Thursday, April 27, 2017

Getting Started with Cloth Diapers: Step 1


Step 1: Doing the Research

This may seem pretty obvious, but it bears mentioning as the first step in the cloth diapering journey. You would be surprised how many people start looking into cloth diapers, but end up quitting before they even begin because of information overload. Whether you've just had a brand new baby or you have one on the way, you surely have plenty on your mind. Cloth diapers don't need to be an overwhelming part of the "brain pie chart" that divvies up what you need to focus your attention on. This short video will give you tips and tricks for doing the best research (read: quick and concise) to get you started on your cloth diapering journey the easy way!

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest in this series by clicking this link and then clicking the red "subscribe" button: Spray Pal YouTubeIf you'd like to ask more specific cloth diapering questions at any time, be sure to head to our Facebook group here: The Cloth Diaper Experiment

Just a side note on "picking the brains of your local retailers" - I mentioned this when we were shooting this video, but to keep things short and sweet for you all, it ended up on the cutting room floor. So I wanted to mention it here. Be careful about "showrooming" in your local cloth diaper store. If you are lucky enough to have a brick and mortar store near you that carries cloth diapers, definitely go in and ask them questions and check out the products in person. Just keep in mind that if they are supporting you in your cloth diapering journey, it's a very nice gesture to support them in turn for their time/overhead costs by shopping in their store. It really takes a toll on small businesses if you spend the time looking and asking questions in their store only to go home and purchase products online to save a buck or two. There aren't many physical cloth diaper stores left out there, and if you enjoy having one in your area it's important to show your support with your shopping dollars. :)

Monday, April 24, 2017

Enter to win a Mega Prize during ATL Baby and Kids Expo

Atlanta is our next stop on this crazy ride called the #MakeClothMainstream IRL experience. We've been fortunate enough to visit with families all over the US so far this year and we have many events ahead. If you're in the Atlanta area you will definitely want to stop by and see us at the Atlanta Baby and Child Expo.

Our goal at each of these events is to help families understand the benefits of using cloth diapers and to teach them about the many styles and brands that will work best for their family and budget. Fortunately, this event is helped along by sponsors and you can enter to win prizes from them, even if you aren't able to attend our Atlanta event in person!



  • A Lalabye Baby One Size and Quicktrip (winner chooses from in stock selection)
  • Spray Pal Shield and Sprayer bundle
  • Bambino Mio AIO (2)
  • Osocozy Organic Prefolds (6 pack)
  • Thirsties NAIO
  • AppleCheeks Microterry Bundle in "You Rock"
  • a $40 Gift certificate from Project Pomona
  • A package of goodies from Molly's Suds:  
    • 1 70 load laundry powder 
    • 1 set wool dryer balls 
    • 1 oxygen whitener 
    • 1 all sport 
    • 1 liquid laundry detergent
You can find out more about this fun family friendly event here: Atlanta Baby and Child Expo a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Eco-Friendly Easter

This post was updated on March 12, 2018.

It's hard not to love Easter with the gorgeous Spring weather, the bright colors, the food, and of course spending time with family. Ever since having kids, I've become much more aware of the choices I make and the products I bring into our home, especially when it comes to gifts. Keeping things as safe and eco-friendly as possible has become a top priority, and I'd love to share some tips for ways you and your family can also have an eco-friendly Easter!

Things to buy in advance to make Easter more colorful:

1. Eco-Kids Eco-Eggs Coloring Kit - This would actually be great to buy BEFORE the basket gifts. You can use this eco-friendly kit to dye your eggs in advance of the big day. It's fun for the kids and made of all natural ingredients so your colored eggs will still be safe to eat. It also includes a grass growing kit inside so the fun can last long after the eggs are found! If that one is sold out, this is another great natural egg dye option: Natural Egg Dye Kit

2. Compostable Plastic Easter Eggs. Made in USA. Made from plant materials. - These would make a great addition to any eco-friendly egg hunt. Eco eggs are made in the USA from plants, 100% renewable content, and are fully compostable after use. They are made from non-toxic, durable plastic and have a tight snapping closure. They come in 5 assorted colors: pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Eco eggs can be stored and reused for many Easters. After use, dispose of eggs in industrial compost.

3. Plant some bulbs! This late in the game you'll probably have to run to your local garden store and buy some bulbs that are already blooming. We recently added daffodils, tulips, and hyacinth to our back yard and I'm loving the pop of color after a long, gray winter. If you want to plan ahead for next year, these bulbs can be planted in the Fall to bloom in the Spring: Tulips - 25 Bulbs - Colorful Mix 

Fun Ideas for the Easter Basket 

Seems lately the candy has become a staple filler for Easter baskets. How about some fun, eco-friendly basket fillers that don't involved sugary sweets? We've sorted this section by "baby" and "ALL kids" because we realize there's a big difference. But, many of these items could easily overlap.

For Baby:

1. CLOTH DIAPERS!! Of course I would lead off with this. ;) What could be more eco-friendly and useful than adding a couple more adorable cloth diapers to your baby's stash? I admit, my kids all got cloth diapers for their birthday, Christmas, and Easter when they were little. Pretty much any time I had an excuse to buy them a cute gift, this was my go-to! And why not? They love the cute colors and prints, they get a lot of use out of them, and they don't really need a bunch of toys anyways. There are so many cute colors and prints out right now that would be the perfect addition to any Easter basket.

2. If your baby is too young to really remember what was in her basket, why not go with something YOU can use to save time?  Might we suggest the Spray Pal and Cloth Diaper Sprayer Bundle? It's an investment you won't regret, and with all the time you save spraying off cloth diapers, you can spend even more quality time playing with your little one. That's the TRUE gift here. ;)

For ALL Kids:

1. SWIM GEAR - Summer is just around the corner, so I usually throw some useful swim gear that needs replacing into the kids' baskets. Here are some of my "go to" items:
2. GARDENING TOOLS - More fun gear to get you and your kids outside and closer to nature. We love planting a vegetable garden in the Spring, and my daughter loves having her own set of tools to help with: Children's Garden Tool Set You can even add some of the bulbs from the link above to their basket and plant them together!


3. Fun Outdoor Equipment (click "Little Tykes" for the best kid-friendly options) - Now that Spring is here and the weather is gorgeous, what better time to get outside and play! Maybe the Easter Bunny wants to bring a new swing for baby, or a new slide for your toddler. Of course, these items won't actually fit IN the basket, but they'd be a fun discovery during the egg hunt! The link above goes to Amazon Warehouse Deals so the Easter Bunny can save some carrots, too. ;)

4. If you REALLY want to hold on to the candy tradition, Surf Sweets Organic Jelly Beans are a great, organic option. And who doesn't love jelly beans on Easter?

We hope this list has inspired you and saved you a little planning time this year. Be sure to share any other eco-friendly Easter ideas we may have missed in the comments below! Happy Spring! :)

*This post contains affiliate links to products we love.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

New Blog Series Coming Soon!

http://eepurl.com/cKhIw1

This year, our focus has been on moving the #makeclothmainstream mission off of social media and out into the real world. We've teamed up with amazing brands in the cloth community (HUGE thanks to: Allen's Naturally, AppleCheeks, Bambino Mio, Bummis, Lalabye Baby, Molly's Suds, Osocozy, Project Pomona, Rumparooz, and Thirsties!) to bring cloth diapers to mainstream baby shows across the US and educate families on the benefits of choosing cloth. As a result, I've met tons of families who went from zero knowledge to cloth curious, and I've gained a lot of insight into what the average expecting family doesn't realize about modern cloth diapers based on the most frequently asked questions at our booth.

After some reflection, I realized that this would make a fantastic blog series to help families get started with cloth. I'll be tackling the most commonly asked questions I hear on our #makeclothmainstream IRL tour, and I'll cover the ins and outs of getting going with cloth from the "where to begin" all the way to potty learning to help guide you to cloth diapering success.

Next week we'll be posting about Step 1 in the process, which to me is doing the research. I'm a huge planner, so this is right up my alley! Stay tuned to find out the best ways to research to get the most up-to-date and useful information on cloth diapers and how to use them.

Be sure to leave any of your questions below and I'll try to address them as well. We hope you'll join us in this series and let any of your cloth curious friends know that we hope to answer their biggest questions about cloth. Hopefully this will make the decision to use cloth diapers even easier!

If you'd like to be alerted as soon as we share something new in this series, you can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/cKhIw1

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Come See Us in Atlanta- Discount Codes and Free Ticket Giveaway

You can find Spray Pal and the #MakeClothMainstream IRL booth at our next baby show in Atlanta on April 29!



That's right! We are setting up our in person cloth diaper education station in one of my favorite places to visit, Atlanta! The Atlanta Baby and Child Expo will take place in downtown Atlanta. The Atlanta Baby and Child Expo is THE premier pregnancy and parenting event in Atlanta, a one-day extravaganza of "all things baby" for new moms and moms-to-be, as well as their friends and family. Not your mass-expo event, this ELITE experience is a true treat for new and expectant parents. You'll meet Atlanta's most experienced professionals, be able to check out the finest products and find out about and register for premiere services. Some of the event highlights include relaxing mommy pampering, a baby gear runway, and a mom & baby product area where you can purchase the products you've been dreaming of! Expectants, new parents, their family and friends are all welcome to this truly special event. We are stoked to be part of such an amazing event and hope Atlanta area friends will stop by!


To get you there we have a Groupon special of $15 for a $25 ticket, or go to the Eventbrite page and use promo code FAM2FAM for 50% off (paying 12.50 for a ticket). 
a Rafflecopter giveaway