Traveling with Baby? Cloth Diapering Tips to Help

Are you planning to head out for a short vacation with baby in tow? Worried about diaper changes and whether you’d be able to use your cloth diapers when traveling? Yes, traveling with baby can be quite overwhelming for a new mom and when you add cloth diapers to the mix, it can become tougher still, right?
Well, you can set your fears aside.

Here are some cloth diapering tips and ideas to make travel time easy and stress-free for both baby and you:

1. Use Extra Absorbent Inserts

Firstly, reach for extra absorbent inserts that can keep baby feeling dry for longer than regular cotton inserts. Hemp inserts are great for travel time and we’re thrilled to be introducing them this month to the Smart Baby India family.

2. Pack Cloth Diapers That Suit Baby and YOU

Also, think about your cloth diapering style when choosing diapers to carry along. Would you like the ease and reusability of a Flip? Or would you prefer an All-in-One diaper, like the bumGenius Freetime?

Also, before you travel, track the number of diapers that your baby usually goes through during the day, so that you know how many diapers to carry. Always, add in a few extra to accommodate any diaper disasters.

3. Pack a Travel Diaper Bag 

Your travel diaper bag should consist of diapers, diaper wipes, disinfecting solution , a wet bag to hold the dirty diapers in and a changing pad. Since finding readymade wet bags is so difficult and next to impossible in India, I’d recommend looking at stores like Mother Care or making your own. Here’s an easy tutorial to help you sew your own wet bag or get someone to do it for you.

4. Cloth Diaper Care When Traveling 

Finally, how do you wash and clean cloth diapers when staying in a hotel? Simple. Either use the hotel’s laundering facility and give them your own baby detergent to use or wash them in the bathroom sink. Fill the sink with water, add a squirt of baby detergent and let the diapers soak, agitate the water. Let them soak a while before rinsing them clean. You can dry them under the fan if your hotel room doesn’t have a balcony, using the hangers and racks provided.
There, see, cloth diapering when traveling is not difficult. With the right kind and amount of diapers, it can be just as easy as using disposables, plus your bundle of joy stays rash-free, comfy and cutely diapered all the while!

How do you keep up with cloth diapering when out and about? 

Photo Credit: Mrs.Flinger

Go Green!

Going ‘green’ is a matter of personal choice, and that choice can impact the world. All of us intend to leave legacies for our children, of the material kind but what about the environment they live in?


 Preservation of a healthy, happy atmosphere in the lives of our children is as important as leaving homes and possessions for them. 


Every small step you take to go green at home and at work, helps preserve the universe your kids will grow in!

Hard Facts about Disposable Diapers:

-          200,000 trees each year are lost to the manufacture of disposable diapers for babies in the U.S. alone.

-          It takes 3.4 billion gallons of fuel oil every year to make diapers.

-          Disposable diapers take about 500 years to decompose.

-          Decomposing diapers release methane into the air. High concentrations of the gas can be explosive and flammable. Methane is also dangerous to breathe in because it replaces oxygen.

-          Disposable diapers often contain dyes and dioxin, which is formed as a by-product of the chlorine bleaching process.

Yes your most basic requirement as a parent is causing this kind of damage to the same world your children will become parents in!

Go Green at Home

-          Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out. CFL’s last longer, consume less electricity and don’t create any heat.

-          Wash vegetables in a bucket of water, use the waste water to water your home plants.

-          Pack lunches and sandwiches in baking sheets of butter paper instead of plastic wrap.

-          Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently.

-          Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible; they contribute considerably to hazardous waste.

Choose Cloth Diapers to Go Green 

-          Cloth diapers are reusable

-          Cloth diapers are made with natural materials

-          Cloth diapers do not contain chemicals and derivatives

-          Cloth diapers are bio-degradable

-          Quality cotton diapers will hold up for hundreds of washes, and can be saved for the next child.

-          Although energy is required for washing the diapers, it is a fraction of the energy used for disposables.

-          Cloth diapers are also recyclable, making excellent cotton rags once they are not needed as diapers.

It is all about that one informed choice!

Winter Travel with Baby

Wintertime is usually holiday time! Shorter holidays than summer but reason enough to head out. This is the best season to drive out towards the countryside, enjoy rural bliss, fresh air and pure nature.


 Taking the kids is all about a family experience, letting children enjoy the wilderness and feeling a sense of freedom they don’t find in the city. 


Over the last decade the highways have gotten better and so have the getaways.


 So if you are planning a road trip with baby, then all you need is a plan, a place and of course ...packing! 


Keep these few essentials in mind when you pack and keep your baby, happy, healthy and cosy through the trip.

Winter Travel Packing Tips for Moms

1.       An extra set of cap and mittens/gloves: While it's likely that your baby will already have these on, it doesn't hurt to have a second pair with you. The good thing about add-ons is that once the car warms up, you just remove layers like caps and mittens.

2.       Fleece lined boots/booties: While they won't always leave socks on, ankle high boots are there to stay. Body heat escapes from the head and the feet, if you keep the feet warm, baby will be relatively comfortable on the road with you. If your baby is too small for boots, then fur lined baby booties work just as well, they tie around the ankle and stay in place for hours.

3.       A sleeper sack or baby sleeping bag: If your baby is close to nap time, and it's going to be a while before you reach a pit stop, take him out of bulkier clothes or snowsuit and place him in a sleep sack or sleeping bag. Many sleep sacks are made of fleece and are very warm. A sleep sack can also make a feeding go much more smoothly because your baby will be more comfortable. For older children, a child sized sleeping bag works just as well, even while at a pit stop, baby can take a nap anywhere, in the car while you rest or in a restaurant while you eat.

4.       Full sleeve/full leg onesies: This is a great layering piece for under sweat suit or snow suit, depending on the weather. It is a good idea to pack a thinner pair and a fleece pair so you are geared for days and nights. The thin pair can be layered while the fleece can be worn alone. This way when you carry baby and clothes move around, a cold draft never reaches the baby’s skin.

5.       Cloth diapers: Cloth diapers are natural, comfortable and more absorbent. Our FLIP day packs are ideal for travelling. Flip diapers give Moms flexibility because they can reuse the cover.  When travelling you can have a wet bag/diaper bag with you that keep’s the stink in the bag for used inserts until you are at a place to wash them. If you wish to go organic you can choose from bumGenius Elemental and FLIP inserts, apart from these all cloth diapers have exclusive benefits that range from rash free materials to longer dryness.

Enjoy the holidays!!

Diapering Overnight

One concern a lot of moms have is dealing with a heavy wetter. Your baby’s wetting habits change every month, as does their diet. Seasons and weather affect your baby’s wetting patterns too. 


Keeping all this in mind, how do you find a natural, sustainable solution for your baby?  

Overnight Diapering Solutions

You switch to one of SmartBaby’s best loved brands bumGenius, Flip or Econonbum!  And for those of you who are already SmartBaby users, you can always explore the options given below. The good news is that cloth diapering is effective for heavy wetter’s as it is for regular wetter’s and of course it is also safe, healthy and comfortable too!

One way is to use two pre-folds inside your favorite cover or you can use one pre-fold in a modified triangle fold and a second folded in thirds and laid in as a doubler. If babies sleep on their back then keep the extra length over in the front or use a wrap cover. 


Many moms mentioned using cloth diapers made specifically for night time. Typically these diapers will be a bit more absorbent, and perhaps a bit bulkier than your average daytime diaper and probably not as comfortable due to the sheer size. 


We recommend the illustrious bumGenius 4.0 cloth diapers. These All-in-One stay-dry diapers are ideal for all kinds of wetter’s, since you have the option of adding another insert as and when you need to.  bumGenius Elementals are made of all organic cotton and is another great, affordable option for absorbency overnight.


 Cotton prefolds can be used inside a cover like Econobum or Flip, or even as an insert inside your favorite bumGenius 4.0 pocket diaper.

Apart from bumGenius, we also suggest a Flip diaper cover used with a Stay-Dry Insert which for a lot of moms is perfect for overnight diapering. This diaper is made of 3 ultra-absorbent layers of microfiber and a smooth stay-dry suede cloth that wicks moisture from your baby’s bum. Flip Stay-Dry Inserts work to keep your baby drier, longer. 


So if baby is sleeping up to 3 hours a time, then this may just be the solution for you.


 If you feel that the same diapers you used overnight earlier are not as effective now then it could be your washing techniques - laundry products can build up in the fabric and waterproof them. Only use a tiny amount of baby laundry detergent. Put diapers through a water-only wash sometimes and remember to never use fabric softener. If you use diaper cream, use a liner with it because if it gets on your diapers, the oil in it will waterproof them.

Here's to dry baby bums at night and easier overnight diapering. 

It’s Elemental My Dear Mommy!

If it is organic, natural options that you are looking for on your baby’s bottom, then the bumGenius Elemental One Size Diaper is exactly what you need!! The award winning one-size bumGenius design with luxuriously soft, 100% organic cotton inside, gives your baby the natural comfort of dry bums and the freedom to just ‘be’! The bumGenius Organic One-Size Cloth Diapers offer a unique functionality with tabs that stretch for a perfect fit. So you don’t have to worry about tight, loose, sizes... nothing! These incredible stretchy tabs combined with snap fasteners making cloth diapering easy for you and very comfortable for your baby. The organic cotton soaker is super soft and highly absorbent, which makes for added peace and comfort for both baby and mommy, during the day and especially at night!

The new bumGenius Elemental "no-stuff" system available only in the bumGenius Organic One-Size Cloth Diaper is an ideal solution for families with a child in day-care or a busy mommy! It really is as easy to use as a disposable diaper. Using the snaps on the front of the diaper you can easily adjust the size if you need to, put the diaper on your baby, when baby is done, wash, dry and re-use. It is truly that easy and the best part is that is not only good for your baby, it is good for the environment they are going to inherit as well. With a diaper like the Elemental, there are no extra steps, there is no for extra stuffing and there is cover required. So you are done in one go, simple, easy, extremely comfy!

The idea behind the design of the bumGenius one size diapers is that they fit most babies from 8-35+ pounds (or 3-16 kgs), which means there is less shopping, less clutter, less material for you to manage on a daily/monthly basis.  You don’t have to sort diapers by size or carry multiple diapers when you travel or have a day out, you just need your pack of bumGenius Elementals.  What makes these one-size-fits-all is the unique three snap-downs on the front of the diaper which allow you to easily adjust the size between small, medium, and large as your baby grows.  These are diapers, you can keep for next baby too, and the utility is obvious! 

Unique features of the bumGenius Elemental Diaper:

• An absorbent layer integrated into the waterproof outer layer.

• One step cloth diaper - no add-ons.

• Snap closures to ensure a trim, bumGenius fit.

•Ultra-absorbent, certified organic cotton inner.

• Soft leg elastic contains the mess!

Winter Preparation Tips for Moms of New Babies

Winter is a time we worry most about babies, whether they are warm enough or are they too warm? Have they had enough fluids and have they been filling up only on bready starchy foods too? And one of the biggest concerns when you wake at 3 am with a slightly cranking baby and wonder “How long has this little munchkin been wet?”! Though no one can make seasonal troubles go away or completely rid you of all your concerns, what we can do is give you some tips on how to prepare for winter when you have a small baby.

1.       Don’t over/under dress baby

 Ideally babies need two layers more than Moms and Dads but every baby is different, winter babies and babies from colder regions tend to need fewer layers than babies who experience winter seasonally. Layering is the best way to ensure comfort for baby. That way you can add or remove layers whether you are indoors or outdoors. Overdressing baby can lead to overheating and complication thereafter while under-dressing can expose baby to the cold and cause a drop in immunity. 

2.       Stock Up: 

stock up on innerwear for layering. Make sure you have an ample supply of thermal innerwear, stockings and leggings and other warmsies! The weather makes laundry take longer to dry and with food spillage, playtime and other messy moments, it is better to be prepared in time for the real cold.

3.       Kill Germs: 

Wash your hands often, despite the weather! Wash up after changing baby’s diaper, using the bathroom or handling dirty clothes and tissues, and wash well before holding or feeding your baby. It is advisable to keep a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer nearby or in handy areas. In this weather it is better to pay attention to the cleanliness of common household surfaces and toys as well, especially if other family members have been sick. You can use disinfectant to wipe door handles, phones and TV remotes. Clean baby toys in light soapy water and rinse well. 

4.       Pamper baby’s skin: 

Your baby’s skin is her first line of defense against disease. But winter air can be harsh on delicate baby skin, especially if your baby is already prone to eczema and other dryness conditions. Older babies may develop patches on their knees and elbows, even if they don’t scratch, from crawling across the floor. So be extra generous when applying lotion, oil or baby moisturizer. The best time to apply them is immediately after a bath, while the skin is still damp. 

5

.           Head outdoors: 

Moving away from old school thinking, mothers are now being encouraged to head outdoors as long as there are no icy/stormy conditions. The cool, moist air in winters is great to build the immunity of babies and it helps keep the breathing passage  clear and open, in fact is baby is suffering from the sniffles, cold air will give them immediate relief. So bundle up and head out for a day in the sun, which will also help your baby and you get adequate Vitamin D for the cold days ahead!

STAY DRY: 

And most important of all, keep baby DRY. Choose not only convenient but comfortable and compassionate products when it comes to baby’s ‘toilet’ needs. They need the comfort and freedom to move around and explore and they need to remain dry on the skin. This is a good season to explore SmartBaby cloth diapers. The feel and comfort of cloth is unmatchable of course but it is the super absorbency and unique design of SmartBaby cloth diapers that make them a popular choice with mothers. What you need in winter is a diaper that is re-usable (think of the environment for a second), comfortable, one size fits all (yes they are!!), are easy to clean and have stay dry comfort … bumGenius, FLIP and Econobum all do!

Why bumGenius may just be the ONE for your baby?

bumGenius was a product that came out of sheer necessity. 

The Story Behind the Best Cloth Diaper

Founder Jennifer Labit needed natural, comfortable and environmentally conscious solutions for her babies, something that the market didn’t offer and not many people were doing anything about. 


So she went ahead and designed and developed the perfect cloth diaper, all by herself!


 The original bumGenius were all about comfort and absorbency but with time and with the support of mommy’s all over the world, this wonder diaper went on to become the avatar it is today, the super cosy, super comfy, super absorbent, earth friendly cloth diaper that fits all sizes! Yes, you heard right, all sizes!

What Makes bumGenius Best for Babies

The beauty of bumGenius is not in its styling or the fact that it comes in a variety of colours, the true value lies in the fact that a pack will serve you well and serve you through infancy till potty training. 


We offer the bumGenius 4.0 one-size stay dry cloth diaper (this is a pocket diaper that comes with 2 microfiber inserts) and the bumGenius Elemental one-size cloth diaper (this is an all organic diaper that is an all in one piece). 


The simple yet functional design makes cloth diapering as easy as using disposables. The "no-stuff" system with semi-attached inserts is an ideal solution for families with a child in day-care or family members resistant to cloth diapers! By using the snaps on the front of the diaper, the size can be adjusted, all you do is put the diaper on your baby, wash, dry and re-use. No extra steps. No stuffing. No cover required.


 Our one-size diapers are designed to fit most babies weighing between 8 and 35 pounds. Now that’s a perfect solution! Especially if we throw in colours, there is never a dull moment for baby!

bumGenius are made with a soft, waterproof outer fabric keeps the diaper trim on your newborn and toddler. The waterproof material stays on the outside to hold the moisture but it does not touch the baby’s skin at all. 


The soft, suede inner fabric gently wicks moisture away from your baby's skin and into the inserts. These diapers are also super stretchy with a gentle leg and back elastic that have rolled out casings which keep the ‘waste’ in and help to keep moisture, rashes and ickiness away from baby!

This is also an environmentally friendly decision on your part, by using cloth diapers, you are reducing the stress on ecology considerably. That’s the bonus with cloth diapers, you end up doing a good deed, for baby and the planet! 50 million disposable diapers enter landfills each day, where they sit for 500 years. 


And that’s just the beginning. You don’t need to be a part of the problem, you can be a part of the solution, call SmartBaby now for more information!

Colour me Comfy: Coloured Cloth Diapers to Brighten Up Baby's Wardrobe

It’s not always complexion that determines what colours suit us and the same applies to babies as well. 


Babies are lucky enough to have a big cuteness factor which allows them to look lovely in whatever they wear yet every parent and even baby has a preference. 


Gone are the days of blues for boys and pinks for girls, it’s all about hues, patterns and prints and babies are having a lot of fun in what they wear now. 


While it is true that young infants don't distinguish colours as well as older ones but by two months of age, most babies can tell the difference between most colours and white. But the question is do they prefer particular colours?

Studies show that babies can see colours at birth though often they will have trouble distinguishing similar tones. For this reason many babies prefer to look at black and white patterns or objects with similarly highly contrasting motifs in the early days. 


The ability to distinguish colours develops rapidly, and as early as 3-4 months old some babies begin to show a preference for certain colours. In the beginning a baby’s brain works hard to learn and tell colours apart. 


So it’s important for parents to notice a baby’s particular fondness for a colour and present them with an opportunity to make self decisions this early in life. Have fun and let baby experiment, lay out an array of coloured toys (for smaller infants, just 2 will do) and note if baby gravitates to similar tones again and again!

Once you are aware of your babies colour preferences it is easier to give them opportunities to pacify themselves with colours they enjoy and have developed a fondness and familiarity with. What a wonderful way to watch your baby become a complete and thinking person?! 


Patterns come in a bit later though it’s never too early to pick a theme for baby’s nursery and watch how they relate to objects and designs, yet you will always see your baby notice colour, first! It is these interesting developments that make parenting so enriching as an experience. 


Now when you step into baby stores you are overwhelmed with styles, colours, comfort and more, so why not extend the same to diapering ...it’s time to see that cute little ‘bum’ crawling across the hallway jazzed up with some colour!


 What do you think?

Diaper Rash: The Why and How of Nappy Rashes

Babies don’t get cranky for nothing, not even the seemingly bothersome ones. Babies actually love to be happy, occupied and talked to. So if you’re doing all those things and you still have a cranky infant in your arms, just have a quick peek at the diaper area and rule out the devilish ‘diaper’ rash.

Diaper rash doesn't always look the same but if your baby's diaper area looks irritated and red, chances are baby has it. The skin may also be a little puffy and warm when you touch it, which could be indicative of an infection. The level of discomfort it puts the child in, can be very disturbing.

Why Does Diaper Rash Occur

The most common cause for diaper rash is leaving your baby in a soiled diaper for too long. If you are using a disposable diaper there could be friction from the diaper combined with bacteria laden moisture, never a good combination!

The plastic that prevents diapers from leaking also prevents air circulation, thus creating a warm, moist environment where rashes and fungi can thrive actively.

This environment is ideal for a rash to develop and it happens pretty quickly. Sadly for baby, it takes time to ease as well, since like all babies do, the process of poop and pee continue through the day.

A few other reasons for Diaper rash include a change in diet, which causes a change in the chemical composition of what the baby expels during the day. The detergent used to wash the diapers (in the case of cloth) can cause irritation and in sick babies, if they are on antibiotics, that will disturb the stomach flora and encourage the breeding of infectious bacteria.

How to Prevent Nappy or Diaper Rash

The best way to prevent diaper rash is by keeping your baby's skin as dry and clean as possible and changing diapers often so that faeces and urine don’t irritate the skin.

Few handy tips for rash avoidance:

- Check your baby’s diaper hourly and look for signs of discomfort.
- Change soiled or wet diapers as soon as possible and clean the area thoroughly with unscented wipes or water.
- Gently wash your baby’s bottom with warm water between diaper changes.
- Let your baby's skin dry completely before you put on a new diaper.
- Pat the skin dry, do not rub as that can lead to irritation
- If you use cloth diapers, rinse them several times after washing to remove any traces of soap or detergent that can irritate your baby's skin.
- Follow the washing instructions that come with your cloth diapers. Don’t use fabric softeners or detergents with chemical additives.