Cloth diapering 101: What you need to know – Part Two
August 17, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Family & Parenting, Infant & Childcare
Chances are, your grandmother cloth diapered your mother in white cotton prefolds and plastic pull-on pants. Now, with all the options available to cloth diapering parents, it’s a whole new ballgame. Parents who choose to use cloth have literally hundreds of brands and dozens of styles available to them.
While these options certainly make cloth diapering your baby easier than ever, the sheer number of choices and information can be overwhelming. Many parents don’t know where to begin, and even though they may agree that cloth is a gentler, safer option, disposables seem like a much easier choice. If you are one of those parents – please read on!
I’m going to tell you exactly what you need to know to get started in cloth diapering. I’ll break down the style options, explain how storing and washing works and even clue you in on some nifty accessories that can make cloth diapering oh-so-easy. Let’s get started, shall we?
Styles. Cloth diapers offer much more flexibility than disposables because there are countless different systems and types of diapers. There are four main styles of cloth diapers that are commonly used. Parents will have to decide which system will work best for their child, their specific needs and their budget.
Prefold diapers and covers. This is the by far the cheapest option. Prefolds are rectangular in shape and must be folded, pinned or fastened in place on the baby. They also require some type of waterproof cover. There are many types of plastic covers on the market that fasten exactly like a disposable and fit snuggly over the prefold diaper.
Fitted diapers and covers. Fitted diapers fit just like a disposable. They are fastened with either Velcro or snaps. Because they are not waterproof, they need a cover – just like a prefold.
Pocket diapers. Pocket diapers are some of the most popular cloth diapers on the market today. They are a diaper and a cover all in one. They are made with a opening in the back of the diaper, creating a “pocket”, which is then stuffed with an absorbent insert. The diaper fastens either with Velcro or snaps and the insert must be removed before washing.
All-in-one diapers. (AIO) All-in-one diapers are the easiest diapers available. They are totally waterproof and are made with an built-in absorbent layer. No pins, no inserts, no covers.
All these styles come in hundreds of different brands. Just like disposable diapers, each mom has her favorite! Many online cloth diaper stores offer a sampler packages and even trial packages of different brands and styles so you can see what works best for you and your child without sinking all of your initial investment in diapers you don’t like.
Storing and Washing. For obvious reasons, this is the factor that causes many parents to scrap the idea of using cloth diapers all together. The reality is, storing and washing your cloth diapers takes very minimal time and effort.
Storing. The most recommended method of storing your soiled cloth diapers is by using a dry pail. Most parents just use a regular ole’ trash can with a flip lid. You can either purchase a washable “wet” bag to line your pail or use a plastic trash bag. A pail liner is certainly more desirably because you can dump your diapers and the bag in the wash without having to touch the dirty diapers. After you remove a wet diaper from your baby it can go directly in your pail. A soiled diaper will need to be dunked or sprayed to remove most of the waste and then placed in the diaper pail. Another important thing to note is soiled diapers from an infant that is exclusively breastfed can go directly into your diaper pail. Breast-fed infant waste is completely water soluble. Your diapers can be stored in a dry pail for up to three days or until you have enough diapers for a load to wash.
Washing. Washing your cloth diapers is often the trickiest part to master. There are many different methods and routines that parents use, but a good rule of thumb is a cold pre-wash with a small amount of detergent – hot water will set in stains – and then a full hot wash with an extra rinse. Too much detergent can cause build up on your diapers and cause them to repel liquid. Most diaper manufactures recommend one-half to one-third of amount you would normally use. It is important to chose a detergent with no additives, perfumes or fabric softeners. This website has an excellent chart for choosing a detergent that will get the job done.
Convenient Options. The market is full of nifty contraptions and products that make cloth diapering easier than ever.
A diaper sprayer is a great new tool to help conveniently remove solid waste from your diapers. It looks like the spray nozzle from your kitchen sink and attaches directly to the plumbing under your toilet. The high powered spray will blast the waste directly into the toilet – no dunking and scraping required!
If it wasn’t for the invention of disposable liners, many parents admit that they would not be cloth diapering. These liners can be used to line the inside of the diaper before each change. They can then be removed and flushed or discarded. This means that your diapers can go directly from your baby’s bottom to your diaper pail without any dunking, scraping or spraying.
Wet bags are another great accessory that is a must-have for on the go cloth diapering parents. Many wet bags even have two water proof compartments, one for clean, ready to use diapers and the other for wet diapers ready for the diaper pail at home.
While the information may seem overwhelming, it really is as simple as washing and reusing your baby’s diapers. To ensure long-term success in cloth diapering, I think it is important for parents to realize that there is definitely a learning curve. Don’t be discouraged if you end up with some leaks or problems in your first week. If you are determined to succeed in your cloth diapering adventure, you will!
Molly is a wife, mother and natural living enthusiast who enjoys writing about her adventures in parenting an active toddler. You can follow these adventures and find other tips and ideas for raising healthier, happier families over on her blog, Momma Molly.
Cloth diapering 101: What you need to know – Part One
July 15, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Family & Parenting, Infant & Childcare
You’ve seen them before. Probably even wore them. But in the case of what’s on the market today, it’s not your mother’s cloth diaper. Gone are the flat white prefolds, pins and plastic pants of the baby boomer generation. In are creations that are easy to use, come in a variety of styles, colors and prints, which appeal on a whole new level. Who knew you could dress your baby’s bottom in pink and purple leopard print diaper?
I grew up around cloth diapers. I have a distinct memory from when I was about 11 years old, of dunking my baby sisters soiled diaper in the toilet and chanting “I will never cloth diaper my baby!” Over ten years later, I rediscovered cloth diapers when I was pregnant with my daughter and was so impressed with the new direction they had taken that I decided it was something I should at least consider for my baby. When I found out that I could buy diapers in fun animals prints and funky colors, I was sold on the idea.
The benefits of using cloth far outnumber the perceived inconvenience. If the visual appeal isn’t enough to have you switching from disposables to cloth, here are some more serious things to consider:
Health: Disposable diapers contain numerous dangerous chemicals. The three main offenders are Dioxin, Tributyl-tin and sodium polyacrylate. Dioxin, one of the more dangerous chemicals, is a toxin that has been labeled by the EPA as the most toxic of all the cancer-linked chemicals. In fact, it’s so dangerous, it’s been banned in most other countries – but not in the U.S. Tribuyl-tin is a chemical that is also present in disposable diapers. It can be absorbed through the skin and has been linked to hormonal problems in humans and animals. Sodium polyacrylate is the chemical that is added to the diapers inner layer to make them absorbent. Ever notice little crystal-like beads sticking to your baby’s bottom? That’s sodium polyacrylate. It’s now illegal for use in tampons because it can cause toxic shock syndrome, a deadly condition, but it’s still legal to use in diapers. There is also research that links disposable diapers with the sharp rise in male infertility over the last 25 years. For more information on the health risks associated with disposable diapers, please visit The Real Diaper Association.
Cost: Unless you plan on creating a stash of hundreds of premium cloth diapers, using cloth will certainly be cheaper than using disposables. The initial investment is a little painful to your purse, but the long term savings are significant, especially if you plan to cloth diaper future children. You could easily diaper your child through the age of two for less than $500. For detailed cost comparisons of cloth vs. disposables, check out Diaper Pin and Diaper Decisions.
Environment: More than 27.4 billion disposable diapers end up in a landfill every year in the U.S. alone. As if that’s not bad enough, consider that disposables take an estimated 250-500 years to decompose. We’re talking about 6,000 diapers you will personally be responsible for dumping in a landfill by the time your child is two. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that the sheer volume of the waste disposable diapers create is reason enough to use cloth. For more information on the environmental concerns created by disposable diapers, please visit The Real Diaper Association.
Many people consider using cloth to be an inconvenient, unnecessary option. Quite to the contrary, using cloth is simply as easy as fastening the diaper on your baby, storing the soiled diapers in a pail and then doing and extra load of laundry every few days. After reviewing the facts, I think that anyone would be forced to agree that it’s not only a healthier choice for our children, but a kinder choice for our planet and our pocketbook. A win-win for everyone!
And really, what baby doesn’t need a leopard print diaper in their wardrobe?
Stay Tuned – Part Two is coming soon!
Molly is a wife, mother and natural living enthusiast who enjoys writing about her adventures in parenting an active toddler. You can follow these adventures and find other tips and ideas for raising healthier, happier families over on her blog, Momma Molly.
Wholegrain Pancake Mix – We Finally Found One We Love!!!
June 6, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Food & Nutrition, Infant & Childcare
For at least 2 years I have been searching for the perfect wholegrain pancake mix. Yes, I know I could make my own from scratch, but my goal was to find a mix.
One of the previous mixes resulted in pancakes that were like heavy flat corn hockey pucks. I tried buckwheat pancake mix. I love buckwheat pancakes – but my husband, not so much and they don’t look nearly as pretty for picky eaters.
This morning I tried the Arrowhead Mills Pancake & Waffle Mix – with 15g whole grains per serving and 70% organic. They cooked up light, fluffy and delicious.
My husband sat down to eat and said “these look normal – what happened?”.
My 2 year old son said “these are the best pancakes”.
Finding this mix makes a big difference in the nutritional benefits of a pancake breakfast.
I serve pancake breakfast with applesauce (for the littles), syrup (for the grown ups) and fruit.
Syrup tip – if you put the syrup on the side for dipping you will use much less. When syrup is placed on top it absorbs into the pancakes generally resulting in us adding even more. Even if you are using an HFCS free option – it’s still sugar.
Shady Maple Farms Pancake Syrup
June 6, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Infant & Childcare, My Pantry
By Tania Reuben
My husband will only use “regular” syrup. He doesn’t like Maple Syrup – he likes Aunt Jamima.
Healthy Kids Tip – My children are used to having pancakes served with yogurt and applesauce with wild berries. The berries make it pink which is more child friendly than plain old applesauce.
The first ingredient in each of the conventional syrup brands is High Fructose Corn Syrup (hfcs). I finally found Shady Maple Farms Pancake Syrup – it contains no HFCS
Maple syrup is still a healthier choice, but if you must have a more convention option – this is one of the few I’ve found.
Also look for:
Santini Organic Syrups
Foods to Buy Organic – From Consumer Reports
May 29, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Family & Parenting, Food & Nutrition, Green Living, Health & Wellness, Infant & Childcare
If you are a fan of consumer reports – here is what they recommend:
Apples
Bell Peppers
Celery
Cherries
Imported grapes
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Red raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries
Meat
Poultry
Eggs
Dairy
Baby food
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/diet-nutrition/organic-products/organic-foods/overview/when-to-buy-organic-ov.htm
Baby Formula Scare – Thyroid Toxin – Perchlorate/Rocket Fuel
April 30, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Family & Parenting, Infant & Childcare
First they found Melamine and now Thyroid Toxin.
The only way we can know what we are feeding our infants seems to be if we nurse. And for so many new moms, this is their goal. There are so many proven benefits for nursing. Having suffered mastitis with my first child – I can attest to how challenging it can be to nurse and I know it’s not always an attainable goal.
WIth all these baby formula contaminations… I’m grateful that I’m through this stage.
If you are relying on formula to feed your infant or toddler – read on.
“Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that 15 brands of powdered infant formula are contaminated with perchlorate, a rocket fuel component detected in drinking water in 28 states and territories.
The two most contaminated brands, made from cow’s milk, accounted for 87 percent of the U.S. powdered formula market in 2000, the scientists said.
The CDC scientists did not identify the formula brands they tested.”
Read the full article:
http://www.ewg.org/newsrelease/CDC-Rocket-Fuel-Chemical-In-Most-Powdered-Infant-Formula/090402
