Cloth Nappy Blog: How I became a Fluffy Mummy

Jennifer is a mum of two who started using cloth with her second baby. Here she tells you why she loves being a fluffy mummy!

It was when I was pregnant with my eldest that I first looked into the idea of washable nappies, I’ve always been environmentally conscious and using cloth on my baby’s bottom really appealed to me, as well as the idea of saving some pennies! However money was very tight at the time and with all the other baby equipment we needed to buy there just wasn’t the spare cash to spend in one go, so it got put on a back burner and we started buying packs of eco friendly disposables with our weekly shop.

When I found out I was pregnant for the second time, there was a lot less we needed to buy as we already had most things from our then 3 year old. This time I was determined to use cloth on my baby’s bottom and do my bit to reduce the nappy mountains! I managed to convince hubby by tempting him with the thought of how much money we would save in the long term!

I have to admit though, I wasn’t really sure where to begin, so I started by looking at the cost options and found that ‘pre folds’ ( use a folded square nappy with a waterproof wrap) seemed to be the cheapest. I couldn’t believe my luck when at the supermarket one day I saw a ‘starter pack’ from a well know brand of pre folds at a bargain price, reduced to clear!

At first we used disposables at night and when out and about but when Elizabeth was a few months old we decided that if we were going to do this we should do go the whole hog!

So I started looking into other types of washable nappies and attended a Nappuchino event at a local café. Here I was fascinated not just by the choice of different styles available but by how pretty some of them were! The choice was immense and I have to say at first I was a little overwhelmed! But after chatting to some of the fluffy Mummies, I knew that I had to find a style of nappy that fitted in with us! I bought some ‘pre loved’ nappies to see what worked best for us and after just a few weeks I was sure that ‘pockets’ were the way to go! Easy to use, quick drying, available in some really funky designs and really simple to add more absorbency if required! I was really pleased to discover Baba + Boo and their range of pretty patterned pocket nappies at fantastically low prices!

I started to build up my collection of Fluff after this, buying some pre loved, some new and even being lucky enough to win some! I am now proud to be able to say that Elizabeth has not worn a single disposable nappy in over 3 months! Just think of the amount of disposables we have saved going to landfills!

Do be warned Mummies, Cloth Nappies can be addictive! I now have over 50 nappies (It’s recommend you have at least 20, I’ve more than doubled that!) And every time I see a funky new design I want more…

Win with Minene!

Win a gorgeous Layla Changing Bag from Minene to look as fab as your cloth bums do!

We are pleased that Minene are working with Baba + Boo to give one of our fans a lovely change bag to store your gorgeous nappies in when out and about!

Minene's revolutionary changing bags are creating quite a buzz. With a growing celebrity following their multi-functional changing bags are a must-have for all new mums. "As mums ourselves we understand that one changing bag isn't always going to cut it, so we came up with a range of changing bags that would suit all mums different needs. They even come with multi-wear straps so they can be worn as a traditional shoulder bag or as a backpack and even attach on to your pushchair" says Sharon Levy, one of the mums behind Minene.

Without looking like your conventional changing bag, the attractive Layla changing bag accommodates all your baby essentials whilst providing you with both style and comfort. The bag contains 2 large compartments divided by a large zipped pocket in addition to a generous sized detachable pouch which can be used to store all personal belongings. The pouch can also be used separately by attaching it straight to your pushchair for those days when you choose to travel light. There are 3 external thermal pockets, a stylish matching padded changing mat and insulated thermal bottle holder. The innovative design of the bag enables it to be worn in 3 different styles to suit your needs; it can be carried as a backpack, a shoulder bag or attached to any pushchair using the straps provided.

The Layla changing bag is now available from Babies R Us in black and sand for £65

Minene (my child) was established in Israel in 2005 by three mothers with a vision to create practical yet stylish products for the new generation of parents, babies and toddlers. Their range of products include: changing bags, cot bedding, activity mats, bibs, pushchair accessories, towels, muslins, baby clothing & more. All products have been meticulously designed with clever features to make parents lives as easy as possible.

Visit their website www.minene.co.uk to view the whole range.

To be in with a chance of winning a Layla Changing Bag simply fill out the entry form exclusive to Baba + Boo here .

Competition ends on Midnight Friday 16th September and a winner will be chosen shortly after.

Charity Tuesday

We are so excited about this...once a month we are going to be running a charity event on Facebook for our chosen charity BLISS.

It's gonna work like this - we add some photos of items in our Charity Tuesday album with an opening price and the p+p cost. It can be bidded on until midnight of that Tuesday, the highest bidder wins the item. We will email the winner confirming the total cost providing them with details of our Just Giving page where the money needs to be paid into. BLISS get the whole amount and we will pay for the postage to you.

The items up for grabs are products we've used for still photography and wouldn't sell to customers, plus a few other bits. We'll be throwing in some new items from time to time too...

Let's just see how this first one goes...I'm already a bit confused..

Who wants to go to The Baby Show?

The Baby Show have very kindly given us 2 tickets for The Baby Show in Manchester, which is next weekend 2-4th September. You can choose which day you go on too.

Have to admit, we have never been to the show before but heard so many good things about it. You can try before you buy on tons of products, get advice on pretty much everything, shop til you drop and pick up loads of goodies. For more details, look on their website www.thebabyshow.co.uk

We will be going, although we don't have a stand...hoping to next year though if I make it that far, manic doesn't even come close!!!

How to enter the competition, simply put a comment below saying 'I want to go to The Baby Show and add your email address. If you don't mind, I will then add you to my newsletter list which I send out special offers and news.

For an extra entry:

1. Put a note on our Facebook wall stating why you think you should win.

2. Follow @babaandboo and @thebabyshow on Twitter and tweet this sentence including the link: 'I want to go to @thebabyshow with @babaandboo. You can enter here http://tinyurl.com/3d55bs2 '

Good luck!!!

Our First Guest Post...

Kerry is a mummy blogger/reviewer who contacted me a while ago as she was really keen to try real nappies. She tried some Baba+Boo cloth nappies and now she is a total convert - yay! Kerry has kindly written a post for us about her journey to becoming a cloth nappy addict..

I was delighted when Eve approached me to guest blog for Baba & Boo. It is with thanks to Eve that I am now a Real Nappy Convert!

I am a mum to 2 boys on 2 year old who is fully toilet trained (And who loves his Baba+Boo cow print pants!) and a 10 month old. We started using real nappies about 2 months ago, before then I had honestly never used one or even brought one!

After using just 2 reusable nappies, I knew I was going to be a convert! I was amazed at how easy cloth nappies are to use, all that needs doing is a pre wash before use (I done this by 2-3 cold rinse cycles on a washing machine) Most nappies can also be tumble dried which makes things even easier!

There are so many patterns to choose from, unisex, girls & boys, I even use fleece liners in my son’s nappies as I still like to use nappy cream and the liners seem to offer more protection to the nappies rather than flushable liners.

When it comes to washing the reusable nappies, I have now got a routine of doing a nappy wash every other day, I have even done a nappy wash in with normal clothes without fabric conditioner if I have been running short on nappies to use.

The thing that attracted me to real nappies is knowing that they are better on my little ones skin, and that I am helping then environment. They also look adorable, with so many stunning designs you can match outfits, babylegs and shoes!

Cloth nappies can also vary on price, you can get ‘Internet Cheapies’ Some of which are not as high quality as better makes.

I have 18 nappies which suits us fine, we do get through more when my son is teething which then also means more soiled nappies!! Some which can be very interesting to clean but once you have found the way that is easiest for you (Mine is to flush the worst off the fleece liner, then rinse the nappy and liner in warm water and put into the nappy bucket) you manage to do it as quickly as a wet nappy.

I would certainly recommend anyone to try cloth nappies, they are no longer bulky looking like they were years ago, and once you have your nappy stash built up you do not need to spend any further money unlike disposable nappies, Reusable nappies can last from birth to potty which also means for more than one child, and for night time just add another insert (bamboo is a lot more absorbent so I use a microfibre insert and a bamboo insert), and of course without a doubt I would highly recommend Baba+Boo for their great selection of nappies, nappy bags, nappy bins and much much more including their outstanding quality items, their fantastic value for money and amazing customer service too.

I am a nappy convert and I hope this will help you become a convert too!!

A Big Fat Thank You..

Just a quick post and I promise I will stop going on about the award we won for Best Reusable Nappy...well maybe just for a short while.

We are running a special offer + competition this week to say thanks to all your votes and support during these past, very mad few weeks where I have become somewhat of a media junkie. I am taking myself out of the spotlight for a while, my nerves are shot to pieces..

Anyway, as I said, we have an offer and competition - if you enter AWARDWIN at the checkout, you will receive 15% off your order. This is running until midnight on Sunday. On top of that, any order placed will be put into a draw with the chance of winning a £20 Baba+Boo voucher code to spend in our boutique.

Thanks again

Eve

Ebay Cheapies...

During the processes for these awards which have been so prominent in my Baba+Boo world recently, I have been asked the question about what I have found tough and what challenges I have come against in business. Aside from the obvious struggles with juggling the business and family life, the toughest thing I have face and still face, is the criticism from mums who think my nappies are just 'ebay cheapies' at very inflated rates. I am a really sensitive person and criticism does hurt my feelings. I should toughen up!!!

'Ebay cheapies' as they are called are nappies which generally come straight from the factories in China and are what the say 'cheap' and you can get a nappy as cheap as £3. I really struggle with the fact that people think I get my nappies for a cheap rate and then sell them on for much more than other sellers on eBay. I actually stopped selling my nappies on eBay a long time ago to try and distance myself from the term 'eBay cheapies'. I realise that as long as Baba+Boo nappies are made the same fabric, I am always going to have comparisons.

My nappies are more expensive than eBay cheapies for a number of reasons. Main reason is the fact that I have import costs which the sellers in China don't have. As they come from China by air, I have a conscience about the air miles they travel and I pay to offset the carbon from my shipments.

I am really passionate about Baba+Boo nappies being a brand of nappies that mums trust and have confidence in buying. To ensure this, I spend a lot of money getting my nappies independently tested by UK labs to ensure that the fabrics don't contain nasty chemicals and I am very pleased to say that I have test certificates to show that they don't.

I spent a lot of time, choosing which factories made my nappies. Initially, I had my own policy which I sent over to them asking lots of questions about working conditions, working ethics and conditions. This was not the most ideal way to check initially but I wanted to show due diligence that I cared about the conditions they were made in. I now have had the factory independently audited to see that it adheres to the SA8000 international standards for social accountability. I am really pleased that the report shows that there is no child labour, no forced labour and discrimination. There are some things that the report showed which could be improved and I am working with the factory to improve these things.

Finally with the nappies, it seems people think that the are the same generic nappies from China with my label on. Again, this couldn't be further from the truth. I had several prototypes made and tested so I could perfect shape, performance and quality of materials. This process takes time and costs a fair bit of money.

I hope this shows that I do care where the nappies are made and also the costs I incur to have them made. There is obviously a profit margin in them, there has to be in order for it to be a viable business. I am in this for the long haul, not just to make a quick buck. I have said from the beginning that I am very transparent about where they are made and when I have had discussions with mums on forums about my nappies, I will gladly welcome any advice and guidance from those who are more knowledgeable than me about nappy production.

I am passionate about getting more babies bums in cloth and although I know I will never please everyone, I hope this piece will give you more of an insight into me and Baba+Boo nappies.

Awards should come with a health warning

I never realised that entering business awards would be so emotionally draining but yet so totally exhilarating! I am beyond thrilled that I can now say that my Baba+Boo nappies are 'award-winning'. We won the Gold Loved By Parents award in the 'Best Reusable Nappy' category - yay!!! I am still on the ceiling, somewhat stunned!

I have worked so hard to get the design of my cloth nappies just right, getting them independently tested to make sure they are safe from harmful chemicals and ensuring that they are made in the right conditions. I have come across criticism very recently and in past from people who see that my reusable nappies are made in China and immediately think the worse because of the stigma that is attached to 'Made In China' label. I work really closely with the factories and it makes me feel a bit sad that these wonderful people who cannot do enough to help, are given a bad name. We as a nation could learn a lot from how they do business and it's a shame they have this ill-deserved reputation.

I am never one to blow my own trumpet but I will tonight because its taken me a lot of hard work to get where I am today. Now I have the wonderful Louise Turner on board, next stop is world domination as she keeps telling me!

I am very proud that I am a runner-up in the Fab Woman of the Year 2011. The very fact that Laura Tennyson from JoJo Maman Bebe has read all about my business is pretty mind-blowing. This sounds a bit gushing but a big thank you to everyone who voted and believes in me and my nappies. Also a very big thank you needs to go out to Tina from Loved By Parents for single-handedly organising these awards, its been an amazing experience...next up Mumpreneur UK awards next month....my heart may have stopped racing by then....

What an end to a fantastic week...

I've feel absolutely flabbergasted right about now! Baba+Boo has been shortlisted in the Mumpreneur UK awards..there has been over 700 entrants and I'm one of the handful of finalists. I will attending my first award ceremony..get me!!

During the last few weeks, I have been on a such a high. I have been featured in the Manchester Evening News Business Week magazine which I am thrilled about. For them to do a feature about reusable nappies is fantastic exposure to the cause.

I have also been shortlisted for Loved By Parents Fab Woman of the Year and my nappies in the 'Best Reusable Nappy' category. The winners are announced this weekend and I think it might just finish me off if I win either of those. But if I win or not, I am just astounded at the level of support the lovely mums who run these sites, have given me and my business. Feel like I am gushing a bit but I will not come down from this high for a while...

I need to blog more...

I keep telling myself that I need to blog more and have such good intentions but it falls by the wayside. I keep writing guest blog pieces for other sites and I really pleased with them, so thought it daft that I don't write much on my own blog.

I always think that I don't have much to say but my life is so manic, I must have tons of things to talk about...so here I go, I am going to be writing about my crazy life as business owner, cloth nappy addict, mum of 2, wife to the very lovely Paul and wine-drinker.

I just need not to blog on a Friday night when Paul and I have our weekly business meeting with a bottle of red or 2...

Wow...what a week it was..RNW11

Think we under-estimated Real Nappy Week, it was crazy..still reeling about the response we had for our nappies. I think my husband is still in the storeroom asleep after the all-nighters we did packing orders.

We hastily have ordered more and are very happy that our Limited Edition nappies are almost upon us, after all our hard work, with the hardest work being selecting fabric. We are soon to be designing our own fabric and god help us then, they may be some time...do let us know if you have any ideas of what patterns of nappies you'd like to see.

The best news of all is that our nappies have passed the test..we recently put our Baba+Boo nappies through some pretty rigorous testing with a well known QC company to ensure all our nappies are free of nasty things not good for your little baba's.. We are delighted to announce all our nappies passed all the tests with flying colours and we now have plenty of certificates tucked under our Baba+Boo belt .. Well done us x

Baba+Boo Competitions

What a week its been so far...lots of new customers trying our nappies for the first time and a lot of other items from our range too. We are loving the buzz that Real Nappy Week is creating this year, really hope that it continues and more and more mums see how easy cloth nappies are to use.

Our starter packs and trial nappy scheme are proving to be really popular, we are so pleased that they might just help tempt mums to give them a try.

We are running a lot of competitions via some lovely mummy bloggers and also a local parenting site. Worth a look to win some Baba+Boo goodies!

http://afluffymummy.com/2011/05/16/bababoo/

http://specialness.net/2011/05/17/baba-and-boo-nappy-giveaway/

http://mummyalarm.blogspot.com/2011/05/competition-win-20-voucher-for-baba-boo.html?spref=tw

http://www.kidsconfidential.co.uk/Competitions/Win-a-reusable-nappy-starter-kit

Real Nappy Week 2011 - Our First One!!

Wow wow wow...its only Monday and its already amazing. The response on Facebook and Twitter have been brilliant and so positive, although my lovely husband is busy packing lots of orders at close to midnight and he might disagree..

I know this is our first real one but there seems to be a real buzz about real clothc nappies this year. Exciting times ahead hopefully. Everyone who works hard to share the secret certainly deserves it. Anyway must crack on and help with the packing..

Mumpreneur of the Month

Thrilled to be chosen as Mumpreneur of the Month on a popular mummy blog site...click on the link to read more about me and how Baba+Boo operates...chaos usually!

http://mummyalarm.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-mumpreneur-of-month-eve-bell-from.html?spref=tw

New Series II Nappies...

Well, we've been squirelling away for the past 4 months designing and testing different prototypes of our new nappies and they are finally here and we have to say, we are quite proud of how they look and perform. All our independent testers are really happy with how good the performance is....which is a relief! Always a worry when you change something that is already pretty good!

We wanted our nappies to fit younger and smaller babies as that was a common issue that arose when feedback was given. The new design allows for a snugger fit and our little testers have proven that the new design works...

We loved shooting the new nappies with our little Boo, she is quite a model and now parades around at home all the time and isn't happy unless she chooses her own shoes and outfit...she not yet 2...what have we done?!!! She is a little star though and love that its a real family business! Our Baba is a little shy in front of the camera but he loves helping his mummy pick and pack orders..!

So, now its onwards to the finishing touches of the Limited Edition range and our cool little t-shirts and rompers with an animal theme...we love all things animal, if you couldn't already tell!

Determined to blog more too and tell you more of our happenings!

Well, its all go, go, go at Baba+Boo towers, busy designing new items for our range, getting ready to launch our new+improved range of reusable nappies and just generally being a busy mum to a very chatty 3 year old and a very strong-willed 20 month old.

My little boo is showing early signs of being ready to potty train...aarrgghh! Is it wrong of me to not encourage it? I really want to keep her gorgeous little bum covered in cloth for a while longer! Even though I have some lovely new potty training pants designs in the pipeline..well, I say pipeline..they are currently going around the conveyor belt in my head, waiting for their chance to be picked up and get the hell out of the chaos in there! So many ideas for new products and designs run around up there..

Loving this spring weather and we are very, very excited about our new range of clothing come out very soon. A little later than planned but we think it will be worth the wait. I don't know if we are more excited about seeing them in the flesh or the having the photoshoot with Bubbaloo...its been too long!

Wow...its been a very busy January, only just about stopping to catch my breath! Its all good though, we have an abundance of new designs of cloth pocket nappies in stock including a new cow print, puddles, dalmation and our favourite, green bubbles which matches the brand perfectly!

We are busy putting the final touches to our Not On The High Street store and we will be live on their website soon which is very exciting..being up next to the exclusive stores on there will be fantastic and really show off our goodies.

Did I mention we are featured in Vogue this month?! Phone has been ringing non-stop from other media outlets since its been published, next stop..American Vogue! We'll be featured in a magazine being given out at the Prima Baby Show this month too.

Lots going on at Baba+Boo HQ...new cloth nappy design and our long awaited baby rompers and hats. They will be here early spring...which means we can book our next photo shoot with Bubbaloo Photography! Yay...can't wait, especially as we have a gorgeous new model, although my little Boo and not so little (sob) Baba will still feature in there!

Wow..its been a long time since I've posted on our blog but its been so so mad! Baba+Boo cloth pocket nappies are really taking off and we are getting brilliant independent reviews for them. Next on the agenda, is some packaging with instructions of use and care of them which will be really useful especially to mums new to cloth. We are really excited too as we will have some new patterns by the spring.

Our new designs of leather baby shoes have been popular too and we will soon be selling on Not On The High Street which is notoriously hard to become a partner of.

Lots of things in the pipeline..January has never been so good!