Cloth Diapering 101

Cloth Diapering 101

Maybe you read my last blog about why cloth diapering might be right for you, or maybe you were already thinking about trying out the reusable diaper approach for your baby’s booty. Either way, in this post I hope to break down the basics of cloth diapering so you are equipped with confidence as you begin this fun little journey with your littles. Presented here is my Cloth Diapering How-To in List Format. Enjoy J

1.       Choose your diapers. This can be a very daunting task as there are SO many different brands and styles and sizes to choose from. So many, in fact, that there will be a follow-up post exclusively about choosing the right diaper for your baby and lifestyle. My simple advice for the sake of this post is to do some research keeping your goals in mind (how many babies do I want these diapers to last for? How much time am I willing to spend on the maintenance of these diapers? Do I care about having color options?) , and then buy one or a few samples of the different types of diapers you’re interested in trying out. Everything can sound great in theory but you’re not going to really know if it’s right for you until you’ve tried it. I’ve heard that you should have at least 18 per size (which might mean 18 total if you get a one-size style), and have found that this is a proper recommendation and definitely the minimum.

2.       Choose your storage method. After your sweet baby has defiled the diaper with defecation, you’re gonna need to know where to put it. There are a couple of options and it took some trial and error for me to understand the products that were being marketed to me, so here I’ll break it down for you. There are two main ways you can store the diapers:

a.       A pail. A diaper pail is just a sturdy can or pail that can be lined with a reusable or disposable bag or liner. I personally use a diaper pail with a reusable liner (ubbi diaper pail and Dekor cloth diaper liner – I like them both, but my method of purchasing involved finding good ratings on Amazon and then waiting for good sales or coupons, so don’t take my recommendation as the end-all be-all on pails and liners – do your own research to make sure you’re getting what’s best for you, there are a lot of good options out there). A pail is nice because it’s pretty odor-proof (depending on which one you get, of course) and since it’s obviously a sturdy, structured piece, it can easily be kept on the floor next to your changing table and they generally come in lots of colors so it can match the bedroom décor. Wet storage is also an option, where you keep your diapers in a pail halfway filled with water, but this method is becoming more unpopular (think standing poop water that sloshes and splashes when moving it to the laundry room) and the pail and liner works nicely enough, that, why bother with it? When you use a liner, you can just throw it into the wash with the diapers or toss it if it’s disposable. Otherwise you might need to pick the diapers out of the pail if you have no liner (depending on your pail, the stickiness of your diapers, and whether you have a top or front-loading washer).

b.      A wet-bag. A wet bag isn’t necessarily wet; it’s just a waterproof, sealable bag that you can store dirty diapers in until washing time. Generally there’s a hook or handle that allows you to hang the bag over a doorknob or hook in the baby’s room. The wet-bag is nice because you can bring it with you when you go out or travel. When the bag is full, you can wash it with the diapers and you won’t have to worry about touching the diapers for this process. I do not have a wet-bag yet, but I will be getting a small/medium one to keep in her diaper bag so I can use her reusables when we go out without having to worry about smells eeking out of the plastic shopping bags I’ve been using. With reusable pail liners and wet-bags, definitely make sure that you have at least two so that you have one that’s usable when the other is being washed.

3.       Choose your cleaning method. If you love the idea of using cloth diapers but simply don’t have the time or motivation to clean them on your own, this is the perfect time for me to bring up cloth diaper services. You’ll have to check in your area, but there are services that will wash the diapers you already own or some offer packages in which ALL supplies (pail, liners, diapers, cleaning) are included. Otherwise, washing the diapers at home isn’t too tough. All of the diapers that I own recommend that I use eco-friendly detergent and have special instructions about washing (like any piece of clothing does). Basically I’m not to wash or dry them at too high of a temperature or it may ruin the integrity of the waterproof shell. Most of my diapers are “pocket-style” which means that after I’ve washed them I have to make sure to pull out the inserts before putting them in the dryer or else they’ll never get fully dry. You can also air dry your diapers but this can take a long time. Typically you will be doing laundry every two days.

a.       The post 6 months poop. I mentioned in my other post that when your baby is on a liquid-only diet (formula or breast milk) the poop clean up is easy – you just toss the diaper as-is into the washing machine and that’s good enough. When your baby starts eating more solid foods and the poop starts to change, then you’ll need to remove as much of the poop as you can before putting the diaper into the washing machine. There are several methods to doing this, including:

                                                               i.      Diaper sprayer. An attachable hose/sprayer that connects to your toilet so you can spray the grossness into the bowl and flush

                                                             ii.      Shake or scrape it into the toilet. Self-explanatory. Use some type of scraper that can be easily sterilized and stored for easy use.

                                                            iii.      Diaper liners. There are disposable liners that you can put in the diaper to peel off and flush when changing time comes.

                                                           iv.      Dunk it in the toilet. Dunk the dirty diaper into a clean toilet bowl to rinse off the preliminary crap (pun intended ;)).

b.      Stain Solver. Once in awhile I treat my diapers to a Stain Solver soaking after they’ve gotten a little dingy, even with regular washing. Typically you won’t want to use anything too harsh or artificial on the diapers because it can ruin the quality and they’ll breakdown, influencing the absorbing and lasting power of your diapers. Stain Solver is absolutely incredible for so many things, not the least of which is getting incredibly stubborn (poop) stains out of clothing and diapers. Soak the diapers in this organic solution for at least an hour, then wash as usual and your diapers will be beautifully white once again.

4.       Choose your commitment level. This decision doesn’t necessarily have to be made right away, but it’s something to keep in mind as you get started and try cloth diapering out. What I mean is, right now I use disposable diapers if I’m traveling or I’m out at a restaurant where I don’t want to deal with keeping a dirty diaper on me during the meal, but I could certainly decide that this isn’t going to work for me anymore, in which case I’ll want to make sure I have a wet-bag for my diaper bag and possibly another stash of diapers in the event that I’m traveling for several days and won’t have access to a washer and dryer.  You’ll also need to consider childcare and whether your center or nanny is willing to accommodate cloth diapers. You’ll need to send a wet bag with your child, and you’ll definitely want to talk with your childcare provider to know if there are any special policies regarding diapers.

5.       Choose your wipes. I’ve been using typical baby wipes and throwing them away separately in a conventional disposable diaper pail, and it’s been working well enough for me. Counterintuitive though it may seem, reusable wipes may actually be my simpler option. Using reusable wipes means that I can just throw them in the pail or wet bag with the yucky diaper and wash them with everything else. Just one more item you’ll need to decide on as you start using cloth diapers.

So there you have it. I know it might seem like a lot to take in and process, but I promise that once you try it out and get your system in place, you’ll see how easy cloth diapering is and you’ll find yourself convincing your pregnant friends to register for cloth diapers too J Good luck! 

Why Cloth Diapering Might be Right for You

I originally wrote this blog for www.healthysimplelife.com, but then we decided having a three part series on diapers was too much for a nutrition blog! However, I still wanted to share what I wrote originally because there IS a lot to cover when talking about covering little booties. 

Never once in my teenage life did I imagine that I would “fall for” this organic, non-processed food movement; why would I if my weight never suffered and I was generally in good health? Never once during my nannying years or daydreaming-about-my-own-baby years did I consider using cloth or reusable diapers. That was a lifestyle totally reserved for earth-loving crazy people. But here I am now, eating organic food, removing processed foods from my diet, and pampering my baby’s booty with $20 diapers. I want to take a shot at removing some of the stigma about reusable diapers and explain a few reasons as to why reusable diapers might be right for you!

1.       The cost. This, admittedly, is the number one reason my husband and I chose the reusable approach to diapering (darn those student loans!). To be clear, the upfront cost of reusable diapers is definitely going to be a hefty sum – my favorite reusable diapers run about $20 apiece and the recommended minimum per size (more on sizes later) is to have 18 diapers on hand. You’ll also have to keep in mind the extra washes you’ll do along with the cost of detergent, but this should pale in comparison to the monthly expense of buying disposables and diaper pail disposable bags, ESPECIALLY if you plan on having more than one child since you can save the diapers for #2’s #2s (and #3’s, and #4’s etc…).

2.       The environment. Waste has little room in a healthy, simple life, and it’s no secret that disposable diapers generate a LOT of waste globally. As we become more conscious of our affect on the world around us, consider cloth diapers as one opportunity to minimize the waste your family produces.

3.       They aren’t nearly as complicated as you think. Stay tuned for my follow up post for a cloth diapering 101. In the meantime I want to encourage you with this: yes, there are about a thousand different ways that you can incorporate reusable diapers into your child’s upbringing, but ultimately once you’ve decided on an approach for your family, it’s not going to be much more complicated (or stinky) than a disposable diaper approach.

4.       They aren’t nearly as gross as you think. The biggest concern people express to me when I tell them we do cloth diapering is, “Don’t you get poop all over your hands?” And the answer is no – there is no reason you need to touch the inside of the diaper. The nice thing is when your baby is on a liquid only diet, the poop is REALLY easy to deal with. You don’t do anything at all – just throw it in the wash with the pee diapers. When they eat solid foods and the poop begins to change, then yes – there are a couple more steps to take, but in this modern age there are many options to make this process very easy and clean (toilet sprayers, diaper liners, etc). So don’t let this stop you. You’ll have time to become a pro at basic cloth diapering before the poop starts to change, so that one little adjustment will be no big deal when the time comes.

5.       The cuteness factor. No explanation necessary. See photo for world’s cutest baby wearing a pink peacock reusable diaper. 

Making a lifestyle transition takes time and is best carried out in an approach that fits with your goals and resources. For baby’s first three weeks of life we used disposables exclusively because many generous friends and family members bought us packages of diapers and we were brand new parents - making enough adjustments already. But now that we’ve been using reusable diapers for the past 8 months, I can honestly say that it’s just not a big deal, similar to how the natural resistance I feel to buying processed foods has now becoming commonplace in my life. So finally, if you’re even a tiny bit interested in giving cloth diapers a chance, I’d say go for it! There are just so many reasons to feel good about that choice, and it’s not nearly as scary as it might sound. 

Vera Marie

Well I've been busy since the last post! Had myself a child and bought a house with the husband! This post is dedicated to my beautiful daughter and her name, Vera. 

Vera the Mouse is a character in children's books written by Marjolein Bastin. These books were the inspiration behind my sweet baby's name. I had a bunch of them when I was very little (like 4 or 5 years old) and have always loved the name. When my husband and I talked about names, we wanted the meaning of our baby's name to be significant, and the meaning of Vera is "truth" and "faith" (which feels pretty significant to me!). After revealing her name to our family, my paternal grandfather looked at me with surprise as he confirmed the name, and then told me that his mother's name (unbeknownst to me) was Elvira, but she preferred to go by Vera. So I inadvertently gave my daughter a family name (which I LOVE). At the hospital after Vera was born, my mother gave her a Vera the Mouse doll which you'll see in some of the pictures.  I still have most, if not all, of the books from when I was little and I realized the titles could be "lived," and so this series of pictures are of my baby "living" the titles of her Vera books. Enjoy. 

"My Name Is Vera"
Newborn picture by our friends at The Enchanted Image. Using a newborn picture was fitting for this particular book since it's introductory - the rest are of her now and taken by me :)

"Vera in the Garden"

"Vera in the Kitchen"

"Games with Vera"

"Vera in the Washtub"

"Vera Dresses up"

"Vera's Special Hobbies"

(Looking at books and sticking her tongue out...)

"Vera and Her Friends"

<3

Ummm.... one year later??

Well, I'm clearly the worst blogger in the world, but besides that - here's what I've been working on this summer:

This is just a sampling of the cards I've been working on - I've done some that are far more frilly and some that have stamps included as well. My aunt Jeannie and I are trying out selling our cards in a shop which will be fun to have someone to work with.

Anyway, I don't have a whole lot to write about right now - just figure it was time to add a few pics of my latest project :)

Updated Wallets!

I've made several more wallets and the designs are getting more detailed! Please check them out and if you'd like, order some!

Also, read my previous blog to find out more about Cooperative Crafting :) I'm still raising money for my cousin and her mission to pay for the surgery of a young boy in Nicaragua who cannot afford the procedure.

Trebiddi's Cooperative Crafting

Hello! I've started a new project. I don't have a specific name for it just yet, but Trebiddi's Cooperative Crafting works for this post :)

I love making crafts, as this blog tells. The problem is that the more crafts I make, the more things I have in my little one bedroom apartment. My crafts need a new home, and that's why I'm selling my hand made goods from now on!

For each craft that is sold, half of the money will be given to a cause each month. That's why I'm calling it "Cooperative Crafting" :) This month I'm supporting my cousin Maddie's fundraising efforts. She had an opportunity to go on a mission trip to Nicaragua the last two summers and there she met and bonded with a young boy named Chepe. Chepe is in need of some surgery that his mother cannot afford, and Maddie has been busy in the states raising money for Chepe's procedure.

Currently, I've been keeping busy with creating duct tape wallets! Each wallet is $10, unless it is an especially difficult design :)

If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing a wallet or another craft (I will eventually be posting some more greeting cards and paintings), then email me at Trebiddi@gmail.com to figure out the details! Thank you so much for considering helping Maddie and Chepe out, and for supporting my Cooperative Crafting project!

"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities." Luke 16:10

I used to Sew

Sewing was one of my main crafts in high school. I never used a pattern, I just found fabric I liked and then went at it. Obviously, that resulted in imperfect pieces, but it's such a rewarding craft. If I'm going to get into it again, I'm going to need to learn the specifics about how to use my sewing machine and maybe try using some patterns or creating my own. Anyway, a couple of these outfits I truly wore in real life, and those shoes were an essential part of my high school getups (accompanied, often, by fishnets and miniskirts). Enjoy!

I actually love this skirt and would have worn it if I hadn't screwed up the zipper!

It was also a tad tight...

I didn't make the shirt. How do you like those shoes!?

I wore this one to school. You see, I was up late one night with a boy watching PBS and suddenly it turned into the Vietnamese Broadcasting Channel, and a bunch of girls got onto for a concert. They were all wearing purple and one of them had on an extremely tiny mini skirt and these legging/stocking/half-pants things. I was captivated and needed to make them for myself!! Although my skirt is about 4 inches longer than hers was. 

To make my legs even longer.

I thought using these would be a nice touch.

Space Frump Dress.

The fabric was on clearance.

This was actually an angel costume for a church Christmas play.

This is the only one of all these that I used a pattern for. It was for a choir cabaret concert. 

I'm the most proud of this one, I feel like it turned out really nicely. 

Oh yeah, reeeeal nicely ;)

If for any reason you want any of these, let me know :)