Flats Challenge
A once year gathering of the Cloth Diaper Community to encourage and support cloth diapering because everyone deserves a clean bum.
May 17 – 23, 2021
Since 2010
This Challenge was originally started by Kim Rosas at Dirty Diaper Laundry
Diaper Need
Because 1 in 3 american families struggle to afford diapers
Supporting Each Other
This event is one way the community has come together.
The Flats Challenge
Flat Cloth Diapers
For one week
The Challenge is to use flat cloth diapers and handwash for one week. There are no rules, and you can choose how to challenge yourself.
- Maybe for one week you just use flats.
- Maybe you use a diaper that you don’t normally use.
- Maybe you challenge yourself not to use disposables at all.
- Maybe you challenge yourself to dunk and swish instead of liners.
- Maybe you try washing diapers every day with a stash of just 5-6.
- Maybe you do flats and handwash.
This challenge is opening itself up to the community to move past the rules of Flats & Handwashing, and instead focus on curatng conversations of cloth diaper advocacy that are supportive of a wide array of life-scenarios.
I want you to learn something this week. Learn a skill that will help you be a better cloth diaper user.
Yes, you can take the challenge for it’s original rules, or you can make your own rules. This is a week where we come together to chat cloth, the value of flats, potential of handwashing, and the real impact of diaper need.
Register Today!
Registration is simple and it gets you on the mailing list for daily encouragement and writing prompts.
Change your mind? Just hit the unsubscribe button.
WHY
Why Participate?
Share Your Love of Cloth Diapering
The Flats Challenge is an opportunity to talk about cloth diapering and encourage healthy conversations about modern diapering options that can support a variety of families.
Learn a New Skill
Curious about cloth and need a kick to start today? Or maybe you’ve been cloth diapering for years and want to learn how to use flats, or how to handwash diapers. The Flats Challenge is a supportive week to encoruage you to try new things.
Community Support & Encouragement
Connect with other parents, content creators, and brands to find a collective community of supporters in your cloth diaper journey. We are here to support you in all decisions and have the hard conversations.
Be Inspired To Create
Many participants from the Flats & Handwashing Challenge go on to create better content, connect with local charities, or even open their own charities to support diaper need in their communities.
FEATURED
Writing Prompts
Monday
Why Cloth Diapers?
Share why cloth diapering is a choice for your family and the impact it has had.
Tuesday
What is your challenge?
Why are you participating and in what capacity are you participating in?
Wednesday
My Local Diaper Resource is…
Share information about your local cloth diaper bank, diapering resource centre, or where families in need of diapers can get them.
If there is nothing local, shout the impact of a national organisation that supports diaper need – either disposable or cloth
thursday
Share about your favourite flat fold system.
Share your favourite fold, your favourite cover system, or your favourite accessory that helps make cloth diapering look and feel easy.
This is a great time to show people how easy it is to fold flats and what you do to keep them in place, and clothing dry.
Friday
How do you wash diapers?
What is your wash routine? What tricks have you learnt to make it easier for your family this week.
Saturday
Open Topic.
Suggestions include: overnight cloth diapering, diapering at daycare, biggest benefit of diapering, budgeting and cloth diapers, tips for donating diapers, how you overcome negativity, your biggest mistake
Sunday
How did it go?
What did you learn this week? Summarize your cloth diapering experience and any goals you achieved or dreams you want to achieve.
CHOOSE US
Why Cloth Diapers?
Reusable
Cloth diapers just need to be washed – they are always available.
Repurposed Material
All you need is absorbent material – receiving blankets, terry towels, or a shirt
Hand Wash or Washing Machine
Washing cloth diapers is similiar to washing any other load of laundry. They can be washed in a washing machine, or by hand in the sink.
Always Available
Cloth diapers are always there for you. Many families share the relief of not having to worry about diapers if income changes or crisis happens.
About US
The Story
In 2011, Kim Rosas hosted the first Flats & Handwashing Challenge with over 400 participants. In 2020, less than 200 participants joined the challenge.
Cloth diapering has changed in 10 years – more brands, more options, and more confusion. The industry is still struggling to educate and inform.
Diaper need is still very real, and perhaps impacting even more Americans than ever before.
How do you create more inclusive conversations and continue this conversation all year?
How do you we make this challenge not about the tokenism of poverty, but address the very real struggle of parents around the world to diaper their children?
TESTIMONIALS
What Participants Say
I participate because I was low income and struggling to afford diapers. I didn’t learn about cloth till my third child – and I was so angry because cloth would have saved me from so much stress with my first two kids. I want to make sure people know that cloth diapering is an option. And a doable one.
Pam Jones
Blog Posts
Previous Content
Day 7
Day 7 - The End is Here.For some of us, tonight is the last night of the challenge and we will get to return to our washing machines on Monday morning. But for some, this is not the end, but the continuation of their every-day practice. We have read stories in the...
Day 5
Day 5 - Open TopicToday we can talk about everything and anything you want to talk about - you can also take a day off. You are doing an amazing goods. Curious about the stats from the 2019 Flats & Handwashing Challenge Not getting emails? - Read Today's Email...
Day 4 – Wash Routines
Day 4 - Wash Routine StrategiesAh, laundry day my favourite day because I love watching, reading, and learning how everyone washes cloth diapers. I always learn something new like a way to save water, find a different soap product, or a different way to reduce burn...
Day 3- Favourite Fold
Day 3 - Lets' Talk About FoldsBut first, I see that some of you are struggling. Know that it's okay and part of the process of accessing and understanding the privilege of diapering, access to resources, and laundry facilities. It's okay if you need a plan B. It's...
Day 2 – Stash
Day 2 - Your StashSome of you may have washed a few loads of diapers by now, and some of you may still be waiting for one big wash tonight or tomorrow. That is okay. There is no right way to do this. It is whatever works for you. Check out yesterday's post. This page...
Day 1 of the Flats Challenge 2020
Why are you participating in the 2020 Flats & Handwashing Challenge?
My youngest daughter potty trained shortly after the 2019 challenge. This year I will not be participating. I am excited to be the host of the 2020 challenge because I love supporting people to learn, share and feel empowered in their cloth diaper journey.
The Day Before The Challenge
The Day Before The ChallengeWhy are you nervous? Don't be nervous. This is not about doing it perfectly or having the best hand wash technique. It's not about creating the best content or YouTube videos. It's just about learning, growing, and becoming a better...
10th Annual Flats & Handwashing Challenge
10th Annual Flats & Handwashing Challenge2020 Flats & Handwashing Challenge is being hosted by the Cloth Diaper Podcast. #FlatsChallenge Starting: Monday, May 25, 2020 The challenge lasts one week.About the Challenge10 years ago, Kim Rosas from Dirty Diaper...
2020 Flats Challenge Blog Topics
Blog PromptsFor the 2020 Flats & Handwashing Challenge These are the conversations we will be having each day of the 10th Annual Flats & Handwashing Challenge. Traditionally, bloggers wrote a blog post each day reflecting on their experience. But it's 2020...
My Book on Cloth Diapering
Ready to take this conversation offline? Or maybe you just want to learn about cloth diapering in one easy-to-load resource. The Cloth Diaper Book is everything you need to get started cloth diapering. This is the cloth diaper book for beginners and covers many topics in a simple to read Cloth 101 style
FAQ on Every Topic
Detailed Graphics & Images on Diapers
Wash Routine Support & Info
About Bailey
Professional Cloth Diaper Educator
Bailey brings 5+ years of cloth diapering experience and conversation to the cloth diaper space. She's not just your every day mom blogger sharing her experience - Bailey is immersed in the cloth diaper community learning from other parents and growing as an individual. She wants to find the cloth diaper solution that truly works for you.
Bailey believes we need to stop and listen to cloth diapering parents. We need to recognize our own bias and preferences and focus on solutions that work for you, not us. The Cloth Diaper need to recognize the privilege of being able to cloth diaper, and provide spaces for more conversations and stories.
Cloth diapering is not about rules but about our own strength as parents to do the best we can for our children with the resources available.
Contact Us
Email: bailey@clothdiaperpodcast.com
Cloth Diaper Podcast is located in Northern BC, Canada on the traditional territories of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nations.
The Cloth Diaper Podcast participates in affiliate programs with differen brands and businesses. Links clicked may result in earned comission to Bailey Bouwman as a result of purchases made. If you have questions about affiliate links and sales please contact Bailey.
Cloth Diaper Podcast (SimplyMomBailey) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
About the Cloth Diaper Podcast
The Cloth Diaper Podcast is a somewhat regular podcast sharing stories from cloth diaper parents, brands and retailers from around the world.
The Cloth Diaper Podcast is not affiliated with any school of thought of diaper laundry but instead focus on the power of peer-to-peer story telling to empower you to make your own cloth diaper journey.
Cloth Diapering is not this or that, but rather many different experiences.
