How did I get into cloth diapers, and why did I start selling them?

Submitted by Brandi. Thank you! =-)

"I also have a question for you- what made you make the change? Just curious, really- I try to think back about myself and why I changed- I know exactly when and why, but I was trying to remember what I knew about cloth diapering before that and I can't remember- I know I had been into Kissui, but I can't even remember if I looked at the diapers or not! Anyway, just thought it would be interesting to hear what made you change to cloth, like was there a turning point? Oh, and when did you decide to start selling them online? Thanks!"

I switched when my oldest was 16 months old, and I was about 6 months pregnant with my second. Before then, I had never seen a cloth diaper.

When Brandon, my first was born, it never even occurred to me that cloth diapers still existed. I didn't know anyone who used cloth diapers. Everyone I knew gifted me with pack after pack of disposables. No one had ever mentioned cloth diapers as an option, so it just never even struck me as a possibility.

When Brandon was about 5 months old, I went to a La Leche League meeting to get to know some other breastfeeding mamas. At the time, I was the only breastfeeding mom I knew. My family had all breastfed their children, so I had that support, but I really wanted to also get support from ladies closer to my age with babies. So anywhoo, at the LLL meeting, one of the moms mentioned that she used cloth diapers, but that was about the extent of it. I was kind of surprised that anyone still used cloth diapers, and I remember wondering why someone would do that on purpose. I was picturing flats and safety pins, dunking and swishing, stink and stains. I still hadn't seen a cloth diaper at that point, so I was still very misinformed.

When Brandon was 16 months old, and we were expecting baby #2, I was hanging out on my birth board just killing time. When you have only one baby, you still occasionally have time to kill. That doesn't happen anymore... There was a thread on my birth board about Fuzzi Bunz. I clicked the link and fell in LOVE!

I would love to say that there was something more noble to the story, but that would be a lie. I started out on cloth for a relatively shallow reason... THEY WERE WAY TOO CUTE! I wanted my Brandon's butt to be in these adorable, vibrant, colorful cloth diapers - not the ugly disposable diapers he was currently napping in.

So while I switched for a superficial reason, the point is that I switched. I jumped right into cloth diapering and have never gone back. And once I actually began cloth diapering, I learned about the ecological and health benefits of cloth diapers, and became very passionate about cloth being the superior choice in every way. This has led me to a more eco-conscious mindset in many other ways as well, so the cute factor can be a gateway in that sense.

As far as selling diapers, I didn't actually set out to sell diapers. When my second son, Seth, was about 6 weeks old, he had to have tests that required us to be at the hospital for a series of x-rays spanning 6 hours. I was wearing him in my Maya Wrap, pacing the halls for the hour in between each x-ray. During that time I had literally dozens of people ask me about my sling and how they could buy one. By about the 10th person I made a mental note that I should look into the legal requirements for obtaining a wholesale account and re-selling Maya Wraps. I intended to keep a few in my truck to have on hand when people asked where they could buy one.

So I did just that. But legally retailing anything in the state of CA is a gigantic PITA, so I figured if I was going to go to all of this trouble (permits, licenses, etc.), I had better sell more than just Maya Wraps. I was well into my obsession with cloth diapers by then, so I began checking into wholesale accounts for cloth diapers as well. And it just kind of snowballed from there. I initially had no intention of doing business on a large scale, but it just kind of happened.

So I guess I just sort of fell into cloth diapers in the first place, and then kind of tumbled right into selling them!

Cloth and Carriers 101... What the heck is this?

Hi! I'm Mandi, the Mama who created, owned and operated Keen Bambino, an online boutique specializing in cloth diapers and baby carriers.

A few months ago, I made the decision to close Keen Bambino. Odd as it sounds, the business became too successful! When I opened Keen Bambino, I had no idea how quickly my business would grow. After a year and a half in business, I was exhausted. I have a 2-year-old, a 3-year-old, and one on the way. Because of how little my kiddos are, it was impossible to work while they were awake. So work (all 40-50 hours per week) was strictly done during nap time, after bedtime, and on the weekends. This left about 4 hours for sleep each night, and a pitiful amount of family time on the weekends. =-(

Since closing Keen Bambino, I have become a new woman! I am rested, un-hurried and able to focus 100% on my family. It's been bliss, and since I've gotten out of retail, I am more convinced each day that I made the best decision for both my family and my personal sanity. LOL

However, anyone who knows me knows that I need to have a "grown up" outlet. This idea came to me on a whim tonight, and it will be a perfect fit for me. I am very excited!

So what is all this? Well, I am insanely passionate about cloth diapers and baby carriers. But I also need a project that will not commit me to working full time. To reconcile my passion and the reality of 2 (soon to be 3!) small children, I have come up with a project that will truly be as much or as little work as I want it to be.

In this blog, I'll review, promote, and de-mystify all things related to cloth diapers and baby carriers!

Reviews - During my time as a retailer, I made it a point to try everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) that I carried on my site. This included dozens upon dozens of different "makes and models" of cloth diapers and baby carriers. However my ventures didn't stop there! I also loved to try brands which I didn't carry, including smaller WAHM-made goodies. I did this strictly because I felt that an informed retailer should be knowledgeable about the broader cloth diaper and baby carrier markets... certainly not because I have an addiction to cloth and carriers... wink, wink. So even if I never buy another diaper as long as I live (which ain't happenin'!), I think I could blog for about 45 years and never run out of material.

Promotion - As a former WAHM business owner, I know how awesome any advertising is! I will be tipping you off to my favorite cloth diaper and baby carrier shops, as well as learning about new shops an brands that come along. I will also be open to providing very affordable advertising and promotion opportunities to WAHMs. If you own a business and are interested, please email me!

De-Mystifying - As a former retailer, I know which questions are asked the most! I will be posting answers to some of the most common questions about cloth diapers and baby carriers. I'll also happily accept questions from readers! If you have a question, just let me know and I'll answer it for you! You can post your question as a comment, or email me.

So there you have it! After closing Keen Bambino, I felt this innate urge to continue promoting cloth-diapering and baby-wearing in some way. With this blog I can do just that, and still get a full night's sleep!