Alva Baby Reusable Diapers blog post

Alva Baby Reusable Diapers

itskarlafrey.com

Hey there!  Hope everyone is having an AMAZING summer!  We are thoroughly enjoying the long days by going to the beach and park as much as possible.  Look at our wild garden!  Isn’t it great?!  We’ve had so many energizing, organic vegetables this year.

And how cute is Ivy’s new reusable diaper from Alva Baby?!  Obsessed!  I’ve had Alva Baby diapers since Ivy was a little baby and love their cute designs.  When Alva asked to collaborate on a post, it was a no-brainer for me!  Recommend a product I already use and love?  Yes please!  When I became a mama I became even MORE health and environmentally conscious than I already was.  Plus, think about all the money you save by not using disposable diapers!  I love having reusable diapers around.  Even if you use regular disposable diapers, its nice to have a few of these on hand so you don’t need to stress out about running to the store to get more diapers when you’re almost out.  It’s also great how their designs grow as your baby grows.  They have snaps all over so you can make them tiny for a newborn or bigger for a toddler!  We also use them for swimming covers!

Alva also sent me a wet bag to throw all the diapers into when I’m out and about and I can’t wait to give it a try!  If you’re interested in trying out Alva Baby diapers check out their website at:

AlvaBaby.com

Thanks for reading!  Check out my other photo shoot with Alva Baby diapers HERE!

Xo, Karla

This post is sponsored by Alva Baby, but the opinions stated above are (as always) my own.

Ivy’s Baltic Amber Teething Necklace linked HERE.

Cloth diapering wash routine

CLOTH DIAPERING JOURNEY-PLUS TIPS AND OUR WASH ROUTINE (PRINTABLES INCLUDED!)

-By https://daousttribe.blogspot.com/

cloth diapering is a huge part of our life. we try as much as we can to be sustainable, and when i think about how much money we are saving and how much of a positive impact we are making on the planet with cloth diapering, i feel more and more secure about our decision to cloth diaper.

my journey in cloth diapering started five years ago when oliver was born. i wasn't fully committed at first because i didn't have much knowledge of it-and we had a ton of diapers to go through from the baby shower-but after a few months, i hopped on board and we used gdiapers and alvas exclusively. i even made diaper inserts for them! so when we found out we were pregnant with joseph, i went a little cloth diaper crazy and bought a ton of cloth diapers.

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we started out with gdiapers again because they worked so well with oliver. but then i hated them. i could never get a good fit on joseph and he always peed right out the side of the diaper, no matter what. then we tried the econobum prefolds and covers and while they worked well, i didn't like how bulky they were. i finally decided that we needed to get alvas. i really loved the few i had with oliver, but because you need a full stash, it was too expensive at the time to attain that amount. this time i was able to get what we needed, plus some bamboo fitteds for overnight use with flip covers, since joseph was a heavy wetter. we started out with 15, but since then our stash has grown to 26, not including fitteds, swim diapers, one bum genius, and two other brands.

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pocket diapers, specifically alvas, are our absolute favorite. they're incredibly easy to use, affordable, they don't take forever to dry (like AIO's) and come in very fun and cute prints. because they're affordable, it's really easy to get a good stash going, even if you're buying just a few at a time. if you know you plan to cloth diaper, i suggest stocking up over the course of your pregnancy so when baby comes you have a real good stash. and ask for them on your registry!

​if you're a seasoned cloth diaperer, it's not hard to get back into the swing of things. but if you're new to cloth diapering, there will be some trial and error as well as figuring out the best routine for you. even with all of the information out there, it can get a bit overwhelming for newbie fluffers. i am no pro at cloth diapering, but i have found a routine (and some tips) that works for me that i would love to share with you guys.

• get a good stash going. you can do that by purchasing all at once, buying throughout your pregnancy, or registering for them for your baby shower. don't be afraid of second-hand, either; it's an inexpensive way to add to a stash. a good stash is between 15-24 diapers, on the higher end with a newborn. that is with a wash schedule of every other to every two days, depending on baby's age.
• if you're going to do cloth wipes as well, alva has some great bamboo ones that are so soft! we also use bumkins. you can use just water in a spray bottle or peri bottle (the kind they send home with you from the hospital) or you can make a wipe solution. there are lots of diy recipes on pinterest, but we love wee essentials on etsy.
• if you have some cloth diapering friends, ask them what their fave cloth brands and types are and why. see what their routine is and compare to what you feel might work for you (ie: how many kids are in cloth, how often they wash, etc.). 
• join your local cloth diapering group(s) on facebook. there are always great resources and info in there and even mama's who might let you try out their cloth to see if you like it. b/s/t groups are great, too-bonus if they're local!
• figure out how you want to store your clean cloth, as well as the soiled cloth. we keep our cloth diapers on an ikea raskog cart in the boys' room, but plan to move them to a wall shelf soon, since the baby loves to pull everything out of the cart! the soiled ones we keep in a huge hanging wet bag, but some people use a pail with a liner. i prefer the wet bag for aesthetics, but would definitely use a pail and liner if we had a laundry room accessible from inside the house. 
• invest in a diaper sprayer! you wont need one until baby starts solids, but my routine of taking the poopy diapers outside and hosing them off is becoming quite inconvenient. you'll need one for all of those sticky solid food poo's that don't just flop off into the toilet. you will need one, i promise. 
• get cloth diaper safe diaper cream. coconut oil is what we use, but burt's bees multi-purpose ointment (not their diaper rash cream) is safe as well as these other brands. 
• you will need cloth diaper safe laundry soap. we use tide original scent powder, but there are other brands out there that work just fine. you want to stay away from optical brighteners and fabric softeners. for a full list of detergents, go here. 
• it is suggested to have a washing machine that will get your cloth diapers clean without you having to do (hardly) any prep work to achieve that. it should have a center post agitator, a large enough tub to accommodate your stash, and fill with a lot of water. 'he' machines are fine, as long as you can select how much water fills the tub. we had a washer with no agitator and 'sensed' the load size and gave 'just enough' water to wash our items. did.not.work. we had so much build-up and had to go out and buy an old washer and then strip the heck out of the diapers to get them where they needed to be. there is nothing worse than ammonia smell in diapers, as well as ammonia burns on your baby's sweet skin! 
• figure out a wash routine. depending on how many diapers you have in your stash, you should be washing every other day, every two days, or every three days-but definitely do not go longer than three days before washing. we wash every other day, or every two days, depending on how much time we have and what's going on. we can go three days between washes, but i prefer not to, as we get down to the last few and i have to throw everything in the dryer to speed up the drying process. and the dryer is fine on occasion, but too much dryer use with pul can break it down sooner. hang dry is best, whether inside or out.  
• have fun! we buy fun and nerdy prints that get us excited about cloth diapering. alva has tons of prints that are incredibly adorable. our favorites are these, these, and we already have this one!

those tips should help you get started in your very own cloth diapering journey. here are some tips with washing, prepping/stripping, and the general 'how to' cloth diaper. keep in mind that this is my routine and what works for my family. adjust how you see fit! these instructions can work for pocket diapers or prefolds and flats with diaper covers. if you use AIO's, there is no need to separate inserts, as the inserts are already sewn in. to see different type of cloth diapers, check out the humbled homemaker!

if you would like to print out these instructions and hang them up in your laundry room and cloth diapering station, feel free to save the image and print. i won't be a copyright nazi or anything, but i do ask that if you share these, to please credit me and tag me wherever possible. thank you!

​ ​if you plan to hang dry everything, or even just the covers, invest in a good drying rack and/or a clothesline. i'm saving up for an umbrella clothesline!

​i gifted these printables to my sis-in-law with some cloth diapers from alva. they look great in frames in your laundry room and diapering stations. you can easily make your own using picmonkey! now, for some cute fluff spam. from alva, of course! (they're seriously my fave!!!)

​if you have any tips yourself, or a routine that has worked for you, please share with us below! link your blog posts, forums, or simply just write it out. happy cloth diapering!

Fox cloth diaper. AIO review for Alva Baby

CLOTH DIAPER STYLE: ALVA AIO FOX PRINT

By: Old World New Baby
Unlike old school cloth diapers that were used out of pure necessity before disposable diapers existed, cloth diapers have made a resurgence as a conscious choice.  People that use them do so for many reasons.  Financially, they are easy on your wallet.  You can create an entire cloth diaper “stash” (the total amount of diapers that one owns) for less than $150 by shopping cheaper brands and buying second hand.  This $150 investment can last the entire time your child needs to wear diapers.  Cloth diapers are also a sustainable alternative to disposable diapers.

Disposables are so Yesterday

Disposables were a wonderful invention when they were created – and a sign of social status that everyone wanted to attain.  No one probably ever sat and thought about the true impact they would have on the earth, though.  Besides having to spend more money every time your child runs out (and lets hope they don’t run out in the middle of the night), they have filled landfills with material that is not biodegradable.  They also expose your child’s sensitive skin to a lot of chemicals, and they cause more diaper rash than a cloth diaper would.  Greyson has never had a diaper rash, and we hope to keep it that way.

A Cloth Diaper Print A Day…

Besides being a sustainable way to diaper your baby, cloth diapers are fun because of their prints and patterns.  That’s where this Cloth Diaper Style Series comes in.  We’ll be styling our favorite cloth diapers based on their prints and sharing them to show the fun side of cloth diapering.  First up: the fox!  This is a newly developed AIO (all-in-one) cloth diaper from Alva Baby.  We combined it with our Fox Wubbanub pacifierand clip of Fox from X-Files, which Greyson seems to like just as much as I do.  He’s a cool kid!

What the FOX say?

Alva Baby cloth diaper AIO review

Alva Baby's new AIO cloth diaper is fantastic! 

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Here is what the inside of the diaper looks like. It has a sewn in 3 layer microfiber insert:

It also​ has a front pocket opening where an additional insert may be added for extra absorbency:

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It also has double gussets around the legs openings:

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We have LOVED this diaper! The quality of this diaper is superior, and it is very cute!

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I have 24 month old twins. They are on the small side for their age (22 lbs and 24 lbs). This diaper fits them both great on the medium snap rise setting. During the day, we haven't had to add any extra inserts. We've just been using the diaper like it came, with the sewn in 3 layer microfiber insert. I typically change their diapers every 3 hours and we haven't had any leaks using this diaper. 

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At night, I have been adding an extra insert into the pocket for extra absorbency, since they seem wake up in the morning with full diapers. This diaper has been great for night use and hasn't leaked at all for us. 

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It was tricky getting the fit right at first, because the Alva Baby pocket diaper has 3 snaps on each wing, but the AIO only has 2. However, by the second day, I figured out how to make it work to fit my babies best, and we haven't had any issues getting the right fit since then. Instead of lining the leg and top snap up evenly like I do on the pocket diapers, I discovered that for the AIO diaper, the waste snap up top needed to be cinched up on the smaller snap setting, while the bottom snap closer to their thighs needed to be on the wider snap setting. I still think I prefer the snaps on the pocket diaper (how it has 3 snaps on each wing instead of 2), but this still works, and the fit is fine.

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One of my favorite parts about the diaper is that the pocket (where you add extra inserts) opens in the front! This is awesome for when you are taking the insert out to put it in the washer, because if it is a poopy diaper, you don't have to get your hands messy!

​The design is very cute.There is no need to cover it up with bloomers under dresses, because it is already cute! I also love how trim fitting it is. It goes under pants nicely without looking bulky.

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My absolute favorite part about the diaper is the double gussets around the legs. I wish all cloth diapers were made this way!

Alva Baby teething bracelet or necklace

Let's face it. Teething is difficult stage for both the baby and the mom. I recently discovered a product that has been life saving for both my teething twin toddlers' comfort, and for my sanity. It is the ALVABABY Amber Teething Bracelet.

It is made from 100% real authentic Baltic Amber. Baltic Amber is known for anti-inflamitory capabilities and immune system boosting properties. Many moms have found that when their babies are wearing an amber teething necklace, they are in less pain (less fussy), and drool less. I have found this to be very true! The warmth from the skin releases the active ingredient in the baltic amber which is then absorbed through the body to soothe inflamed teething gums, and reduce drooling. 

Amber teething bracelets do the same thing as the necklaces, but I prefer it in the bracelet style, because I don't have to worry about it being a choking hazard around my babies' necks.

To give you an idea about how it fits, it is about 5.5 inches long. My twins are 24 months old and 22 lbs and 24 lbs. It fits them both as a bracelet with plenty of room to grow. It also fits them snugly as anklets. For smaller infants that are teething, it might fit best as an anklet.

I love the closing clasp on this amber teething bracelet. It is easy for me to twist on my wiggly toddlers very quickly, but it requires fine motor twisting skills that toddlers haven't yet developed to get off, so it stays on all day! I am very pleased with this amber teething bracelet. Happy toddlers make for a happy mommy!

Available on AMAZON for $8.99 here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/ALVABABY-Teething-Bracelet-Anklet-Babies/dp/B01M2D1V2W/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484282129&sr=8-1&keywords=alvababy%2Bteething%2Bbracelet%2Banklet&th=1
Amber teething necklaces available for $9.90 on the ALVABABY website link here: http://www.alvababy.com/amber-teething-necklace-c-242.html

Alva Baby Cloth Diaper Review (first impressions)

Author: Brittany Mandlekow from http://www.thelightheartedhome.com

We've had a love/hate relationship with cloth diapers while diapering Ezra. I'm glad to say we are at the love point again. I think it takes awhile to find your groove and what works best for you and your baby. That being said, we have tried many different brands out. Now that we have been using cloth for almost 16 months (we took a couple months off) we know what works best for us. This is my first  Alva Baby diaper but I do know quite a few who have used them before. Lets break it all down below↓

I'm going to call this more of a first impressions review because we have only been testing the diaper for about a week. I will update this review later once it has been in our rotation for awhile to see how it's holding up. So far it has been working great for us. We've had no issues with leaks and I feel like we get a really good fit. The diaper itself fits very trim on my little man. It's easy for him to run around in and well, just be the wild toddler he is.

The one I am using is a pocket diaper so that means that the insert get's put inside a "pocket" in the diaper. Pocket diapers are one of my personal favorites because they are so easy to customize to your needs. My diaper came with one mircofiber insert. After "prepping" the diaper first, AKA running it through the washer a few times, I popped it on my guy. I had him wear it about 3 hours before changing. That's typically how long we like to go in-between changes. It held all the liquids in nicely, no leaks! I honestly think it could have went maybe 4 hours for us but it all depends if your baby is a heavy wetter or not. I personally wouldn't use this diaper overnight without adding in extra protection. Which again is really easy to do since it is a pocket diaper.

The customization of the buttons really insures that you get a great fit. It has a 2 rise setting and waist and hip snaps. Ezra is just about 18 months old, is roughly 24-25 lbs, and about 31-32 inches tall. To get a proper fit around the waist I have to snap it all the way shut. For the rise, I have it on the last snap setting. He still has plenty of room to grow in this diaper. On their site is says it will fit most babies between 6.5-33lbs. Meaning he could have worn this diaper right from birth until most likely potty training time. I would assume that it would be a bit bulky on a newborn but most all one size diapers are at first.

Alva diapers are a great choice for someone who is on a tight budget. This diaper typically runs about $6. This is much less than any other brand we own. You could build a pretty good stash of about 24 diapers for only $144. That being said you would probably need to buy some extra inserts as well. Besides being really affordable they have super cute designs for both girls and boys. Make sure to plan ahead on buying because shipping can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to arrive. If you need them quicker they do have a USA tab that has items that says they typically ships 7-10 days.

I also did a quick chit chat review about it you can find >Here< You can subscribe for more videos in the future!

Disclamer: I provided with a free product for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

For this original blog post visit: http://www.thelightheartedhome.com

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Alva Baby bandana bib review

I have been really looking forward to sharing this review with all of you. We are obsessing over these Alva Baby Bandana Bibs! We started out using Alva Baby cloth diapers, when we made the switch to cloth at 2 months. And we are now loving these bibs as an addition to our Alva products. These bandana bibs have really been a life saver, as far as helping make outfits last through the day. Between the non-stop drool from teething and the reflux spit up, we were changing Carson's outfit way too many times to count. Now I just snap on one of these stylish bibs and his outfit stays clean and dry. I really love the fact that these bibs have snaps instead of velcro (I am not a velcro fan at all). There are two snaps so that the bib can grow with your baby. Which is a plus, since they grow so darn fast! They are made out of soft cotton on the front and very absorbent fleece on the back side, which is why they keep cute outfits nice and dry. And the patterns, my goodness, they are all so cute! So far, I am extremely impressed with the function and durability of these bibs. Thanks Alva for this product! Xoxo, Hannah from Slightly Messy Mama Blog
 *This review contains only my honest opinion*