A new way to get started with cloth from eLeMeNO-Pee!

You've been asking and we've been listening! We have now created several "starter stashes" for budgets and preferences of every size!

We anticipate that our most popular bundles will consist of the bumGenius 4.0s and also the GroVia All In One stashes.

bumGenius 4.0 stashes are available in diaper quantities of 6 (the "Starter" stash),  12 (the "Every Day" stash), 18 (the "Rotation" stash), and 24 (the "Ultimate" stash).

The perks of each of these are as follows:

6 / Starter stash: 6 solid print 4.0 diapers in the closure of your choice and a free wetbag. Also qualifies for FREE shipping!

12 / Every Day stash : 11 solid print 4.0 diapers + 1 Genius series print diaper and a free wetbag. Also qualifies for FREE shipping!

18 / Rotation stash: 17 solid diapers + 1 Genius series print diaper including a free wetbag,a free diaper sprayer, and free shipping!

24 / Ultimate stash: 22 solid print diapers + 2 Genius series print diapers, also including a free wetbag, free diaper sprayer, and free shipping!


GroVia All In One stashes are similar to the 4.0 and available in diaper quantities of 6 (the "Starter" stash),  12 (the "Every Day" stash), 18 (the "Rotation" stash), and 24 (the "Ultimate" stash).

6 / Starter stash: 5 solid color AIOs, 1 print, a free wetbag, and free shipping!

12 / Every Day stash : 11 solid print diapers +  one print diaper and a free medium wetbag. Also qualifies for FREE shipping!

18 / Rotation stash: 17 solid diapers + 1 at least one print diaper including a free medium wetbag,a free diaper sprayer, and free shipping!

24 / Ultimate stash: 22 solid print diapers + 2 print diapers, also including a free wetbag, free diaper sprayer, and free shipping!



We also have two great stash options that consist of Softbums diapers+accessories (the Softbums Basic kit and the Softbums Bamboo Starter kit)  and also two choices of Thirsties+accessories stashes (the Thirsties Cover Rotation kit and the Thirsties All In One Everyday kit).


If you've been wanting to make the leap, now is the perfect time to start with any of our diaper stashes that include a little extra incentive to help sweeten the deal! Please visit us in the store, via our website (www.elemeno-pee.com), or contact your nearest cloth diaper consultant to get started today!

Newborns in Cloth series, pt. 2: How do you fold those things, anyway?

So you're interested in cloth diapering your newborn--or at least in considering the possibility and exploring the benefits... and the logistics. Last week we discussed ways to cloth diaper your too-small-for-their-main-stash newborn in a cost-effective way. This week we'll tackle the (not really all that) hairy how-tos!
 1. Cloth diapering in the hospital: should I? How do I do it?

Cloth in the hospital? Why not?!

If you've invested in a separate stash of newborn-sized cloth diapers, you probably want to get as much use out of it as you can, and where better to test the waters of newborn cloth diapering than in the hospital, where... you just don't have much else to do? Besides, cloth diapers are a much more accurate way to measure 'output' and make sure your baby is having no trouble with feeding and digesting!

If you want to use your cloth in the hospital, include it in your birth and baby care plan. "We are a cloth diapering family! We don't expect the staff to worry about learning to use our diapers; we are happy to handle every diaper change." Make sure your husband is familiar with the system you will be using, and put him in charge of changes if possible--your only jobs are to rest and to feed your baby.

Bring your hanging pail for dirties and your cloth wipes and wipe solution if you want to use cloth wipes. Have your husband go home with dirties to wash them if your stay is extended. Having a diaper sprayer installed at home is helpful for the meconium phase, but if you're breastfeeding, once your transitional milk comes in, no spraying is necessary--breastmilk poop truly is water-soluble.

2. Prefolds: How do they work?

The 'fold' part of the word prefold can be a little intimidating. I thought the point of this modern cloth thing was that I didn't have to do this folding-and-fastening thing? Fret not! Fear not!


Because of the ease of wrap-style covers, folding a prefold is a matter of folding in thirds. For longer babies, fold 'the long way,' along the seams:

Folding 'the long way' is great for taller babies. It can also get you more use out of your prefolds as your baby grows.

For shorter or smaller babies, fold 'the wrong way,' or against the seams:

Fan out in the back for best poop-catching results.

Lay folded prefold inside a cover; change when wet! Covers that don't get poop on them can be reused throughout the day.


3. We choose to circumcise. Can we use cloth while it's healing?

You sure can! Your doctor will probably recommend you treat the surgery site with a combination of Vaseline and Bacitracin and wrap with gauze. The problem? Gauze doesn't exactly contain all those oozey meds, and you don't want anything greasy, thick, or petroleum-based on your fabric, because it isn't water-soluble, and that stuff will spread around inside of and coat your washing machine, leading you straight to Repelling City.

So what to do? I can't take credit for this brilliant idea; it comes from the Padded Tush Stats blog and was sent to me by one of our savvy clients. Put a dollop of those meds on a disposable cotton makeup round! The package of them will cost less than disposable diapers, and you'll only need them for a week or two. Your cloth will be protected, your little guy will heal beautifully, and any diaper-changer volunteer can easily follow these instructions!

4. Changing cloth diapers while out and about is so intimidating to me.

Being away from your changing table can be intimidating, no matter what kind of diapers you're using, especially if you're caring for a circumcision or cord, dealing with skin sensitivity, or worrying about getting sprayed mid-change!

The easiest way to eliminate confusion and keep things quick is to either pre-load your prefolds into covers, mimicking a one-piece system, or to use pockets or AIOs when you're out. As seldom as you're likely to be running the roads with a newborn, you should only need a handful of these pricier 'easy diapers' to get you through your errands!

An organized (and organizable!) diaper bag makes it easy to reach everything you need: changing pad, diapers, cloth wipes, wipe solution (a pre-mixed spray bottle is easiest on-the-go!), Butt Balm (if necessary), and a wet bag for storing the dirty!

As for that mid-change 'baptism' that boys like to pull out of their little bags of newborn tricks, I have a counter-attack in my arsenal that works no matter what kind of diaper you're using. Before you unfasten the wet diaper, wipe your baby's inner thighs, right at the crease, with a pre-wet wipe (or spray your wipe solution, mixed with cooling witch hazel, in the same spot). The surprising, cool wetness encourages the baby to completely void his bladder if there's anything left to spray. Wait a few seconds before changing. This also gives you the opportunity to learn what your baby's "potty face" looks like in case you are interested in practicing elimination communication. (I'm not, but many parents love it!)


5. What about the cord stump?

Keeping the cord stump clean and dry is the best way to promote it falling off in its own time. In order to keep from agitating the wound, simply situate your baby's diaper so that it doesn't touch it.


No need for special cloth diapers with notches for the cord stump! Newborn cloth diapers are cut short enough in the rise to accommodate the cord stump. Both the Thirsties XS Cover and the Thirsties Duo Wrap in Size One are cut perfectly for this purpose.

Well, voila! There you have answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about cloth diapering a newborn. If you've got more questions, please ask them on our Facebook Page! I'll turn them over to our expert consultants AND our expert clients to get feedback for you!

Who's ready for a (minky) makeover?

"Makeover" is the word of the month for us, it seems! We have new owners, a new home office and storefront, a new Web site and blog, a new look.

The business concept's the same, though. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Our representatives continue to own their own small businesses, serving their local communities by educating about the many benefits of using cloth diapers and helping families make the switch with confidence, all while contributing to their family's finances.

But, you know, back to makeovers!

I do my best to keep a finger on the pulse of the larger cloth diapering community. It's not a difficult thing to do--sometimes I think Facebook and Twitter may as well be bought out by DiaperSwappers. Is that just my feeds? Oh.

But here's the thing: lots of families who delve into cloth diapering and really, you know, get into it, choose not to use microfiber terry for absorbency. For all its benefits--it's cheap to manufacture and thus cheap to retail, and it absorbs well without an extensive prepping routine--many families feel like microfiber is at the root of any cloth diapering problems they're having. And it's true, microfiber terry's high-pile loop structure does seem to hold onto mineral deposits (from water during washing or from urine) especially well, and, well, ew. Stinky. If it's something that affects your family, it's nothing to shrug off. That can be enough to make you quit cloth!

If you're also facing compression leaking or you're frustrated by the bulk of a microterry-stuffed pocket on your newborn, well, yeah. You know, I can see why experienced cloth diapering families are hopping off the microfiber train!

What if I told you that one cloth diaper manufacturer, an industry leader, has a solution? A solution that isn't quite as inexpensive as microfiber, but is more affordable than organic cotton and hemp and doesn't require the prepping that natural fibers do?

Look! Synthetic, absorbent fibers that are soft to the touch, slide easily into a pocket (y'all, the new FuzziBunz PUL is stickier than it used to be--I have to wonder if that's why they came up with this minky insert concept!), are half as thick as a four-layer microterry insert, and absorb JUST as well!


Yes, it's real! And it's as nice as it claims to be! I've been switching my microfiber-insert pocket stash over to a minky-insert pocket stash paycheck by paycheck, a pack of three inserts per month, and, y'all. I can't even explain how nice they are. I didn't realize how rough microfiber can be on the hands until I started my makeover. It's pretty awesome for washing my car or scrubbing spilled macaroni off the kitchen floor, and it's always been fine for diapers, but I gotta say I prefer the minky by leaps and bounds.

And it's just not that much more expensive than the microfiber terry you're used to.

Now, if you're new to cloth or just getting ready to make the switch, there's good news: the FuzziBunz Elite One-Size diaper comes with two fabulously trim minky inserts.

But what if you've already got a stash of pocket diapers and you're fed up with microfiber?

That's where the makeover comes in!

The minky makeover, that is!

I gave your local rep a little love up there. You were probably thinking, "Oh, there she goes again, plugging those local reps. I wish she'd get on with it! What's her point?"

My point is that you should call her!

That's because through Valentine's Day, she'll give you 5% off when you pre-order a pack of FuzziBunz minky inserts in any size, and you can start to give your stash a minky makeover.