The Basics of Babywearing Plus a HUGE Baby Carrier Giveaway!

By Kanga Care Guest Blogger, Michelle Ferguson, of MommyFergBlog.com!

Enter to WIN a carrier from Moby, Boba or Onya Baby! 

Find The Right Baby Carrier For You And Your Baby

For as long as history tells us, parents from all different parts of the world have worn their babies. Babywearing not only makes life a little easier by making it possible to be handsfree while still keeping baby close, but it is also shown to be good for baby. Babies feel safe and secure when they are worn close to a parent or familiar caretaker. They also tend to be less fussy when worn, which can be a big relief for parents with babies struggling with colic or reflux!

There are many types of carriers and finding the right one for you might involve a bit of trial and error. Here are some basics about the different types of carriers. And don't miss out on the chance to win one of five carriers we are giving away this week!

Types of Baby Carriers 

Wrap Style Carrier

Stretchy wraps are generally one long piece of material, about 10 feet long, actually! They can be wrapped several different ways and distribute the weight evenly across the shoulders and back. Because they are a bit stretchy, they are not recommended for carrying your child on your back. There are a few well known brands such as Moby Wrap and Boba Wraps. Moby's are made from a jersey knit material and have a subtle stretch on the bias. Boba wraps are similar, but use a different material which offers significant stretch and support. Wraps usually work for babies from about seven to eight pounds to around 35 pounds. Quite a lot of mothers I know use them mostly for the newborn stage, but they most certainly will work for bigger babies also.

Woven Wrap

A woven wrap is similar to a stretchy wrap in that it also uses both shoulders and back to distribute weight evenly. Woven material has much less stretch than knitted material which means it can support more weight. Woven wraps can be worn in front, on the hip and back. They work great for newborns all the way up to large toddlers! Some popular brands of woven wraps are Didymos and Wrapsody.

Ring Sling

A ring sling is a long piece of fabric that is fastened with two large rings. It is quite simple to use as there is no wrapping involved. It distributes the weight across one shoulder and your back. Ring slings can be used with newborns all the way up to 35 pounds. A few brands of ring slings include Comfy Joey and Sakura Bloom.

Mei Tai

A Mei Tai is a rectangular piece of fabric with straps connected on each corner. The ability to tie the straps in any way you like makes it very versatile and makes it easier to find the right fit, carry, and comfort level just for you. The Mei Tai can be worn on your front or back and can carry newborn babies up to 35 pounds. A few brands of Mei Tai include BabyHawk and Mei Tai Baby.

Soft Structured Carrier
A soft structured carrier is similar to a Mei Tai in that it has the rectangular piece of fabric and straps, but instead of tying it on it uses buckles. Soft structured carriers can be used from about seven to eight pounds to 45 pounds for some. The Onya Baby soft structured carrier has been safety tested up to 75 pounds! Some soft structured carries do require an infant insert for newborns and some are built into the carrier. Most soft structured carriers are easy to strap on and adjust for a great fit. They can be worn with baby on your front or your back. Some popular soft structured carrier brands include Onya Baby, Ergo Baby, and Boba. Moby recently released a soft structured carrier, too, called the Moby Go (pictured above)!

---

Which carrier is right for you? 

There are a lot of different factors that come with deciding which carrier is right for you. Some things to consider include:

• the age of your child
• the size of your child 
• your height and weight
• who else will be using the carrier
• where and how you will be using it 

Some people prefer different types of carriers for different situations. Hopefully these next few tips can help you find the right one for you!

Size of Baby
Will you be using it for a newborn, or a toddler? Or is it something you want to be able to use from the time your baby is a newborn until they are a toddler? Stretchy Wraps and ring slings tend to work great for the newborn stage, but not everyone loves them for bigger babies and toddlers. Soft Structured Carriers and Mei Tai’s tend to be loved by parents of bigger babies and toddlers, but not always so much during the newborn stage. A lot of parents like woven wraps for both the newborn stage, and bigger babies and toddlers because they can wrap the baby whichever way is most comfortable for them.

Size of Adult
Baby carriers can be a lot like jeans; not all brands work for all body types. A lot of mothers I’ve spoken with like their soft structured carriers no matter what body type they are. Tall and short alike both said the soft structured carrier worked well for them. It also was easy for their husbands to use because of how easily adjustable it is. Even really tall men can adjust it to fit them comfortably. However, some men with extra broad shoulders might find a soft structured carrier a little snug and might do better with a wrap style carrier. The only complaint I got from some mothers is that when doing a back carry, the front chest buckle is not always the most flattering, especially for those who are bigger in the chest area. The one soft structured carrier that mothers said wasn’t bad about creating the non-flattering chest was the Onya Baby carrier!

A lot of parents, both moms and dads, like wraps as well because they are completely customizable to any body type. As long as you have the right length, you can wrap yourself and your baby around you no matter how big or small you are. These work great for both moms and dads, tall and short, thin or curvy.

The Mei Tai is similar because you can wrap the straps around you how you prefer and so that they fit comfortably around your body type.

Ring slings are usually sized, so make sure you choose the right one, and keep in mind that it might be hard to share babywearing duty unless both parents are roughly the same size.

Where you will be Babywearing
Think about where you will be babywearing most. Will you be using the baby carrier at home so you can get things done or tend to another child with your baby close to you? Will you be using it for trips to the grocery store or shopping at the mall? Or will you be using it for long adventures like hiking or camping?

Some carriers work great for both around the house and out and about, while others are better for long periods of babywearing like hiking or walking. I always preferred my ring sling for both around the house and out grocery shopping or at the mall because it is so easy to get baby in and out. I wore my baby in the ring sling everywhere until he was about five months old. There is no wrapping or buckling involved. So I would just put it on me and get him in and tighten. It took about 30 seconds (after some practice)!

Wraps and Mei Tai’s work great both at home and on the go. The only issue with them is they may take a little bit longer to get on and get baby secured inside. So if you have a fussy baby on your hands or you were standing in a parking lot ready to go in the store, it may take a few minutes to get all wrapped and secured. A lot of moms have learned that it's easier to put their wrap on at home rather than in a dirty parking lot where the long material may touch the ground for a moment as you get it on! However, wraps do work great for longer periods of time because the weight is distributed evenly on both your shoulders and your back.

Soft Structured Carriers also work great both at home and out and about. They are traditionally a bit bulkier than wraps or a ring sling so I will admit mine usually stays in the car! However, Boba has just come out with their new BobaAir which weighs less than a pound and can be stuffed into its own pocket! When it's zipped up in its pouch, it's small enough to fit in any diaper bag or even purse. Perfect for traveling or errands-- we can't wait to give one away! A lot of soft structured carriers have padded shoulder straps so they work great for long periods of time. Most will even work great for trips like hiking or long periods of walking.

The Onya Baby Outback carrier is made specifically for outdoor babywearing. It is made with an air mesh lining which wicks away moisture and will keep both mom and baby cooler. Another perk of the Onya Baby carrier is it can turn into a secure chair for baby! So if you are out hiking and come in for a cool drink you can secure baby into a regular seat! Soft structured carriers work great for cleaning around the house and for long trips outdoors or shopping.

So now you have some basics to babywearing to help you choose the right baby carrier for you and your baby. I do highly recommend you visit a local shop (not all Kanga Care retailers will have carriers!) or join a local babywearing group to try some different carriers on and see which ones you like the best. Whichever type of carrier you choose, know that you are doing a great thing for both you and your baby! Babywearing is great for parents and baby alike!

To help us get the word out about babywearing, three super cool brands: Boba, Moby & Onya Baby, want to give you a carrier!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!

"I have a dream that one day... right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today!"

Thank you for sharing your dream, Martin Luther King Jr.

Essential Cloth Diapering Accessories Plus a Boingo Giveaway!

By Kanga Care Guest Blogger: Kari, of Mommy to Elodie

For many new parents, the amount of stuff needed for such a tiny human being can seem overwhelming! From carriers to cribs and car seats, adding cloth diapers to the list might make some people want to just throw their hands up in the air and give up.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the virtual cornucopia of cloth diapering accessories, here's a handy list of Essentials and Extras to consider!

Essentials 

Wet Bags: Unless you plan to stay inside your house 24/7, you will also need some travel goodies. Wet bags are the perfect solution for storing dirty cloth dipes on the go. They are zippered bags lined with waterproofing to keep the mess contained. When you get home, you can throw the diapers and the wet bag in to the wash. I always suggest buying at least two wet bags so you always have a clean one to stuff in a diaper bag. Plus, wet bags are super handy to keep in the diaper bag beyond diapering years to hold wet clothes and other messes: potty training, swimming, car sick kiddos...

Pail Liner: Okay, you probably could get away with not using a pail liner. But you will have to scrub down your pail pretty regularly if you don't. Pail liners are on my essential list because it will simply make your job of transporting diapers from the pail to the washing machine so much easier. Another benefit is that you can just throw the liner in the load of diapers to get it clean so you won't have to scrub down your pail. Some people just skip the actual pail altogether and just hang their pail liner or wet bag up in the nursery or washroom.

Changing Pad: Make your life a little easier and purchase a small travel changing pad. Toss it in your diaper bag and experience the freedom to change your child's diaper anywhere and everywhere (that has a safe and solid changing surface- don't get too crazy now!) Also, these changing pads from Kanga Care are super soft and cozy and backed with the same waterproof material used on their diapers. A lot of parents use these as crib sheet liners just in case your baby's diaper leaks in the middle of the night, you can avoid having to change all the sheets at 3am!

Diaper liners: Whether you're protecting your diapers from meconium or non-cloth diaper friendly diaper cream, or if you're in the infamous peanut butter poo phase, liners make cleanups a breeze.

Diaper Pail: Dirty diapers need some place to go until it is time to wash. A basic diaper pail with a lid (no diaper genie nonsense) will do the job. Rather than buying a pail with an airtight lid, it's actually a good idea to get one that will allow air to circulate so that the ammonia in the dirty diapers can evaporate. The odor is extremely minimal (especially for breastfed babies) and if you CAN smell the diapers, just wash them. Problem solved. It's infinitely better than having an entire week's worth of poopy disposables sitting around in your house waiting for trash day!

Wipes: Cloth wipes are far superior to disposables- surprise! Once you've used it, just tuck it in the dirty diaper and wash them together. Disposables also are a hidden cost of disposable diapering and can add several hundred dollars to the diapering budget! You can make your own with basic flannel from a fabric store or even by cutting up an old flannel sheet.

Safe detergent: Many detergents are not appropriate for using on cloth diapers because they leave behind a residue that will decrease absorbency. Other detergents are not strong enough to really do the job of removing ammonia, fats, oils and lipids from the fabric. If you're using the right amount of a  good detergent, it should be really easy to care for your diapers and you shouldn't have to strip them, or put up with ammonia burns! Kanga Care has simple and clear wash and care instructions, but not all cloth diapers are made equally. They all have slightly differing recommendations so make sure you're following your brand's guidelines!

Snappis

Boingos

Boingos or Snappis: If you are using prefolds and covers, these are absolutely an essential. They are the modern solution for safety pins, so you will never ever worry about pricking your baby. A Snappi is one piece that connects to the diaper in three places- one on each side and one in the middle. Boingos come in pairs, feature a cute star design and a variety of fun colors.

---

We think they are so cute that we are giving away a whole bunch of Boingos right now! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All winners will receive an email with a link to claim their prize! If you see your name listed above, then go check your email!

---

Extras

Wool Covers: Wool is sort of magical. There is actually a very scientific explanation but my basic understanding is that a lanolized wool cover turns pee into soap. (I'm not making this up, I swear.) I love to use my wool cover over our night-time diaper because wool is waterproof, breathable and magical.

Wool Dryer Balls: Dryer sheets leave a residue on cloth diapers that can not only reduce absorbency but also irritate baby's skin and cause damage to diapers and clothing. Wool dryer balls are a cloth diaper safe solution that also helps to move clothes around in the dryer and break them up to allow for faster dryer time.


Diaper Sprayer: A handy spray attachment for your toilet to help you spray the poop off! Personally, I have never used a diaper sprayer and have gotten by just fine without one. After I change a poopy diaper, I just dump the contents in the toilet and wash the diaper. Some moms absolutely love their sprayers, though!

Drying Rack: The sun is a secret weapon in cloth diapering. Sunning your diapers for a short time (less than two hours at a time!) can help remove even the most stubborn stains from diapers. A handy rack like this makes it easier to sun your diapers. You can also use racks to allow diapers to air dry but be careful because hanging diapers can cause them to stretch out and lose their shape. (Learn more about mistakes to avoid!)

Do you have an necessary accessory that we missed? 

We want to know about it! Leave us a comment below and enter to win a pair of super cute Boingos! 

About this Kanga Care Guest Blogger 

Kari is the cloth-diapering Mommy to Elodie, a rambunctious, joyful and goofball of a two year old. She loves to blog about her adventures in motherhood and living life beachside in sunny San Diego. When she is not washing cloth diapers or blogging about them, Kari can be found relaxing with a nice cup of tea, snuggling with Elodie or browsing Pinterest.

First Friday Birth Story! This month: Kym Graves and her baby boy, JohnDavid

We love birth stories! Each one is unique and amazing. If you'd like to share yours, you can use the button below to submit it. We will read (and probably cry) over each one, and then post one on the first Friday of every month! 

---

Mama: Kym Graves
Baby: JohnDavid
Due Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Birthday: Sunday, September 16, 2012
Visit her Blog


In January I found out that I was expecting our second baby. Our first had been a natural birth in a hospital but it had been a not-so-great experience so this time we hired a midwife and planned a homebirth. 

My due date of September 11th came and went without much notice. That next Thursday at my appointment, my midwife checked me and we found that I was very soft, almost completely effaced and dilated to between a 5-6. The water sac was "bulging" so we knew that it would be soon.

On Sunday September 16th I stayed home from worship services. I had the unfortunate experience of getting food poisoning the day before and I was very tired so I opted to stay home and rest.

Around 4pm, I began feeling a lot of pressure against my cervix and bottom. I wasn't have contractions but I felt different. 

I texted Salli, my midwife, and explained what was going on. She said "I think I need to come over and check things out." She arrived at 5:15 and checked me. I was between 6-7 cm and even softer than I was before. She said "You are in labor, so let's get things set up and see what happens."

My husband, Salli, and her assistant Holly began setting up the birth tub and taking my vitals. The apprentice, Shara, arrived soon after.

Around 5:30pm I had my first contraction that I felt. My husband and I began to time them. Shortly after we began to time them, they began to hurt. I got on my knees and leaned over the coffee table and rocked my hips, moaning softly during contractions. They intensified quickly, and I had Philip text my parents telling them they needed to get here soon.

Around 6pm I really wanted to be in the birth tub. The pool wasn't quite full enough but Salli suggested I go ahead and get in. I completely understand the term "natural birther's epidural" when it comes to being in water. It felt so amazing.

My parents arrived around 6:15pm. I was so excited to see my son Andrew. He immediately got in the tub with me. As I moaned through contractions, he moaned with me and imitated the movements I was doing with my body. If I hadn't been needing to focus so hard, it would have been funny.

At some point I began to lose track of time, and when I wasn't contracting, I was so relaxed I wanted to sleep. Philip got Andrew out of the pool, but Andrew stayed nearby, playing. My mom held my hands and gave me strength through contractions.

Soon, my hips began to feel like they were going to be split in half. Salli began asking me questions and I could not answer her. I was so dazed and out of it, and I really wanted to sleep. Salli checked me and I was complete but there was a tiny bit of a lip on my cervix, as well as the water sac was still intact. I wanted to push during contractions but it hurt my hips so bad to do so. Shara and Holly then began doing counter pressure on my hips and I began to push. The counter pressure along with the pushing began to feel really good. I was no longer screaming for it to end, but instead saying "That feels good, that feels really good."

At 7:30 I was frustrated that my membranes were still intact. Salli asked if I wanted her to break my water and I said "Yes, I'm ready to have this baby." While Salli got ready to break my water, I had a strong contraction, pushed and the sac popped on its own! Immediately I began to feel my baby descend and feel the infamous ring of fire. I had not felt that as strongly with Andrew and it scared me, but I also knew that it meant my baby was almost here!

Philip switched places and got ready to "catch". I pushed and roared with just about every bit of energy I had left and I felt the head come out. I reached down to feel the head and as soon as I touched the head, I knew it was a boy...with A FULL head of hair!

I wanted to finishing pushing him out, but I didn't have the energy so I waited for the next contraction. That's when Salli discovered the cord was around his neck. Her and Shara quickly had me switch to my hands and knees, and she was able to release the cord and I felt him slide out. Philip reached down in the water and grabbed him, and loudly shouted "It's a boy! JohnDavid is here!"

Shara and Salli helped my lean back against the tub and JohnDavid McKinley was placed on my chest for the first time. He wasn't crying, and was a little bit purple, and looking around. Salli told me to talk to him and he immediately began to turn pink and wiggle around. He never did really cry, but instead just looked at me and "talked". We sat there staring at each other for about five to ten minutes. I was just in awe.

After I delivered the placenta, we got out of the tub and into bed. Salli examined me and did the newborn exam on JohnDavid. 9lbs, 3oz and 21 3/4 inches long! He then nursed for the first time! Perfect latch!

My husband took JohnDavid for some skin-to-skin and bonding time with Andrew while I showered. 

After my shower, I ate and drank a bit more, nursed JohnDavid again and he settled down to sleep. Salli left, and everyone went to bed.

It was perfect. I couldn't get over the differences in Andrew's birth and JohnDavid's birth, and neither could my husband. It was so nice to be at home!

We are now a family of four and enjoying every minute!

-Kym

---

Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful home birth story with us, Kym! JohnDavid is darling. Give him kisses and snuggles from all of us at Kanga Care! xo

How to Ruin a Cloth Diaper

By Kanga Care Guest Blogger: Elizabeth "Bert" Anderson, of First Time Mom

I have a confession. I, Miss Cloth Diaper Blogger, have ruined my cloth diapers. No, it wasn’t a manufacturing error; it was my own stupid fault. I am consoling myself with the fact that I know I'm not the only cloth diaper expert to destroy their own cloth diapers...

I read the instructions, I saw that I needed to “tumble dry low.” However, I assumed that that was more of a suggestion than anything else. Let me tell you: it’s not a suggestion. For one entire year I dried my pocket diapers for not one cycle, not two, but for three cycles! Not the best choice but I wanted to ensure the inserts had a chance to dry! Well, after one year of this unrecommended method, the laminate (that shiny, waterproof lining on the inside of the pocket) started to crack. I first noticed this problem when my son’s diapers started leaking in weird places like the very back of the bum, not even close to a leg where leaking is more common.

Lesson learned? Yes.

Now before we get started, a little note: Anyone who has ever seen a Kanga Care diaper in person can attest to their quality. Those things are built to last! But even they can be destroyed! Follow their care instructions and your Kanga Care diapers should last and last and look great. If you ever need help, you can contact customer service and they will be happy to help you!

This article isn't about Kanga Care diapers in particular, but they have been mercilessly destroyed by many of us, so, it does include them. So now that I've got that off my chest, let's talk about all the ways you can destroy your diapers!

There are lots of ways to ruin your diapers (including Rumparooz or ANY brand!):  

• Over-drying / drying on high heat. As I shared with you earlier, most cloth diaper care instructions say to tumble dry on low or no heat. This is to protect the waterproofing laminate within the cover, all-in-one, etc. Exposing the laminate to frequent high heat causes cracks in the laminate lining and can also melt the lining. One of my reader's said that her diaper literally melted inside her dryer. Imagine the clean up for that one! 

• Using the sanitize setting on your washing machine. Kanga Care uses TPU (waterproof material) instead of PUL. TPU uses a heat bonding process (instead of a chemical solvent) so the high heat on the sanitize cycle actually loosens the laminate from the fabric. Note: it is okay to use the sanitize cycle on inserts, but not on anything waterproof!
• Bleach! The harshness of bleach can really do a number on the elastic and waterproof lining of your cloth diapers. One mom told us that she accidentally left some prefold diapers in a bleach water solution for 36 hours! The prefolds just fell apart with use. So if a bleach water solution can do that to cotton imagine the damage it can do to the elastic and laminate! Bleach is unnecessary if you're using a recommended detergent anyway!  

• Washing machine agitator damage. The picture does not do it justice but look at the serious damage done to these inserts! A loose agitator on a washing machine was the culprit. The mom who sent us the picture bought these pre-owned diapers in “good condition.”  There were a few snags on the inserts but the more she washed it, the more ripped up it got! Make sure your machines are in top condition!

• Overwashing. As a general rule of thumb, a cloth diaper stash should be no less than 24 cloth diapers. A friend of mine learned this one the hard way. She bought 14 diapers hoping to save some money. With so few diapers, they had to be washed every day and within a year the hook and loop closures were destroyed, the pockets had delaminated and the elastic was useless. You wouldn't wash a bra every day for a year and expect it to survive! You wouldn't even wash a pair of jeans every day for a year and expect it to be the same pair of jeans after 300+ washes. Diapers aren't invincible either! Invest in great diapers and enough of them!
• Using non-compatible detergent. Not all detergents or diapers are equal! Make sure you read the care instructions for your particular brand of diapers. Detergents that have additives such as fabric softeners, borax, bleach, or any “free and clear” formulas are not cloth diaper friendly and can shorten the life of your cloth diapers. Through years of gathered data, Kanga Care has found that their products are most compatible with original Tide Ultra, Gain or powdered Ecover. If you choose to use a detergent not listed, then look for the following: 
• a) Detergents that contain enzymes (yes, really!) 
• b) Detergents free from fabric softeners, borax, bleach, and again any of the “free and clear” formulas 

• Diaper cream! A fellow cloth diapering mom I know took her daughter to daycare in a cloth diaper (big applause for the daycare for accepting cloth!). The daycare provider thought she was helping by applying zinc cream with each diaper change. Without using a liner to protect the diapers, she effectively waterproofed them. It took weeks of scrubbing and stripping to get the cream out, and the diapers never looked the same. 
  If you’ve made this mistake here’s what you’ll want to do to return your diaper to its waterproof state: 
• Hot wash of clean diapers using a squirt or two of original (blue) Dawn soap. Run the cycle until there are no bubbles visible. This should return your diapers to their pre-diaper rash cream state unscathed (fingers crossed!). If you've tried this and you're still having trouble, get in touch with Kanga Care for some expert cloth diaper help! 
  
• Oh poop! Most of us have at least one child in diapers, if not two. Therefore, it’s safe to say, we get less sleep than most people and tend to do dumb things we wouldn't do if we were allowed a decent night's sleep. One mom told us that she accidentally, without even thinking, tossed a diaper into her dryer with poop still in it! Not only did she have to clean the poop out of her dryer, but it was literally baked onto her diapers. (*gag*) After lots of washes, time spent in the sun and some (not recommended) stain remover, the diaper sort of looks the same. Plop the poop into the toilet immediately my friends. Again I say, plop! 
• Frequently line drying. Remember Newton’s law of gravity? Well, what goes up must come down! Hanging a diaper, heavy with water, tugs on the elastic and over time will stretch them out. If you don't want to tumble-dry low, then lay your diapers flat to dry.

• Machine-washing wool covers. Say it with me: Hand-wash wool. Wool doesn't go in ANY machine: washer or dryer! One of Kanga Care's own employees has banned her husband from washing the diapers after he accidentally shrunk FOUR hand-knit wool covers. Wool is super easy to care for: just toss them in the bath with your little one if they start to smell funky. The baby shampoo should be sufficient to clean the cover. Gently press the water out of the wool and lay them flat to dry overnight. That's all! 

• Too much sun! The sun is excellent at reducing stains as well as also acting as a natural disinfectant on your diapers, however, that same awesome strength from the UV rays can also damage the fibers on your diapers. We suggest using indirect sunlight when sunning your diapers because it’s gentler on the fibers and the UV rays that are present from sunlight can still do their job. Limit the time you let those diapers sun, too. 1 - 2 hours should do the trick.

• Fabric softener is a no-no! We get it. That soft and snuggly bear tells you that everything that touches your baby should be as soft as he is! But that little bear will waterproof your diapers! If you've done this, you can try stripping them with the Dawn method above and cross your fingers it works.
• Unusual drying methods... Once, a customer sent her diapers in to Kanga Care for snap repair. When they opened the package, they were astonished: the snaps had literally melted all over the place, stuck into the fibers of the diaper. The customer told them that her husband had laid the diapers on their wood stove to dry. Unfortunately, that is not covered by that snap warranty...
• Opening diapers with a little too much gusto. Often, when a customer needs a snap fixed, they need the same snap fixed on half of their stash. If you notice the same snap popping off on all your diapers, or if the Aplix is coming unstitched, then it might be a good idea to be a little more gentle when you change a diaper. (There's a reason Kanga Care gets the most snap repair claims with stay at home daddies...)

• Hungry dryers. Sometimes snaps can get chipped in dryers, or get stuck in a crack in your dryer, which then scrapes it off like this. To avoid this heartbreak, try snapping just one snap from each tab down so that they aren't flying around in the dryer. Since this isn't a manufacturer's error, it's technically not covered by the warranty, but Kanga Care is usually pretty awesome about snaps. Just don't tell them that you are positive that it wasn't your dryer that caused this... 

• Stain removers. It seems like a good idea at the time. After all, your diapers are stained and you have stain remover. But don't underestimate the power of products like Bac-Out! I mean they do remove some major stains, right? One cloth diaper mom told me that she used Bac-Out on every diaper. Over time, the laminate became cracked and the diapers leaked profusely. It’s okay to use Bac-Out and other products like it on your inserts but keep it away from anything waterproof! 
• Woops! Fluff in the garbage. This one sadly goes to a fellow cloth diaper blogger friend of mine, Polly. Polly told me that she accidentally threw a cloth diaper away! *Gasp!* I’m sure we can all relate. She was exhausted, had just moved and when she saw the diaper she absentmindedly pitched it in the trash. Guess we need a little more sleep, huh?

Now, if you're considering cloth diapering, don't let this spook you. Cloth diapering is super easy. It's just another load of wash! If you'd like a quick 101 of how to take care of your diapers to ensure that they will last and last, you can do so here!

Clearly, there are a lot of ways to ruin your diapers and most of us have done this at some point... Tell us how you did it in the comments below!