So, you have a bag, or pile, of fully rinsed dirty cloth diapers and are unsure what to do now. You have come to the right place! If you are looking for information on dealing with solids refer to Part One. The next step in the cloth diapering journey is transforming dirty diapers back to clean diapers. If you use a diaper service you just hand them in and receive clean diapers ... but not all of us are that lucky! Washing and drying cloth is a bit more involved than regular laundry as there are a few protocols to follow in order to ensure diapers are clean, absorbent, and stain free. In addition, every household is different, washing machines or lack of one, water softness, schedule, and number of diapers will affect which routine works best for you. The best way to discover your ideal routine is trial and error. Check any information that accompanied your diaper to be sure your routine isn't voiding your warrantees, and if you have specific issues research them on diaper forums or share them with us! 1. Washing There are a few considerations to make when starting your cloth diaper washing journey. On average washing diapers yourself will add two loads of laundry a week (more if you have fewer diapers or just enjoy frequent laundry). You will want to inspect your machine to determine how much water it will allow for your load of diapers. Most front load and high efficiency machines use weight to determine the amount of water used in a cycle. If your machine has a heavy duty, heavily soiled, or extra water option, use it. If you find that still is not enough water to get the diapers moving around you can add a soaking wet bath towel to your load to trick the machine. A general rule of thumb when washing baby laundry is to be sure you get all the poop and urine off of it, maybe its a diaper, maybe its a leotard or a pair of pants. A good way to be sure is to do a short wash on cold first. I like to run a short cycle to rinse out all the urine as well and help eliminate any buildup inside the diaper. Next I do a long warm or hot wash with a cloth diaper safe laundry soap or detergent. You want to be sure your diaper absorabency will not be compromised by any build up caused by your detergent. I recommend Charlie's Laundry Soap (if you can find the powdered washing soap you are in luck!) as it cleans thoroughly without leaving anything behind to cause leaks. You may need to use less detergent than you would for a normal load as you do not want anything left behind once the diaper is rinsed (think less bubbles). Many cloth diaper users and diaper companies suggest original powdered tide as the best detergent for diapers, I have never tried it. After your long cycle and rinse, I do a second rinse to be sure the diapers are fully clean and ready to be dried. This extra rinse is also a great time to add a bit of white vinegar if you have any lingering urine smell in your diapers (you may notice this after a few months and doing a vinegar rinse infrequently can eliminate this issue). 2. Drying
Depending on what type of diaper you are washing you will need to adjust your drying process. Items made of pul or tpu (think waterproof fabrics), generally your covers, pocket diapers, all in ones, and wetbags, should not be dried by machine, but hung to dry. Items made entirely of absorbent material, flats, prefolds, fitteds, etc. can be dried by machine, take care to use a lower setting for items with snaps or other material attached as you do not want them to melt or burn your fabric. unfolding diapers from the washing machine before placing in the dryer can help to be sure they dry efficiently. If you have time to dry your diapers on a line it will help protect the integrity of the material and contribute to a longer diaper lifespan than using the dryer. Do not use dryer sheets as they can cause issues as well. 3. Sunning Your Diapers If you are like me, you are super excited to show off your diapers at every turn. Take the opportunity to show off a bit and put those diapers out on a clothes line to catch some sun. Sunlight is the friend of your diapers as it can help not only in drying them, but also fades stains and has antibacterial properties. If you want good smelling, good looking, absorbent diapers for many more diaper changes let them bask in the sunlight often. If its winter, take advantage of a sunny window and lay them out on a table or hang them on a rack and grab some rays. With all this having been said, the most important part of caring for your cloth diapers is to be flexible, and to do what works best for you and your diapers. Have a great tip or funny diaper story? Please share it below, it takes a village to cloth diaper and we all need a laugh everyday!
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So you have fallen in love with those adorable fluffy butts on instagram and pinterest and want to take the journey into cloth. Congratulations! Now, if you are anything like me you have so many questions. Caring for cloth diapers usually falls near the top of the anxiety pile. We will tackle the basics here: precautions for wearing, diaper change, and storing soiled diapers. For laundry tips, check out Part Two. 1. Precautions for wearing Cloth diapers serve the same function as disposables, they catch urine and feces, I would argue cloth is better at this than disposables, but I guess you know that already. Cloth diapers have a few initial precautions to think about, however. One of these is fastening. Fasteners are of two kinds: hook and loop (velcro) and snaps. Hook and loop are great for first timers as they are easily adjusted and quite similar to disposables. Hook and loop do present a few initial challenges, first is being sure that the fit is correct, check the leg holes to be sure they are snug but not too tight against baby's legs and that the waist is not folded over anywhere. Second is to be sure the hook and loop are not in contact with baby's soft skin, which can cause irritation. Snaps are a great option and most brands have multiple snaps on the hip and front to be sure there is no droop which can cause leakage around the legs or back of the diaper. One-size diapers will also have a series of snaps which adjust the rise (height) of the diaper to be sure the fit works for baby as they grow. When selecting diapers pay extra attention to the quality of the snaps and give them a couple tries to be sure you can operate them with some confidence. Another precaution is to preserve the integrity of your diapers and their absorbency by using only cloth diaper friendly creams and ointments. No one wants a baby with an irritated or painful bottom, but you also do not want your adorable diapers to leak urine on your furniture. Take extra care when selecting skin care items to be sure they are compatible and do not contain petroleum as it can not only coat the diapers and cause leaks but can also stain. Coconut or tea tree oil products work well to keep skin soft and rash free, but if you need to use a product that can have an adverse effect on diapers, I suggest using a diaper liner between baby's bottom and the diaper, flushable and cloth versions are available and can be a real diaper saver during cold season or while teething (when diaper rash can be just plain out of control). 2. Diaper Change Cloth diaper changes are more frequent than with disposables and are slightly different in character as well. You can plan for a maximum of 3-4 hours between changes, less for younger babies; Getting to know your baby's habits will make it easier over time. There is no "droopy crotch" with cloth, and there tends to be less smell, so you just need to be diligent and check often. For your diaper changes you will want to have ready: a wipe (or two), a clean diaper, and a place to store your soiled diaper. I recommend cloth wipes (baby wash cloths are perfect for this) because they can be washed right along with the diapers rather than needing to be disposed of separately, making another step to the change. I washed quite a few disposable wipes by accident before I finally switched to cloth wipes. When using cloth wipes you may want to wet it a bit with either a nearby faucet or a small spray bottle, particularly helpful if you are dealing with sticky poop. For each change I like to have a clean diaper ready and set up just the way it will go on, with the insert, cover, liner, etc. all in place. I wipe baby's bottom and place the wipe right inside the soiled diaper before replacing it with the clean diaper and fastening. If using hook and loop closure diapers you will want to be sure to fasten the hook side to the laundry tabs to minimize any chance of it catching on the other diapers in the wash or gathering up all the lint in the machine. If baby had a wet diaper only the diaper can go straight into your storage receptacle or into the wash. If it is more than pee present you may need another step. If baby is 0-12 months old and exclusively on breastmilk - the diaper can go directly into the receptacle or wash. Breastmilk and excrement created from it is completely water soluble and can be washed without worry. If baby is over 6 months old, eats solid foods, or foods other than breastmilk- any solid matter needs to be dumped into the toiled and the diaper should be rinsed before storing or washing. (I recommend using diaper liners to keep solids off diapers and make this process a bit easier.) There are two basic ways to deal with solids: spraying and dunking. Several companies sell diaper sprayers that attach to the water line on your toilet and work similar to dish sprayers. You can also use little mitts (diaper dogs) to hold your diaper in a plastic tube (spray pal) over the toilet to be sure you are not in contact with any of the material or spray that may come off the diaper. There are several tutorials for these systems online, and instructions are sent with a sprayer. I am a bit more old school and prefer the dunking method. It requires less apparata and can be done at any toilet without fail. To properly dunk, you first flip the diaper inside out to make a u/v shape with your hand holding the front and back of the waist. the solids are then dunked into the water and given a little shake (if you used a diaper liner there may be little to nothing left on the diaper). Here comes the pro-tip: hold the diaper in the water and flush the toilet, the water should pull any stubborn material of the diaper and flush it away. Be careful in public restrooms as some of their toilets have quite powerful water propulsion and you don't want to flush the diaper away. The diaper can now be stored or washed immediately depending on the day. 3. Diaper storage
Storing diapers prior to washing can be broken down into two categories: away from home and at home. When away from home you will want a waterproof bag that will keep diapers and any water or urine off of your other belongings. A good sturdy wetbag is a great investment. Be sure it has a reliable zipper and a loop you can hang it from in public restrooms. Wetbags come in several sizes and fantastic patterns. For one baby a bag that holds 3-5 diapers will get you through most outings without trouble. At home its important to store diapers in a container that can breathe. A sturdy waterproof diaper pail liner in a trashcan with a lid will be plenty to keep diapers for 1-2 days between washes. If you are looking to reuse items you already own, a thick laundry bag hung on the back of a door is great and can go right into the wash with the diapers on laundry day. If you are storing diapers in a restroom or near your favorite chair, a bit of baby powder or baking soda in the bottom can help keep smells at bay. You do not need to soak your diapers or store them in a wet bucket, though it was common in the past, these can create dangerous drowning hazards. If you are using a diaper service, your diapers will be picked up and clean diapers dropped off according to your contract. If you are not that lucky, continue to Part Two.
Reading is one of my favorite activities. Getting lost in a story is the best way to relax on vacation or unwind after a long day. Most parenting books and blogs espouse the importance of reading to children to assist with their overall knowledge and specifically their vocabulary. Instilling children with a love for reading and associating books with joy is a cause I can get behind. Perhaps I am only listening to the opinions of other bibliophiles due to my own bias toward reading, but who cares?
The hardest thing for us as a family is to find stories we can enjoy reading over and over again. The quality of great books like Dr. Suess's ABC's or Seasame Street's The Monster at the End of This Book are hard to attain. But reading the same thing night after night can turn a well meaning parent into a repetitious and sullen zombie. I am lucky to have amazing siblings who are aware of and share my love for books. One of whom, who happens to live in England, has gifted some of our favorite titles to us over the past 6 years and I am excited to share them with you. Scroll through and see if there are any you would like to add to your little one's library!
Can we make a standard “is your house safe for my small human” form? When I meet my children’s new friend’s parents I am frequently probing them to see if I would feel comfortable leaving my children under their care. This may sound crazy, but I do not leave my kids with just anyone. Aside from the fact that this person is the guardian of another small human around my child’s age, I know next to nothing about them. They could be training lions in their garage or eating the souls of baby seals for all I know.
If you are like me, the suggestion of playing Monopoly makes your skin crawl and your head hurt. Memories of injustice and frustration send you running from the table. Maybe your game induced trauma is not as severe, you can still play Uno without distress and love your siblings even when they knock on the first round of 31. This is not my case. Games with family members, especially board games, bring on a desire to leave or at least for an adult libation.
Now I am a parent whose children receive fun gifts from friends and family for life occasions. We received a gift recently that caused me to revisit my feelings on family games: Monopoly, Pokémon Monopoly. The children were quite excited as Pokémon has made resurgence culturally and they are obsessed with these weird little characters at the moment. I placed the game on a shelf and moved on with my days. Cut to a quiet evening with the kiddos relaxing after dinner, and a suggestion, “lets play that new board game,” from my oldest. Deep breath, and a smile, “Sure.” We set up the board, handed out the money, chose characters, and organized the properties… and then ...
Is there anything cuter than a child in a handmade bonnet? Images of girls with tight curls and lace dresses come to mind; Maybe even Laura Ingalls and that treacherous Nellie. She was always flaunting her Sunday best in front of Laura, what a brat. But, I digress, back to bonnets. After searching the online and seeing some options I liked but nothing that made me go, oh yeah, that’s the one, I sauntered on over to Ravelry to see what they had cooking.
For those who are not familiar, Ravelry is a great online community for the knit and crochet crafters. There are hundreds of thousands of patterns, some of which are free and can be downloaded right to your notebook or library within the site. I am a huge fan of this method of sharing and saving crafty ideas. Also, in case you are wondering, it is super user friendly, even my 82 year old grandmother has an account. Well, here I found a plethora of bonnet ideas, but one stood out among the rest, the only problem, it was written for a newborn size with no conversations for larger sizes. I wanted to make one in a toddler size, so I set to work deciphering the pattern and adjusting it for my own use.
I have entered into the world of super extended breastfeeding. This is not a mantle I saw myself taking up nor one I particularly want. I am pro-woman and love my babies, even though they are so big now. Supporting women who chose to continue to nurse their kids seems like a no-brainer to me, but it has become difficult to support this child who continues to want to feed from my body.
The early days with an infant are tough; breastfeeding can make it worse for some, or more bearable for others. I do not know if I could have survived the pain and discomfort of those early weeks without the brain chemicals released during lactation. Waves of emotion were strong and those tiny fingers and toes wiggle and dance while their blue eyes open only fleetingly to give a cross-eyed look of confusion in the semi-darkness.
These quiet days with a snuggly baby swaddled and gassy become filled with noise and chaos as baby grows. Fighting tiny fists away to keep them latched properly and trying not to lose a nipple to sharp teeth become the norm. Then things get interesting; the kid learns to move around unaided. They wander over and go right up, or down your shirt in search of the glorious feast trapped inside. They add speech and yell “boobie time” or “milk now” when you are trying to get through the grocery store or down the sidewalk. People laugh and give you “credit” for sticking with breastfeeding, maybe they tell you the story of someone who tried hard but just could not do it. You walk a little taller and read blogs about nurse-ins and contemplate buying a nipple hat for your child. (I honestly do not know why nursing with a cover or without a cover is even a controversy, but, whatever)
And while you were not looking that itty-bitty little, adorable human whose entire life and growth is owed to your body has grown up. You’ve got an active, loud, and demanding toddler who just will not leave you, or your chest, alone. This is where I am at in life. I have not slept without nursing in years. I have not an entire wardrobe dedicated to boob access. While I no longer change diapers, yes folks we ditched diapers, I am still breastfeeding. How is this possible? I have tried bribery, withholding milk until after solids, offering chocolate as an alternative, explaining that other foods are yummy, you name it. This kiddo is holding strong.
Now, I am aware of the benefits of extended nursing and those do help me keep a level head and a positive attitude, but enough is enough. I am woman, I want to roar, and wear a normal bra and not have to carry a large scarf in my purse. I want to have my normal body back and wear clothes I have long since relegated to the bottom drawer of my dresser. Every time I give in and nurse I feel a little less in control of my own life. There are some days I dread seeing my little one approach me with a blanket ready for cuddles (code word). I have a soft spot for this issue compared to other aspects of child rearing, and am not as aggressive as I would be with safety related concerns or overall development. Maybe I have only myself to blame for being ready and available to breastfeed on demand.
Other moms express (no pun intended) their support, or praise, or disgust of me when they learn of our feeding program but I am not the one calling the shots here. I am prisoner to the love or maybe love hormones of this kid. We bond through nursing and I would be sad to lose that connection. Breastfeeding is also a tool for comfort in overwhelming situations, and when a difficultly emerges so does the blanket. Those sad sleepy eyes and that squeaky voice plead with me and the large tears that fall completely destroy my resolve and make me a mushy mom. I will continue on, picturing I am at the 26th mile of my lactation marathon, or on the precipice of a world record for lactation. Cheering me on are the myriad of pro lactation and extended nursing posts on Pinterest and articles from Le Leche League. Let my epitaph read, “Child-led weaning is not a myth,” when this is all over and I have forgotten this struggle.
I do not know how much longer we will continue down this path and I am not sure how many other moms are in this same place with their precious cuddler, but I hope you have the love and support to make your own way as a parent, lactating or not. |
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Liz England
I am a highly opinionated and sassy mother of three and wife to one. I hope you enjoy reading about my efforts to tackle the infuriating obstacles of life using straight talk and humor. If I say it, I mean it, or maybe I am being sarcastic. I like to focus on topics from my everyday life: parenting, cooking, crocheting, and a whole list of other things that inspire my rage. Archives
April 2019
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