What is in my stash? Typically, I’m a little of everything kind of girl, but over the past few years of the Flats Challenge, I’ve started to figure out what I like, what I don’t like, and what works. There are so many different types of flat cloth diapers that range from extraordinarily frugal to astronomical luxurious. My stash this year is moderately appropriate.

I’m participating in the 2018 Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Cloth Diaper Revival.  This challenge helps showcase real solutions for parents struggling with diapering.

This blog contains affiliate links.  As a blogger, I do receive products from brands and stores. I am a brand ambassador for Omaiki. None of these products was solicited for the purpose of this challenge. I did receive Imagine Baby Stretchy Flats earlier this month for review.  It’s merely coincidence and good timing. A separate sponsored review will be published at a later time. I pride myself in truthful story telling, and honest reviews. 

What I’ve Learnt From Previous Stashes

The past two years, I have used a combination of flannel receiving blankets and Flour Sack Towels (FST).  My first year, I tried to be frugal, but I also wanted to check out a few different options. My second year, I also tried to be frugal and wanted to continue using what was already working (I used receiving blankets with my oldest until he was out of diapers).

I’ve learnt I hate FST, flannel receiving blankets are harder to wash up and take longer to dry, and don’t underestimate the power of a t-shirt. 

This year I wanted to use a stash of flat cloth diapers I would love to use, love to wash and love to dry. Ever since that first year, I have been dreaming of Osocozy Flats, but more specifically its birdseye cotton flat diapers I really enjoy. That’s the characteristic that makes me happy. 

Birdseye cotton is easy to wash, dries quick-ish, and just an all-around good absorbent material. Holding about 8 ounces it’s a good standard absorbency for my moderate to light wetters. The padfold isn’t too bulky, and with the birdseye weave, it takes pins/boingos/snappi’s just fine when I do my favourite fold. 

My Perfect Flat Cloth Diaper Stash.

I am cloth diapering one child full time, and then my toddler only at night, and maybe if we leave the house (but he’s really too big for most of my stash, and we just use underwear or cloth training pants during this potty training stage of life). No, I am not handwashing cloth training pants. We’re just skipping over that part of this challenge for my mental sanity. 

9 Osocozy Birds Eye Cotton Flats
(Canada – USA)

3 Imagine Baby Birdseye Cotton Flats
(Canada – USA) I mostly have these because they are pretty

12 Flat Cloth Diapers = $52 CDN 

This is just right. If I was doing this full time for longer than a week, I would want a fuller stash of diapers close to 20-24 just to allow buffer for life.

For Covers, I’m using a little bit of everything based on what I thought would work best from my cloth diaper stash. Total of 5 covers for my daughter and 2 covers for my son. I’m hoping to make this work on a limited number but will see if it works. My perfect stash would include a mix of options and this is what I choose on Sunday.

In the past, I have used and loved GroVia shells but because I bought them dirt cheap second hand and used them lots over the last few years, the elastics are pretty much toast. I’m a strong believer in using cloth diapers you think are gorgeous and if you don’t know what to buy you should buy the prettiest diapers you can. Yes, there are cheaper covers and cheaper ways to do this. Check out these other budget friendly brands. 

 

Toddler

1 Buttons Super
(Canada – USA – Review)

1 Nuggles Size 2
(Canada – USA)

Baby

2 Omaiki Cabrio Covers
(Canada – Review)

1 Lalabye Baby Cover
(Canada – USA – Review)

1 Best Bottom Bigger Cover
(Canada – USA – Review)

1 Funky Fluff Cover
(Canada – USA – Review)

Total: $90 Canadian. 

Flat Stash Cost = ~$150 Canadian.

Not bad. Not ideal. There are similarly affordable ways to build a full cloth diaper stash, but the accessibility of flats is just perfection.

Anything Else?

• Buttons/Bummis Disposable Wipes
  • I went with a single layer wipe because it would be easier to wash and dry.
• Snappi’s
  • (optional; honestly, I use these for photo ops only). 
• Bucket
  • keeping my dirty diapers in a big bucket seems to work easiest for this challenge and I much prefer over a bag because of the buckets versatility to be a washing option.
• Wash Board & Wash Bag
  • for science this year I purchased a Scrubba bag and an ol’ fashion washboard.
• Soap Nuts

Check out what other stashes look like and get a great feel for some budget-friendly, frugal, down to Earth options, and some more generic options like mine!