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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

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.


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112 comments:

  1. My most necessary cloth diapering accessory are our snappies right now, but I've sooo been wanting to try the boingo fasteners!

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  2. Have almost everything I need!!! You guys Rock!

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  3. My most necessary cloth diaper accessory are either the snappi or wetbags! I love the snappis to hold the prefolds when my daughter was a newborn to contain the poo. And the wetbag was great for storing the dirties in between washing.

    thank you for the giveaway!

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  4. I have fallen in love with my homemade cloth wipes and solution! They work so much better than disposable wipes!

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  5. I think that pail liners are definitely most essential - time saving, and they can go straight in the wash!

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  6. Wet bags, really really well made wet bags make cloth diapering on the go manageable!

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  7. I love Snappis and made-by-me cloth wipes.

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  8. Love my home-made cloth wipes. Terry on one side to get the bulk of the ick and flannel on the reverse for a soft finish. Most of the time we just use water! So easy! Also, love our wet bags.

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  9. Love my wet bags! But currently loving my cloth wipes and wipe solution!

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  10. I love my cloth wipes and homemade solution! We use them for everything from wiping up spit up and boogers to of course wiping up a poopy butt. I even use them to wash her face every night.

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  11. Oh wow! I really want to try those Boingo fasteners! My must have accessory is definitely cloth wipes!

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  12. Yes i love my cloth wipes and home made solution, very soothing for babies bottom! I hope i win this, will be having a preemie in a week or two due to IUGR and SUA:(. I have ordered the little joey covers and have pre folds that i need fasteners for but tight on money due to bed rest and now only one income and lotssss of hospital bills.

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  13. Definitely hemp inserts! They are the only thing that get us through an entire night without diaper changes. =)

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  14. diaper sprayer since poo is yuck without one. and you can never have enough wet bags.

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  15. Snappis, probably, since I use prefolds and snapless fitteds. My diaper routine wouldn't really work without them.

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  16. I don't know yet. I will be getting wet bags for sure and liners look like something I will deff need to have.

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  17. I'm not really sure what the best accessory is yet when he arrives I'm sure I find out rather quickly! :)

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  18. My shower head. It's close to the toilet and functions as a diaper sprayer-- it's awesome for solid poop.

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  19. Homemade wipes solution for SURE!

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  20. I think it has to be my wool cover! Never have a night time leak when I use it, often have a night time leak when I don't.

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  21. Definitely wet bags. I use a large one to store the dirty diapers at home, instead of a pail.

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  22. My diaper sprayer is the best! I have used it on diapers, to rinse mama cloth, to clean the toilet and even to clean the tub (our tub and toilet are insanely close together) I even tell people that don't cloth diaper that a diaper sprayer is a wonderful item to have

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  23. Wet bags! Cheaper to buy a wet bag and bring home the diaper than put it in a plastic bag and have someone throw it away!

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  24. cloth wipes or fleece liners are my must have.

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  25. butt cream. my little one has eczema so need lots of good butt cream

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  26. definitely my wet bag

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  27. I think its my hemp doublers, saves me from alot of night time leaks

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  28. I have not started cloth diapering yet. (still waiting on the baby) But I would say I think the thing I could not live without is the wetbag. I am sure that will be a must!

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  29. Still waiting for baby to get here, but I'm excited to make and use wool dryer balls!

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  30. I think its the snappi. No pins is a big plus.

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  31. I think having a diaper sprayer is essential once they start solids. I can't live without mine! Also some tea tree oil to help with yeast and smell.

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  32. wipe solution and cloth wipes! They keep my baby's bootie super soft and clean!

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  33. My big useful thing is the 2 gallon bucket with a lid I jeep under the bathroom sink. I put the soaking wet diapers in there after I rinse the poop out. Just peed on diapers go in the dry pail in the nursery.

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  34. We would be lost without our clothesline! Hanging covers, shells, and stained diapering accessories is such a lifesaver!

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  35. I would have said my pail liner, but lately CJ's Butt Butter has been getting us through some excema issues.

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  36. I would definitely have to say wetbag. I cannot go anywhere without my wetbag. I tried using plastic trashbags, but I would always end up with a leak inside my diaper bag.

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  37. My Diaper Sprayer!!!! Though, when I'm traveling, I'd have to say it's my wetbag :)

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  38. Definitely wetbags, but the diaper sprayer is a close second.

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  39. i would recommend a pair of rubber gloves to help clean those nasty poopy diapers

    jenn f
    mashmellow@hotmail.com

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  40. Hemp inserts! I couldn't get through a night with a dry baby without them!

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  41. It's a tie between my diaper sprayer and wet bags. I <3 my KangaCare wetbag!

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  42. At first I though the wetbag, but I could recycle a trash bag if I needed to. Since I use prefolds, I would have to say that diaper pins are my most required accessory. Having said that, I'm intrigued by Boingos - maybe they'll become my new essential accessory!
    Jodi J

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  43. If we used pre-folds / covers I would say a snappi! We on occasion & there is no way I would use pins.

    That being said I LOVE your wetbags, they are my favorite accessories!!! They are nice and big and the snapping handle makes it easy to hook them onto the changing table or pack n play.

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  44. My most necessary accessory would have to be the wetbags and change pads.

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  45. My wet bag and diaper sprayer is essential!

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  46. The washing machine! Not sure I could do it if I had to use the laundromat.

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  47. prefolds are my most necessary baby item in general. Beyond being my main way of diapering they are the ultimate baby multi tool.
    lizzwisniewski(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  48. Most necessary for cloth diapering? The correct laundry detergent! I can deal without some of the other things!

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  49. Wet bags and cloth wipes!

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  50. Wipe solution is another essential! Weather you buy premade solution, make your own, use wipe bits, or just use water, it's important to get something set up. I prefer using wipe bits because as a working, blogging mom, I have little time and I don't want to spend the time making and perfecting a recipie and then making it every few days, but I don't like the price of premade solutions, so I go for wipe bits, little bits of soap you dissolve in water. I've tried many different brands and love them. Either way you have to have something ready when baby comes! Even if you end up having to experiment around and find what is best when they show up. =]

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  51. Wet bags for the diaper bag are a must have for me. We are on-the-go a lot!

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  52. Cloth Wipes. And a pail liner.

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  53. We love our Boingos here!

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  54. Wet bag. Diaper sprayer is a close second.

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  55. Multiple wet bags for sure. That way I have one for the nursery, one for daycare, and one for my diaper bag!

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  56. My wet bag is essential! Apart from that, cloth wipes and my diaper sprayer.

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  57. Aside from my baby, I really like our Snappis. I haven't tried a Boingo yet.

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  58. I love wetbags. They are just as addicting as the diapers themselves!

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  59. can't live without my wet bags!!!

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  60. laura4him@bellsouth.net
    A wetbag!

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  61. snappi, but id like to try a boingo

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  62. hemp!! my little guy is a super wetter

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  63. I haven't started yet, but I'd say a wetbag

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  64. My most necessary accessory is a wet bag! Can't go out without one! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  65. Ecover Fabric Softener - makes even old hemp fleece feel buttery soft!

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  66. Pail liners, especially since we have to use paid washing machines.

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  67. Cloth wipes are my most essential accessory.

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  68. I am just starting out with cloth, but a small wet bag for on the go is on my list of accessories that i still need!

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  69. My most necessary accessory is my hemp boosters

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  70. I've been wanting to try a pair of boingos! For whatever reason, the snappi just never looked comfortable on my daughter. The diaper sprayer was one of our favorite accessories!

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  71. Wetbags!! I have 10 travel bags (2 stay in the diaper bag all the time because I am always forgetting to put them in before we leave.) CJ's is another big one. I keep the sample jars everywhere. Really great for chapped winter skin. (And the rare diaper rash, of course.)

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  72. I have only been doing CD for a few months, but flushable liners are a must-have!

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  73. I think my wetbags and diaper sprayer are the most important things. I don' even use a pail anymore, just wetbags.

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  74. Patience :). My son does not sit still to change his diaper.

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  75. We need everything for our new niece arriving in May!!

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