Meet the Elite: One Diaper - Birth to Potty Training!
If you thought the FuzziBunz® One Size cloth diaper could not get any better - think again! FuzziBunz® has re-engineered its already popular One Size to be trimmer fitting, more comfortable, faster drying and easier to adjust than before! Best yet, all these features come at the same low price as the original One Size FuzziBunz® diapers! The FuzziBunz® One Size Elite collection gives you even more bang for your buck, including these features:
Quick Dry Fleece: Baby feels dryer longer and fleece stays nicer longer with less visible wear
Easy-Replace Elastic Has Moved: The adjustable elastic's buttons are now found inside the pocket so there are no buttons next to baby’s skin
- New Minky Inserts: Each diaper comes with two Minky Inserts (small and medium/large) adding the following benefits:
- Less odor than microfiber
- Less staining
- Trimmer fitting diaper with same amount of absorbency
- Streamlined front panel and snap design provides better fit with less leaking
Cloth or Disposable
Many first-time parents considering what kind of diapers to put their infant in must often wade through seemingly endless facts and figures on top of conflicting recommendations from acquaintances, doctors and health blogs. Other issues aside, the argument often breaks down to a question of convenience vs. economics.
Before disposable diapers were invented in the 1940s, cloth was the standard. However, the convenience of being able to simply wrap up the waste and toss it in the trash led to a surge in popularity for disposables, which have replaced their cloth predecessors as the preferred diaper in America. For many parents with busy lives, the idea of doing extra (and smelly) laundry is unappealing.
Nonetheless, environmental and health concerns have led to an increased usage of cloth diapers, which no longer require the use of safety pins. These reusable nappies have evolved since the 1940s, coming in all shapes and sizes, in various designs and materials.
Parents must evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of choosing disposable or cloth, and which best fits their lifestyle.
'Time saver'
Like many parents, Sally Malay used disposable diapers with each of her three sons, who are now ages 3, 4 and 6 - and potty trained. When she had her eldest son Luca, she was running a business from home. When her second son was 6 months old, she began working full-time, like her husband.
"Honestly, cloth diapers didn't even cross my mind," says Malay, whose mother used cloth for her as a baby. "I thought (disposables) would be convenient -- a time saver."
One type of disposable Malay found particularly convenient were overnight diapers, which -- while bigger and more expensive -- are intended to last a child through the night.
"Because I was working full-time, whenever my sons became old enough to sleep through the night, it meant so much not having them crying because their diaper was feeling saturated," Malay says. "It was a huge help for me to get that extra bit of sleep."
For Malay and her husband, the costliness of disposables was not a huge problem.
"While it wasn't really expensive, when we stopped using diapers, we definitely noticed a difference in terms of having extra cash," Malay says. "But we just considered it an expense of having a baby."
Jennifer Aguon, like Malay, chose disposables for her three children. While the eldest two are 4 and 2 years old, her youngest, Aurora, was born just three months ago. Aguon also selected disposable diapers for the immediate convenience.
"When I was potty training one, the other was still in diapers," Aguon says. "And it's not fun to wash loads of dirty underwear and dirty diapers."
While Aguon says she considered cloth, she ultimately chose disposables, partly because she had to work and often had to turn to daycares and sitters for childcare. She says she didn't want to burden any caretakers with having to do more dirty work than necessary when changing diapers.
"Whenever you leave your child with someone else, you want to make it as easy as possible for them," Aguon says.
Because Malay's children went to day care rather young -- her eldest was around 8 months old - she says disposables were the better choice. "I thought that disposables might be more sanitary and that cloth would make more work for the carer," Malay says.
'In the long run'
Amanda Wooley is one mom who used cloth diapers for her son, Toma, now almost 4 years old. Wooley says her older sister set an example by using cloth diapers on all four of her children.
"I thought there was no reason why I wouldn't use them," Wooley says. "For my sister, it was an environmental thing, but after I read more about the chemicals in disposable diapers, I thought to myself, 'How can I even consider putting him in this stuff?'"
Disposable diapers contain dyes, fragrances and two chemicals commonly cited by cloth diaper proponents as particularly dangerous: sodium polyacrylate and dioxin.
Sodium polyacrylate is a gel used inside the diaper for absorption; it has been linked to toxic shock syndrome, cancer and allergic reactions. While dioxin is not intentionally added to disposable diapers, it is a by-product of the paper bleaching process and is associated with damage to the central nervous system, kidneys and liver, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Wooley says the initial cost of getting started with cloth diapers is relatively high compared to disposable diapers, which can often turn parents off the idea from the beginning. While the diapers are reusable, each costs about $15 to $25. According to Wooley, an infant uses a minimum of 10 diapers a day, so parents thinking of using cloth will need to consider how often they will need to wash the diapers as well as how often they are able to wash.
The dirty cloth diapers need to be washed separately from regular laundry, Wooley says. Parents also need to be aware of what chemical products come into contact with the diapers and use perfume - and dye-free detergents. All of these are, of course, issues that parents using disposable diapers do not have to contend with. For Wooley, these inconveniences are worth the savings. "It is definitely much cheaper in the long run to go with cloth diapers," Wooley says.
Michelle Pier was drawn to the financial savings cloth diapers offered. Because she and her husband received disposable diapers as gifts for their first child, they started out using both and gradually transitioned to cloth.
"I was really broke at the time, so whenever I had extra money, I bought a few here and there and gradually worked my way up," Pier says.
While extra laundry may be daunting for many parents, for Pier it was simply part of the parenting deal.
"You'd be surprised how much laundry (babies) have, whether cloth diapers or not," Pier says. "At the time, another load of laundry didn't faze me."
While Pier says there was an initial learning curve to cloth diapering, she eventually found a system that worked for her -- she only had to do laundry once or twice a week. The more diapers parents have, Pier says, the fewer laundry days per week are required. She'd just quickly clean the used diaper before throwing it into the big wash.
Buying Locally
Using cloth does not have to be expensive, according to Amanda Young, founder of Gaia Eco-Solutions, one of companies that sell cloth diapers.
Young says parents can actually make their own out of old T-shirts, or even buy secondhand diapers. Young herself traded old items around the house for her first stash of cloth diapers through an online diaper trading forum. One example is Diaper Swappers.
While some parents, like Wooley, use special polyurethane laminate "wet bags" to store dirty diapers in on the go, Young says plastic bags can work just fine.
"I think parents who use disposable diapers would probably opt for cloth more if they knew how much easier it actually is," Young says.
She says there is a stigma surrounding cloth diapers for parents thinking about switching - that cloth diapering is an all-or-nothing practice. However, she says parents can slowly bring cloth into their routine and that small changes can have big financial impacts - 150 uses with one cloth diaper can save a family about $52.
The biggest factor for Young is the environmental consequences of using cloth. According to EPA numbers, disposables make up about 60 percent of a family's waste output and can take up to 500 years to decompose in a landfill, sometimes longer.
"The biggest thing for me is that my children's children's children won't have to deal with the mess I left them," Young said.
Weighing your options - Cloth Diapers Pros
- Cheaper than disposable in the long run.
- Do not contain chemical irritatants present in disposables.
- Sustainable and environmentally friendly.
- Can be used for future children (only $400 for laundering costs).
Cons
- Initially expensive (about $15-$25 each for all-in-one diapers).
- Parents need to wash 10 or more diapers for each day.
- Parents may need to use special detergents.
- May be problematic for caretakers.
Weighing your options - Disposable Diapers Pros
- More convenient for travel and busy lifestyles.
- Some studies show reduced risk of infection in group setting.
- Initial purchase is cheaper.
- Less work for caretakers.
Cons
- More expensive than cloth (up to $4,000 over three years).
- Not biodegradable and end up in landfills.
- Contain dioxin and sodium polyacrylate.
- May aggravate diaper rash.
When I mentioned to a colleague that my husband and I planned to diaper our son in cloth, she looked at me as if I were crazy and wished me the best of luck. I shouldn’t have been surprised by her reaction - there really is no contest in terms of convenience when you compare cloth with disposables, but I was thinking about other factors than convenience. Environmentally, I felt more comfortable with reusing something over and over. Health wise, I liked the idea of diapering my son in something natural - cotton - rather than something chemical. And I thought that cloth was the better financial choice. However, after an initial investment of nearly $200 for 10 FuzziBunz diapers, I wasn’t so sure about the money part, so I decided to give this some more thought. Here are the financial facts about cloth vs. disposable diapers:
Cloth
With a hefty initial investment, cloth diapers are difficult to justify on the front end. However, the 10 diapers I purchased (plus the additional eight or so we received as gifts) are one-size diapers, meaning they will fit my peanut from birth to potty-training (at about age three.) In addition, these diapers should be good to go for any future peanuts we have, so theoretically I could get even more years of use out of them. Many of the modern cloth diaper companies offer warranties on their products, so if a snap breaks or elastic fails, you can receive a replacement.
However, once you’re using cloth diapers, you will also need to launder them. Unlike in the olden days, diaper services are harder to come by, but it is still possible to send your diapers out for someone else to clean. These services generally cost anywhere from $20 to $60 per week. Multiply that out to three years, and it will possibly cost as much as $9000 (!!!) to have someone else clean your diapers.
Even though I launder our diapers on the hottest wash setting, the cost per load is relatively cheap. (This website can help you determine how much each load of laundry costs you.) According to the site, each load costs my family approximately $0.65. Add in the fact that I line dry the diapers in warm weather (which both helps with stains and smells, and guarantees that my neighbors will be able to embarrass my son when he’s a teenager), and it brings down the cost per diaper change a great deal.
Disposable diapers can cost upto US$ 2,500 compared to cloth diaper that cost under US$ 1,700. Get detailed analysis of different types of diapers here.
Disposable
I was pleasantly surprised at how little a package of disposable diapers cost when I first bought some for the peanut. I was able to get 50 newborn size diapers for under $8. (Full disclosure: I almost never buy name brand. This was a store brand package that was at least $2 less than the similar Huggies, Pampers, etc.) However, a newborn goes through 10-12 diapers a day, and that 50 pack will only last a portion of a week. As babies grow, they need fewer diaper changes, but you’ll notice that the number of diapers in the packages goes down, too, so you’re still spending about the same amount. Ultimately, it will cost anywhere from $50 to $80 per month to diaper your child exclusively in disposables. After three years, you could spend up to $3000 on diapers alone.
However, disposables do have one cost advantage that cloth diapers do not. Coupons! If you are squeamish or living without your own washer, you can still feel fiscally responsible with your choice of disposable diapers. Clipping Sunday coupons and signing up for coupons with the major diaper manufacturers can help you to never pay full price for a package of Luvs. In addition, you can buy in bulk and scope out the internet for diaper promotions. There’s generally no need for brand loyalty - most kids don’t notice what they’ve got on.
For us, it was important enough environmentally to commit to cloth diapers, no matter the financial difference. Luckily, cloth diapers do tend to have a slight financial edge over disposables, provided you are willing and able to launder them yourself. But you can’t beat disposables for convenience, and we certainly couldn’t travel, take our son to the babysitter, or even have a long day out, without disposables.
NOTE: Price valid only for US Addresses (48 contiguous states). Contact us for other locations.
FuzziBunzCloth Diapers - The Best Cloth Pocket Diaper Around - Now in 2010 Colors
Being aware that disposable diapers cause problems with the environment and that cloth diapers are better for baby than petroleum filled ‘sposies’ I decided to cloth diaper my babies at least part time. Not wanting to spend a lot of time or money on this endeavor, I looked for the most practical and efficient diaper that was easy to use. FuzziBunz diapers fit the bill exactly.
Before finding FuzziBunz diapers I tried to use inexpensive cloth prefold diapers and plastic diaper covers. What a mess that was! Though both my mother and mother-in-law were glad to show me how to use them, I just couldn’t make it work for me. There were leaks and messes and tons of laundry. I had to find a better way. I began searching the internet for cloth diaper tips and found many other moms who sang the praises of FuzziBunz diapers. I decided to give them a try.
FuzziBunz are what is called a pocket diaper. They have an outer cover made of waterproof material which is attached to an inner lining of fleece. The top back of the diaper is left unsewn and works as a pocket. Absorbent items such as microfiber cloths, Joey Bunz inserts, prefold diapers and even dish towels can be stuffed into the pocket to create just the right amount of absorbency.
FuzziBunz diapers use snaps as fasteners. There are several snaps on each diaper to create an adjustable fit that allows the diaper grow with the child. No need to worry about torn tabs here! Also, if a snap falls off or breaks within a year of purchase, the whole diaper will be replaced.
FuzziBunz diapers come in great colors! So far there are twenty-two beautiful, vibrant colors of FuzziBunz diapers. Some wholesale websites even offer different prints on the FuzziBunz that they sell.
The average cost of a single, white FuzziBunz diaper is around $15.00. Most FuzziBunz wholesalers offer diaper packages that allow for a bit of savings. The website from which I purchased my FuzziBunz diapers offers them at just under the average price. Larger sizes cost more than smaller size and colored FuzziBunz are a bit more expensive than plain white FuzziBunz.
When I first began using FuzziBunz diapers they had a few colors to choose from. I choose six of the plain white FuzziBunz diapers and six of the Joey Bunz inserts to get started. When the FuzziBunz arrived in the mail I was excited to get started using them. I carefully follow the instructions included with my diapers and washed them to ensure maximum absorbency on the first use. After the FuzziBunz were washed and dried I tried them on my son. I was very pleased with the results.
My son was comfortable in the fleece lining and there was no hint of diaper rash when using FuzziBunz. We experienced absolutely no leaks during the day. Overnight, the diaper leaked, but because of the ability to adjust the absorbency based on my needs, the next night was fine and the FuzziBunz did not leak. The fit of FuzziBunz was snug enough to prevent leaks yet flexible enough to keep my son comfortable. The sizing chart available online was perfect for helping me to find the correct size for my child.
I was concerned about the bulk of cloth diapers and how they would fit under pants and shorts. FuzziBunz, with their adjustable absorbency fit great beneath my child’s clothing with a simple, highly absorbent insert in place.
Caring for FuzziBunz diapers was a breeze. The care instructions come with the FuzziBunz and give tips on how to keep FuzziBunz clean and in great condition. Diaper soil rolls easily off the microfleece lining and into the toilet for quick disposal. FuzziBunz diaper quickly air dry after washing and are ready for use again.
I definitely recommend FuzziBunz diapers as an easy to use, comfortable cloth diaper that looks great. I bought FuzziBunz diapers for the first about four years ago and they have made their way through three children and still work great. My experience with FuzziBunz diapers has been nothing but positive.
Takeaways
- FuzziBunz diapers have a soft, microfleece lining.
- FuzziBunz are better for the environment. - FuzziBunz are durable and easy to care for.
The award-winning and patented FuzziBunz reusable pocket-style diapering system ensures that babies stay dry, healthy and happy. Made with only the finest and most innovative materials, FuzziBunz diapers deter icky leaks, prevent painful diaper rash and keep baby looking and feeling good.
When choosing the right cloth diaper for your baby, there is a lot to think about. One major choice today is choosing a One Size diaper or a Sized diaper. Use the chart below to help decide whether a One Size or Sized diaper is right for you and your baby.
If a trim fitting diaper is important to you, then the Sized diapers may be best suited for you - most babies use only 2 sizes of diapers, Small and Medium. If a diaper that will last from birth to potty, and will stand up to three years of use or more is what you value (and you are willing to sacrifice some trimness for this), then the One Size may be your diaper of choice.
The FuzziBunz One Size Diapers are the most adjustable and innovative one-size cloth diapers on the market today! Adjust the diapers to fit babies 7-35 pounds and get a snug fit every time with the button-adjusted waist and leg casings. The leg casings adjust to 8+ settings and the waist adjusts to 4+ settings. Never before has a pocket-style cloth diaper been SO adjustable!
Includes
- FuzziBunz One Size diaper with hip snaps (1 each)
- Absorbent cotton 4 layer inserts (2 each Small, 2 each Medium/Large)
- Replacement Elastic - Bonus (2 each)
Features
- Sturdy Snap Closures Make FuzziBunz the Hands-Down Cloth Diaper Winner!
- Award-winning patented pocket diaper is made with sturdy snap closures, which are made to last and require absolutely no maintenance.
- Has no Velcro, so it won't fray, collect lint or snag your baby's clothes.
- Snaps at the waist, hips, and legs for a perfect fit.
- Adjustable, stretchy leg elastic with mini-gussets keeps messes contained.
- Durable snap closures never give out, guaranteed.
- Patented inside fleece layer keeps your baby dry and rash free.
- Super absorbent insert is hidden in a patented back pocket.
- Waterproofing built in with soft PUL outer layer which comes in a rainbow of fashionable colors.
One Size Adjustability
The FuzziBunz One Size diaper is adjustable through adjustable elastic, NOT snap downs on the front of the diaper like most one size diapers on the market today. Similar to adjustable waistbands for children and maternity wear, the waist and legs have been made customizable through a button / elastic adjustment system. So instead of 3 length settings, you can set to 8+ very customizable sizes. Instead of NO waist settings, you have up to 4+. So you have a SUPER adjustable diaper without an excess of snaps. It may take a bit of adjusting to get to the right size, but when you find the right fit, you set it and forget it.
FuzziBunz diapers are the workhorse of all reusable diapering systems. Made with only the finest and most innovative materials, the stylish three-layered patented FuzziBunz design works hard to keep your babies' bottoms dry and rash-free… always!
How does the FuzziBunz diapering system work
- The waterproof outer barrier keeps wetness contained.
- The soft microfleece inner layer gently touches your baby’s skin, pulling away moisture and keeping your baby rash-free, dry, and comfortable. The microfleece is made of 100% Polyester and is custom-milled.
- The unique, patented pocket-style opening enables you to customize the absorbency to fit your baby needs. Stuff the pocket with inserts, a pre-fold, or even a hand towel!
- The updated top-stitching circles the top of the diaper and the tabs, providing reinforcement and demonstrating commitment to making high quality diapers that hold up wash after wash.
- The larger, square tabs hold the diaper in place to prevent sagging and provide better grip during diaper changes.
- The stretchier elastic around the legs provides maximum comfort for baby.
- The leg casings create "mini-gussets" to keep messes contained and leaks at bay.
- The adjustable snap settings grow with your baby and enable you to adjust for your baby’s waist and leg sizes.
- The wide-array of color choices makes diapering fun!
NOTE: These diapers are from a special lot of One Size and Perfect Size Cloth Diapers that have fluffier fleece and come with manufacturer's warranty. However, these diapers do not qualify for any other special promotions or discounts like FuzziBunz Customer Rewards or Mystery Print.
NEW design makes this diaper adjustable from birth to potty!
No Leaks. No Rash. No Waste. The FuzziBunz One-Size Diapers are the most adjustable and innovative one-size cloth diapers on the market today! Adjust the diapers to fit babies 7-35 pounds and get a snug fit every time with the button-adjusted waist and leg casings. The leg casings adjust to 8+ settings and the waist adjusts to 4+ settings. Never before has a pocket-style cloth diaper been SO adjustable!
The FUZZIBUNZ ONE SIZE diaper is adjustable through adjustable elastic, NOT snap downs on the front of the diaper like most one size diapers on the market today. Similar to adjustable waistbands for children and maternity wear, the waist and legs have been made customizable through a button / elastic adjustment system. So instead of 3 length settings, you can set to 8+ very customizable sizes. Instead of NO waist settings, you have up to 4+. So you have a SUPER adjustable diaper without an excess of snaps. It may take a bit of "adjusting" to get to the right size, but when you find the right fit, you set it and forget it.
Durability
In a One Size diaper durability is especially important. You want that diaper to fit for 3+ years from the time your baby is born until the time they are out of diapers....and possibly for other children. FuzziBunz are already built to last. After 10 years as a leader in the cloth diaper industry, we prefer the precision and durability of snap closures on our products, and by offering a unique and "replaceable for pennies" elastic system on the diapers, we can promise our customers years of extended use. Not only will your CLOSURES last for 3 years your ELASTIC will LAST for as long as it will and can be replaced in less than 10 minutes! No re-sewing, no seam-ripping! FuzziBunz are a great and valuable investment.
FuzziBunz offers both Pefect Sized and Birth to Potty diapers to consumers. Each have their pros and cons. If a trim fitting diaper is important to you than the "perfect sized" diapers may be suited best for you - most babies only use 2 sizes of diapers (small and medium). If a diaper that will last from birth to potty, and will stand up to three years of use and possibly more is what you value....and you are willing to sacrifice some trimness for this - then the "One Size" may be your diaper of choice.
Here's how the best-selling FuzziBunz diapering system works
• The waterproof outer barrier keeps wetness contained.
• The soft microfleece inner layer gently touches your baby's skin, pulling away moisture and keeping your baby rash-free, dry, and comfortable. The microfleece is made of 100% Polyester and is custom-milled.
• The unique, patented pocket-style opening enables you to customize the absorbency to fit your baby needs. Stuff the pocket with inserts, a pre-fold, or even a hand towel!
• The updated top-stitching circles the top of the diaper and the tabs, providing reinforcement to hold up wash after wash.
• The larger, square tabs hold the diaper in place to prevent sagging and provide better grip during diaper changes.
• The stretchier elastic around the legs provides maximum comfort for baby.
• The leg casings create "mini-gussets" to keep messes contained and leaks at bay.
• The wide-array of color choices makes diapering fun - choose your favorite or match an outfit!
Breastfeeding isn't easy at the best of times and in public places its especially difficult. If you're looking for a fun yet functional alternative to the traditional nursing cover, think Moboleez, "Modern Bonnets for Breastfeeding Babes"!
What Moboleez is, is a hat just for the breastfeeding baby, with a tiny little head and great big brim that gives mom a little privacy. It creates a soft cocoon around the breast and baby, so the baby can feed in peace and without the distractions of light, people passing etc. And to see your baby, just lift up the brim.
Moboleezhats are made out of super soft, all-natural fabrics, baby-friendly colors. Plus there are humourous illustrations for the top of the head (visible when breastfeeding of course!) which with their lighthearted messages ("Milky Way", "Bee-licious", etc) convey the message that the MoBoleez mom is a proud breastfeeding babe, with a sense of humour and style!
I love my pink Cafe Au Lait Moboleez! It is one of a variety of colors and whimsical designs in which these stylish hats are available. However, even with the broad brim, sometimes more is revealed than you may want to. So don't throw away that good ole nursing cover yet. But for a fashionable change, you can't beat Moboleez! They also make a great shower gift.
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