For 9 months I’ve been washing cloth diapers with Hot Water because that is what is recommended by the manufacturers of cloth diapers.  All of my other laundry I wash using cold water as I have done for a few years. 

I just read a blog that is changing my mind about washing cloth diapers using hot water, Green Breakthrough: Save Energy by Washing Diapers in Cold Water. With my cloth diaper washing, I had completely forgotten one of the reasons why I stopped using hot water with the rest of my laundry. The hot water in your washing machine (unless it has a heater) doesn’t get hot enough to kill bacteria. Think about it, the hot water for your washing machine comes from your water heater (unlike dishwashers that have their own heater).

I know that washing with cold water only is NOT recommended by most manufacturers and in most cases will void any warranties, but I’m going to try it.  The diapers in my stash I’ve had for a while now with no problems so I’m comfortable doing this.  I don’t recommend anyone new to cloth diapers use a cold wash, only test this out for yourself once you are happy with your diapers as in most cases this will void your warranty.  I am not recommending this washing, but wanted to point out another option for families looking to save money.

The best way to sanitize your diapers is to put out in the sun.  UV rays are great at killing bacteria and it’s natural!

I will report back here how it goes and if I notice any difference in my diapers from this change.

Green Bebe has added products from Tiny Tush; Unbleached Prefolds, Organic Cotton Contours, Organic Cotton Contour Doublers and Disposable Diaper Liners. 

Tiny Tush offers Diaper Service quality prefold diapers. We have opted to sell the Unbleached Premium prefolds which don’t go through the final step of bleaching the cotton. The premium version offers additional layers for absorbency. These prefolds are economically priced at $12.50 per pack of 6. These also make great burp cloths! These diapers require a diaper cover.

Another favorite of ours is the Tiny Tush Organic Cotton Contour Diapers! These diapers are so soft and easy to use. They offer are very cost efficient for those looking to save the most money by cloth diapering and offer a little more convenience than prefolds (easier to put on squirmy babies). These Organic Cotton Contour Diapers are available in 2 sizes, small and large and are available in a variety of colors; Natural, Yellow, Blue, Green and Orange. These diapers require a diaper cover.

Green-bebe.com has also added the Tiny Tush Organic Cotton Contour Doubler. This fabric is so soft and offers an organic option in doublers. Use these in addition to any cloth diaper system to increase the absorbency for heavy wetters or during night time and naps.

Disposable Diaper Liners are used to make cloth diaper cleanup quick and easy.  Just place a single layer inside diaper between baby bottom and diaper. During diaper changes simply remove diaper liner and flush down toilet or shake solids into toilet. These are biodegradable, but use your best judgement; houses with old plumbing may have problems. 

Stop by and visit Green Bebe at any of our local events. 

• August 1-2, Green Bebe will have a booth at North Aurora Days festival Craft and Vendor Fair.  We will have diapers available to purchase at our booth. 
• October 11-12, Green Bebe will be at The Indy Baby Expo in Indiana.  We will have all of our products available for purchase during the show.

Workshops - I’ve finally scheduled upcoming cloth diaper workshops.  You must register for the workshops to attend.  They will be held in North Aurora IL, once you’ve registered I’ll send you the location (sorry I need to know exactly who is coming this is an unfortunate requirement for the meeting room I’m using.)

• Wed August 13 2008; 6:30-7:30 pm. North Aurora, IL 60542
  Signup for this Cloth Diaper workshop.
• Tues Sept 30 2008; 6:30-7:30 pm. North Aurora, IL 60542
  Signup for this Cloth Diaper workshop.

 If you would like to see us at one of your local events let us know!  We are always looking for new opportunities to get out and talk with parents about cloth diapers!

The Safe Sippy 11 oz stainless steel sippy cup is in high demand and the next shipment of orders aren’t scheduled to ship until end of July to early August, so order now to reserve yours today.

The sippy cups, Safe Sippy, are made of durable and lightweight medical grade stainless steel.  After your child has graduated from sippy cups, these make great water bottles! The handles are removable and the tapered waist and texture make it easy for little hands to grip. The stainless steel body of the sippy is surrounded by a rubbery sleeve made of thermo plasticized rubber, or TPR.  The TPR material provides insulation when you put cold liquids into the cup and also makes it easier to grip the cup.  When the cup is dropped the sleeve acts as a cushion to protect the stainless steel.  The lid of the sippy is slightly wider than the cup, so to protect the stainless steel cup from denting when dropped.  The inner sleeve is made of #5 plastic and is completely free of Bisphenol A and phthalates.  The spout is straw-shaped for better developing mouths (as determined from research by speech development experts). The no-leak valve inside the spout is made of clean, non-toxic silicone.