Benefits of Cloth Diapering

Knowing why you want to use cloth diapers will go a long way in helping you stay committed to your decision. No matter the main draw of cloth diapering, keep it in mind for encouragement while you’re in the learning phase and so that you can explain your reasoning to curious and unconvinced friends, family, and even strangers.

Cloth diapering is a choice that is:

Eco-friendly

• Disposable diapers are the 3^rd most common product taking up space in landfills
• Disposable diapers can take up to 500 years to decompose
• Disposable diapers are a waste of our non-renewable resources.

Saves you thousands of dollars

• According to a report from Consumer Reports, parents will spend approximately $2,000 on disposable diapers.
• The costs of cloth diapering and laundering are minimal in comparison. Stick to the basics to save even more.
• You can even register for cloth diapers when you set up your baby gift registry.

Healthy and non-toxic for your baby

• The harmful chemicals in disposable diapers, such as Sodium Polyacrylate and Dioxin can cause health problems and cause rashes and irritation.

Cloth Diapering Systems

Cloth diapering is easy one you understand the terminology and explore your options. You’ll have a few kinks to work out along the way. Just learn the basics for now, and you can experiment more once you have your baby.

Here are the essentials about the different type of cloth diapering systems. You will likely use a combination of these, and you’ll find that some work better for different stages of growth or different occasions.

• All in Ones are a type of cloth diaper that is easy to use and already has everything you need. Other forms of cloth diapers require extra material for more absorbency or for a cover. There are many different styles and features of All in One cloth diapers. There is a soaker sewn into the inside or on the outside. They fasten with Velcro usually but may also use snaps. All in Ones require a more thorough cleaning and take longer to dry.
• Pockets are cloth diapers with two layers, the inner layer soft and the outer layer water-proof. You can insert absorbency material in the pocket between the two layers which allows you to adjust as needed. When extra absorbency is needed, such as for a long car ride or overnight, you can insert a thicker material. These work well regardless of your baby’s size since they are so versatile. Remove and separate the insert when washing and take extra care to clean out the inner layer.
• Flats are a thin and square piece of material that washes and dries quickly. They work well with pins to hold them in place but will need to be changed frequently. You can also choose flats that come with two layers. Flats are priced reasonably low, so you can easily have several of them clean and ready to use.
• Prefolds are similar to flats but contain folded in layers that provide extra absorbency. You can obtain prefolds that have more or less layers depending on your absorbency needs. You also fasten them with pins or use a cover. Like flats they are inexpensive and easy to wash. Both flats and prefolds are great to have on hand if you are primarily using pocket cloth diapers since they can be used as inserts. You can even use these as nursing pads instead of purchasing disposables pads or expensive, reusable nursing pads.
• Fitteds are a fun and convenient cloth diaper. It comes with fasteners and elastic material that helps with containment. You can find cute styles that will make you smile. These cloth diapers need frequent changing because they do not have a waterproof layer, but you can use a cover for added protection. If you want to make your own cloth diapers, fitteds are easy to make. This form of cloth diaper needs to be rinsed very well before washing.

How to Use Cloth Diapers

No matter what type of cloth diaper you use, the process is essentially the same as using disposable diapers. You will change your baby’s diapers regularly and as needed. You will add inserts and covers when you need extra leakage protection. You will clean your baby with your chosen wipes (think cloth…). Instead of throwing an expensive disposable diaper away and thereby damaging the environment, you get to wash and reuse your cloth diaper. If busy or outside the home, just put the dirty cloth diaper into a waterproof bag until you can wash it.

How to Wash Cloth Diapers

For the most part, cloth diapers are easy to wash. Some cloth diapers are easier to get clean then others, so you may have to experiment with rinsing techniques and detergents. In general, you will rinse out the different layers and inserts, then wash them in the washing machine. Conveniently, you can obtain a sprayer that you place over the toilet seat to rinse out the diapers before washing.

Where Do You Get Cloth Diapers?

Cloth diapers aren’t available at every local department store or supermarket, but don’t worry. There are plenty of places you can get them. Amazon often has cloth diapers, but the selection is sometimes limited. Do an online search for online stores as well as local stores that offer a wide variety.

Some Popular Cloth Diaper Brands:

• bumGenius
• FuzziBunz
• Bummis
• gDiapers
• Bumkins

Online Stores:

• Green Mountain Diapers
• Cloth Diaper Outlet
• Sweetbottoms Baby
• Nickis Diapers
• Pooters
• Cotton Babies

Some stores even offer rental services. Renting cloth diapers is an additional option that makes cloth diapering all the more affordable. This option is especially beneficial when determining your cloth diaper preferences and when your baby is a newborn and too tiny to fit into the styles you prefer.

Cloth Diapering Mamas

Talk to other moms who are experienced in cloth diapering. There is nothing more helpful than having a resource of other moms who also make alternative parenting choices like cloth diapering. Remember why you feel cloth diapering is important, and know that you can make it work!

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Resources: http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/ http://ultimateguidetoclothdiapers.com/ http://www.cottonbabies.com/clothdiapers.php#environmentalimpactofdiapers

The results of the study were published online on June 27 in Occupational & Environmental Medicine by researchers in The Netherlands. The study examined 4,680 pregnant women who were recruited from 2002 through 2006 in The Netherlands. The participants were surveyed so that researchers could better understand the work environment and work conditions they were exposed to while on-the-job. The researchers discovered that 38 percent of the study participants stood for long periods of time and roughly 46 percent had to walk for long periods. Furthermore, 6 percent of women had jobs that involved heavy lifting and 4 percent worked night shifts.

Women who stood for prolonged periods of time while on-the-job had babies whose heads were on average 1 cm smaller than average at birth. Some common job fields that would require pregnant women to be on their feet for extended periods of time include teaching, childcare and sales. The researchers concluded that long prolonged standing during one’s pregnancy may negatively influence intrauterine growth.

The Mayo Clinic has outlined various dangers associated with prolonged standing during the course of your pregnancy. Prolonged standing can cause blood to pool in your legs, which may lead to dizziness and pain. It also puts a great deal of pressure on your back. If you are forced to stand for long periods during your pregnancy, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you put one of your feet up on a footrest or low stool and switch off on regular intervals. You should also wear comfortable shoes that provide good arch support.

If you are pregnant and your job forces you to stay on your feet for extended periods of time, you may consider discussing the matter with your employer so that accommodations can be made. If you are a teacher, for example, you may ask to have a personal assistant to aid you during your pregnancy. You may be able to lecture while sitting and your assistant can hand out and collect papers. Prolonged standing during your pregnancy can harm both you and your precious child. Take steps now to ensure that complications don’t arise.

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Amy Harris is a proud wife and mother-to-be, web content coordinator for BabyChangingStation.com. Amy has taken these research findings very seriously and will avoid prolonged stretches of standing throughout the course of her pregnancy.

Here is my list of Top 10 Things to Love about Toddlers

1. They mispronounce words in the most adorable way (yedo (yellow), sank you (thank you), beeana (banana)) are just some examples buteach toddler has their own adorable vocabulary.
2. Their voices are the sweetest, quietest, most loving EVER. Yes they now have the ability to make you twitch with a shrill screech BUT that tiny little voice won’t last long.
3. They still love snuggles, hugs and kisses. At this age they hug you with all their heart. They are full of love and show it by giving you hugs and kisses wholeheartedly.
4. They imitate and copy everything their siblings do from brushing teeth to pounding their fist on the table in frustration. The drive to be just like their siblings is wonderful to witness.
5. They celebrate every milestone from potty training to putting on their shoes with total enthusiasm and pride like the whole world is witnessing their success.
6. They have little pot bellies that they are also very proud of. Is there anything cuter that the proud toddler walk?
7. They adore their doggies and blankies. Although this gets tricky sometimes when one or the other can’t be found, the attachment they have with their favorite things is sweet.
8. They understand their world based on mommies, daddies, babies and (in our case) sisters. Cups, leaves, play-doh and stuffies are all named by size and family relationship.
9. Their toes
10. You are their world. They love you unconditionally and that unconditional love is the absolute best thing in the world.

A Guest Post by Janice Rex-Weaver

I’ve just finished teaching a childbirthing class and I’m getting a phone call. Hello? What? You’d like me to join you at the birth of your baby? WOW! I am honored. This is a call I received from a couple who have just left my office after wrapping up their five classes – now fully ready to receive their baby in love and gentleness. Attending births is not what I usually do with my families from class. I share tools and philosophies for parents to welcome their new little one into this world calmly, gently and comfortably.

Ok, so at this point you might be thinking…..wait a minute, calm, gentle and comfortable birthing? This is not usually what you think of when contemplating childbirth. Well, the times they are a changin’.

I personally experienced peaceful birthings for both of my daughters with the support of my husband and a wonderful birthing team. I was so inspired by these experiences, I am now teaching it to others. I feel it is my duty, my good fortune to pass it on. It is time that we all share in this movement of gently birthing our children and giving them a sense of calm and peace right from the beginning. It is the greatest gift we can give our children and our world. Maria Montessori, the founder of Montessori education, called children the ‘absorbent ones’. Science is proving that babies in the womb can sense and feel, absorb if you will, their environment. In this day and age some of us are more sensitive and gentle with our new cars than we are our bodies. Only because we haven’t been shown the way.

How do we foster peaceful birthing? What do we do with all the pre-conceived thoughts that childbirth needs to be hard, arduous and full of discomfort? Simple – birth in the absence of fear……I know this is a bold statement. But never was there a better time to birth a child than now. The medical advancements are incredible, and the advancements in our consciousness are incredible as well. Ageless techniques of mindfulness and relaxation are pouring into the mainstream. Dr. Michel Odent, advocate of gentle birthing and author of 11 books including Trust Your Body!Trust Your Baby!, points out, “One cannot help a physiological process. The point is not to hinder it.” This is the bottom line. Get out of the way of your birthing process and it will flow. This belief is contrary to the way a lot of us were shown growing up. Family and friends, TV shows and movies unfortunately portray birthing too much of the time as a fearful, pain-filled event. This is why it is essential to start the un-learning process when we become pregnant – or better yet, even before conception. Pregnancy is not an event to be scheduled, it is a process to be honored and humbled by. This is literally where the next generation begins their journey of giving to this planet.

Women using their own innate abilities to birth is not a new concept. It is merely one that has been forgotten and lost through the years. Hippocrates, the ‘father of medicine’ believed that nature is the greatest physician and it’s best when allowed to work without intervention. Birth is a beautiful, natural function of a woman’s body.

Now is the time to take a stand to bring birthing back into the hands of parents, where it truly belongs. Of course we need a support staff to help us in this process, but the foundation is set by Mommy and Daddy. Find joy in this responsibility. Find liberation in this way of thinking. Un-learn what we think we know about birth. Pablo Casals said, “The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.” Let’s join together to protect this miracle, to ensure the well being of our children, and be an advocate for their happiness. Let’s make a stand for Peaceful Birthing. Are you in?

First, “insidious” is defined by Merriam Webster as “developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent.”

Wow! Insidious guilt may be happening, and you wouldn’t even be conscious of it until it takes a strong hold of you in one way or another. A person I have great respect for once said, “Guilt serves only one purpose—to let you know when something needs to change. Then it needs to be let go of.”

Perfect. If we acknowledge that we feel guilty then we know there is something we can change to minimize or eliminate the guilt. Sometimes the guilt is felt but the cause is completely out of our control. An example for me was feeling proud to be a breastfeeding mom only to find out years later that the bottles I had used to store breast milk were removed from stores because they contained BPA. My guilt over exposing my baby to something so toxic was so strong that I felt sick.  But how was I to know at that time?

As moms we juggle a lot feelings and responsibilities at once. We may feel guilty for having to choose the cheaper version of something that isn’t organic or eco-friendly because in the end, we have to feed our families and we need to get the most out of each dollar. We may feel guilty for the time lost with our children while we struggled with Postpartum Depression or while we had to work far too many hours in order to make ends meet. We may feel guilty for letting the kids watch too much TV because we don’t have the energy to take them out on their bikes. We can even feel guilty for just wanting to have a dinner with friends away from the kids. We have endless to-do lists and often put our families first and ourselves last.

Mommy guilt can be insidious and relentless unless we are able to find balance and acceptance. Balance can be tricky because as soon as you think you have found it, at least in my case, something disturbs the balance: another baby arrives, we move to another city, bills accumulate… Then, add the day-to-day grind: going to dentist appointments, work, school, paying bills, relationships that need attention… Let’s not forget the plants that are dying, the carpet that needs vacuuming,  and the clothes that need switching out: the Spring clothes for the Summer clothes for all three kids… and on… and on… and on. Balance and self-care sometimes seem more like a luxury for those who have a team of people to cook and clean for them. That’s not the case for anyone I know.

There is a helpful quote for bringing in some peace and reducing the guilt a mom feels. It states: “You are exactly where you are supposed to be.” At this point in your life’s journey, you have been given all that you need to do the best job you can. You can strive to do better while accepting that where you are is the right place to be.

There may be new learning right around the corner or a new friendship or support to get you through a tough time. Perhaps  there will be a realization that you got to this point because your choices haven’t been in line with your life’s passion, and you need to rediscover what you feel passionately about.

Moms need to let go of guilt in order to allow more positive energy in. It can be exhausting and overwhelming to focus on the things that don’t bring you joy. Change what you can, appreciate where you are in your life’s journey, and let go of the emotions that don’t create peace in your life.

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Editor’s note: If you may be struggling with Postpartum Depression or feel overwhelmed and sad for a long period of time, please contact your doctor.  You can also reach out for support on Twitter by following @postpartumprog and @unxpctdblessing and connecting with other women with experience and advice at #ppdchat

Here’s another quote for inspiration:

“Wherever we are now is just a step on the way to somewhere else. Whatever we do and however well we do it, it is only a preparation to do something else, something different than what we are doing at this moment.” —Robert Louis Stevenson