Monkeez

Wipes!!

2011-10-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

I've got LOTS of wipes ready to go!! Listings will be kept up while supplies last in the etsy shop.

All wipes are roughly 7 x 3.5" and fit perfectly into most commercial wipes containers without needing to be folded. The biggest benefit to this size is that you can fit more wipes into those containers!!

All wipes are double sided...one side is organic bamboo/cotton velour and the other side is organic bamboo/cotton fleece. Both very very soft and very absorbent! Unless it's a super mess, one wipe can do what 6-8 disposable wipes can. (I'd never go back!) They also serve well for washing up little hands and faces after meals and snacks, wiping sore noses, and just all over wash downs. Definitely can be used as wash clothes at bath time too!

I now have "bulk" listings for 1 doz, and 2 doz orders. Typically sold in packs of 6 for $7.5

Three gender options: boy, girl, neutral (boy I tend to add more green and blues, neutral means no pink, and girl I love to add the pink!!)

Maternity Leave

2011-09-27T18:14:00.001-07:00

Well, It's about that time! I have placed the etsy shop on vacation while wipes are made up for listings and will open those up on Oct 5. They will be available until they run out! All items in the Monkeez website shop have been taken off.

So, I should hopefully be back to work end of Nov/ Early Dec!

Hope everyone has a great Fall!! I do have some new items I plan to include in my regular listings upon returning, check them out at monkeezdiapers.com.

I do not plan to take on any custom orders separate from listings that are added when I return until I feel I'm ready for that pace again... I am extremely grateful that so many requests are made... and constantly awed. However, with any growing company, sometimes it just gets to be too much... so we'll just play it by ear!

As always, stay up to date with Monkeez news on facebook!

Trouble in Paradise

2011-09-08T10:40:00.001-07:00

So, I have some unfortunate announcements to make about fabric dating from May-June 30 2011 and elastic issues from about June 1-August 1 . :(

Velour used in products between mid-May and end of June 2011 may have problems.

Elastic in products made between first of June and present may fail prematurely.

I've never had issues with either of these products before, having it from the same summer feels a bit overwhelming, and being ready to close up to have a baby... the timing really couldn't be worse!

It came to my attention early July that some of the bamboo velour used in diapers that I had made for a custom order about mid-May was having issues. I generally order rolls of fabric, so the fear is always that whatever happens with someone’s fabric could potentially be an issue for ANYONE with fabric used off that same roll, or same production time frame at the factory. I contacted a few people who had placed larger orders and asked them to keep an eye out for this problem, and a few others who I feel comfortable checking in with every now and again… I also took a diaper out of that time frame and have been using it for my 3 year old over night to observe the process of the fabric through the numerous washings etc etc.

With the diaper that I have, from about the first week of July until now (roughly 2 months) it has undergone roughly 50 full wash cycles, we’ve been using it first any opportunity and at least 2 full cycles each wash… so far it looks normal. And until last week I hadn't heard any more reports…. And then the long awaited for second report (last week) of little eraser cap sized bare spots on diapers that were purchased in June. Today I also found out one of the first moms I contacted has finally begun to notice a little bare spot on her velour. Quite literally the problem is that the fiber in the velour is pulling out of the backing leaving bare spots of backing.

This has been a tough issue to think through and from July to now I’ve been just “waiting” for another report to come in… I can’t realistically make all new diapers all at once, I believe about 80-100 diapers were put out with this fabric, and despite that fact that some prints might not be available, the materials cost alone would be too much for me to cover all at once.

The first three that were reported I’ve had in my possession for about a month and have also been using those overnight with my son to see if they get worse with continued laundering, or if it affects function. I have not noticed the velour getting any worse, and I plan to continue using them with our new baby. But I do not know how long this statement will be accurate as it’s a relatively new problem, so I can’t say that this will remain the case for the next few years, for all I know it could get worse and worse.

I fully understand that nobody should have to deal with this type of problem (myself included!) … and it’s irritating that this isn’t something I can just “repair”… I have to just remake the whole diaper to resolve the problem. I have a baby due literally any time in the next 2-6 weeks, and I don’t have funds to just replace all the diapers made sitting around right now, but what I’m thinking I could do is offer some type of replacement blocked out over time and not until after I’m back from leave.

NEXT ISSUE:

It was brought to my attention early this week that some diapers I had made around the second week of July already have shot elastic. How is this possible I thought??. I received the diapers in the mail today and removed the elastic, seriously doubting that the elastic had just pulled from it’s stitching on all 8 diapers, since I have yet to have that ever reported to me for even 1…. but also wondering if it was even physically possible to be this shot already. I pulled out what looked like 5 year old elastic from the leg casings… and it is not even 2 months old!?? This is the same brand elastic I have been using for at least the past year… I bought it from the same company I always do around mid-May, and yet here it is... not even holding up as well as some cheaper poly-braid elastics I’d used in diapers over two years ago that are still functioning fine. (I now only use unbleached cotton swimwear elastic.)

Is it possible that this was sitting in a damp wear house? Elastic can wear out or rot if it isn't completely dry, so there is the question of it's storage, it's age in general, and possibly if the company changed the materials used recently if it was just made. All these I need to look into still. This is just a new problem so I don't have answers as of yet.

So, elastic I CAN replace… of course I still need to figure out why this happened, what companies are still safe to order from, and again… I have a baby due, so it will have to wait.

All elastic replacements are offered for free.

Of course, if you happen to have a diaper with failing velour AND elastic…I would suggest just hold out and get a replacement, seeing as the bulk of what was made with the problem velour, also has the problem elastic.

So, there you have it… life is stressful, usually when I need it not to be. I’m only one woman, soon to have 4 kids to raise and love. Materials seem to just continue degrading in quality yet increasing in price (most notably since Jan 2011, shortly after the whole “global cotton shortage crisis” perhaps that has something to do with it). But I do want to keep people happy, and honestly I do love my diapers… I am excited to use them all over again for our new baby! And I want you to love your diapers too… it always makes me sad to hear about someone struggling with their Monkeez diaper, but they haven't come to me and instead just post about it on groups and forums… but remember that when I never actually hear from that customer, I can't know what their problems are so please, please send me an email to Gretchen@monkeezdiapers.com with any product issues or complaints, and when I return around end of Nov, we can start working out a solution…. You aren’t going to make me feel bad… trust me, I’d feel worse knowing you have a diaper you can’t use that I spent the time to make!

Facebook Woes and Photo Contest Winner!

2011-06-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

Facebook knows how to ruin my day! Oh well, it made me think how in the world we ever ran businesses without it, lol... back to blogs! ;-)

Whenever my wall is showing posts that are more then a day or two old, or comments that you know had been there are missing, or something is very outdated... it's not updating what has been posted most recently. I put in requests about every week for them to fix the problem, and they will get it back for like a day or two before it starts up again. boo for that, but I'm sure eventually it'll be hammered out... until then... blogs and twitter!

So, this morning I announced our photo contest winner! Kelsey Nighbor with her swim diaper photo, won the heart of the judge last night. (The judge will never be me... I have way too much of a personal connection with some of the entries to not be biased. ;-))

Here's the winning photo!! Congratulations!!

What's new in June 2011!

2011-06-01T05:59:00.001-07:00

It's been a few months since I last posted on here... lots and lots has been happening.

First of all on Feb 14 I found out I was pregnant again... then on Feb 28, we found out it was twins. Craziness followed as I was super tired, sick, and trying to figure out how I was going to keep monkeez going with a 9yo, 7yo, 3yo, and a set of twins. So, I announced that I would just have to stop.

Then on April 13 we found out that one of the twins hearts was no longer beating. This was a very big shock to us... we'd seen them both looking completely healthy in 3 different ultra sounds, heard both heartbeats with just a doppler a few times... and so we didn't see that one coming, as common as it is.

For about 4 weeks I just didn't do a lot... trying to figure out emotions, helping the kids through this... and also debating what should be done with Monkeez.

So... we decided Monkeez should continue... I just need to find help! I've looked around for help in the past, but no matter how it seemed to be set up it was just a tremendous amount of work for me to put everything together... like the stars had to align to have extra materials on hand to send off with someone... and showing them exactly what I wanted etc etc. I just decided it was too much of a headache.

So, I took some materials and supplies to a local sewing company... and I've been working with them for the past two weeks... but I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet.

I must admit, I'm pretty terrified to drop the money to have diapers made up, and the materials to make them... if the quality isn't going to be absolutely perfect, so I would rather take the time to ensure that they will be rather then just get stuff made and listed. I would bet they'll have this down pat within the next few weeks.

So, I am still in limbo, working on my current orders... and now having 4 months till due time with this one. Please bear with me as I get this figured out... but know that I will not lower my standards.

I do have a new pattern that I'm using... I think everyone will love the fit.

Lots of love!!
~Gretchen

Fitting the Monkeez

2011-01-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

I've been asked quite a bit about the fit of the monkeez OS diaper. I know it can confuse a lot of people how the same diaper could fit an 8-10lb baby all the way up to a 3 year old... but the answer is pretty simple. With the right amount of adjustments for the growing belly, enough room in the legs, and enough of a rise... it can happen! So, most of the concerned questions on fit come from parents of 7-10 month olds... wondering how it will fit when they are 2.5-3years old. But the short answer is that the rise doesn't change that much during those stages of life.

Babies grow at different rates of course, but on average here is how it should fit:

The small setting of the Monkeez OS design has a rise of 14" which would fit from about 8lbs to roughly 2-4 months. Then they will have a growth in the rise significant enough to require a change. During this setting, the diaper will fit more trimmly if you un-snap the soaker and just lay it up as far on the back as you can, so less will be folded down when you snap up the body.

The medium setting has a rise of 15.5". This setting is generally used from 2-4 months up to 5-8 months depending on how quickly your baby grows. Oliver (in the video) was at a full rise setting at 7 months and his waist was only about 1.5" smaller than what it is now though he is 16 pounds heavier and about 10" longer... but not much of a change in his rise-- and this is totally normal.

The large setting is the setting you will use for the longest. This setting would begin anywhere from 5-8 months...again, depending on your baby. As the tummy grows you have the option of dropping hip snaps, and if you have a super chunk, you might find you don't need the middle wing snaps either. This is all totally fine... the wing snaps are there to prevent the front from drooping more than anything, and I have never seen a snap mark on Oliver who wears these diapers every day.

The MOST important tips are:

* Make sure that the top back of the diaper is all the way up to the underside of the belly button... this will ensure that you can pull the full length of the rise in the middle, and that the diaper will be high enough in the back to not see any "crack".

*Pull the rise up from the middle so you are extending the actual body of the diaper... this step gets missed, and obviously you can change your baby 5x faster than I did here, but don't try to pull the legs straight over without first pulling up or you will short change the rise. Once you aren't pulling on the rise it is natural that the elastic in the legs will pull it back some... that's just how it works, elastic will pull back to keep things snug.

*Whether you are still using the hip snaps, or have a larger tummy-ed baby/toddler and don't need them, start snapping with the farthest back that you are using (for Oliver's case, the middle wing snaps). It is much easier to change a wiggly baby when only two snaps have fit the waist. Then snapping up the rest of the wings is a breeze! Once you know your baby's setting, it'll be the same setting for a while. ;-)

Diaper Rash With Cloth Diapers

2010-11-23T10:44:00.000-08:00

This is a common question for all cloth diapering families...what do we do with diaper rash?

Well, previous to disposable diapers, I am quite sure diaper rash existed...and the answer was not to use disposables for a few days, because they didn't exist. ;-)

And many of the diaper rash creams didn't exist because petroleum wasn't widely used in commercial products then like it is today. So, what did people do??

Our son went through a little diaper rash phase (mostly when eating acidic foods) and I asked our pediatrician what we could use with cloth? He immediately answered "lanolin", and smiled knowing I'd be happy with that answer.

I felt a little silly because at that point in time I had tons of lanolin....and just hadn't thought to use it for diaper rash, but really...it melts at a very low temperature, so in the hot wash it should wash off easily...and yet it does a good job at protecting the skin from moisture...just try washing it off your hands!

So, that is my answer...for my diapers, if your baby is battling diaper rash, straight up pure and natural lanolin! (and it does work, nicely)

There are different types of rashes, however, so here are some other suggestions:

There are rashes from moisture, rashes from heat, rashes from skin irritation from rubbing, blister rashes from bacteria, yeast rashes, and on and on...

ways to prevent them all:
*Use natural fibers next to skin
*take a wipe and wipe baby with every change with warm water
*try using plain water instead of "solutions" or commercial wipes
In the morning use some baby wash to clean the diaper area, wipe with warm water, dry, and then re-diaper
*change diapers often
*try using just your cloth diaper with no cover, or diaper with wool cover (no PUL)
* before putting your baby down at night, spread some lanolin over any rash area
*change poopy diapers asap
* make sure your diapers do not have an ammonia build up or a detg build up
*wipe down and dry thoroughly after a poopy diaper.
*If really lose poopies...I'd also wash, but if you are away from wash, try packing some Aveeno creamy baby cleanser in your diaper bag, and you can use it straight from the bottle and wipe with a dry wipe. (after you remove the poop from the area, lol)

Hope this helps keep your baby's skin healthy!!!

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

200 FB Fan Giveaway!!

2010-11-20T14:13:00.000-08:00

***WINNER IS comment # 22 Carly! Congrats!!***

Alright you guys...you totally deserve this! I really think I have the most loyal customer base possible!...and not to mention kind, patient, and understanding. ;-) I don't do much for promotional giveaways...so here it is a big THANK-YOU for helping Monkeez grow and spreading the word!

Rules: follow the blog... so that's the first. And if you are here I would assume you've liked the Monkeez facebook page... if not, you'll have to do that too. That's it!

What to do:
Just add your comment and state what it is that you would like to receive if you are selected. I will be using random.org for number selection and will just use the number of people that comment here when it's closed on midnight Nov 25th, and I'll count downward from the first comment.

Only one comment per person... and if your facebook name is different from your blogger name, just add your facebook name too so I can contact you that way if you win! No email addresses...unless that's your preference... but figured that might be revealing a little too much privacy. ;-)

Here's what you can ask for:

Any of my products that add up to no MORE than $25 out of this list... (very few things will add up to exactly $25, so you'll likely have to stay a little under it.)

*Merino Wool Diaper Cover $24.95
*OS Organic Bamboo Nite-nite $$22.50
*OS Organic Bamboo Fitted $19.95
*OS Organic Bamboo AIO/AI2 $19.95
*pack of 3 NB Fitteds (organic bamboo) $22.50
*OS Swim diaper $13
*Pack of 3 Full size bamboo doublers $12
*Snap in soaker $6.50
*Quilted soaker $7
*Pack of 6 serged bamboo wipes $7.50
*Pack of 3 ZONE doublers $8
*Lanolin 2oz $6.95
*Pack of 3 panty liners (OBV wool backed) $13.95
*Regular mama pad (OBV wool backed)$7.50
*Heavy mama pad (OBV wool backed) $8.95
*Hanging pail wetbag $23.95
*Medium wetbag $16
*Set of 3 Merino Wool nursing pads $18.00 (3 layered)

I don't have any wool Jersey aside from the one listed on etsy right now... so if that is still there, you can ask for that too, but give a plan B (jersey cover is $19.95).

Shipping: I'll cover shipping to US, if it is international...you'll have to pay the difference in shipping to your country. If you're local, I can ship it across town too, or you are free to come pick it up....I like meeting people. ;-)

All right... think that sums it up! I will close this giveaway Nov 25th at midnight central time. And run the number selection on Nov 26th (Black Friday) and will let you know!! If you have any other questions email me: gretchen@monkeezdiapers.com

Best of Luck!!

Nite-nites (revised Sept 2010)

2010-11-19T20:14:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been selling Nite-nite diapers for a little over a year at this point... but they have gone through little changes all along the way.

Finally, this Fall, I think I landed on something that I love!! I finally caved to the urge to add a casing style of elastication in the legs on my fitteds, and figured...why not on the nite-nites too? It makes it much easier to change out the elastic some day down the road giving the diaper even more use!

I also discovered the beauty of 100% unbleached cotton elastic...I have since switched ALL of my diapers over to this elastic... I absolutely LOVE it. I haven't had any complaints about the polybraid... but the 100% unbleached cotton elastic just screams to be used in Monkeez...high quality, natural, made in the USA... I had to. ;-)

Then...since I chose to switch over to the contoured soaker...I thought...why not with the nite-nite too! And of the roughly 150 nite-nite diapers I've sold...many requested an additional soaker for their super soakers, and so I've just made this standard as well. The nite-nites are now 15 layers of organic bamboo fiber...super soft, super incredible. And a very unique design to keep things simple...and dry within a reasonable amount of time!

I hope you enjoy this.... luxury is the word that comes to mind... but this is what your baby will wear for literally half of the day!! Luxury should be standard.

15 layers of organic bamboo
All layers touching skin are velour
super absorbent and quick drying bamboo/hemp fleece (and sometimes bamboo/cotton fleece...depends what's in stock when I purchase my rolls. ;-))
All the benefits of Monkeez fit (cross over wings, snap up rise, trim fit)
quick drying given what all is packed in
sustainable, organic fibers next to baby's skin
can be paired with either a wool cover or a PUL cover (but I would recommend wool first. ;-))

Nite-nite! Sleep tight monkeezzzzz

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

Monkeez Workshop

2010-11-14T18:23:00.001-08:00

I shared some of these on FB the other day... but here is a more "story" version.

So, last Fall (09) I was still trying to do all my sewing at the dining room table and then just pick up throughout the day for meals etc... but... I started to get so busy, that it was beginning to be a pain to do this...especially since our dining room is very near the front door. So...I couldn't even fake to have a clean house anymore!

Our youngest son Oliver was then about 15 months old and our older son was 5 about to turn 6...so we figured they could share a room. (We have 4 bedrooms)... and then when Oliver moved to a big boy bed, we'd build some bunkbeds. So... we made the switch and moved the boys into the same room... and I then took over Oliver's old bedroom.

Well, this is what it looked like by the time I closed up the shop to give me time to make items for my own family before Christmas... super messy, very very blah with no baby stuff left in the room... and I am one to need inspirational spaces!!

So, during my break I mapped out how I could store things and had planned to purchase a cutting table, some stock cupboards from the hardware store... So, I planned the color scheme around Michael Millers Giraffe Garden print in the lagoon series... and figured that would be a very inspirational and colorful room that I could sew in! First things first... the colors were selected.

As things would progress towards the first week of Jan, our next door neighbor decided to remodel their kitchen and threw out their very old cabinets... I saw them and thought, YES! My husband saw them and said "Are you crazy?" So, we drug them back up from the street and brought them up to the room. (he's a sweetie and we've almost been married 10 yrs now... he's learned that I really do have some sort of direction when I ask him to help me do things like this, lol)

The next few big plus to our house was that when we bought it there was this very large table left here down in our laundry room! It works perfectly for storing all my machines... and just needed a face lift from the yellowed ivory it had once been. Another is the little porch above our garage that this door goes to. I have a garden up there, so break times often involve some fresh air and watering plants in the summer... or looking at the 18" of accumulated snow in the winter.

Other things also just fell into place... my parents moved out of state in Jan, so I then inherited my mom's cutting table and a dresser (which also got a make over ;-)) and in the end...all I had to do was make a simple curtain, paint a lot, and have hubby put up some shelving over the cutting table (not pictured) as well as add a bulletin board to have all my patterns tacked up onto (also not pictured, lol)...and the bulletin board we actually had out in the garage! I still really would love a wall clock... better overhead lighting, and some art work, but hey... I'm patient!
So, this is where all Monkeez products are designed, created, and packaged...the room gets a lot of use, my kids come and hang out in here... and the floor is usually cluttered with scraps, rolls of fabric (which my kids are convinced serves as something to walk across), and toys. No matter what time of day... it is always bright, cheerful, and inspirational. My now 7yo son described it as our new "play room"... and in a sense, I guess that's what it is! mommy's play room, where memories are made every day.

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

Mama Pads!

2010-11-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

Well...you don't really have to be a mama to use these...I think being female qualifies. ;-)

Mama pads are menstrual pads that can be washed! Sort of like a fancy way of being on the rag...a cheaper way in the long haul...a FAR more comfortable way... a less wasteful way...you get the idea!

These are special...I am using wool as a "waterproof protection" layer as opposed to some other type of fabric (like PUL or vinyl) wool is very good at this job for a number of reasons... it absorbs, it allow moisture to evaporate, and it also will first repel moisture back to the absorbing fabric (organic bamboo in this case).

All the wool has been pre-shrunk so there shouldn't be any further shrinkage so long as it is washed in a temp cooler than 130*, and dried in the dryer on a medium heat setting.

It took me a year to get this pattern how I want it, lol...I have quite a few prototypes... but in the end...I really think this is an AWESOME product, and hope you do to!

Find out all the details at monkeez.etsy.com! (Or click on a listing to the left of the page. ;-))

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

Why??

2010-11-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

...For roughly two years now I have been studying the construction of cloth diapers and all sorts of info in relation...I've made roughly 1000 diapers... and designed multiple patterns. All while having my 3 kids to raise, hubby to hang out with, and house to clean. (and the house usually isn't all that clean, lol)

It's exhausting! But, the reward is knowing that I have worked hard at something I feel very strongly about (sustainable living and waste reduction...as well as utilizing natural fibers) ...It is all the wonderful people I have met...all the homes I have helped with answering questions... encouraging people in their path to cloth diapering, the groceries I've paid for, the causes I've been able to support, school clothes that I purchased (or made)...and knowing that I know the answers to people's questions from honest, hard work.

However, despite all the rewards... there are the hardships. Not being able to go to the park because mommy has to sew... not having a clue what is going on in the secular world because...I'm sewing! not having as much time or energy for all the people I love...because I have to sew. So, the struggle comes daily, weekly, monthly...should this be the last order? Is there something else I can do to distribute my work load??

And then...to top it ALL...I offered to help someone out...someone who I thought was a descent person. Someone who gave me a story, one I'm not all that sure is true. And I gave her a copy of my pattern, along with a 1.5 hour time frame for me to teach her how to make these wonderful diapers for her own son...with the promise that the pattern would not be used to sell, or not be given out. This person, however...only considered her own pains in life, and betrayed this promise. And now...everything I've worked for...or researched...is all just being stolen. She's cheating.

Its sad...it's annoying...and it is unfair. It makes me have to expend energy to fight the urge to be angry and bitter... because while this person thinks her life story is so "sad and difficult" she never asked how things were going in MY life. If she had...I could've told her that out of this past year I have lost 4 pregnancies... that my dyslexic daughter was struggling so much in a school refusing to help that she is now being home schooled (by me, which means even less free time for myself). My husband's insurance plan changed so that we have a sky high deductible...and add to that all the medical costs of miscarriages that required intervention and I have topped her story 10 fold...and that doesn't even include that my parents were forced to move out of state after they both lost their jobs... that I also lost my job just 1.5 years ago when a church decided for no obvious reason to close its preschool, the perfect job in which my kids were always able to be with me...and my desire to be with my kids is what prompted the opening of Monkeez as a way to subsidize our income. but despite how hard I work, I will never make what I used to as a preschool teacher by spending the same amount of time, and for me the worst part was that I didn't even have my parents here for any type of support through this miserable year.

(It wasn't all miserable though, and I am not looking for sympathy..because to be honest...I am quite happy, and all of this hard work and struggle has blessed our family and my life in numerous ways that I couldn't have even imagined!...We will likely try again for another baby at some point in time, I learned that I enjoy homeschooling, we have learned to live on much less of an income... and I also have renewed my passion for making my own bread, clothes, and just about anything I can! lol)

But...what is someone with "good" character? What defines "ethical"...well...in my world, the answer is Christ..... So, I will consider this person, this thorn in my side, as a "prodigal son"...who is taking all of her undeserved earnings and squandering the wealth of knowledge and information that she did not work for. And I only pray... that one day...when she realizes what she's done... that I will have the strength to forgive her....and that even now, in this irritating present, I will forgive her...not only for the sake of having my own peace, but because it is what I'm called to do as a follower of Christ and one who has been forgiven.

Please don't copy and paste my blogs without permission or without a link to reference who really wrote it. ~Thank-you. Gretchen

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

AIO/AI2

2010-09-30T10:43:00.001-07:00

Monkeez has been producing AIO/AI2 diapers all along, but this is the first time I've used PUL as the exterior fabric. I chose this because it doesn't wick as easily, for one... and ALSO, because I'm not using the cotton print outer, I can add one more full body layer of bamboo into it. So, these are not only more wick resistant than my cotton outered AI2s (still adorable however) these are also more absorbent.

Despite personally being a larger fan of fitted/wool cover combos...I love this diaper. I can see it being a work horse and a go to diap for trips to the store, babysitters/ daycare, and nursery. Its dependable, long lasting, trim, and completely organic and natural on the interior!

Let me know what you think if you've tried it!

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

Cloth Wipes!

2010-09-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Why use cloth wipes? Why not!! ;-) When you are cloth diapering and still using disposable wipes...guess what you've got to go find...a garbage? Why should you throw away wipes when you can launder them right along with your cloth diapers and save money!

disposable wipes on average cost $6-$8/month...after 2.5yrs of diapering you'll have thrown away $210! Why not invest in some wipes and use that $210 to buy more diapers for your little one.

Wipes are soft, they are more effective, and you can either make up some yummy smelling wipes solutions are just use warm water and store them dry between uses.

Laundering is no effort at all if you cloth daiper, just launder right along with the diapers and you're ready to go again! Ahh, the ease of cloth...

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

~Wicking!!~

2010-09-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

Wicking...the scary word that people hate!

Well, wicking isn't bad. What it is, is the way absorbing fibers transfer moisture to other fibers...it is how fibers move liquid (by the process of wicking). So, without it...our diapers wouldn't absorb much and wouldn't transfer around the fabric as well. However, wicking is not desirable when it gets onto clothing.

When does this happen?? Any type of diaper can wick...a disposable diaper will squish out the liquid it can no longer absorb and clothing will absorb and "wick" (spread moisture around) and cloths would eventually become completely wet if left unnoticed. (overnight, this would then transfer to sheets as well if a diaper is too full) When this happens with disposables, people accept that their baby is wetting too heavily for the diaper and then add something to the diaper to help it work better! (awesome, great thinking there!!)

When this happens with cloth diapers...for one reason or another people blame the diaper rather than accepting that the diaper is just doing what it is supposed to do, absorbing urine...something more must be done to absorb more! (overnight diapers must have sufficient ounce of fiber to keep baby's pjs and sheets dry, but don't forget to change immediately in the morning!)

Some styles of cloth diapers will wick more easily. AIOs, all in one diapers and pockets are notorious for wicking. Either the outer print will start absorbing some, or the interior of the diaper being saturated will start wicking onto clothing. (the little wet rings around legs in the crotch area) All this means is that the diaper needs to be changed more frequently if you wish to avoid this type of wicking.

Other ways wicking occurs is through a fitted/cover...a diaper is a diaper and can only hold so much! So, once it is full...the liquid will find somewhere else to go. Wool covers are great, but again...they too have their limits.

Suggestions?? Well, if you notice your baby is wicking out of a diaper in less time than you'd like, you need to add more absorbency, a doubler of sorts. More ounce of fiber absorbs more ounce of liquid. (and it is pretty near ounce for ounce)

So, say you have a 2 month old who is drinking 4-6 ounces at a feeding, well, you then need to at least have a cloth diaper that weighs 4-6 ounces. And you'll need to change before the next feeding. If you have a toddler that can pound down two 8 ounce glasses of juice at breakfast, EXPECT to change that diaper soon after, lol... what goes in, also comes back out.

Now, some diapers...such as cotton outered AIOs are more prone to wicking because the interior fabric is sewn to the exterior cotton print...and cotton is an absorbing fiber. But this doesn't mean these won't work...it just means you need to be on top of changes or expect to have a little wicking on the diaper's exterior print when you go to change...it does not mean clothes will always be getting wet.

So, I looked up several charts for recommended diaper changes per day by age:
0-6 months (sole liquid diet): 10-12
6-12 months (introducing some solids and possibly sleeping longer stretches): 8-10
12-24+ months (solid diet with roughly 32 ounces of liquid and sleeping 12 hours a night):6-8

So, looking at "time" between changes we see:
0-6 mos: change every 2-2.5 hours
6-12 mos: (sleeping two 4 hours stretches) change every 2-2.5 hours
12-24+: (sleeping 12 hours) change every 2-2.5 hours

See a pattern?? So, it doesn't matter how old your baby is, a good rule of thumb for a healthy bottom and dry clothes is to change their diaper every 2-2.5 hours while they are awake. And this is not a set rule! Sometimes you might go to change and discover baby is dry...other times you may have JUST put on a diaper and 15 mins later, baby is needing to be changed. Well, bladders don't let out even streams throughout these 2 hours, lol... so be patient, be wise, and love your baby!!

Just because a disposable or a fitted/wool combo or even many AIO diapers CAN go up to 4 hours before "wicking" onto things less desirable... you really shouldn't wait that long. So just take time to care for your little one and enjoy the 3 mins together...talk, sing, connect, and look forward to the time together. And if you KNOW you will be longer, add a doubler or add a separate cover to buy you a little more time.

Responsible diapering is key to preventing diaper rash, so if it is poopy, DON'T WAIT! ;-)

~happy diapering

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

fitteds have a new look!

2010-09-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

My Os Organic Bamboo fitteds have gotten a make over. ;-)

What's New!

*Larger snaps
*contoured soaker
*slightly more absorbent and a little stiffer soaker now topped with velour and doubler layer of bamboo fleece on bottom. (all soakers are double leafed and are 6 layers)
*wings are ever so slightly wider and fronts have been rounded.
*diapers now have 3 rise settings. S:14" M"15.5" L17-18"
*Elastic in the legs is being applied in a different way, looks better both on and off, and should also extend the life of the elastic a little more.
*elastic is now 100% unbleached cotton!
*I finally have my new woven tags!

I'm very happy about how these have turned out.. and I got all my suggestions from customers. ;-)

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

Why Cloth diaper?

2010-09-08T06:05:00.000-07:00

Why would anyone ever want to cloth diaper?? I can tell a lot of people are thinking this when they ask what it is I do, and I answer, "I own a small business making and selling cloth diapers". Rarely is the answer "Oh that's so cool!!". Typically it's more of an odd glance, a thought races through their mind... and they answer with a shrug and an "Oh".

So, why would anyone want to cloth diaper in the age of disposable diapers, so convenient...sometimes somewhat affordable if you go for the off brand or you make a decent income. Why would anyone "choose" cloth?

From an environmental perspective...looking at just numbers it won't be long before disposable diapers either change their ways, or are banned all together! 1 baby, in diapers from birth to potty...average age of potty learning is 3yrs. average diaper per day: 8. simple math here...3(8*365)= 8760 diapers for ONE baby... multiply this by the number of babies born each year around the world and you have a very very alarming number of just diapers contributing to our waste! Aside from an ec0-friendly perspective, there is health to consider. A lot of the chemicals in disposables are not healthy: lung irritants, immune suppressants, the heat...the production of ammonia greatly enhanced as a result, and to counter act that, more chemicals?

So, the question is why NOT cloth diaper? It's definitely more economical...despite the expense of brand new cloth diapers and needing to buy roughly $300-$700 worth, you will still come out ahead. Some people are even so good at trading and selling, they renew their stash bi-monthly...and STILL come out ahead! (somehow, I'm definitely not this type so don't ask me how they do it!) So, it isn't about the money in the long run...possibly for many the upfront cost is overwhelming. I would think though, that something like this could easily be a good excuse for a credit card expense and make smaller payments over a year, or possibly even a small loan...so most people have some way to have access to building a diaper stash.

Laundering?? Well, laundering did scare me...it looked confusing and like it would take forever. I was worried that I get so busy sometimes what if I didn't have any clean diapers? (And...this has happened to me several times, so it was a legitimate fear, but I learned quickly to remember to switch the load!! ;-)) But really, it does not take a lot of "time". You throw them in the washer, restart the washer for the hot wash, and throw them in the dryer..sometimes a second cycle if I don't have all my wool dryer balls in there. "time" involvement is maybe 10 mins, the trick is staying on top of switching or re-starting. But, with good planning and a large enough stash to get you through a few days...you'll be just fine! What if your kids need clean clothes? You HAVE to do laundry...simple. Same thing for diapers.

Storing? Storing dirty diapers has never been easier than with a large hanging pail wetbag! I don't like the idea of storing used diapers in a bucket filled with water...drowning hazard flashes through my mind. but I DO remember the awful smell of disposable diaper pails...so disgusting... and I don't think even on an extended day of waiting to do laundry I have ever smelled anything like that. I use a hanging pail wetbag that gets washed along with my diapers every time, so we always have a fresh clean storing place for our diapers!

Adorable? How many people are so proud of their disposable diapers they dress their kids around it? I really like diapering with cloth...it's fun, its different...it looks...natural!

So, that's my question for everyone not already using cloth...Why not?

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

NEW Swim Diapers

2010-06-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

Well, summer has finally reached Wisconsin...and the time for going camping up north and hanging at the pool has once again rolled around.

Here is my new Monkeez Swim Diaper

Here's the scoop on what these offer!

*We go camping a lot and need things to line dry (quickly)
*we also go swimming in a public pool and needed something that can hold up against chlorine
*When I'm holding my wet baby I need to be sure the fabric won't be slippery
*When we walk down the trail to the pond we go swimming in at our campsite...I don't want to get peed on!
*When we do wash in a washing machine, I don't want to deal with velcro snagging the rest of the families swim suits.
*I need heavier duty elastic to be SURE everything will be held in
*If we're hanging out at the beach all day...I want to be able to "wipe" clean and keep using if needed.

So, this is what I designed!

*board short print fabric that is not slippery, dries quickly, holds up against chlorine
*snaps, no velcro snags
* a thin 2 layer bamboo (lay in) insert to get us down a path and to the water, but won't weigh him down.
*PUL interior to be hand washed/wiped and put back on
*strong 1/4" elastic at the legs and back to ensure no poop escapes!
*economical, OS design two settings: sm 14.5" rise and Md/Lg 17" rise (waist 14-23")

***Print placement may vary from diaper pictured***

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.

Lanolin

2010-04-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I ordered 5lbs of lanolin thinking volume ounce was much less than weight...and I was totally wrong!! If you've ever seen the large commercial size condiment containers...I have one of those of lanolin. (It will come in handy when I get to making my soap ;-))

I really ordered it so that I could just lanolize my wools since I get asked all the time if they are pre-lanolized. Really the natural colored merino covers are still pretty lanolized naturally, but the colored wools I put through a regime that probably strips the lanolin (removing exess dye color molecules)

SO I am offering lanolin in my etsy shop! Its a great price, very pure, and a little goes a long way!

All content in this post belongs to Monkeez Diapers, if you would like to share any of the information in this article, please site the author as Gretchen Wood and if sharing via another mode on the web, please include a link.