CJ's BUTTer is now available at Baby Bare

We have just added the fabulous CJ's BUTTer products to our site!

CJ's BUTTer is the perfect cream for your cloth nappies as it is safe to use, unlike many other creams that can adversely affect your nappies.

CJ's BUTTer is all natural (except some scents are from synthetic ingredients). It comes in tubs, a stick and a spray. The stick and spray make nappy changes very easy as you can use it without putting your hands in the product.

We are offering the full range of CJ's and it can be combined with your Baby Bare purchases to save on shipping. So grab some sample pots to try it out with your next nappy buy.

Cloth Nappies and Nappy Bags

We get asked a lot about the best nappy bags for your cloth nappies.

Most nappy bags can cater for cloth nappies. But I have found some pretty stylish Leather Nappy Bags from Boowiggie.

Now, we all know I started Baby Bare to offer parents the best value in cloth nappies. Well, the bags from Boowiggie are also what I consider to be the best value in leather nappy bags (and I am a big lover of good value!).

These genuine leather bags retail from $169.95, right up to $249.95 for the most premium, the Arizona in Saffiano Leather. They are amazing value for the quality and design of the product.

I asked the owner, Caroline about using the bags with my cloth nappies. She told me that her range of bags can easily fit cloth nappies (and she has the pictures to prove it!). There is plenty of room for a few nappies, your CJ's BUTTer, a bottle (in the insulated pocket), phone, comforter and wallet with space to spare. They even come with a waterproof change mat!

These bags are a great size with lots of pockets for all your bits and pieces.

Ella Duo with 4 Baby Bare Nappies

Lily Bag with two Baby Bare nappies

Arizona with 3 Baby Bare Nappies. This is the most premium bag. Beautiful Saffiano Leather and a gorgeous lining fabric.

Did I also mention how stylish they look on the outside?

Arizona Leather Nappy Bag - Looks just like a hand bag!

Lily Leather Nappy Bag - comes in a range of colours. 

These gorgeous bags come in a range of sizes and colours (red, blue, beige, latte and more!), so you can choose something that suits your taste and needs.

I'm personally very in love with the new Arizona.

Where should you go for advice on your nappies?

I'm the first to admit using cloth nappies can be overwhelming at first. So many options, so many brands, so many different ways and opinions on doing things.

I started out like every other parent with cloth nappies. I knew nothing. I wasn't even convinced I wanted to use them (or that I would use the ones I bought). But I was interested in the benefits and I started on what has become a very long journey into the world of cloth nappies.

So now, knowing what I know, and seeing what I've seen, I feel I can try and help parents make the right decisions with nappies.

But, what I see all too often is parents asking other well meaning parents for advice, and then receiving the absolute wrong information.

My best piece of advice to you is, if you want to know something about a particular nappy, ask the maker. There are often different versions of nappies, so when you ask a question, some well meaning parent may be telling you about something that no longer even exists. Other parents make statements that are incorrect (not on purpose, just they don't know the product like the maker does).

What am I getting at? If you want the right information, just ask. Any cloth nappy business is going to be happy to help you. Do not feel like you are bothering them. I love hearing from customers and helping them through the fog to find a solution.

In my own experience I have seen parents be told our nappies are made with materials they simply are not made with, the wrong sizing details, the wrong washing instructions, mixing up information between the different styles. I have seen the same with other brands.

So if you ever want to know something, whether you are an existing customer or a future customer, or never become a customs, I'd love to help. Just ask me.

And if you want to peruse a website for lots of cloth information and help, check out cloth nappies central - it's been written just for you!

Choosing between the Baby Bare Nappies

I often get emails asking me how to choose between our different styles of cloth nappies. I am asked which is better, which is more popular and what the customer should choose.

The decision is really a personal one. It depends on the person.

My advice to parents, is always to consider how you want to use the nappies. This advice goes further than choosing from our range too. Most parents when they start out are so overwhelmed. My advice is always to stop and consider what style of nappy is appealing to them the most. Because it is then that they are best equipped to start their search.

When I give that advice I am usually met with a sigh of relief. The fog is clearing and suddenly it seems easier. Once you know the style you are after, you can sort through all the option easier and focus on the cloth nappies you want.

When looking at Baby Bare, you need to go through a few steps.

First Step: Do you like PUL or Minky Covers? This is the division between the Bare Cub or the Silky Bare. Whats even better is, if you feel no preference either way, you can grab both purely choosing on the colours or prints you like. This decision is purely cosmetic. One is not less breathable or cooler. It is simply if you like the smoother feel of the PUL, or the fluffier more fabric like feel of the minky.

Second Step: Consider your style. Do you like the idea of no assembly or do you want the flexibility and ability to change out the absorbency and use the shells for more then one change?

All in one is very easy. You pick up the nappy and its ready to go.

The inside of the all in one cloth nappy. The rainbow section opens away from the nappy for faster drying time.

All in two requires some assembly (3 separate pieces), but its versatile and can work out to be more economical. Many parents buy 12 full nappies, and then add an extra 12 soaker sets. They then have 24 changes. They know the cover can be re-used, or washed and used again quickly due to the fast drying nature of the cover. Our all in two is also 100% bamboo.

All in two cloth nappy. There is the snap in insert (top piece) and the rectangle booster (laying underneath). 

If you ever need help or have further questions, just send us an email through the contact us link on our website. We are always more then happy to help (we actually love chatting to you!).

The Baby Bare Trial is Back!

Last year we ran a hire programme on our nappies. You could hire ten brand new nappies for one month and decide if you wanted them at the end. You could return them and only pay the hire fee, or keep them and pay out the remaining cost of the pack.

This programme was enormously successful. I'm so proud to say of all the packs we sent out, we had zero returned. That is a testament to how much people loved our nappies.

Unfortunately, due to the time invested in the programme (and me still working in a normal job) we had to bring it to a stop. I've since received lots of enquiries about running it again.

So I have great news. You can now hire the packs again. You choose the ten nappies and we will do the rest.

The nappies are absolutely brand new. So you don't have any worries putting them on your child. It is just like buying upfront, except you can take your time to pay it off and if they don't work for you, return them.

So, let your friends know about this amazing and unique programme. It is perfect if:

1. You want to try cloth for a month and see if it suits you before purchasing a full set of nappies.
2. You want to try Baby Bare Nappies before topping up your stash.
3. You want to buy 10 Baby Bare Nappies and be able to pay them off over a 4 week period.

Oh, and every pack comes with a sample of CJ's BUTTer, just to say thanks!

The expo wrap!

So I've just finished 3 full days in Sydney talking to parents. Lot and lots of parents.

This time last year, we did our very first expo. Seeing the change in 12 months has been extraordinary. While it was great to see parents know who we are, it was even better to be meeting so many parents who knew what modern cloth nappies were.

So what feedback did I take home from the show?

1. A few parents asked me about how to use the inserts in the Baby Bare nappy. The nappy was designed to have a pocket for more options. I recommend laying in the second booster and securing under your snap in. This is easier than separately stuffing the pocket.

2. Lots of parents were very confused about choosing a nappy. My advice is always to narrow down your options by choosing a style first. Whether you want Baby Bare or any other brand, the decision is so much easier once you know what you want. Consider your budget (all in two can be more economical if you reuse covers), your lifestyle (do you want the absolute easiest option, being all in one?) and the style that you find yourself more drawn to. Once you narrow this down the decision is so much easier. You can block out so many other options and focus!

3. Preparing nappies. Lots of parents asked how to make them ready for use. Firstly, wait until you are ready to use them. Then soak in a warm tub/bucket over night. Then wash. This is easy and very effective. Expect your cloth nappies to get more absorbent as you go.

4. The biggest question - why are Baby Bare cheaper than the other brands? Simply, because it is our whole reason for being. If we are not fulfilling that aim, I feel we do not have our place in the market We know what it is like to struggle to afford good nappies, and to build a good 'stash'. So we work hard to supply you a great nappy at a fabulous price. Try them, you will see we don't spare any expense in making them, we just spare your expense!

I loved chatting to so many mums and dads. Seeing the excitement of picking from our fluffy wall of cloth and the number of parents choosing cloth nappies. I hope this is a sign of a change and a new tide in the nappy world. So congratulations to everyone who has chosen cloth for their child. You are making informed choices and thinking about how to minimise your impact on our fragile planet. Stick with it, because it is a very fun and rewarding journey!

Jenny

The work at home mum or something else?

W-A-H-M. This is a term I am often labelled with. But recently I've been told I'm not a WAHM, mainly because I don't sew my own goods. At first I was a little offended. Like my business and family were less worthy because I took a different path, a path that would allow me to reach and service more people. I didn't see myself as any different to a woman behind a sewing machine. We are both running a business.

This got me thinking to whether I really consider myself under this 'WAHM' term. What does it mean anyway?

Until recently I had a job as a salary and wage earner. My business was something I did on the side. It was my outlet for creativity and something I could build that was my own. When people asked me what I did I said I was an accountant. Whilst I often got the usual reaction that pointed to it being a bit boring, it was a 'real job'.

But I lost interest in my salary job, and i started to ask myself what I wanted to do. Baby Bare was getting busier, I was more focused on it and I decided I wanted to pursue it full time.

So I said good bye to my career in tax/accounting. I had studied and set up my whole life around that career. But my skills transferred over to my passion in my business, something I had lost in my job.

So now I work from our home. I run a business from my own corner of the house. Its not easy. I am every part of the business. From the Customer Service Department to packer, to stock controller and Chief Financial Officer. It's all just me. I work under a 'brand' but it doesn't mean we have a full team. It's a unique profession being a business owner. It can be very isolating (home alone), rewarding, stressful, challenging and also sometimes boring.

My hours are not always conventional, I often do emails at 10pm on a Saturday night, because simply its when I get the chance. Not unlike parents who do shift work to juggle their caring commitments. We work when we can.

But I question why when I describe my work, or others describe me does the fact I am a mother play a part? I'd rather say I'm a business owner. I run my own business (from my home). Outside of that I also have children. I don't see myself as more of a mother now I work in our house. I feel I am the same mother to my kids that I was when I worked in an office outside the home. My work is still often intense, stressful and busy. Our children play very little part in my work. After all, you can't get much done with them at your feet.

When I tell people what I do, they often think its a bit fluffy and lovely. I get to spend my days with my children while my business chugs along. The reality is that I work unconventional hours and my children still go to day care so that I can work two proper days each week.

So I've decided I no longer am going to label myself as a mum when it comes to my career and business. As the fact I am one seems irrelevant. When I describe myself I am going to say that I own  and run my own little business, it seems more reflective or reality than the visions people get when I say I am a WAHM.