fresh hugs- new tie dye fitted diapers

i have not truly abandoned this blog- i've been a bit preoccupied with preparing my new online storefront for launching, and tomorrow is the big day! happy earth day everyone, and welcome to my new website!

earthhuggy.com

to kick off the big day, i'm showing off some new designs here- fitted diapers, in fresh tie dye designs.

while each one fits as snugly and trimly as the rest, each one is absolutely unique! i have hand dyed the outer organic cotton interlock using low impact dyes, then incorporated it into the earth huggy fitted diaper style. earth huggy fitted diapers are turned and top-stitched, and the elastic is fitted just right so they lay snugly but never cause owies! the inner fabric is organic cotton flannel. snap closures. snap-in insert contains 2 serged 3-layer panels stitched at one end.

these diapers are ideal for wool cover/longie users, very absorbent and fitted just right around the legs and waist. also great for part time EC, and for use with other diaper cover styles. available in small, one size, and large. (contact me for additional sizing options.) large and one size diapers are exactly the same size, but given slightly different snap configurations, enabling the diapers you will potty train out of to be used on someone tiny. there are many pros and cons to buying one size diapers, between cost and fit, but as far as durability goes, earth huggy dipes are made to last for the long haul.

tie dye earth huggy dipes come in two color combos (photos are representative- given the nature of the craft of tie dying, each individual cut of fabric captures its own unique and wonderful variation!)

green smoothie - kale, orange juice, and a handful of blueberries. fresher than fresh.

fruity booty - berries and citrus, swirled together to create one vibrant diaper.

check back here at the blog, there will be lots more newly inspired designs to share in the next few months! also don't forget to come visit me at the newport farmer's market, which begins the second saturday in may.

small and big!

small earth huggy diaper in brown, worn by this beautiful, sweet newborn. i am told the softness of the fabric is one of the best features, along with the way this diaper lays flat (is not bunchy) on baby's back. she sure looks comfortable, anyway. :)


large earth huggy dipe, worn by my active little guy, in fire orange!

critters and colors

new colors available in the earth huggy all-in-one diaper. shown here in large: sunshine yellow and tiger orange, medium: sage green and sunrise pink, and small: midnight blue and lavender. more to come soon!

i also wanted to share the the latest earth huggy baby carrier, in organic cotton. here is the interior of the carrier, showing "enchanted forest" print from mod green pod.

a close-up view of those irresistible enchanted forest critters:



exterior fabric is leaf bud green. very suitable for those looking for a sun-friendly color for their carrier!

a few new colors and styles to share!

organic "tickled pink" ladybug print interior, midnight black exterior. ("tickled pink" print designed by mod green pod, is a discontinued print, so get it while it lasts!)
organic baby carrier in "let it grow" green and midnight black (photos of my adorable nephew being worn in it to come soon!) this carrier was made with the green print as both the interior and exterior of the body of the carrier, rather than the usual solid (in this case black) exterior- better for muggy summer heat!

photos of a few more designs will be coming soon, due to similar requests for "lighter colors for warmer climates!" stay tuned for the fabulous "enchanted forest" animal print (also from mod green pod)!

earth huggy diaper washing information

washing cloth diapers is easy, but there are some important things you need to know! earth huggy diapers are made with organic cotton as the absorbent material, and because this is an unbleached fiber, it still contains many of the natural oils and waxy substances that are present in the plant fibers (that would be lost in the processing of conventional cotton fabric). for this reason, you MUST wash your organic cotton diapers a minimum of 4 times before using them. these natural oils will cause the urine not to be absorbed! soaking the diapers with a natural citrus-based degreaser, vinegar, or non-chlorine bleach, may help in breaking up the oils, before you perform your 4 washings... do not use chlorine bleach on these diapers, it breaks down cotton fibers, and can seriously irritate baby's skin!

once you've done your initial 4 washings, you have a lot of options, and the web is full of advice on how to best wash and de-stain your diapers. there are wet pail and dry pail methods, some methods call for double wash cycles, some call for soaking and rinsing while others call for throwing the whole enchilada right into the washing machine, right in with your clothes. you will find your happy medium among all the methods.

since you are making the wonderful decision to buy organic cotton to put on your baby, then i recommend considering carefully what products you use to wash those diapers- don't negate that good choice by soaking your dipes in harsh chemicals! also, be aware that most laundry detergents are very concentrated, and the recommended amount is often far more than is really needed to achieve cleanliness. rather than bleach, pure sunlight is my favorite method for removing stains. to preserve the absorbency of your diapers longer, wash on cold as much as possible (but you will likely want to do some hot washes periodically to freshen them up), line dry as much as possible (though waterproof fabric like the outside layer of earth huggy all-in-ones will benefit from a hot dryer periodically), and use products that are kind to natural fibers.

my personal experience is that complaints of rashes from using cloth diapers usually stem from one of three things- diapers not being removed from baby's skin promptly when wet, over-use of chemicals that remain in residual form in the fabric and cause a reaction, or synthetic/petroleum-based fibers up against baby's skin. organic cotton, thoughtfully and carefully washed, and promptly changed, is the best possible diapering choice for even the most sensitive skin!


as a side note, the earth huggy all-in-one diapers have been selling like hot cakes at the farmer's market! i am excited to be introducing lots of new colors for the outer, waterproof fabric (stay tuned for more pictures soon!) and am currently designing all-in-one pull-ups for older babies/toddlers/children! look for them in the next few weeks! Small, medium and large all-in-ones are available. E-mail me at earth.huggy@gmail.com for more info or to order!

earth huggy baby carrier

the earth huggy baby carrier was designed for serious babywearing. when my son was tiny (anyone who knows me will not let me get away with that- he was 12 pounds at birth!), i carried him in a wrap sling, and i literally would tie it on first thing in the morning, and not take it off until he was all tucked into bed for the night. i wanted to continue my commitment to wearing him all throughout the day, but quinn grew to 25 pounds by the time he was 8 months old. i needed to find a way to get the weight off of my shoulders and back, and distribute it more evenly, letting my legs take some of the weight. as a backpacker, hiker, outdoorswoman, i knew a few things about engineering a good carrying device, and decided to try my hand at baby carriers. i have tried a few different designs, and settled on one that has everything i was looking for:

1. weight distribution- a serious hip belt with good padding (i have bony hips!) and strong enough to distribute weight away from shoulders

2. balance- well padded shoulder straps of a generous width; many carriers are built for hip carries, but i already knew this style created imbalance for my body. balance was my goal.

3. options and versatility- ability to carry baby/toddler/preschooler on front or back, and various ways of strapping in to create more possibilities. specifically, the ability to criss cross the shoulder straps in back and buckle them at the sides, rather than having to clip a buckle behind one's back-grandparents like to wear their babies, too, and are not always able to do this!

4. convenience- quick-release buckles making it possible to strap on in a few seconds, rather than having to configure any long straps. don't get me wrong, i LOVE wrap carriers, and make them, and think they are ideal for young infants for the added closeness they provide. once baby is mobile, however, many parents can appreciate the need for "quick".

5. closeness- i did not want a layer of fabric between my son and i, and the closer baby is snuggled into you, the easier it is to take the weight.

6. adaptations for the serious babywearer- a cozy knit fabric band that pulls up to support baby's head when asleep. this feature is easily removed and set aside if you don't nap your baby in the carrier, but i have found that there have been many times when i was on the go and quinn wanted to sleep, and this feature allowed the greatest comfort for us both. it scrunches down out of the way while baby is awake and looking around.

7. a hug for baby, a hug for the earth- i create my products out of sustainable fibers, including organic cotton (that includes even the padding inside the carriers) and re-purposed cotton denim. not only is the movement towards sustainable fiber fabrics key for saving the planet, but it puts the best and purest fabrics in contact with your baby.

allow me to introduce the earth huggy baby carrier!


earth huggy baby carrier in organic cotton; color: ocean/earth; showing interior of carrier


close-up of ocean/earth sling, made from harmony art fabric's "let it grow" twill fabric.


color: midnight/ocean showing exterior of carrier (ocean blue interior lining fabric)


re-purposed denim earth huggy carrier with organic cotton knit head support


carriers swaying in the newport summer breeze!


criss-crossed shoulder straps


toddler asleep in front carry


toddler asleep in back carry


awwww. (ok i can't get enough of this kid, but seriously, i am looking forward to receiving the cute pictures of customers' babies in this carrier!)


thank you for taking the time to read about earth huggy baby carriers! i look forward to hearing from you. feel free to email me with questions, ideas, inspiration, or requests!

my little babywearer

before i introduce some of my products here, i wanted to post a picture from the farmer's market this past weekend! here is quinn, my two year old, with baby bear in his recycled denim baby carrier. all of the diapers and baby carriers i sell were designed with this little boy in mind, and engineered and perfected through trial and error diapering and wearing him- he's the inspiration behind it all.

if you stopped by my booth on saturday, thank you very much! i am so encouraged by how well attended the market is already in may, and even more encouraged by the great feedback i am receiving on the carriers and diapers. if you haven't stopped by yet, please do! you might just get an in-person peek at the cutest little man ever!