Archive | Cloth diapers

Cloth Diapering vs. 4.0?

April 8, 2013 By Faith

At our house cloth diapering has been something that has changed throughout the different seasons of parenting. What works for us has changed, many times.

When we were awaiting sweet Aiden’s adoption we made the decision to start with cloth as soon as we could. We wanted something that would grow with him, and my husband was adamant that there only be one brand or style of diaper. Hey, if he was willing to jump in I was okay with his “conditions.”

I honestly wanted to go old school with flats, pins, and covers. My husband laid down a nightmare scenario of him changing a diaper of that “difficulty” complete with him loosing the diaper pin he just removed. I laughed at the absurdity and began my research.

We settled on an all in two diaper that met all of the requirements we had set forth. We were both happy with our choice and we began the great adventure of cloth diapering shortly after returning home with our sweet son.

That’s merely where the adventure started however. It’s been 3.5 years and 2 kids since we began, we now have everything from prefolds and covers to all in ones, plus lots of variety in between! I have discovered that our diapering needs have changed for each kid in varying seasons of their lives. I have also discovered that its a very personal choice, in that what some Mommas love others can’t stand! I highly recommend a cloth diaper trial as you start using cloth, you can find several companies that make them available with a quick google search. We did one right before our second was born and discovered a few things along the way!

If I was starting all over I would buy flats, newborn doublers, and double gusseted covers for all the time use. I would also buy a few one sized all in one diapers for nights and running errands since they are just easier when time or location is limited. A diaper pail for at home, and a wet bag for on the go, oh and don’t forget the diaper sprayer!

That’s just one Mommas opinion

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From Cloth Diaper Advocate to Cloth Diaper Moderate

March 5, 2013 By Melissa

I know we haven’t talked about cloth diapers lately around here. And we started out as a “cloth diaper” blog. Don’t worry, it’s still something Jeniffer and I are pretty passionate about, and we don’t plan on cloth diapers disappearing from this space altogether. We have widened our focus, but we aren’t done talking cloth!

One of the reasons we’ve been talking about cloth less is because we both have a desire to see this blog be a broader space. We want to focus less on cloth, and more on the nitty-gritty of motherhood in general, and the ways we as sisters can support each other. But…. there is another reason, at least for me. When I started cloth diapering, I did it to save money. But I quickly went from doing it to save money to pretty much thinking it was the best thing since sliced bread. Cloth diapers are cheap! Cloth diapers are adorable! Basically, cloth diapers are awesome! And that led me to thinking, “Everyone should cloth diaper! There really aren’t any good reasons not too. And if you won’t try it out, don’t stick with it, or don’t do it full-time, you might just be a wimp.” Hey, I’m not proud of this, but I’m just trying to keep it real. It was my mission to convince everyone they should cloth diaper. It worked with Jen I also had some friends from college catch on to the cloth diapering love from Facebook pictures and statuses, and I was glad to be able to share with them about the amazing world of cloth diapers.

I cloth diapered full-time. None of this part-time business! That was for people less dedicated than me! I made cloth diapers work with a toddler and a newborn – twice! I cloth diapered at night. I cloth diapered on trips. I sent cloth diapers to church, even back when all I had were flats and covers. The only time I caved and bought disposables was if one of my kids got a really bad stomach bug, or if I was really sick myself. I. was. hard. core.

But over the last year, something has happened. It started when my dryer broke. I was having to line dry all my cloth diapers, indoors. Which took forever. I also added “getting ready to move overseas” to my list of responsibilities. Life slowly shifted, and I went through a season where I really did not love my cloth diapers. Thankfully, over time, with lots of breaks, I fell back in love. There is nothing quite so cute as a cloth diapered bum sticking out of a pair of jeans! But….

…I also figured out that my 2 year old sleeps a whole lot better at night in a disposable than he does in cloth. It doesn’t matter which of my “stay-dry” diapers I use at nighttime, he wakes up fussy about being wet. That doesn’t happen in a disposable. Here’s the thing…. I’m a big fan of sleep, especially when I’m pregnant! All of that led to using disposables consistently at night. Something I used to really shake my head at other people for doing.

We are also on the go a lot more right now. I have taken cloth diapers on many trips. But the truth is, it really is easier to just take disposables. They take up less space when we are leaving, and I’m not lugging back 3 days worth of dirty diapers on the return trip.

I’ve taken cloth diapers to church with us for years. For a long time, I’ve even been bringing my easy, aplix pocket diapers, that go on and off just like a disposable. But I still have to explain the cloth diaper situation every single time I drop my son off, and people always get the deer in the headlights look, and frequently seem confused about what to do. Since we aren’t cloth diapering exclusively anyways, most of the time I send disposables to church now.

I’ve gone from a hard core, full-time, exclusively cloth diapering ~~snob~~ activist to being a part-time cloth diapering mom. I love my cloth diapers, but we only use them about 70% of the time. Like so many areas of my parenting, I’ve eaten a good share of humble pie over this past year, and realized that whether I use cloth diapers full-time, part-time, or no-time does not determine whether I am “mom enough.”

Has your cloth diapering journey evolved over time? What areas of your parenting have you realized aren’t quite as important as you once thought?

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Can I get a sick day?

February 12, 2013 By Faith

How many Momma’s have asked themselves that very question? I have, numerous times. Sadly my little family has been sick consistently over the last eight weeks and I actually took a “sick day” along the way with Daddy juggling full time baby duty. It is not ideal, I promise. Though I was incredibly grateful for all that my sweet husband accomplished while I was quite literally down and out.

Over the last few weeks I have learned a good bit about what it means to be a Momma in the good and the bad. On those days when the giggles and the playgrounds beckon; or the days filled with thermometers, tepid baths, and worry. Motherhood is a job full of sacrifice. We have to give fully of ourselves to these little ones we have been entrusted with. That isn’t always easy. Exhaustion sets in, dishes and laundry pile up, and we can find ourselves overwhelmed.

It is in that period when we seemed overwhelmed that we find ourselves making choices.

I made many of those choices over the last few weeks. Like switching to paper plates and disposable diapers. Sometimes survival means understanding you simply can’t do it all. It will take me a long while to catch up on the laundry, errands, and cleaning that was pushed to the side in lieu of sickly cuddles and naps.

It was worth it. It was also a good reminder to slow down and savor these quiet moments with my family.