Large Fabulous Bag Giveaway - WINNERS!

A great big thanks to everyone who took part in our Large Fabulous Bag giveaway! Silly us, we thought we knew every possible reason why someone might want one of these FABULOUS bags, but we discovered a few new ones when reading through all of your FABULOUS posts.

I'm sure you've all been waiting for these results with bated breath... so without further ado, the 3 winners are:

Kayla Dishon

Julie Kieras

Abbie Olson

To the winners: Congratulations! We will contact you by email within the next 2 days to arrange the delivery of your prizes.

Again, thanks so much to everyone for participating, and stay tuned for future contests, discussions, and more fun stuff!

Is There Such a Thing as a One-size Wonder?

Our wholesale customer service manager, Dayna, mentioned that several retailers have recently requested a one-size diaper cover. The customers in their stores had asked for them, and the retailers were calling to find out if Bummis might make one.

For the purposes of this rumination, I'll mention one-size diaper covers, and one-size diapers - the most common being the All-in-One (AIO) pocket-style diaper (like the Easy Fit by Tots Bots). One-size products usually feature snaps down the front to adjust the size, and are often marketed as birth-to-potty (8-35 lbs) solutions.

The retailers who spoke to Dayna said that their customers wanted one-size wraps because they thought it would be more economical to buy one-size covers than to have to buy additional sizes.

Where do we Stand on the One-size Bandwagon?

We love one-size diapers because they are so EASY (hence the aptly named Easy Fit). For those of you who want a no-fuss, no folding, no tucking, quick-and-snappy diaper, a one-size AIO is *perfect*. If you plan to leave your little one with other family members, a babysitter, or if you aim to use cloth diapers at daycare - again, a one-size AIO is super easy to use, and therefore *perfect* for those situations. They are much less expensive than disposable diapers, but they are not the most economical cloth diapering choice - if economy is your top priority, prefolds & wraps are the way to go.

One-size wraps are not necessarily a more economical choice than wraps that come in different sizes. The one-size concept is that you use the same wraps (probably 4-6 of them) for about 2.5 years. That’s A LOT of wear-and-tear, given that the covers will be washed 1-3 times every week during that period (up to 420 washes). The chances that those 4-6 wraps can be put through the wringer like that and still be fit n’ fiddle enough to stop leaks two and a half years later is, well, very unlikely. Which means that you may need to replace some, if not all, of your covers before your baby is potty-trained, and you almost certainly will not be able to reuse them for a second baby. If you’ll likely have to buy more covers at some point anyways, you might as well buy a different size each time. By using sized covers, you’ll get a better fit, especially in the beginning with a tiny baby, or at the end with a chunky baby - and that translates into fewer leaks.

One-size diapering products all have this in common: you can’t expect to re-use them for a second baby. This is true of one-size AIO diapers too, but they possess the redeeming quality of being fantastically easy to use in the meantime. That’s why they exist, and why some people don’t mind if they don’t last for more than one baby. One-size covers, on the other hand, are not any easier to use than sized covers, nor are there significant savings in the long-run. Additionally, you risk having a less-than-perfect fit - which is a less-than-desirable possibility when using prefolds & wraps!

So, do we have a one-size diaper cover waiting in the wings? Nah. We believe that when it comes to diaper covers, most babies will need at least 2 sizes (though some babies may go through as many as 5) to achieve a snug and comfy (and leak-proof!) fit. One-size diapers are a different story: the fit is different, and you can get away with one size more easily. And of course, they're just so easy!

Large Fabulous Bag Giveaway

On the heels of Maeghan's great post on the wonders of our Fabulous Wet Bags and the introduction of our Large version, we have decided to offer this great product in a giveaway.

The large version of the Fabulous Wet Bags is well...fabulous! One of its great features is that it offers both a zipper and drawstring for the ultimate in odor containment. For more details on the large Fabulous Bag, head to our website.

Please post why you would love our new "hanging pail" in the comment field below. Include your color choice too - because we will randomly select 3 winners, each of whom will receive a large Fabulous Bag in the color of their choice! Please also include your full name so that we can track you down easily if you win! (If you choose to put your email address in your comment, best to write out the "at" rather than use the @ - this will help you avoid getting spammed!)

This giveaway is open to residents of the USA and Canada only. The contest is open until midnight EST on August 27th, 2010(Friday).

Fans of the Fabulous Wet Bag Rejoice!

A few weeks ago, I took the cross-country train from Montreal to Vancouver. It's a journey that confirms beyond a shadow of a doubt that Canada is a GIGANTIC country, a landmass that requires a train trip of four days and four nights to cross.

I wanted this trip to be as economical as possible, which is why I decided to pack a four-day picnic in my backpack rather than purchase meals from the on-board "café" (a much more health-conscious choice, as well). How do you pack four days' worth of food for the train? Inside your Fabulous Wet Bags, of course!

For four days I feasted on my Fabulous-ly packed picnic of pita bread, hummus, homemade blueberry muffins (from local, wild blueberries - YUM!), almonds, fruit and chocolate-covered hazelnuts (hey, I needed SOMETHING to get me through those long days!).
We've expounded on the fabulous-ness of the Fabulous Bags before, but I'm continually impressed by their everyday usefulness and myriad applications, so I wanted to share!

What I would have liked, but didn’t have on my trip (on the train, and during the week of my actual vacation), is a LARGE Fabulous Wet Bag - a perfectly portable on-the-road laundry hamper. Which brings me to my next point, which is the…

Launch of the LARGE Fabulous Wet Bag

Until now, the LARGE Fabulous Wet Bag has ben available exclusively as part of our Organic Cotton Diaper Kit, much to the chagrin of those of you who already HAVE a great diaper stash, but who would love to get your hands on one of these über-practical accessories. Well, as of NOW, the LARGE bag is available all by itself!

A quick reminder of some important features:

• Waterproof: same fabric as the Super Brite diaper cover, plus it’s double-seamed on 3 sides.
• Odour-proof: zipper closure plus drawstring for maximum odour-containment
• Hang-able: use the drawstring to suspend the bag and use it instead of a diaper pail (saves space!)
• Line-able: use it to line your diaper pail - pull the drawstring tight to keep it in place
• Love-able: fun prints and endlessly useful - chances are your Fabulous Bag will be hanging around long after your diapers have been stashed away!

To find a Bummis retailer near you, check out our online retailer search engine. And remember: the next time you’re leaving on a plane, train or in an automobile, be sure to pack your Fabulous Bags!

Local Retailers & Why We Love Them

(a shot of cute & cozy Boutique Bummis in Montreal)

We at Bummis LOVE supporting local boutiques all across North America, and we have been lucky enough to work with some of the most amazing local retailers out there. I am constantly amazed by the time and effort that so many of these stores put into providing the best service possible to their clients, and we are so proud to have them representing Bummis diapers!


I myself started out working at our very own Boutique Bummis, here in Montreal. It has been such a pleasure to watch our store grow from a tiny little shop into two fast-paced retail locations, abundant with friendly staff that always go the extra mile to help customers find the products and answers they need. Though bustling, you can still always find a quiet place in our boutiques to change your baby, or sit and nurse your little one!

So many of the stores that sell our products do such remarkable things in their communities, and I don’t doubt for a minute that they are the main reason that Bummis diapers have become so well-known and loved across Canada and the United States. These stores are places that you can go in to and check out cloth diapers in person, or try on baby carriers until you find the one that fits you just right. And beyond that, many of them are also at the very center of the local birthing community, with strong connections to midwives, doulas, and birth centers. You can sign up for cloth diapering 101 courses, baby wearing demos, and sometimes even cloth diaper trial programs. Others offer childbirth education classes and lactation consultations. And even if the classes aren’t held within the store, you can bet they can tell you where to find them. They are so much more than just stores – they are community resource centers, where you can go to inquire and indulge your curiosities during your baby’s first years. They are places you can visit with the confidence that someone cares about finding the best available products for you and your family.

If you have been waiting to find that perfect local store in your area to satisfy all of your cloth diapering needs, then we have just the thing for you! Head on over to our retailer search engine, and enter your location to find the nearest Bummis retailer. Or give us a ring on our toll-free number – 1.888.828.6647 – and we will help you find a store near you.

Last but not least, don’t forget to tell us about your favourite local retailer, and what it is about them that makes their store such a special place. And if you have a free moment, why not send them a quick note to let them know just how much you appreciate them!