What is your name and anyone else part of the business? Hannah & Gabriel Neas, Owners
How did you get started with your business?
I was late coming to cloth diapering. When my son was born, 4 and a half years ago, we tried cloth diapers, but were operating on very little information. We just bought prefolds, pins and plastic pants. Our son was a preemie, but had grown to 28 pounds by 9 months! His thighs and plastic pants did not do well together. We gave up until I got a great tutorial when my daughter was over a year old and jumped right in. When we found out our favorite local shop, The Cloth Nook, was closing my husband and I decided to take over.
Who or what was your inspiration?
I have been teaching childbirth classes for a couple of years and love to learn and teach about all things natural. Cloth diapers fit right in! My husband was really excited about the business and we decided that having a family business was an idea worth working for. We wouldn't be here today if he hadn't pushed me to take the leap.
How long have you been doing what you do?
We've been the owners of The Cloth Nook since February 2012, but the company has been around since November of 2010. The former owner, Kim, is amazing and has taught me so much. When she had her 3rd baby girl last year she decided to be a full time SAHM and I got the opportunity to take over the site. It has been so much fun!!!
What is your motivation? What are you passionate about?
My motivation is really doing what is best for babies and the earth. I really believe in cloth diapers and love the teaching aspect of my job more than anything else. I love sitting down with people who are new to cloth and walking them through all their options. I give "diaper talks" to local childbirth classes and love to hear things like "I was so overwhelmed, but now I'm excited to start." I think many times it just takes a little instruction and hands-on experience with the diapers to make a big difference in parents' confidence levels. Anyone can do it if they have the desire and a little knowledge.
Where can we find you when you are not working?
When I'm not working, I'm hanging out with my family. I love to cook and spend time outside. We love to camp and take the kids to local parks and farms. I'm also a big reader and fall asleep most nights with a book in my hands.
Is there anything else you want to tell us about yourself?
I never thought I would be a business owner. The fact that we operate The Cloth Nook as a family is amazing. My son loves to help me open boxes and add things to inventory. My little girl is a diaper addict and has favorites that she asks for by name. I think one thing that sets us apart from other sites is that we do not try or intend to carry everything. We operate much like a boutique, but do not charge boutique prices. We carry things that make sense and that work. We try things on our own kids first! We really want to take the overwhelming feeling out of diaper shopping and offer the best and most popular products in one place. We hope everyone loves The Cloth Nook as much as we do!
Design- This all-in-one has two soakers/inserts but no stuffing is required. One is sewn right in and the other snaps in. The outside is waterproof. There are side snaps.
Sizing- This is a one size diaper. It is made to fit approx. 10-35 lbs. The adjusting snaps are 2x3.
Material- The diaper is made of a water resistant thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). It is lined with organic cotton. Both the inserts are made of organic cotton as well. TPU is very similar to PUL.
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| Smallest snap setting |
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| Largest snap setting |
The side snaps are a bit different than front snaps but I am able to get a good fit. I think it is because the side tabs are really stretchy. They don't take long to get the hang of either. This diaper is very trim but seems a little bit stiff. It may be because of the natural material.
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| Side snaps |
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| Elastic from the side |
**Keep this in mind if you decide to purchase one. This diaper needs to be washed several times to remove the natural oils in the cotton. The fabric will reach its maximum absorbency after 5-6 washes. This goes for all natural material; cotton, hemp and bamboo.The organic cotton is probably my favorite part of the design. Also, you can't beat an all-in-one. It is so easy to put on and take off. The diaper is very trim too.
I love the pattern! This one is called "Nature." It is pretty unique compared to my other diapers and would be great for a boy or girl.
I ♥ organic cotton!
What would I change?
The cotton lining of the diaper is kind of thick and it makes the elastic bunchy. I haven't had any leaks so far but it seems a bit stiff. Also, because of the light color of the TPU material, I can see the extra layer right through the top one. I think it would look better if they flipped the second layer around so the pattern was hidden on the inside. No big deal though because it doesn't affect the function of the diaper and you can barely even tell in the pictures.
What do I think overall?
I like this diaper a lot more than I expected. I also have a bumGenius Elemental AIO which is lined with organic cotton and they are very comparable. The Grovia is trimmer between the legs. AIO's are definitely my favorite type if diaper! You can get both of them and more from The Cloth Nook.
My Ratings:
Quality: ★★★★★
Ease of Use: ★★★★☆
Affordability: ★★★☆☆
Overall Fit: ★★☆☆ ☆
Drying Time: ★★★☆ ☆
I love that The Cloth Nook carries natural baby items like; a rubber pacifier and amber necklaces.
Connect with The Cloth Nook on FACEBOOK and TWITTER
WIN ONE!
Come back June 4-15 for the Fluffy Butts Giveaway Hop and for a chance to win a fluffy prize pack including a Grovia AIO in your choice of pattern. Open to the US & CAN.
*Disclaimer* I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free to review on my blog. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Your experience with the product may differ from mine.
