just in time for the holidays.

Discount Code & Giveaway Information

Aqua Blossom has generously offered to include a large 8oz bottle and travel size 2oz bottle of the Lavender & Tea Tree Oil wipe solution spray in my Merry Fluffy Christmas giveaway package. They have also kindly given a 20% discount to all Simmworks Family Blog readers. Please use the code simmworks20 while checking out to receive this discount. So make sure to come back December 1st - 5th to enter my amazing giveaway package valued at over $100!

Disclaimer: I received a full and travel size set of wipe solution spray for review purposes only. All opinions are 100% my own. I only promote products I believe in 100% and will always disclose this information to my readers. 

The Basics Beyond Cloth Diapers

So you've ordered your cloth diapers. Now what? After choosing what type of cloth diapers you want to use there are a few items that you might find come in handy while cloth diapering. I've listed a few below. if you have any to add please feel free to comment below or email me at simmworksfamily (at) gmail.com and I'll gladly add to the list!

Diaper/Butt Creams
You can't just use any diaper cream on your child's tush if you cloth diaper. Most creams can actually ruin your cloth diapers. And no amount of stripping will get your diapers back to their original absorbency. So read labels and choose a cream that will work with your cloth diaper, not against. And if in doubt, use a liner to protect your diaper.

A few commercially available diaper creams may be used with cloth diapers. Always avoid diaper creams with cod liver oil or any other fish oils. Recently many cloth diaper manufacturer's have developed diaper rash creams that are considered safe for cloth diapers. In many cases, diaper rash creams specifically developed for use with cloth diapers is preferred. I used this list from Pinstripes and Polkadots to choose the cream I currently use and love (CA Baby). The tube lasts a long time and the smell is so relaxing and calming. Plus the product works perfectly for my kids. They also have a wonderful Diaper Area Wash that we've had great success with.

If a diaper rash does not go away please consult your physician. It may be a fungal infection that requires a fungicide or other type of medication.

Diaper Liners
As I mentioned above, diaper liners are a great way to protect your diaper from any creams or ointments you may use on your child. They can also help you out by making poop removal easier if you're using the disposable kind. Some choose not to invest in these but others swear by them.

Here's some information from Pinstripes and Polkadots about liners:
Liners are used to between the baby treated with a rash cream and the diaper in an effort to protect the diaper from the negative water repelling properties of the diaper rash ointment or cream. People use flushable liners, fleece liners, cloth wipes, and even cut up old t-shirts. If you plan to re-use your liners you will want to wash them thoroughly and separate from your diapers. Likewise, you will also want to wash any wipes used to clean off the ointment or cream with your liners: separate from your diapers. Realize that some flushable liners may not protect a diaper well enough from certain creams.

Laundry Detergent

Just like creams, some detergents are just too harsh on cloth diapers. Not to mention on our clothes as well. And the fragrances and added ingredients can irritate your child's diaper area. Switching to a cloth diaper friendly detergent for all of your clothes may reduce the chance of a rash or other irritation forming.

In order to choose the perfect detergent you should think about a few things. The most important determinant in the detergent you use is if you have a HE washer or not. The amount of detergent you use as well as the type of detergent can depend on this. To find out more about different detergents and what will work best for you check out The Diaper Jungle. Another great source is Pinstripes and Polkadots (I love this site!) and their HE selection can be found here.

Pins & Snappis
If you are considering using prefolds then you should grab a few sets of pins or some snappis. These great products will give you a tighter fit and can help create a great barrier to keep the poo where it belongs... in the diaper. To tell you the truth, pins kinda scared me. So when I heard about snappis I knew I was going to go this route. But I've heard from a few sources that pins can get a tighter fit. This may help when you're on the verge of going up a diaper size. Your smaller prefolds can be used longer with pins.

Wetbags/Diaper Pail Liners
There are a few size options when it comes to wetbags. And I have a few of each. Some are more for convenience and others are a necessity. I was able to get away with not using a pail liner for quite some time by substituting a large pillow case. But then I found two used liners for sale for $5 each and couldn't pass them up.

I suggest having at least two wet bags for diaper bag rotation and two diaper pail liners (again, for rotation if one is in the wash). I currently have four wetbags: a small, two medium and one large. I feel that this is the perfect amount for our family. Here's what I use each for:

• Small (1-2 diapers) - for quick errands out and about
• Medium (3-5 diapers) - for day trips 
• Large (8-10 diapers) - for weekend trips (our go-to for Disneyland overnight visits)

I also use our wet bags for other things. I keep an extra one in the diaper bag if we're going to the beach or pool so I can throw wet and sandy suits and clothes in one and not have to worry about getting everything else wet and sandy (although the kids do a good job of spreading the sand anyway...). They're also great to store extra diapers in the car. I keep an "emergency kit" in the car with a change of clothes for each kids and 1-2 extra diapers. I keep it all in a wet bag so they stay fresh and clean.