Flat Fold Invention Submission: Skinny Neat Fold

Here is another submission for the Flat Fold Invention Competition. This is called the “Skinny Neat Fold” from Monica at Crunchy Monica. Go ahead and give this fold a try!

Here's a picture tutorial of the Neat Fold, modified:

Step 1: Lay out flat diaper with point down. (El never fails to jump on any laid out fabric!)

Step 2: Fold up bottom corner towards middle.

Step 3: Fold top corner towards middle.

Step 4: Take left corner and fold across so that top edge of "flap" aligns across top of folded section.

This is what the flat should look like.

Step 5: Repeat step 4 with the right side. This is actually the end of the steps needed to make the traditional Neat Fold but I'm not a big fan of how bulky the middle is and prefer a thinner crotch area.

Step 6: Fold in left side towards middle.

Step 7: Fold in right side towards middle.

Step 8: Pull out left corner.

Step 9: Pull out right corner. (Notice the great "poop pocket" this creates.)

Step 10: Lay baby on top of diaper and pull center panel up.

Step 11: Fold down rise, if needed.

Step 12: Pull up right corner and "roll in" to make for a trimmer fit across hip, if desired. (This will create more of a "bikini cut" rather than a "boy short" cut.) Pull "tab" across middle.

Step 13: Repeat step 12 for left side.

Step 14: Adhere snappi fastener. Done!


I like to check each side for any gaping and will roll in any loose edges.

Notice the nice tight fit.

A very trim fluffy bum!

Back side, showing the "poop pocket."

Trim fit through the crotch.

Another front view.

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Flat Fold Invention Submission: Happy Anteater Fold

 

Here is another submission for the Flat Fold Invention Competition. This is called the “Happy Anteater Fold” from Elizabeth from Mothering From the Maelstrom (love that website name!). Go ahead and give this fold a try!  (P.S. The video beginning cracked me up!)

 

Happy Anteater

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Flat Fold Invention Submission: For Grandma Fold

Here is another submission for the Flat Fold Invention Competition from  Jan at My Moderate Family.

“As you all know I am participating in the flats and handwashing challenge, I have vowed to use only flat diapers and wash them all by hand for 1 week. The problem is my mother did not vow to use flats and was done her time with handwashing basic diapers almost 30 yrs ago.
I usually give my mother, mother in law, or any other babysitter pocket diapers or all in ones to use, but this week that is bit an option so I once again had to get creative. So I took all the covers I had to use which involved blow drying a couple that where hanging up and pre stuffed them making flat fold all in twos.

Step one: make a square
If you have real flats they are already square, since I’m using upcycled receiving blankets I need to fold down one side a bit to square off my diaper.

Step Two: fold into quarters

Step three: Fold into soaker
Fold each side at an angle to make a soaker pad that is wider at the back then it is in the front.

Step 4: place in cover, tuck the narrow end under the flap of the cover (if there is one) ensure the edges are inside the elastic of the cover and pull the back of the cover up to cup around the soaker pad.

Add a flushable liner if you want and close the diaper cover up to keep it all together. Voila a simple grandma/daddy/babysitter friendly flat fold all in two.”

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Flat Fold Invention Submission: Shaky Mommy Fold

Here is another submission for the Flat Fold Invention Competition from Brandi at Shaky Mommy. Go ahead and give it a go!

“Okay, so here is my little invented fold. It's a combo of the neat/alternative kite fold and the diaper bag fold, with a little twist of my own.
Start by bringing the top down and the bottom up, as shown.

Then, fold in the sides - I fold each side towards the center, then fold it again, to make it look like this.

Next, create the "poo fence" in the back. (sorry this pic is sideways!)

If you want a liner or extra flat (pad folded) inside, this is when you add it. Make sure you insert it under the poo fence or else the poop will go straight up baby's back!

Now, lay baby on top. Roll each side towards baby to create a sort of wall that will contain the poop. The end product looks like a V.

After you roll each leg, then pull it up between baby's legs and Snappi shut. I can get a very snug leg fit with this fold, which is what helps prevent leaks and saves my covers from the runny poops!

This is the finished product! If you have questions, please let me know and I would be happy to answer them!”

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Flats and Handwashing Challenge–Day 6

[This is a part of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge Series. To read more of my posts on this, see a list here. To see the Dirty Diaper Laundry Flats and Handwashing Challenge series, go here.]

Day 6 was great. I am really getting into the rhythm of things. Yes, kids were in plastic bag covers occasionally today because I am still not back home (and rain came down while I was laying down for a nap with my daughter and soaked my extra cover!). I washed twice and still the only pain with this challenge is the drying. I can’t stand how long it takes to wring stuff out.

But other than that, it is going much better. I am surrounded by family this weekend and everyone keeps saying how much they admire me for sticking to it (and, could you believe, even the most honest people in my family are sitting on one side of my shoulder, coaxing me to cave in because no  one would know!). My mom was sweet, she went to the store and bought me a box of chocolates and said she admired me for how hard I was working on this.

And this made me think about the people who have to do this. I admire those people who have no choice. I assume those people are strapped for time and money and yet they do it anyway. Can I just send you my electronic box of chocolates?

Lessons Learned Today:

* I really think people need a 3 day supply in order to maintain sanity. It is still NOT THAT MUCH MONEY and yet washing doesn’t have to be every day and there is no rush with the drying.

* Plastic bags really do work, in a pinch

* Rockin’ Green works GREAT to wash these. I was amazed by how different the water looked from the first rinse to the last. Like night and day! I like how easily the stuff dissolves. I don’t have to get out clumps of detergent or anything.

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Flats and Handwashing Challenge–Day 5

[This is a part of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge Series. To read more of my posts on this, see a list here. To see the Dirty Diaper Laundry Flats and Handwashing Challenge series, go here.]
Is no news good news? I hope so! Today was fairly UN-anti-climactic (that’s right, you get a post without me complaining all the way through it!).

Even though I am cloth diapering two babies with a stash that is LESS than recommended for just one, I am actually surviving. I am working off of about 16 flats and 2 covers per baby. I wash in the morning and at night and I am hanging them to dry and they are getting a wonderful breeze. I find that since the water goes downward (duh, gravity), they are damp towards the bottom. So I just like to flip them upside down about halfway through drying. I have NO IDEA if that helps, but I like to think it does!
I did overflow the sink and that was…icky to say the least!
Washing is a CINCH in the laundry sink. So easy. All I have for gadgets are my rubber gloves and detergent. That’s it. It takes only about 8 minutes to wash the diapers and then about 15 to wring them out (ick, my least favorite part about it).
Kids are doing GREAT in the diapers. The youngest (3 month old) was in a padfold all day and it worked great. The oldest was in a diaper bag fold quite a bit, but I was also experimenting with other folds. I am finding that my Rumparooz cover just isn’t working for this challenge. Although it is waterproof, it seems to HOLD water (or pee). The pee leaks right through the diaper on to the outside. It also takes about 30 hours to dry, even in the sun. I love the Thirsties covers and the Flip cover is working very well too.
I did create a database (ok, fine, TABLE) with different folds and instructional videos and I hope you can try some out and give your rating on how the diaper did. I am using stats from the Flat Fold survey to add “scores” to these folds for the table. FUN!
What I learned today
* Turn the flats upside down (so unpin it and take that which is hanging from the bottom and pin that part)
* Don’t overflow the sink
* Be simple: Rubber gloves, detergent, laundry sink (or a tub), drying rack
Happy folding!

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Sponsor Spotlight: May

I wanted to highlight my sponsors for this month and give them a special thank you.

 

Stinkerpants Diapers

I absolutely love the personality of this distributor. She is so kind and excited about diapers (wouldn’t you want to buy from someone like that!). She is offering a great Memorial Day Sale right now:

All BAMBOO basic packs will be buy 3 get the 4th FREE!!!
20% off all other SoftBums AND of all Leslie's Boutique Wetbags!!!
Sale will run from Friday May 27th to Monday May 30th!

 

Green Diaper Demos

Have you ever bought a diaper and fought leak issues? I often find that little issues I have with diapers could be easily solved with some good advice. I like to buy diapers from places where the person helps me “wear in” to my diaper. If you are wanting to buy a diaper with exceptional troubleshooting, Green Diaper Demos is the place to go. Shipping is free for orders over $40 and she tries to ship stuff out THE SAME DAY. She also offers a Stash Cash Rewards Program to help reward returning customers (there is even an incentive for referrals!).

Oh Katy Diapers

I was sent this diaper to review for the One Size Diaper Project and I personally contacted the owner to ask if she could be a sponsor. I was excited that this diaper held up for me overnight. I stuffed it with my Super Soaker and the diaper was SO soft and had great coverage. I am excited to have this sponsor and I hope you could go check them out.

Thank you SO MUCH, sponsors. I appreciate you so much. Readers, please go and check these out as a special “Thank You” for them keeping Padded Tush Stats going. It takes a lot of work on my part to run all these stats (right now I am working on a HUGE Master table of stats). Having sponsors is the only way I can justify this time to my husband. So please, as a thank you to them for helping me get these stats up, check ‘em out.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, I have very low rates right now as I am trying to fill up a few June slots. Please contact me at paddedtushstats@gmail.com to get rates.

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