All About Cloth Diapers: Karen Randall of New and Green Baby

We had a chance to connect with Karen Randall, owner of New and Green Baby, a Vancouver-based online cloth diaper store. Love that you can hear Karen’s little one in the background. 🙂

Music credit: Fond Farewell © SOCAN, Pilkington ’09.
Run time: 14:10

Here are some of the things we covered in our podcast:

Some common myths about cloth diapering:

• Cloth diapers are too much work.
• Cloth diapers are messy.
• My baby won’t be comfortable in cloth diapers.

Some realities about cloth diapering:

• Technology has changed. Fabrics and patterns are new and designed with functionality in mind and has changed the way parents use cloth diapers.
• Unlike the diapers from the 70s, today’s diapers are made of hemp or organic cotton, and have a water-repellent outer layer that’s breathable.
• Washing machine technology has changed.
• No longer “poop soup”. You now use just a common pail, which isn’t that different from tossing a diaper into a normal garbage can.

Options for cloth diapers

• One step diapers – one step to put on and off. Functionally the most easiest to use. Parent’s favourite for older babies. Includes pocket diapers and all-in-one diaper. Great for caregivers who aren’t used to cloth diapering.
• Two step diapers – Absorbent and waterproof part. Can customize the inside and outside. Can get a really great fit on tiny babies.

When you’re shopping for cloth diapers, here are some keywords to look for:

• Pocket diaper
• All-in-one
• Fitted diapers (absorbent part)
• Prefold or flat diapers (flat, traditional diapers)
• Diaper covers

Karen’s essentials when you’re starting with cloth diapers:

• Diapers
• At home storage bag. (Bummis wet bag). Can be used as a pail liner or a stand-alone bag.
• Detergent (e.g. Rockin’ Green)
• Cloth wipes
• Wet bag for when you’re on the go.

Final thoughts:

• Go check out the resource section on NewandGreen.com
• Sign up for one of New and Green’s workshops.
• Easiest to use diaper is Easy Fit Diaper