Posts Tagged ‘Guest Posts’

“Should I switch to cloth?” This question often sets in a couple of months after baby is born.  In the beginning, many parents use the small arsenal of disposable diapers they received as shower gifts, welcome baby gifts and from the hospital.  Once this supply dwindles down and parents are faced with the expensive reality of diaper changes, they often start to investigate cloth diapers.

What they often find is a bit of sticker shock. Instead of a quarter each, many quality diapers can cost upwards of $20. It doesn’t seem possible to save money with them, so families often bite the bullet and continue to purchase disposable diapers.

A closer look shows that while cloth diapers do cost more upfront, over time the savings are huge.  Many parents with babies spend about $40 a month on disposable diapers, and that is a conservative amount. Over 2 ½ years, the cost of using disposables runs about $1200. The price tag goes up for more expensive diapers or if the child potty-trains later. With another child, the buying simply starts again.

A look at the cost of cloth shows the true savings.  Using more expensive pocket diapers in three sizes (small, medium and large) costs about $1200. While this seems very close to the cost of disposables, consider that these diapers can be used for more than one child. Often, children are able to wear size medium until they train, bringing the overall cost down even more.

For bigger cost saving opportunities, prefolds and covers can cost less than $250 from birth to potty training. When using this system on more than one child, the savings are huge. One size diapers cost about $400 and can be used for most children from 10-30 pounds. Size estimates vary by brand.

With potential savings of $900-$2150, cloth diapers can make a lot of sense (and cents!).  In order to keep the savings large, it’s important to take care of cloth diapers. The better the care, the longer they’ll last. Here are some tips for getting the most out of cloth:

• Use the dryer sparingly.  Anything that has elastic is better off on a drying rack. Occasional low heat is fine, but elastic lasts longer out of the dryer.  For prefolds and inserts, the dryer isn’t going to do much to hurt them.
• Snaps last longer than Velcro.
• Sized diapers often last longer than one-size diapers. Since sized diapers are used for several months at a time, it’s easier to use them through multiple children. One-size diapers on the other hand, may go through several hundred uses over the course of one child’s diapering years. It’s possible to use them through more than one child, but expect to replace some as time goes on.

• Consider prefolds. Using prefolds at least part-time helps keep costs down. Without  elastic, Velcro and snaps, it’s easy for prefold diapers to last through multiple children.

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Michelle Rivenburg is a mom of two (cloth diapered) girls. She owns Snooty Booty Diapers and writes at Cloth Diapers Made Simple.

Here Are Some Basic Tips on Dressing for YOUR Body And No One Else But!

(Except your butt;-)

by wardrobe stylist Laura Michaud

It is so easy to get caught up in today’s world of fashion. With all the fashion magazines, ‘reality’ TV shows, and celebrity sightings we come across, how do we not get caught up?! Society doesn’t allow us not to! That is why we must be stronger than ever ladies. And I believe we can do this! How, you ask? By being true to yourself and letting that shine through with everything you do including getting dressed. This may come easily to some, but when you see all the hype about the top trends each season, how do you figure out which ones are for you?? Keep reading and hopefully you will soon be able to determine this for yourself.

I am a stylist. I have been in the retail and fashion world for 18 years and I am here to tell you that just because something is a trend and you happen to love it, it’s not necessarily meant for you. Take for example, the skinny jean. The skinny jean has been such a popular trend in the fashion world since the beginning of last fall. They are here to stay for 2010, but not everyone is going to be able to wear this trend well. Some of you will make the skinny jean work for you. They key is all in the STYLING. You don’t have to be a little skinny girl to wear them. You just have to know that you might need to wear a heel with the skinny jean to make them work for your body. Or you may need to wear a tunic style top with or without a belt to get your most flattering look. Some of you know right of the bat that the skinny jean is not for you. I hope you at least try them and experiment.  Fashion is fun and it’s all about being YOU. Don’t try to copy anyone. Buy fashion magazines strictly for inspiration. Don’t feel like you have to own everything you see. Be picky, very picky, no matter what the item costs. Make sure it’s YOU, and make sure you keep in mind what is already hanging in your closet. Shopping my closet is one of my favorite things to do! I find many treasures in there. And they all look like new clothes because of the way I STYLE them. This is one of the reasons why I adore shopping at resale boutiques. They are closets full of treasures! You never know what you are going to find.

You know what they say, one WOmans trash is another WOmans treasure! I truly believe in that!

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Laura Michaud is 35 years old and has lived in Maine all of her life. She has been in the retail and fashion world for 18 years and has gained hands on experience every day. Laura has loved fashion and style ever since she was little. She enjoys helping others find their own personal style, so they look and feel their very best.

You can find out more about Laura at her website http://LaurasStyle.com