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Let’s Talk Absorption: Smart Bottoms Too Smart Inserts

2016/01 By Lauren B. Stevens 1 Comment

Just when you thought you had heard the last from me about cloth diapers and cloth diapering…and then Smart Bottoms sends me a pack of their Too Smart Inserts – hello absorption!

Smart Bottoms Too Smart Inserts are the perfect pair for simple cover & insert diapering, with organic cotton adding lots of absorption.

Too Smart Inserts would have saved me a ton of time when I first began cloth diapering! If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you know that I am a huge fan of prefold cloth diapers. In fact, my son was exclusively diapered with prefolds the first six months, so I feel like a pro at simplicity in diapering. I had a handful of covers at the time (Smart Bottoms Too Smart Covers weren’t around at that time) and used them in conjunction with the insane collection of prefolds I had amassed. My love for prefolds stemmed from two things: 1.) they’re virtually indestructible (seriously, ask a dedicated prefold user), and 2.) they’re inexpensive. I would add a third reason to use covers and prefolds or inserts — you’re prepared to make a diaper from anything, should you run out of diapers (seriously, been there, done that — for the record, receiving blankets make great flat diapers).

Anyway, as with all things Smart Bottoms, I’m a fan of Too Smart Inserts because they’re made from 4 thirsty layers of organic cotton (you can find my thoughts on natural fibers HERE), and measure 5×30, which means that you can flip, fold and origami these bad boys anyway you want to create a wonderfully absorbent system (with a Too Smart Cover, or any diaper cover, for that matter) for your bambino. I love these lengthy Too Smart Inserts because they have that signature length that makes them perfect for adjusting the absorption for baby boys in the front (check out my thoughts on the best cloth diapers for boys HERE).

Sold in 3-packs, Too Smart Inserts retail at $15, which makes them $5 a piece (math genius here). While more expensive than your average prefold, I would add Too Smart Inserts to my Cloth Diapering Accessory Must Haves list for two reasons. One, diapering emergencies happen. Remember that receiving blanket incident I told you about? I’m a firm believer that every cloth diapering family should own at least one diaper cover, even if they are an exclusive all-in-one (AIO) family. Because emergencies. Even after I transitioned to AIOs, I kept a cover and prefold in my diaper bag for emergency backup. Here’s the second reason why you need to add Too Smart Inserts to your cloth diaper accoutrements — they don’t take up much room…at all. I would have loved to have these inserts, as my backup cover and prefold took up precious room in my diaper bag. With Too Smart Inserts, you have all of the absorption of a prefold in a nice, trim insert.

Another reason to grab a pack of Too Smart Inserts? I have two words for you: Heavy. Wetter. Yep. My son went from a barely pee-er to a super-soaker at around a year old. It threw me into a panic, and I scrambled to, once again, adjust our cloth diapers to my son’s needs — this is when I discovered Smart Bottoms Smart Ones and never looked back!

Smart Bottoms Too Smart Inserts are great for everyday use with covers, perfect for your diaper bag emergency stash, and even better to have on hand for overnight diapering or adding additional absorption if your little one becomes a heavy wetter over night.

You can purchase Smart Bottoms Too Smart Inserts at select cloth diaper retailers, or you can find them at my two affiliate cloth diaper retailers, Diaper Junction and Kelly’s Closet.

* I received a pack of Too Smart Inserts for the purposes of this post; all opinions expressed are my own.

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Filed Under: Accessories, AI2s, Cloth Diapering, General Topics, Pockets, Prefolds

MommyCon Atlanta Promo Code

2016/01 By Lauren B. Stevens 2 Comments

Alright, my cloth diapering, babywearing, breastfeeding friends, it’s 2016! You know what that means, right? MommyCon events are taking place across the country this year! With the Atlanta event just one month away, I have an exclusive MommyCon Atlanta Promo Code to share with you — who’s excited? Save $5 off of each general admission ticket you purchase with MommyCon Atlanta Promo Code: LOWREN16 (discount changed by MommyCon, effective July 1, from $6 to $5, so that all event promoters offer the same discount, no matter their promotion results).

Looking for a MommyCon Atlanta promo code? Use LOWREN16 at checkout to save $6 on each of your MommyCon (& PLAY, MILK, WEAR) general admission tickets.

Once you purchase your tickets, head over HERE and leave a comment to enter into an exclusive Smart Bottoms Cloth Diapers giveaway for MommyCon attendees!

Giveaway, you ask? Yes! I have something special in store for those of you who use my 2016 MommyCon promo code (LOWREN16) to purchase your tickets. I’m giving away one Smart Bottoms Fantastic Hipster Fox Smart One cloth diaper, as well as 1 Smart Bottoms adult cloth advocacy tee and 1 Smart Bottoms baby tee at MommyCon DC.

Don’t fret if you’re attending MommyCon in another city, I’m also giving away 1 Smart Bottoms adult tee and 1 Smart Bottoms baby tee! Those of you who comment that you’re attending cities other than DC will be entered to win either an adult or baby tee.

Looking for a MommyCon Atlanta promo code? Use LOWREN16 at checkout to save $6 on each of your MommyCon (& PLAY, MILK, WEAR) general admission tickets.

So, here is all you need to do to enter to win a surprise from me: after you purchase your ticket with my MommyCon promo code (LOWREN16), leave a comment on this post shouting out the city where you’ll be attending MommyCon. Pretty simple, eh? The fine print is that the DC winner must be in attendance at the DC event to receive your prize (I’ll be sending the prizes to the other winners) – easy peasy! I’ll draw the winner on August 20 and announce (allowing time for me to draw another winner, if need be).

To enter, after you purchase your tickets (please don’t forget to use my promo code: LOWREN16), leave a comment on this post with the city where you’ll be attending. I will draw the winner(s) at the completion of the DC MommyCon event [that is posted in the comment section]. The fine print is that you must be a US resident, or have a US mailing address, to enter.

Interested in attending a separate event under the MommyCon umbrella? My code will also save you $5 off of each of your general admission tickets for the following events (click image to navigate to each event ticket sale/info page):

Looking for a MommyCon Atlanta promo code? Use LOWREN16 at checkout to save $6 on each of your MommyCon (& PLAY, MILK, WEAR) general admission tickets.

Looking for a MommyCon Atlanta promo code? Use LOWREN16 at checkout to save $6 on each of your MommyCon (& PLAY, MILK, WEAR) general admission tickets.

Looking for a MommyCon Atlanta promo code? Use LOWREN16 at checkout to save $6 on each of your MommyCon (& PLAY, MILK, WEAR) general admission tickets.

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Filed Under: Cloth Diapering, events, General Topics, Natural Living

Top Posts of 2015

2015/12 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

As this year comes to a close, it’s time for me to get a little sentimental about some of the pieces I wrote this past year. 2015 marked the end of my cloth diaper use, as my son transitioned away from diapers in the spring. Surprisingly, my most popular post of the year, by a landslide (as in 6,000 people have read this post) was my final cloth diapering post.

Early in the year, I began acquiring more freelance clients (most notably Care.com), and my blogging took a back seat. What pieces I did find time to write, you know, the “meaty” stuff, I sold to other outlets, such as Scary Mommy, The Mid and Bonbon Break (a girl’s gotta make a living, right?).

2015-top-posts

Unsurprisingly, my top 5 posts of 2015 had to do with cloth diapering or sustainable/reusable living. Without further adieu, here they are:

12UniqueGifts

 

 

Honorable Mention

I put together a list of the most unique items I came across in 2014 and published that list right before Christmas 2014. Throughout the year, people consulted the list, making it one of my top posts of 2015.

 

 

 

MommyCon-2016-Promo-Code-Sidebar

 

 

5. MommyCon

I had the pleasure of being both a MommyCon Sisterhood Journalist last year (and again this year), as well as a Smart Bottoms Diaper Ambassador. When Smart Bottoms announced the release of a limited edition diaper, Jax and Jill, sold only at MommyCon, I knew people would be clamoring for the adorably retro print. Little did I know how popular that print would be, or that MommyCon DC (the event I attended) would mark the highest attendance of all the events across the country. The remaining MommyCon events sold out for the year, and I expect them to do the same this year (buy your tickets NOW and use my promo code LOWREN16 to save $6 off each ticket).

 

Thinx-panties-discount-code

4. THINX: I Spent $75 On Three Pairs Of Panties

Considering the fact that I just published this last month, my fourth highest viewed post of 2015 is a bit of a shock. I was intrigued by articles I was reading about THINX period panties; not only was the idea of a reusable menstrual product appealing, but the fact that THINX is an incredibly charitable company. I tried THINX period panties, loved them, shared my embarrassing menstrual mishaps, shared how THINX panties enabled you to feel sexy (even during your time of month) and shared my referral code. What I didn’t expect was being inundated with gift codes from people using my referral link…over and over. After sending a few of my girlfriends panties, I contacted my local women’s shelter, Laurel House, who were happy to receive any panties I would send them. To date, I’ve been able to send over $1,600 in period panties to women who need to feel comfortable and secure all month long. If you’re interested in trying THINX period panties, you can click the link above to go to my original blog post or simply click HERE for my referral link to save $10 off of your order.

CLOTH-DIAPERING-ACCESSORY-MUST-HAVES

3. Cloth Diapering: Accessory Must Haves

Cloth diapering posts continually drive traffic to my site (thank you!), so it’s no surprise that the top three posts from this past year were about adorable cloth diapers. Coming in at number three is my posts with accessories you can’t have enough of when cloth diapering.

 

CLOTH DIAPERING (1)

2. Cloth Diapering: Accessories You Don’t Need

With the cloth diapering community inundated with cloth diaper bloggers, I prided myself on trying to come up with unique angles for interesting and helpful blog posts. 2014 saw my Natural Fibers and Cloth Diapering post skyrocket, and my needless accessory post performed similarly this year.

 

 

best-cloth-diapers-for-boys

1. Best Cloth Diapers For Boys

My top post for 2015 was a post that was inspired by my Smart Bottoms Diaper ambassadorship because I truly do feel that Smart Bottoms are the best cloth diapers for heavy wetters and boys. A cursory glance on the internet showed me that this was a topic that hadn’t been written about previously (at least that I could find), so I was excited to jump right in and share my experience with cloth diapering my son. With 6,000 views, 1,078 of those in a SINGLE DAY, my cloth diapers for boys post is, by far, my most popular post of 2015!

Thank you for making 2015 an amazing year — I hope you stick with me in 2016 — I can’t wait to see what surprises the new year has in store (but I can tell you that I have at least one book coming out)!

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Filed Under: all, Cloth Diapering, Editorial, General Topics

2016 MommyCon Promo Code and Smart Bottoms Giveaway

2015/11 By Lauren B. Stevens 34 Comments

I had an absolute blast in DC for MommyCon this year, so much so that I’m going to do it all over again in 2016! Because I’m a MommyCon Sisterhood Journalist again this year, I have an amazing MommyCon promo code to offer a discount for you: use code LOWREN16 to save $5 off of your general admission ticket (discount changed by MommyCon, effective July 1, from $6 to $5, so that all event promoters offer the same discount, no matter their promotion results).

Being a MommyCon Sisterhood Journalist means that I will be covering [at least] one of the 2016 MommyCon event venues, and this year I’m torn between attending the DC event (AHmazing venue) again or heading down to Austin, TX just for fun (or maybe attending both).

I got to meet so many of you while “working” (it was more fun than work) at the Smart Bottoms booth in DC, and I got to discover great new products, like Re-Play dinnerware, made from recycled milk jugs. I can’t wait to see all of my cloth diapering friends again next year, both industry experts and cloth diaper users like yourself, and have wisened-up for this trip, in case I head to DC again — no family, just me.

#MommyConDC is a wrap! @chgdiapers @kim_rosas @firsttimemommn @lo-wren @MommyCon @liltulips #clothdiapers

A photo posted by Lauren Stevens (@laurenbethstevens) on Aug 22, 2015 at 1:59pm PDT

Long story short? My husband and son came along this year and my son refused to sleep, even though we were careful enough to book a suite. The French doors separating the rooms did absolutely nothing, so I headed to the convention already exhausted and my husband had to entertain my overtired kiddo for the entire day. Fun times!

Use MommyCon promo code LOWREN16 to save $5 off of your general admission ticket

Save $6 with MommyCon promo code: LOWREN16. Leave a comment to be entered into my SmartBottoms giveaway - at least 6 people will win!

Here are the locations for this year’s MommyCon events (click the links to find out more information about your venue):

Atlanta, GA

Chicago, IL

Seattle, WA

Austin, TX

Washington, D.C.

Orange County, CA

Orlando, FL

San Jose, CA

https://www.instagram.com/p/9EPHSmFBs6/

Oh, the giveaway, you ask? I have something special in store for those of you who use my 2016 MommyCon promo code (LOWREN16) to purchase your tickets. I’m giving away one Smart Bottoms Fantastic Hipster Fox Smart One cloth diaper, as well as 1 Smart Bottoms adult cloth advocacy tee and 1 Smart Bottoms baby tee at MommyCon DC.

Fox

Don’t fret if you’re attending MommyCon in another city, I’m also giving away 1 Smart Bottoms adult tee and 1 Smart Bottoms baby tee! Those of you who comment that you’re attending cities other than DC will be entered to win either an adult or baby tee.

So, here is all you need to do to enter to win a surprise from me: after you purchase your ticket with my MommyCon promo code (LOWREN16), leave a comment on this post shouting out the city where you’ll be attending MommyCon. Pretty simple, eh? The fine print is that the DC winner must be in attendance at the DC event to receive your prize (I’ll be sending the prizes to the other winners) – easy peasy! I’ll draw the winner on August 20 and announce (allowing time for me to draw another winner, if need be).

To enter, after you purchase your tickets (please don’t forget to use my promo code: LOWREN16), leave a comment on this post with the city where you’ll be attending. I will draw the winner(s) at the completion of the DC MommyCon event [that is posted in the comment section]. The fine print is that you must be a US resident, or have a US mailing address, to enter.

Please note that my promotional code does not apply to tickets purchased during the pre-sale period.

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Filed Under: all, breastfeeding, Cloth Diapering, Editorial, events, General Topics, Giveaways, Natural Living, Parenting

Groupon Coupons: Save With Cloth Diaper Coupons

2015/11 By Lauren B. Stevens 2 Comments

No, this is not a joke. What if I told you that you could save big with cloth diaper coupons…from unexpected places?

I’ve been a Groupon member since it’s inception, using Groupon deals as a way to try different restaurants when my husband and I were living in Baltimore (pre-child). And Groupon came in handy with a meal service offer for when my son was born. After my son came along, I began purchasing Groupon deals for fun family and kid-oriented activities, such as discounted admission to the Please Touch Museum and train rides. What’s even cooler is that I was able to get an even greater discount because a group of us purchased the tickets with each other’s links (the more people you bring into a deal, the higher the discount on some offers).

If you’re not already saving with Groupon, sign up for your free account today!

Cloth diaper coupons can be found in some non-traditional outlets, like Groupon Coupons. I'm sharing how you can save big on cloth diapers by stacking coupons and promotional codes at major retailers. Save on Smart Bottoms, Thirsties, bumGenius, Rumparooz and more!

Now Groupon has launched a new branch of its site: Groupon Coupons. With my son now a preschooler, quick trips to the store can be…difficult, so I try to do most of my shopping online. With Groupon Coupons, you have access to coupons and deals for almost 10,000 stores!

Here’s where I let you in on a little secret — Kohl’s sells cloth diapers online. Not only does Kohl’s sell cloth diapers, but they sell my favorite brand — Smart Bottoms! Not only does Kohl’s sell Smart Bottoms’ ENTIRE line (AIOs, prefolds, wet bags, pail liners, wipes, training pants, soakers and more), but, ahem, you’re able to use Kohl’s Groupon Coupons (and Kohl’s Cash if you’re a cardmember)! Yep! For example, as I write this, there is a 15% off Groupon Coupon for you to save on cloth diapers (and sure to be even more deals in the coming weeks – I saw a 20% off coupon recently)!

And Kohl’s isn’t the only store where you can save big on cloth diapers with Groupon Coupons — Toys R Us/Babies R Us, buybuy Baby and Target also sell cloth diapers!

So, how does it work? When I know that I have things to buy (organic cotton underpants instead of cloth diapers these days), I head over to Groupon Coupons to check for sales and promotional codes being offered by the retailer/retailers I wish to purchase from. I’m loving Hanna Andersson organic cotton underpants for my little guy right now (they have Star Wars undies!!!), so I type Hanna Andersson in the search bar and Groupon Coupons shows me a list of current sales and promotional codes — super easy. If you’re a shopper, Groupon Coupons’ home page lists special offers for the day from a myriad of retailers. Honestly, the world is your Groupon Coupon oyster!

So, you can either keep your cloth diaper coupon secret to yourself…or share with all of your cloth diapering friends (for real: Kohl’s coupons + Kohl’s cash = cloth diaper coupon score!).

If you’re not already scoring great deals with Groupon, sign up for your free account today!

* This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Groupon; all opinions expressed are my own. This post contains affiliate links.




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Filed Under: all, Cloth Diapering, Editorial, General Topics, reviews|sponsored, sponsored

Epic De-Stash and Giving Diapers, Giving Hope Fundraiser

2015/08 By Lauren B. Stevens 2 Comments

Cloth diapering provided so much for my little family — a cost efficient way to diaper my son, a gateway into the natural parenting community, amazing networking opportunities through blogging, and many more wonderful benefits. I’ve met SO many wonderful people through cloth diapering, and cloth diapering provided me an outlet for writing in those early days. I remain unbelievably grateful.

ClothDiaperCollage

My husband and I have decided to be a “one and done” family, so it’s time for me to let go of my beloved cloth diaper collection and put them into the hands of others who will use them. If you’ve followed lo-wren for any time, you know that my decision not to have any more children has been a difficult one, marked by several losses and leading me to look deeper into myself than I have ever before. I’m incredibly grateful for my miscarriages, as they have taught me SO much about myself, and led me down a path to building a stronger me. That being said, my miscarriages are, by far, the most difficult experiences I’ve endured.

De-stashEvent

Because the cloth diapering community has given my family so much, I want to give back to an organization that helps cloth diapering families in need: Giving Diapers, Giving Hope. I’ve donated diapers in the past, and will be donating any diapers that don’t sell (or that are not in amazing saleable condition) to Giving Diapers, Giving Hope. In addition to those diaper donations, I will be donating a percentage of the proceeds as follows:

< $500 = 10%

$500+ = 15%

Smart Bottoms has agreed to MATCH my donation amount – how amazing is that?!?

To be completely transparent, the portion of the proceeds not donated will go into my son’s college fund. I sell my son’s outgrown clothing, toys, etc. at children’s consignment sales, and I’ve put all of that money into my son’s account as an easy way to save for the future.

Bidding begins on September 12th at 10am EST

So, what can you expect to find?

  • NIP bumGenius Freetimes in Audrey, Chaplin & Marie
  • NIP Smart Bottoms in Fox, Jax+Jill
  • Carriers – Ergobaby Organic w/ Infant Insert, Maya Wrap Ring Sling, Moby Wrap (brand new)
  • Project Pomona EcoFit jeans & skulls shorts
  • Lots and lots of other used cloth diapers: Buttons, Best Bottoms, GroVia, Smarti Pants, OBGEs, Smart Bottoms, and more!

How will it work?

I’ll be posting an album with photos of all of the items, each with a reserve price. Bidders will post their bid amounts in the comments section beneath the photo of the item they wish to bid on. Highest bidder wins the item.

P.S. I’ve already de-stashed the cloth diapers that didn’t work [for me], so you won’t be seeing any duds 😉

 

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Filed Under: Cloth Diapering, events, General Topics, Natural Living

MommyCon 2015: Cloth Diapering in DC

2015/08 By Lauren B. Stevens 2 Comments

mommycon-2015

I am finally recovering from the whirlwind weekend in DC, celebrating all things natural parenting at MommyCon 2015. I am struck by how much this amazing convention has grown since its first year! Cloth diapering, breastfeeding, babywearing, oh, MY! The vendors are better, more cloth diaper companies are present, and even more natural products are being showcased. And the babies, the babies! Everywhere I looked there were little ones nestled in their mom and dad’s carriers. Ack, the sweetness!

Save $6 on MommyCon 2015 tickets with promotional code: LOWREN15

As a Smart Bottoms Ambassador, I planned to spend most of my time at MommyCon 2015 working at the booth, talking about Jax & Jill and showing people just how amazing Smart Bottoms products are. I met Van from ‘Lil Tulips, the retailer selling Smart Bottoms at the conference, who was an amazing Smart Bottoms advocate, salesperson, and all around great guy. What I didn’t anticipate was just how popular the Smart Bottoms booth would be — we were slammed all day! Word has gotten out, my friends.

While I was unable to attend any sessions, I’d attended them before and can vouch for the abundance of information to be gleaned from them. MommyCon 2015 was really all about cloth diapers for me.

@smartbottoms is bumping! Come see @firsttimemommn & me! #smartbottomsambassador #mommycondc @mommycon

A photo posted by Lauren Stevens (@lowrenblogs) on Aug 22, 2015 at 7:12am PDT

I finally got to meet Bert, Smart Bottoms’ Marketing Coordinator Extraordinaire and the blogger behind First Time Mom, who I’d “known” for the past three years from being in the same blogging circles and working with businesses she’s worked for. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to be able to spend time with people you interact with virtually all year long! Blogging and freelance writing can be incredibly lonely, so it’s a treat to be able to interact with peers at events like this.

#MommyConDC #ClothDiaper Resource Center. Maria from @chgdiapers talking to an attendee.

A photo posted by Lauren Stevens (@lowrenblogs) on Aug 25, 2015 at 5:11am PDT

While Bert and I were located right across from the MommyCon 2015 Cloth Diaper Resource Center, where Kim Rosas (Dirty Diaper Laundry) and Maria Moser (Change-Diapers.com) were talking about all things cloth diapers, I didn’t really get the opportunity to chat with them until the convention was over! We did make a point of getting a group photo, as I’ve been in a blogging group with all of them for the last three years. While I got to spend time with Kim at a blogging conference last summer (Blog University), I’d not had the chance to meet Maria, who I’ve been working with in many capacities for years. These are the things that made MommyCon 2015 incredibly fun for me.

#MommyConDC is a wrap! @chgdiapers @kim_rosas @firsttimemommn @lo-wren @MommyCon @liltulips #clothdiapers

A photo posted by Lauren Stevens (@lowrenblogs) on Aug 22, 2015 at 1:59pm PDT

I got to meet some of my amazing readers, and even “bumped” into an old colleague who is expecting her first child [in a matter of weeks!]. If you’ve not had the chance attend MommyCon, or are on the fence about it, I encourage you to jump in and grab tickets — you won’t regret it! Not only will you get to meet like-minded parents, and sit in on amazing seminars full of resources (and your favorite “personalities” in the natural parenting world), but you’ll get to talk to the people behind some of your favorite products (cloth diapers).

Save $6 on MommyCon 2015 tickets with promotional code: LOWREN15

MommyCon-Montage

While I’ve had experience with most of the products being showcased during the convention, I did discover a brand that I’m really excited about: Re-Play. I’m planning on sharing a little more about this company when I have more time, but I bought a few products and am loving them! All of their tableware is made from recycled milk jugs, my friends – so cool!

Who's coming to see Rachel & Gina this weekend @mommycon?We've got some awesome show specials lined up! Looking forward to meeting our D.C. mommies! #mommycondc

A photo posted by Re-Play (@replayrecycled) on Aug 18, 2015 at 12:05pm PDT

Have you attended a MommyCon event this year? What were some of your favorite takeaways from the conference?

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Filed Under: all, Cloth Diapering, Editorial, events, General Topics, Natural Living, Parenting Tagged With: cloth diapers, mommycon, mommycon 2015, MommyCon DC, natural parenting, natural parenting events, smart bottoms, smart bottoms cloth diapers, smart bottoms jax & jill

Potty Training with Smart Bottoms’ Lil Trainer

2015/07 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

I loved using natural fibers to cloth diaper, so I was a little apprehensive when it came time to potty train D. Luckily, Smart Bottoms continues their quality line of organic cotton, made in the USA products with their Lil Trainer.

Made from organic cotton, Smart Bottoms' Lil Trainer features PUL in the wet zone, with an organic cotton insert for added absorbency & protection.

Smart Bottoms sent me a Lil Trainer to try out with D., which is perfect because I get to talk a little about potty training. D. was potty trained at around 22 months old, but I came home from a long weekend away to a little guy who was now afraid to poop on the potty. I’d done a fair share of reading on the topic of potty training, so I knew that pushing the issue was the wrong thing to do. I put him back in diapers and revisited 6 months later, using a technique I had come across. At each diaper change, I asked D. if he wanted a diaper or underwear. After 5 days of asking, D. finally said that he wanted to wear underwear. From that day on, he was using the toilet (although he’s still got his fear of #2).

While D. wore regular underwear most of the time, I had 5 pairs of training pants that I used, and still use, for running errands and road trips — those times when it may take a few minutes to get to a bathroom. I also like to keep a pair of training pants in my purse, just in case (instead of a change of undies). So for us, training pants definitely have a time and a purpose.

smart-bottoms-lil-trainer-3-view

Smart Bottoms Lil Trainers are perfect for the beginning stages of potty training (or errands out) because they provide enough absorbency to contain an accident. Made from organic cotton, the Lil Trainer features Polyurethane Laminate (PUL) in the wet zone, with an organic cotton insert that snaps inside for added absorbency and protection. Made to hold a single “accident,” the Lil Trainer is meant to be changed afterwards. The insert can be used two ways: interchanged with an additional insert after a small accident (reusing the outer) or removing the insert once your little one becomes more adept at using the toilet. Because of the construction, Lil Trainers can be used from start to finish with potty training (and come in adorable prints as well!).

I’ve tested the trainers by putting D. down for his nap in them (he naps for two hours and still needs to wear a diaper) and they worked really well — while D. had thoroughly soaked them, they were only damp on the outside. For added protection, I would put a cover over these trainers if using for nighttime or nap time undies.

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D. is above average height and weighs approximately 37lbs. He’s wearing a size LARGE Lil Trainer in this photo.

Smart Bottoms Lil Trainers fit both snug and soft with their organic cotton inner and encased elastic. While not as bulky as a cloth diaper, these training pants are definitely a little bulkier than underwear — but the added security is well worth it.

You can purchase Smart Bottoms Lil Trainers at major cloth diaper retailers, including Kelly’s Closet.

To find out the latest news from Smart Bottoms, follow them on social media via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Pinterest.

 

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Filed Under: Cloth Diapering, General Topics, Natural Living, products, reviews|sponsored, sponsored, trainers Tagged With: lil trainer, smart bottoms, smart bottoms lil trainer, training pant review, training pants

Quick Tips for Washing Cloth Diapers

2015/05 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

If you’re new to cloth diapering, you’ll find an abundance of conflicting and varied advice about washing cloth diapers. You can demystify washing cloth diapers by keeping your routine simple.

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Here’s what you need to know about storing and laundering your dirty diapers:

How Do You Store Dirty Cloth Diapers Before Washing?
Carolyn Russell, owner of the cloth diaper reference site Padded Tush Stats, says, “The two most common methods of storing dirty diapers are either a wet bag or a diaper pail.” Wet bags are waterproof, featuring a loop — so you can hang the bag while in use — and a zippered opening, which allows you to drop dirty diapers in with ease (and zip it closed to keep odors at bay!). The other method of storing cloth diapers before washing is to use a diaper pail or trash can with a pail liner. “When you’re ready to do your laundry,” says Russell, “you empty the wet bag or pail liner into the washing receptacle and then toss in the wet bag or pail liner to be washed along with the diapers.”

Suzi Satterfield, owner of the cloth diapering site Cloth Diaper Addicts, uses a hanging wet bag to store her dirty diapers, saying, “The added airflow around the bag means that my diapers are less likely to develop issues with smells or mold.”

Some parents use sprayers that attach to the toilet to spray any poop off the diapers before storing them. While this is usually less of an issue with newborns’ diapers, as your child moves beyond breastmilk or formula you’ll definitely want to knock off any solids into the toilet before storing and washing your diapers.

How Do You Wash Them?
How you go about washing cloth diapers — and what detergent you use — varies depending upon several factors, including water hardness, hot water temperature, “what kind of machine you use or if you’re washing by hand and how many diapers you are washing at a time,” says Russell.

Read more on Care.com

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Filed Under: all, Cloth Diapering, Editorial, General Topics Tagged With: cloth 101, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, washing cloth diapers

How to Use Cloth Diapers

2015/04 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

Whether you’re out to save a few bucks, protect the environment or just think they’re cuter than disposables, you’ve decided to use cloth diapers. Now that you have them, what do you do with them?

You've bought the cutest cloth diapers you can find and have them ready to go. But how do you get them on your wiggly baby?

With a little practice, learning how to use cloth diapers is easy — simply follow these tips from the pros for a perfect, leak-free fit:

Fit It Right
Entering into the world of cloth diapering can often be overwhelming — there’s new terminology to learn and multiple diaper styles to get familiar with. But learning how to use cloth diapers is easy once you jump in. Putting a cloth diaper on your baby is a little different from using disposables, but they can be just as easy to use, explains Maria Moser, owner of the cloth diapering resource site Change Diapers and director of operations for the charitable cloth diaper organization Giving Diapers, Giving Hope. “The back of a cloth diaper should be approximately even with the belly button, and the front should be at or scooping below the belly button. If you pull the back high like a disposable you may end up opening the rise unnecessarily and/or having leg leaks!” Though disposables have high backs to contain the dreaded “blow-out,” cloth diapers shouldn’t be worn as high. “Don’t worry, the rear elastic will keep messes in,” says Moser.

If you feel that you’ve gotten a good fit, but find that your baby’s diapers are consistently leaking from the legs, Moser explains that the diaper “should sit in the leg crease where underwear would sit, not low on the thigh or caught in cute baby chub. You want the elastic to sit snugly against baby with no visible gap (make sure you can run a finger underneath — you don’t want it to be too tight!).” Still unsure about the fit of your baby’s cloth diaper? “Make the front of the diaper a taco shape by cinching in the area that will fit between the legs while you flatten it against baby’s belly. This helps the leg elastic to be in the right place. Smooth the front panel against baby and pull the wings around to secure,” Moser explains. This ensures your baby’s cloth diaper is fitted securely, no matter how much he wiggles and moves.

Read more on Care.com

 

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Filed Under: all, Cloth Diapering, Editorial, General Topics Tagged With: cloth diapering, cloth diapers 101

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Lauren B. Stevens is a former publishing rep-turned-writer, whose work can be found on ChildVantage, The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy and Care.com, among many other websites. When she's not chasing her precocious preschooler, Lauren pens hilarious and heartwarming stories about her life as a mother, ghostwrites blogs for businesses, and sometimes even finds the time to write a bit of creative non-fiction.
Look for Lauren's published essays in the books listed below:

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