After researching all about cloth diapering, I learned a lot about the different covers, ways to fasten, cleaning, and everything else associated with the diaper except the actual diaper. What goes under the diaper cover is by far the MOST important aspect of cloth diapering. After all, it's what (hopefully) holds everything in. I was amazed when my eyes were opened to the worlds of diapering differences.
When people think of cloth diapering, many people look at what's available in the stores and then assume that Gerber is the primary brand for the prefolds and flatfolds. And, while it may be true that Gerber is the leader in positioning amongst many store shelves, in my opinion, they are not the leader in quality and cloth diapering efficiency. This is where Cloth-eez comes in.
Let's start by taking a closer look at the Gerber diapers. Just for this blog, we'll focus on the prefolds. There are several different types of Gerber prefolds (differing in thickness). This is a good thing as the child grows larger, consumes more, and thus has more output (a.k.a., poop and pee). The cost of Gerber prefolds is also quite a bit lower than the cost for other brands. However, as the Gerbers are used more and more, you may notice that the texture of the diapers changes from a soft, cushioned texture to one that is scratchy and inconsistent. The Gerbers also are not as size-appropriate for our babies as most other brands, thus leading to bulky diapers that are difficult to pin or Snappi. This can lead to difficulty for your child as he/she tries to roll over and use his/her legs.
The Cloth-eez brand prefolds that I use are color-coded by size, so they also grow with my child, but in a way that is better fitting to her size - not just her output. The material used in the diapers also gets softer and more absorbent the more that it is washed (directions say to wash multiple times prior to use in order to begin to build the absorbency). While the Cloth-eez are more expensive (ranging from $21 - $36 per dozen depending on the size), my daughter and I have both been much happier with the "results" of fewer leaks, mobility, and overall quality of this brand.
Cloth-eez sells their diapers in either chlorine-free white, unbleached, or organic cotton. They are 4-8-4Ply, making them more absorbent than Gerbers which use a standard 3, 4, or 6-Ply. The sizes are based on the age and weight of the child, thus making them more "custom" fitting than other brands.
Another thing that I love about Cloth-eez is that they also have the Workhorse diapers available. These are prefold diapers that are shaped like a fitted diaper. These diapers are more expensive, but I've loved my tests with them!
For more information on Cloth-eez, be sure to check out www.greenmountaindiapers.com. And, if you have a brand of diapers that you love, be sure to leave a comment. I'm always up for testing out other brands!!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
What exactly do you need to register for??
The question of baby registries recently came up while I was talking with a group of friends. I mean, really, how many things can a tiny baby actually need?? Of course, there's shelter, food, clothes, and diapers, but all that other stuff that the stores tell you that you can't live without???
My husband and I went in to register for our baby with two different thoughts in mind. My husband thought that we should only register for the absolutely necessary items. I thought that we should register for a few "extra" things. There's nothing wrong with wanting both a crib and a Pack n' Play, a high chair, a couple of different strollers, as well as all the clothes, mattress pad, changing pad, diaper bag, carrier, toys, etc. etc. etc. Needless to say, we spent nearly four hours at the store trying to agree on what to register for.
After all the hassle of trying to register, after our baby came, we realized that many of the things we thought we needed (i.e., bottles, nipples, swing, sleep sacks, etc.) weren't really all that important. Our daughter refused bottles for over two months. Then, we had to "experiment" with different nipples until we found one that she would actually take. This called for all different brands of bottles and nipples. She wasn't a huge fan of the swing - she preferred to walk up and down the stairs or be raised and lowered by the mechanism of Mom and Dad's biceps. I also found out that I hate sleep sacks and any other clothing item that involved putting something over my newborn's head.
So, what do you really need to register for? Well, for me, it was burp cloths, receiving blankets, onesies/pajamas that either zipped or snapped, Dreft, and my Baby Bjorn. These are the items that I cannot live without.
Now that my daughter is older, we have added in other items. She no longer minds having outfits pulled over the top of her head (although I still prefer easy-access outfits for those messy diaper occasions), she needs the teething toys and pacifiers during certain times of the day, she absolutely loves her Baby Einstein activity gym, and I still can't do without our Baby Bjorn carrier and All Terrain Jeep umbrella stroller. But, what I have basically learned is that every child is different. What one mother says she can't live without, another mother might say that the same item was useless for her child. So, the bottom line, be sure you keep your receipts so that you can return items should they not work out for your child or find someone who needs the items you can't return. And, don't spend too much time fretting about a gift registry before Baby even arrives. The things you think you won't be able to live without are often the things your baby wants nothing to do with (at least that's how it was with me and my baby!).
My husband and I went in to register for our baby with two different thoughts in mind. My husband thought that we should only register for the absolutely necessary items. I thought that we should register for a few "extra" things. There's nothing wrong with wanting both a crib and a Pack n' Play, a high chair, a couple of different strollers, as well as all the clothes, mattress pad, changing pad, diaper bag, carrier, toys, etc. etc. etc. Needless to say, we spent nearly four hours at the store trying to agree on what to register for.
After all the hassle of trying to register, after our baby came, we realized that many of the things we thought we needed (i.e., bottles, nipples, swing, sleep sacks, etc.) weren't really all that important. Our daughter refused bottles for over two months. Then, we had to "experiment" with different nipples until we found one that she would actually take. This called for all different brands of bottles and nipples. She wasn't a huge fan of the swing - she preferred to walk up and down the stairs or be raised and lowered by the mechanism of Mom and Dad's biceps. I also found out that I hate sleep sacks and any other clothing item that involved putting something over my newborn's head.
So, what do you really need to register for? Well, for me, it was burp cloths, receiving blankets, onesies/pajamas that either zipped or snapped, Dreft, and my Baby Bjorn. These are the items that I cannot live without.
Now that my daughter is older, we have added in other items. She no longer minds having outfits pulled over the top of her head (although I still prefer easy-access outfits for those messy diaper occasions), she needs the teething toys and pacifiers during certain times of the day, she absolutely loves her Baby Einstein activity gym, and I still can't do without our Baby Bjorn carrier and All Terrain Jeep umbrella stroller. But, what I have basically learned is that every child is different. What one mother says she can't live without, another mother might say that the same item was useless for her child. So, the bottom line, be sure you keep your receipts so that you can return items should they not work out for your child or find someone who needs the items you can't return. And, don't spend too much time fretting about a gift registry before Baby even arrives. The things you think you won't be able to live without are often the things your baby wants nothing to do with (at least that's how it was with me and my baby!).
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Breastfeeding: Easier Said Than Done
Last year I read a great book, In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. This book changed a lot of the ways that I look at nutrition both with myself and with my baby. So, when it came to the first stage of nutrition for my child, I immediately knew that I wanted to breastfeed her. While I think that formula is great for some children - and sometimes the only way they can receive nutrition - I thought that the best thing for my child would be to get her nutrition directly from the source...me. However, that was easier said than done.
As a warning, we're going to get into some of the meat of breastfeeding during this post. So, if you are a little squeamish about breastfeeding, then you may not want to continue reading. However, I hope that you do.
My primary care doctor told me that, as I prepare to breastfeed, I should use a washcloth and "rough up" my nipples during pregnancy so that they would be "ready" for after Baby arrived. I thought, "Hmmm...that sounds good" so, I did it. I also listened to the lactation specialist who taught the breastfeeding portion of my childbirth class who said to begin massaging my breasts at 36 weeks in order to expel some colostrum and prepare for breastfeeding. But, nothing prepared me for the real task of breastfeeding.
Many people will say that breastfeeding shouldn't hurt and that it's very natural. Babies are born with the natural instinct of sucking and are naturally drawn to the breast. While I agree that all of this is true, I also found that breastfeeding did not come naturally to me. From the engorgement before my milk came in to an infection, breastfeeding began with A LOT of pain. My baby even took a small chunk out of one of my nipples which caused excruciating pain.
During the first two weeks at home with my daughter, I tried different positions, using nipple shields, and even saw four different lactation specialists, my OB, and my daughter's pediatrician. Everyone said the same thing: breastfeeding shouldn't hurt, but they couldn't find anything wrong with the way that I was holding my baby nor her latch. I spent feeding after feeding just trying to get through the pain and dreading the next feeding. I felt like a failure at being a mother because obviously I was doing something wrong. Every person I spoke to said that breastfeeding wouldn't hurt. So, why did it hurt me??
Well, I can't really answer that question; however, I can say that I am EXTREMELY happy that I stuck with it. Thanks to the support of my husband and other mothers, I knew that breastfeeding was the best nutrition my daughter could receive. So, I was willing to stick with the pain. After a while (approximately eight weeks), the pain began to subside, I began to heal, and my daughter thrived. Somewhere in there, breastfeeding turned into what everyone said it was supposed to be: a comfortable experience where I can bond with my daughter. I no longer had moments where I had to subdue screams and my cringing turned to relaxation.
During all of my visits with doctors, nurses and specialists, someone told me that breastfeeding is an art. There isn't just one way of doing it nor will each baby feed the same way and each mother respond in the same manner. So, if you're having difficulty breastfeeding, I would highly encourage you to stick with it. See how it changes over time. Talk to other mothers and specialists about what's going on with your body and your baby's health. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're not doing a good job. And, understand that, if you must turn to supplementing with formula - or even switching to formula, do what you think is best for your child's health. You are the person spending the most time with him or her so you see the changes in behavior and health better than anyone else.
I now look forward to the special time I get to spend with my daughter. We've gotten to the stage where, when she's full, she unlatches, looks up at me, smiles, and begins to "talk." I'm the only person in her world who gets to experience this, and that makes me feel like a success!
As a warning, we're going to get into some of the meat of breastfeeding during this post. So, if you are a little squeamish about breastfeeding, then you may not want to continue reading. However, I hope that you do.
My primary care doctor told me that, as I prepare to breastfeed, I should use a washcloth and "rough up" my nipples during pregnancy so that they would be "ready" for after Baby arrived. I thought, "Hmmm...that sounds good" so, I did it. I also listened to the lactation specialist who taught the breastfeeding portion of my childbirth class who said to begin massaging my breasts at 36 weeks in order to expel some colostrum and prepare for breastfeeding. But, nothing prepared me for the real task of breastfeeding.
Many people will say that breastfeeding shouldn't hurt and that it's very natural. Babies are born with the natural instinct of sucking and are naturally drawn to the breast. While I agree that all of this is true, I also found that breastfeeding did not come naturally to me. From the engorgement before my milk came in to an infection, breastfeeding began with A LOT of pain. My baby even took a small chunk out of one of my nipples which caused excruciating pain.
During the first two weeks at home with my daughter, I tried different positions, using nipple shields, and even saw four different lactation specialists, my OB, and my daughter's pediatrician. Everyone said the same thing: breastfeeding shouldn't hurt, but they couldn't find anything wrong with the way that I was holding my baby nor her latch. I spent feeding after feeding just trying to get through the pain and dreading the next feeding. I felt like a failure at being a mother because obviously I was doing something wrong. Every person I spoke to said that breastfeeding wouldn't hurt. So, why did it hurt me??
Well, I can't really answer that question; however, I can say that I am EXTREMELY happy that I stuck with it. Thanks to the support of my husband and other mothers, I knew that breastfeeding was the best nutrition my daughter could receive. So, I was willing to stick with the pain. After a while (approximately eight weeks), the pain began to subside, I began to heal, and my daughter thrived. Somewhere in there, breastfeeding turned into what everyone said it was supposed to be: a comfortable experience where I can bond with my daughter. I no longer had moments where I had to subdue screams and my cringing turned to relaxation.
During all of my visits with doctors, nurses and specialists, someone told me that breastfeeding is an art. There isn't just one way of doing it nor will each baby feed the same way and each mother respond in the same manner. So, if you're having difficulty breastfeeding, I would highly encourage you to stick with it. See how it changes over time. Talk to other mothers and specialists about what's going on with your body and your baby's health. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're not doing a good job. And, understand that, if you must turn to supplementing with formula - or even switching to formula, do what you think is best for your child's health. You are the person spending the most time with him or her so you see the changes in behavior and health better than anyone else.
I now look forward to the special time I get to spend with my daughter. We've gotten to the stage where, when she's full, she unlatches, looks up at me, smiles, and begins to "talk." I'm the only person in her world who gets to experience this, and that makes me feel like a success!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
AIOs, Pocket, and Prefolds...Oh, my!
As mentioned in my previous blog, cloth diapers are not your momma's cloth diapers any more. Now, the lingo can be daunting. There are AIOs, AI2s, diaper covers, doublers, fitted diapers, flat diapers, hybrid diapers, inserts, liners, one-size diapers, pocket diapers, and prefolds. When I first began my cloth diaper research, all of the different options overwhelmed me, and I didn't know where to begin. So, I did the only thing I knew to do...I asked other moms!
While every mom will have a different story to share with cloth diapers, you still get some very good information. I learned why moms liked the diapers they chose, some of the downsides, and the costs to the different diaper systems. I also began to develop my own decisions on how I wanted to start the cloth diapers.
When I first thought about using cloth diapers, I was dead set against anything that wasn't an all-in-one (AIO). These are the Porsches of the diaper world. There's no messing with diaper pins, Snappis, or inserts. They look and act just like disposable diapers, but have a little more bulk. Basically, they are the ease of disposable diapering. But, as I began to do the research, I learned a lot about using AIOs. First, they cost a lot more. So, not only was I going to have to convince my frugal husband, but I was also going to have to spend more money up front in order to have a good supply of diapers on hand.
As my research went on and on, I decided to actually go to a cloth diaper store. Here in Portland, OR, we have a store called Mother Nature's Earth (located at Clinton and 26th Ave., http://www.mothernaturesbabystore.com/). The sales rep in the store was extremely knowledgeable about ways to use the cloth diapers. And, it was here that I changed my opinions and began to look more deeply into the prefolds and diaper covers - of which I am now a HUGE fan!
My decision to use prefolds and diaper covers came not only because it's one of the cheapest cloth diapering options, but I also felt like it was the easiest way to "test" the cloth diapers. I didn't have to put out a lot of money only to find out that I really didn't like cloth diapers. The prefold diapers often come in packs of 6 or 12 and are generally less than a dollar each. The diaper covers begin around $6 and can go higher than $30 each - I'll have future blogs which tell of my personal opinions on many different options.
With all of my research, I was now ready to begin on the path down cloth diapering my baby. However, after my daughter arrived, I quickly realized that diapering isn't quite as cut and dry as I thought it to be. In my research, the way that the prefolds and diaper covers were used was by tri-folding the prefold and then inserting it into the diaper cover. The cover goes on the baby just as a diaper would. No pins and many of the covers have velcro, so attaching is easy. Well, I learned VERY quickly that I didn't like the tri-fold prefolds. What I realized is that it is a very quick way to get poop all over the diaper, the baby, and eventually me. So, I began my research all over again.
This time, I decided to go to a very valued resource...YouTube! I searched for any videos about cloth diapers and came across one that showed an angel fold with the prefold (there are many, many videos out there). Snappis are used in this fold in order to properly secure the diaper before covering with the diaper cover. And, if done properly, the cover can often be reused with subsequent diaper changes, making it easier - and cheaper - to use cloth diapers.
As my daughter has grown, I have had to slightly modify the way that I fold the prefolds (sometimes adding an additional fold in the back so that the prefold better fits her), but overall, I have been extremely happy.
Be sure to check back for future blogs about different diaper covers that I've tested and my reviews!
While every mom will have a different story to share with cloth diapers, you still get some very good information. I learned why moms liked the diapers they chose, some of the downsides, and the costs to the different diaper systems. I also began to develop my own decisions on how I wanted to start the cloth diapers.
When I first thought about using cloth diapers, I was dead set against anything that wasn't an all-in-one (AIO). These are the Porsches of the diaper world. There's no messing with diaper pins, Snappis, or inserts. They look and act just like disposable diapers, but have a little more bulk. Basically, they are the ease of disposable diapering. But, as I began to do the research, I learned a lot about using AIOs. First, they cost a lot more. So, not only was I going to have to convince my frugal husband, but I was also going to have to spend more money up front in order to have a good supply of diapers on hand.
As my research went on and on, I decided to actually go to a cloth diaper store. Here in Portland, OR, we have a store called Mother Nature's Earth (located at Clinton and 26th Ave., http://www.mothernaturesbabystore.com/). The sales rep in the store was extremely knowledgeable about ways to use the cloth diapers. And, it was here that I changed my opinions and began to look more deeply into the prefolds and diaper covers - of which I am now a HUGE fan!
My decision to use prefolds and diaper covers came not only because it's one of the cheapest cloth diapering options, but I also felt like it was the easiest way to "test" the cloth diapers. I didn't have to put out a lot of money only to find out that I really didn't like cloth diapers. The prefold diapers often come in packs of 6 or 12 and are generally less than a dollar each. The diaper covers begin around $6 and can go higher than $30 each - I'll have future blogs which tell of my personal opinions on many different options.
With all of my research, I was now ready to begin on the path down cloth diapering my baby. However, after my daughter arrived, I quickly realized that diapering isn't quite as cut and dry as I thought it to be. In my research, the way that the prefolds and diaper covers were used was by tri-folding the prefold and then inserting it into the diaper cover. The cover goes on the baby just as a diaper would. No pins and many of the covers have velcro, so attaching is easy. Well, I learned VERY quickly that I didn't like the tri-fold prefolds. What I realized is that it is a very quick way to get poop all over the diaper, the baby, and eventually me. So, I began my research all over again.
This time, I decided to go to a very valued resource...YouTube! I searched for any videos about cloth diapers and came across one that showed an angel fold with the prefold (there are many, many videos out there). Snappis are used in this fold in order to properly secure the diaper before covering with the diaper cover. And, if done properly, the cover can often be reused with subsequent diaper changes, making it easier - and cheaper - to use cloth diapers.
As my daughter has grown, I have had to slightly modify the way that I fold the prefolds (sometimes adding an additional fold in the back so that the prefold better fits her), but overall, I have been extremely happy.
Be sure to check back for future blogs about different diaper covers that I've tested and my reviews!
Monday, July 12, 2010
To Cloth or Not to Cloth
The choice to use cloth or disposable diapers is easy for some people, but for me it was not. My husband is a very frugal man. I am a woman who looks for convenience. It was an obvious choice for me...disposable all the way! So, why am I now the biggest fanatic of cloth diapers??? While it is better for the environment and saves us a lot of money (with which I can make additional appointments at the spa), these aren't the reasons I decided to switch. It wasn't even for the fact that cloth diapers supposedly makes potty training easier (I have yet to verify this myth, but will hopefully be able to add a post in the future). No, I chose to use cloth because it works for my baby and, after hours upon hours of research, I learned how to make it just as convenient as disposable.
Cloth diapers are no longer involve diaper pins and plastic pants like our mothers used to use. While all of this is still available, I quickly decided it wasn't for me. Nowadays, there are hundreds of ways to use cloth diapers. There are the all-in-ones (AIOs), pocket diapers, prefolds, organic cotton, wool, Snappis, Bummis, Thirsties, etc. etc. etc. A person can go crazy just looking at all of the different types, brands, styles, and accessories used with cloth diapering. In future blogs, I'll talk more about the different diapering choices we have tried, but for now I just want to discuss how cloth diapering can be convenient.
The first thing that I thought of when cloth diapering was even mentioned was the grossness and time involved with cleaning the cloth diapers. When I researched diaper services, I learned that this choice is often times more expensive than using disposable diapers, so obviously was not a choice for my frugal husband. So, I began researching ways to make the cleaning easier for me. Low and behold, I learned that breastfed baby poop is not solid (I didn't know this before having children). Because of this, there is no need to scrape, scrub, or do any other thing over the toilet before cleaning the diapers. We simply put the diapers in our washer, run a quick, 30-minute, cold wash cycle without detergent, and then run a heavy duty cycle (hot, extra soak and extra rinse) using Tide Ultra detergent. After washing, we dry the diapers on a timed cycle (not sensor-dried) since this is also a part of the sanitation process. The total time to wash/dry the diapers is approximately 3 hours, but I've learned how to work it into my daily (or often times every other day) schedule: I wash/dry the diapers in the evening as I'm getting my baby ready for bed. Because we use disposable diapers to prolong our nighttime sleep, as soon as I've changed the final cloth diaper, I start a load. I then feed my daughter, read her nighttime books, sing our songs and say our prayers. Once she is asleep, the quick wash is completed and I start the heavy duty cycle. This cycle takes our machine two hours to complete, so I usually work on other chores, read a book, or do something for me. If I manage to stay awake the entire two hours, then I start the dry cycle. If not, I start it in the morning.
The second thing I thought of when using cloth diapers was how to travel with them. I like to go out and about during the day. The thought of carrying around a bunch of dirty, smelly diapers with me was gross. But, I invested in a high-quality wet bag that has excelled at ridding my diaper bag of smells and storing several diapers at once so that I can go out and about without fear. I've also found that using cloth diapers while traveling long distance is also easy - and desirable for me. When we've traveled with disposable diapers, my baby had numerous blowouts causing us to constantly have to change outfits (often times in the crowded location of airplane lavatories...think "Tommy Boy"). The cloth diapers have alleviated the blowouts (I can count on one hand the number of blowouts we've had). While I probably have to change the diapers more often due to the difference in absorbency from disposable diapers, I keep a carry-on bag with a larger wet bag in which I can store a day's worth of soiled diapers. Once I have reached my destination, I ask family/friends if I can use their washer and dryer (I ask ahead of time). I have yet to have anyone say I cannot use these, but if I did - or if I was traveling where there were no friends nor family - I would go to a laundromat. So, not only have I spared the embarrassment of having something running down my baby's or my outfit while traveling, but I have also allowed myself to continue with the same pattern of use to which my baby is accustomed.
In future blogs, I'll get into some of the greater details that I like cloth diapers - especially showing you the tools that make it convenient. This is where I really get excited!! If you haven't figured it out by now, my husband and I did a lot of research. This caused us to do a lot of testing. There are some VERY good cloth diaper choices out there. But, there are also (in my experience) some VERY, VERY bad cloth diaper choices. Example A: our mother's plastic pants diapers.
Cloth diapers are no longer involve diaper pins and plastic pants like our mothers used to use. While all of this is still available, I quickly decided it wasn't for me. Nowadays, there are hundreds of ways to use cloth diapers. There are the all-in-ones (AIOs), pocket diapers, prefolds, organic cotton, wool, Snappis, Bummis, Thirsties, etc. etc. etc. A person can go crazy just looking at all of the different types, brands, styles, and accessories used with cloth diapering. In future blogs, I'll talk more about the different diapering choices we have tried, but for now I just want to discuss how cloth diapering can be convenient.
The first thing that I thought of when cloth diapering was even mentioned was the grossness and time involved with cleaning the cloth diapers. When I researched diaper services, I learned that this choice is often times more expensive than using disposable diapers, so obviously was not a choice for my frugal husband. So, I began researching ways to make the cleaning easier for me. Low and behold, I learned that breastfed baby poop is not solid (I didn't know this before having children). Because of this, there is no need to scrape, scrub, or do any other thing over the toilet before cleaning the diapers. We simply put the diapers in our washer, run a quick, 30-minute, cold wash cycle without detergent, and then run a heavy duty cycle (hot, extra soak and extra rinse) using Tide Ultra detergent. After washing, we dry the diapers on a timed cycle (not sensor-dried) since this is also a part of the sanitation process. The total time to wash/dry the diapers is approximately 3 hours, but I've learned how to work it into my daily (or often times every other day) schedule: I wash/dry the diapers in the evening as I'm getting my baby ready for bed. Because we use disposable diapers to prolong our nighttime sleep, as soon as I've changed the final cloth diaper, I start a load. I then feed my daughter, read her nighttime books, sing our songs and say our prayers. Once she is asleep, the quick wash is completed and I start the heavy duty cycle. This cycle takes our machine two hours to complete, so I usually work on other chores, read a book, or do something for me. If I manage to stay awake the entire two hours, then I start the dry cycle. If not, I start it in the morning.
The second thing I thought of when using cloth diapers was how to travel with them. I like to go out and about during the day. The thought of carrying around a bunch of dirty, smelly diapers with me was gross. But, I invested in a high-quality wet bag that has excelled at ridding my diaper bag of smells and storing several diapers at once so that I can go out and about without fear. I've also found that using cloth diapers while traveling long distance is also easy - and desirable for me. When we've traveled with disposable diapers, my baby had numerous blowouts causing us to constantly have to change outfits (often times in the crowded location of airplane lavatories...think "Tommy Boy"). The cloth diapers have alleviated the blowouts (I can count on one hand the number of blowouts we've had). While I probably have to change the diapers more often due to the difference in absorbency from disposable diapers, I keep a carry-on bag with a larger wet bag in which I can store a day's worth of soiled diapers. Once I have reached my destination, I ask family/friends if I can use their washer and dryer (I ask ahead of time). I have yet to have anyone say I cannot use these, but if I did - or if I was traveling where there were no friends nor family - I would go to a laundromat. So, not only have I spared the embarrassment of having something running down my baby's or my outfit while traveling, but I have also allowed myself to continue with the same pattern of use to which my baby is accustomed.
In future blogs, I'll get into some of the greater details that I like cloth diapers - especially showing you the tools that make it convenient. This is where I really get excited!! If you haven't figured it out by now, my husband and I did a lot of research. This caused us to do a lot of testing. There are some VERY good cloth diaper choices out there. But, there are also (in my experience) some VERY, VERY bad cloth diaper choices. Example A: our mother's plastic pants diapers.
Baby Manuals
When my husband and I first found out that we were expecting, we were excited. We had desired a family for a while and thought that we were as ready as we could be; however, we quickly learned that we had a lot to learn about raising a child. We began researching libraries, the Internet, and questioning friends and families about raising a child and determined that a. there is no manual for children and b. every thing you read or every person you talk to will tell you different information - information which is often times extremely divergent.
From pregnancy to labor and delivery, whether or not to use cloth diapers, setting up sleep schedules, breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding, and so on and so on, the advice is too numerous to count. As I have read about all of the numerous ways you can grow your baby, I have - at times - become completely overwhelmed with the possibility of messing up my child. Thankfully, I have come across some wise mothers who have reminded me that there are no two children alike (even identical twins - of which I can fully attest since I am one); therefore, no two children will develop at the same rate, use the same tools/tricks of the motherhood trade, or even act the same to the same stimulation.
So, with this in mind, my goal in this blog is to have a place to share the information that has worked for my baby and me. It may or may not work with you and your baby, but you can read what I have to say, take it with a grain of salt, or just leave it and decide for yourself what's best for you. As I continue to learn, that's the joy of raising children...it's easier to make it up as you go along so that you can enjoy every new adventure and encounter!
Please feel free to comment and/or pass on this information to other people. If my experiences can help out just one other person, then I will view this as success!
From pregnancy to labor and delivery, whether or not to use cloth diapers, setting up sleep schedules, breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding, and so on and so on, the advice is too numerous to count. As I have read about all of the numerous ways you can grow your baby, I have - at times - become completely overwhelmed with the possibility of messing up my child. Thankfully, I have come across some wise mothers who have reminded me that there are no two children alike (even identical twins - of which I can fully attest since I am one); therefore, no two children will develop at the same rate, use the same tools/tricks of the motherhood trade, or even act the same to the same stimulation.
So, with this in mind, my goal in this blog is to have a place to share the information that has worked for my baby and me. It may or may not work with you and your baby, but you can read what I have to say, take it with a grain of salt, or just leave it and decide for yourself what's best for you. As I continue to learn, that's the joy of raising children...it's easier to make it up as you go along so that you can enjoy every new adventure and encounter!
Please feel free to comment and/or pass on this information to other people. If my experiences can help out just one other person, then I will view this as success!
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