This week we have been talking to moms that have switched from disposable diapers to cloth. We are so fortunate to have so many moms in the Eco Chic community that are willing to share their experience and help others. Just in case you missed the other 4 interviews check them out here: Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3, & Part 4. Today we are hearing from Mary on why she made the switch! Why did you make the switch to cloth?
I had planned on using cloth before she was born but struggled with yeast and did not want it to get in the cloth so I waited to start them until the yeast was gone. I wanted to do cloth because of how good it is for the environment and the cost.
How long did you use disposables and how long have you been using cloth?
We used the disposables for 8wks.
What has the biggest surprise been for you?
I thought it would be time consuming and more cumbersome than disposables but it has been really easy and really no trouble at all.
I don't find it much different than disposables.
What is your go to cloth diaper and why?
I use the GroVia ones more than any other. I thought they would be my least favorite of the ones I bought but they are my favorite. I like how the inside just snaps in and you can take it out to clean it or use another insert. You can dry the covers separately and reuse them.
Have you dealt with a lot of negativity regarding your decision to change and if so how do you handle it?
Yeah I have. My family does not understand why I am choosing to do cloth. They do not think it is worth it. They think it is gross and unnecessary. Some have told me because they are so big it is preventing her from rolling over like she is supposed to. I explain to them that it is not bad and how good it is for her, the environment and the budget. I show them how simple they are and how cute they are and they usually come around.
Do you miss anything about disposables?
The only thing that I liked better about disposables is that they fit better in the diaper bag.. other than that I don't miss them. I had WAY more blow outs with the disposables and virtually none with the cloth.
What would you say to a parent thinking of making the switch?
I was super overwhelmed when I first looked into cloth diapering with all the different kinds and washing them etc. But I would tell them to just jump in. Buy one and use it and they won't want to go back. I just had to go for it and the stress about it went away.
What is your best cloth diapering tip?
I would say that if you are going to CD I would use cloth wipes as well. It just makes it easier. Also, to have fun with it and don't stress if you have to use a sposie now and then.
Once again we cannot thank these moms enough for sharing! Are you ready to make the switch? If not, what's stopping you?
Today we are talking with Cherish about why she chose to "convert" from disposable diapers to cloth. Why did you make the switch to cloth?
We knew we wanted to cloth diaper before our daughter was born, but we received so many disposables at our baby shower, we decided to use up those first while we built up our selection of cloth. My mom was the one who actually told us about cloth diapers after she saw FuzziBunz on Shark Tank. We thought it would be more economical and earth friendly and I was concerned about the chemicals in disposables.
How long did you use disposables and how long have you been using cloth?
We started using cloth part time before Leauna was a month old. We collected enough cloth diapers to go full time by the time she was 3 months old, and have been using cloth exclusively for the past 3 months.
What has the biggest surprise been for you?
I was surprised by how much money I could save by buying used diapers and by how fun and exciting it is to add diapers to our collection.
What is your go to cloth diaper and why?
I love sunbaby and Kawaii baby pocket diapers because they fit just right and are big enough to double stuff the inserts at night.
Have you dealt with a lot of negativity regarding your decision to change and if so how do you handle it?
We haven't dealt with a lot of negativity, but some people didn't think that we would use cloth for long because it would be a burden to wash constantly and rinse off the poo when she starts solids.
Do you miss anything about disposables?
The convenience of disposables was sometimes nice, but not a good trade off for the price and the economic impact. And I definitely do not miss seeing those little gel beads on my baby's bum during a disposable diaper change
What would you say to a parent thinking of making the switch?
Buy used if you can, you'll save a lot more money. Network with other CDing moms and dads, for support and to learn from their cloth diapering expertise. And know that you will be doing laundry more often.
What is your best Cloth Diapering tip?
Learning what works for your family with cloth diapers is a lot of trial and error. It takes time to figure out the best washing routine for diapers. Ask others who have similar washing machines what works for them.
Thanks so much Cherish for your candid answers. Stay tuned tomorrow for the last in our 5 part series!
Today we're talking with Christine about her experience with making the switch to cloth. Why did you make the switch to cloth?
I switched to cloth after Chrissy informed me of all the chemicals and toxins in the disposables. I didnt realize just how bad they were. and then how new and up dated the cloth diapers are- not your old school mama diapers! She showed me how easy to use they ate and the options I have with various kinds.
How long did you use disposables and how long have you been using cloth?
I started late with cloth. I think Sarah was 12 months at the time of the switch?? She was in diapers and cloth trainers until potty trained at 2 yrs 9 months. I used cloth on Hannah as soon as she fit in them (I didn't have newborn size) and she is currently only wearing cloth to bed- she is 2.5 yrs old.
What has the biggest surprise been for you?
Biggest surprise for me was that they were absorbent like disposables. I feared leaks something horrid.
Also, I actually didn't mind washing, hanging them to dry and stuffing them! I had reservations but it was fine.
What is your go to cloth diaper and why?
I started with Charlie Banana and pocket Bum Genius. I need up with all pocket BG! I liked the snaps to size it (sm, md, lg) and the flexibility of the pocket for absorbency! It was simple to use, wash and dried fairly quickly and I never had blow outs or leaks!
Have you dealt with a lot of negativity regarding your decision to change and if so how do you handle it?
No, not a lot of negativity. More so 'why?' than anything else. People immediately thought it was more work, more complicated and expensive. After explaining briefly what I learned and how things have gone with my two girls, it's more of a 'Oh' or 'ah ha' moment for them.
Do you miss anything about disposables?
Ouch, that's a tough q's. That I could just toss a disposable away! But that's selfish. Nope, I don't miss them!
What would you say to a parent thinking of making the switch?
I'd say, "go for the switch if you are thinking about it! Yes, it's an up front cost but it'll save you money in the long run and they are simple and cute! How could you go wrong? :)
What is your best Cloth Diapering tip?
Ha ha ha! My best cloth diapering tip is to never go back to disposables again!
Use a diaper sprayer to clean off excess poo, wash every other day and never worry about stains!
I absolutely love Christine's last tip; never worry about stains! I use to obsess about them and my life is so much easier since I realized the diaper is just going to get pooped in again!
Today we were lucky enough to speak with Michelle about her experience with switching to cloth! Why did you make the switch to cloth?
We made the switch because Travis was having constant blowouts in his disposable diaper and because it was getting expensive to continue purchasing disposables.
What has the biggest surprise been for you?
We used disposables for about 4 months. We tried cloth off and on during that time, but they were prefolds with a cover. It didn't work for us, but that is because we didn't realize how many options for cloth diapering there are. Once we were introduced to the pocket diaper, the game changed.
What is your go to cloth diaper and why?
I have a few go to diapers. I love my Just Simply Baby diapers and my Smartipants.
Have you dealt with a lot of negativity regarding your decision to change and if so how do you handle it?
We haven't had any negativity regarding cloth diapers. If anything, we have people asking us all the time about them.
Do you miss anything about disposables?
I don't miss anything about disposables.
What would you say to a parent thinking of making the switch?
I would say try it, but if it doesn't work in the beginning like us, try a little later. Travis was too big for newborn diapers but too small for the one size diaper. Once he was big enough to fit, we tried again.
What is your best Cloth Diapering tip?
Try different diapers. What works for one person may not work for the next. Don't get discouraged. There is a system for everyone.
Thanks so much for your answers Michelle! I particularly love this Mama's flexibility, she has tried different things and has made cloth diapering work for her family. I echo her sentiment that what may work for one family may be totally wrong for another one. Stay tuned tomorrow for a mama that started with cloth much later in her babies life!
Are you curious about cloth? Currently using sposies and can't think of a good reason to switch? We have covered the Cloth 101 here but one thing we have yet to cover is how to "convert". Luckily our Eco Chic Facebook group has plenty of moms to help tell you why they made the switch. Thanks so much to all the mamas for answering our questions! First up lets see why Jo-Anne made the switch... Why did you make the switch to cloth?
Save money, better for the environment.
What has the biggest surprise been for you?
Biggest surprise was definitely how much less cloth diapers stink!
What is your go to cloth diaper and why?
My go to cloth diaper is a Sustainable babyish snapless diaper with a wool cover. Child #3 is VERY sensitive. Disposables give her a terrible rash, and I find PUL warm. Wool is cute, soft, and has great resale value, so it's kind of like diapering for free.
Have you dealt with a lot of negativity regarding your decision to change and if so how do you handle it?
No real negativity. My MIL still buys disposables for her house, but at my house she will use cloth. My mom bought a dozen pockets for each of my kids as their gift when they were born!
Do you miss anything about disposables?
I guess the only think I miss about disposables is the convenience when out and about, but the pros of cding far outweigh the cons.
What would you say to a parent thinking of making the switch?
For a parent making the switch, I would say to just do it! It is so much easier than you would think. And get a diaper sprayer. Make life 100 times easier, and it great for lots of things, especially puke.
What is your best Cloth Diapering tip?
Use what works for you. There are all price points and styles of diapers. Don't feel like you need to get what you think is the best, or what someone else tells you is the best. Figure out what works for you and your family! Thanks so much for your answers Jo-Anne. Stay tuned throughout the week to hear answers from 4 other moms!
Ok so the last 2 years I have gone back and forth with consignment. We had our consignment corner with $2 items and nothing over $9 really. I mean the items were a STEAL! Now it can be hard to find the PERFECT system and what works for everyone. We want you to be able to find the products you can't find at target, babies r us etc. Have a nursing moms room, classes, events and SUPPORT. Those are the key things to us. Having quality unique items that last and you love. Our hearts are MUCH more into diapers, car seats, strollers, essential oils, organic foods, eco friendly items, handmade goods etc. then it is entering 500 onesies into a system. Just being honest. I love consignment as much as anyone. I scored some steve madden gladiators, 2 free people tops and some express shorts (that I wore at our birthday on saturday) at Crossroads in Sac just a few weeks ago. I just don't love it for eco chic. Thankfully MoonChild is family owned and run and just 1.5 minutes away from us. You know how we LOVE to support local, I would not want to take anything away from this mama but only ensure her succes by 1. Giving our inventory over to her 2. Sending all potential consigners her way If you have had any consignment with us please let us know if you want to pick it up or if its ok to donate it. We are going thru all the records this week and closing out all accounts. If its been 60days sense you consigned your account was already closed out. Thank you for your understanding and excitement! We are so excited to expand our Baby Wearing Selection and bring in more of the products you love! Thank you again for your loyalty, friendship and love. We appreciate you beyond words.  We LOVE Raw Milk around here!! Thanks to all that came to our event! Now this photo is really to show you my crossroads outfit :)
As a proclaimed Eco-Chic-Aholic when Kellie and Chrissy introduced DoTerra Esssential Oils to the shop I had to of course give them a shot. I have been using Tea Tree Oil in my cloth diaper wipe solution for years and Euculyptus Oil in the humidifer when the kids had a cold for a while but I was definetley not educated on oils, there beneifits or their uses. Knowing nothing and being the research mogul that I am I decided the best place to start was the Into to Oils Class that Kellie was hosting at Eco Chic. My mom had some interest in the oils as well so it made the perfect excuse for some time together.
The class proved to be very helpful and useful; best part was we got to make an all purpose cleaner to take home. We learned all about why Eco Chic chose this particular brand of oils, DoTerra. From DoTerra's website: dōTERRA (CPTG) Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils represent the safest, purest, and most beneficial essential oils available today. They are gently and skillfully distilled from plants that have been patiently harvested at the perfect moment by experienced growers from around the world for ideal extract composition and efficacy.
I was most impressed by the lengths that the company goes to in regards to testing the product for purity. They are not only looking for 100% pure essential oils but testing the plants to make sure they are harvested at the right time so the oils extracted are absolutely at their maximum. So, how does all of this help you decide if you believe in the powers of Essential Oils? Well that part is next...
In September Travis began preschool. I wasn't delisiounal that my kid would go to school and never get sick but I had NO idea what we were in for. He was literally sick for 2 weeks at a time almost EVERY TWO WEEKS! No let me tell you again so you really understand what I was facing, he was sick EVERY TWO WEEKS. Snot, exhaustion, aches, and worse of all this raspy cough that sounded terrible. We tried every trick we knew, took him to the Dr. a few times and finally we were told he had asthma and it was causing his immune system to be weakened. Yeah, pretty much the worst thing you could tell a mom that has suffered with asthma her entire life. This diagnoses came just a few weeks before I went to the Intro to Essential Oils Class. By the time I went to the class Travis had recovered from his most recent stint of sickness. When I got home I knew I wanted to try the OnGuard blend ASAP.
I am so thrilled to report that since introducing Essential Oils into our lives Travis has rarely had a runny nose, he has not caught the raspy cough that has been frequanting his preschool, his exhustion from being up all night coughing has been replaced by an abundace of energy. Now I'm not a Dr, and I'm not claiming a miracle or thinking the kid is never going to be sick again, I'm just saying in my humble opinion the oils have been boosting his immunity and are helping. In succesion with the oils we have started giving Travis raw milk once a day and I believe the combo is a one-two punch to give my kid the strongest immunity he can get.
In addition to the awesome immunity boosting benefits we have seen I have found I am using oils for a number of other things around our home; Lavender in the bath before bed, Lemon in my water to spice it up a bit, Lemon and Peppermint on my temples, behind my ears, and on my wrists to cure a headache, Lemon and Tea Tree Oil (Meleluca) to clean with, and DigestZen Blend to cure tummy aches. Its amazing to me how effective the oils are and how easy they are to use.
As a family we really appreciate how safe the oils are to use around our two small children. I've never worried that I am going to OD them on oils or that they aren't really "sick" enough for them like I have with traditional medicine.
I may not be able to use them for more severe illnesses down the road but we will continue to use oils as our best offense and our first defense against illness. Please share with us your experience with Essential Oils and if you feel like they are improving your life. And stay tuned for other testimonials on the effectiveness of the oils, including one from my mom if I can talk her into it :) Nothing like a little public peer pressure right?
This blog post is brought to you by The Organic Momma whom I adore and look up to! I highly suggest you subscribe to her blog and like her page! Staying Healthy This Cold & Flu Season With Living Foods
By: Catherine Slezinger
On February 16, 2005, I was 19 years old, and newly married. My wonderful husband and I had been married a little over 6 months, and we had just celebrated our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple. After having crammed four years of college into two so that I could graduate before our wedding day, I was thankful to be settling into a more peaceful pace of life as a married woman. Enthusiastic about my new life and excited for our future, I was so unprepared for what was in store for me.
I woke up that fateful morning sick- very sick. I had a debilitating case of
IBS. Years of antibiotics, processed foods, Ibuprofen for headaches, and
sugary sweets were catching up with me. I went from eagerly anticipating
what the future held to being a depressed, pain filled young woman unable
to function in everyday life.
But God had a plan for me! After six months of sickness, fear, and endless
doctor’s visits, I was given a copy of a book called The Maker’s Diet by
Jordan Rubin. Desperate, I devoured the book in one day. I started the first
day of the health program two days later, and never looked back.
After 40 days, I was able to get out bed again, and most importantly- had
hope restored to my heart. Now, almost 8 years later, I am in the best
health of my life, and have the joy and privilege of seeing my three small
children (and husband!) flourishing under the foods that God has given us to
eat.
As you can imagine, after this kind of health triumph I am PASSIONATE about seeing others achieve the same level of health that I have. I hate to see others suffer needlessly in sickness like I did!
One of the main ways that I was able to rebuild my health was through the use of probiotics, which are a true gift from God. My family and I consume probiotics every day, both through supplement form and also through living foods! Today I’d like to share with you some of the benefits of living foods such as organic raw kefir, sauerkraut, and kombucha, and how they can help you and your family thrive!
When it comes to your health, the best defense is a good offense! And when it comes to food, one of the best offensive weapons we’ve been given are fermented foods. Our family eats fermented foods all year round, but I work extra hard to make sure every family member is getting at least one if not multiple servings of fermented foods during cold & flu season.
Why are fermented foods so powerful? Fermented foods are so powerful because they form a front line of defense in your digestive tract- keeping the good guys healthy and the bad guys OUT. Remember that a healthy person’s digestive system is full of 80% good bacteria, and 20% bad. When those numbers get out of whack, you are susceptible to sickness. (Or you’re already sick!)
The probiotics and friendly bacteria in fermented foods literally line the walls of your intestines, waiting for invaders like bacteria and viruses, so they can wipe them out! Plus they fortify the good bacteria already present in your system, helping them get ready for any attack. And they do all this while you’re going about your daily life!
Fermented foods are truly a weapon in the war against sickness & disease. And, they’re easy and fun to make, and some of them reproduce for a lifetime, making them very economical as well!
Probiotics were absolutely critical in helping me heal from a serious digestive illness, and they will do the same for you and your family. Probiotics everyday will keep the doctor away! :) Thank you for reading and I look forward to talking with you again soon!
Many blessings,
Catherine Slezinger
 Inspiring and empowering the dreams of friends can be amazing, in this case bittersweet. I will dearly miss Tami and Chalk Paint but at the same time our heart is full of hope for Patina and Eco Chic.
One of my first experiences with the powers of essential oils was having coffee with a friend and smelling a few different oils and putting them on my hands to inhale the vapors. It smelled great, but what was even better was on the drive home my little one was so upset in her car seat (we were, and still are, going through the I hate my car seat phase). I reached back and put my hand on her cheek and she instantly calmed down. I know it was the smell of the oils that she found calming, and probably distracting! I can't tell you how many times I've reached my hand back there only to have it quickly swatted away. But this time she held my hand next to her face and quickly fell asleep. I couldn't believe it!
Since that time I have continued to use oils when she is extremely upset. The other night she was working on some terrible teeth and nothing would soothe her, not cuddles, not nursing, nothing. Final out of desperation I rubbed some lemon oil (her favorite!) with coconut oil on her back in circles and she finally gave in to sleep. I've been enjoying trying out different oils for all our aliments of the past few months. We use digestzen (with coconut oil) on my 6 month olds stomach every night to help her reflux and my husband uses deep blue constantly on his achy wrists (injury arthritis from years of football). I can't believe the things I can use the oils for.
I'm looking forward to sharing more about how oils have improved our health at our monthly Introduction to Essential Oils class on one saturday a month in the shop. Hope to see you there!!! Check our facebook events page for class details and dates!
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