Backyard Discovery is doing another grand giveaway. Two families will win an awesome playset AND their Oasis Garden.
I've entered to win. Cross your fingers!
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 18
Backyard Discovery Giveaway
Backyard Discovery is doing another grand giveaway. Two families will win an awesome playset AND their Oasis Garden.
I've entered to win. Cross your fingers!
Thursday, May 19
Melissa & Doug Giveaway
You know how much I love Melissa & Doug products. Well there is a great giveaway going on right now over at The Budget Mommy. She has signed up with Melissa & Doug to giveaway a full sized painting easel. There is a dry erase and chalkboard side for two children to color or paint simultaneously (perfect for folks with twins).
Saturday, April 9
Cloth Diaper Set Giveaway
The Budget Mommy is having a giveaway for a whole big fat set of cloth diapering accessories including:
2 bumGenius 4.0 diapers
1 package of six Thirsties Fab Wipes
2 sample packets of Rockin Green Detergent
2 sample packets of Tiny Bubbles Detergent
2 sample packets of BumGenius Diaper Detergent
The giveaway closes April 20th. Get on over there and enter to win!
2 bumGenius 4.0 diapers
1 package of six Thirsties Fab Wipes
2 sample packets of Rockin Green Detergent
2 sample packets of Tiny Bubbles Detergent
2 sample packets of BumGenius Diaper Detergent
The giveaway closes April 20th. Get on over there and enter to win!
Wednesday, March 23
The Babies Put Pudge in Puj Tub
I have loved our Puj Tub, but The Babies have outgrown it much faster than I expected. So we are in the market for a new baby tub. I need suggestions from experienced mommies.
I don't like the huge plastic tubs that take up a lot of space, although, we rarely use the shower in our guest bathroom and could store the tub there. Also, I have chronic lower back pain from several auto accidents, and I liked that the Puj Tub fit in the kitchen sink so I didn't have to bend.
What kind of baby tub do you have? Do you like it? What don't you like about it? Is it worth the money you spent on it? Should I just hold out until they are sitting up on their own and put them in the tub without a baby tub?
Thankyouverymuch.
I don't like the huge plastic tubs that take up a lot of space, although, we rarely use the shower in our guest bathroom and could store the tub there. Also, I have chronic lower back pain from several auto accidents, and I liked that the Puj Tub fit in the kitchen sink so I didn't have to bend.
What kind of baby tub do you have? Do you like it? What don't you like about it? Is it worth the money you spent on it? Should I just hold out until they are sitting up on their own and put them in the tub without a baby tub?
Thankyouverymuch.
Wednesday, February 23
Mommy 101
I originally wrote this when The Babies were 6 weeks old. Several girlfriends are pregnant or have newborns, so I thought they could benefit from the things I learned along the way.
1. Learn to swaddle! We feed the babies, burp 'em, swaddle, and put them back in the crib. They fall right to sleep. We swaddle the babies first in a receiving blanket and then in a Swaddle Me. That seems to work best.
2. Staging is everything. My OCD tendencies have come in handy as a mommy. Staging, as I call it, helps tremendously especially with two. After each feeding I wash the bottles so they are ready for the next feeding. I lay out burp clothes before hand and even put in a dvd at the end of the feeding. Then next time I'm all set in case the babies are screaming for food, I just push play. Same thing with the breast pump, have it all ready and set up. You get the idea.
3. Make a plan and throw it out the window. I've heard this expression before but I appreciate it in a whole new way. Besides coming home with two healthy babies, nothing else has worked out the way I wanted.
4. Research stuff now. I wish I would have looked into breastfeeding more before the babies got here. Maybe I wouldn't have gotten so upset because I would have known what was normal.
5. If people bring you food, have a notebook for them to write down their address before they leave. Then it's there for you to send them a quick thank you note. I thought of this but only asked one couple to write their address down. But it's not as though I've had time to write thank yous.....
6. Sleep when the baby sleeps. I'm sure people have told you this already but it is SO TRUE! Forget everything else, let your husband take care of it. Your priorities are you and the baby.
7. If you're breastfeeding....
-Meet with the lactation consultant at the hospital. Once you leave the hospital, you have to pay (a lot) for their advice. I met with a LC at home ($40 for the visit). She was amazing and totally worth the money. She gave me the confidence and reassurance I needed.
-Your milk may take a few days/weeks to fully come in.
-Fenugreek is an herb that will help with your supply if need be. We had to research to find out about it. When you smell like maple syrup, you know you're getting enough. One day I woke up and my armpits smelled like pancakes! True story.
-Start using nipple cream NOW. Breastfeeding is gonna hurt, so the sooner you can start toughening them up, the better. Your OB may prescribe a compounded nipple cream that it worth the money.
-You’re gonna have to eat and drink a lot. I tried to eat every time I breastfed, just so I remembered to eat.
-It helps to pump after each time you feed. Not that you’ll feel like it always but it helps increase your milk supply.
8. Let me say it again. Your priority should be to take care of you and your baby. Don’t worry about the other stuff.
9. If you’re cloth diapering, pre-stage the diapers. We use the bikini twist and it helps to prefold the diapers that way so when you have a squirmy baby on the changing table, it’s done. STAGING!
10. It’s not unusual for babies to lose weight the first week after being born. The average weight loss is 10% of their birth weight. We didn’t know this and I freaked out a little at our first check up.
11. Colace (docusate sodium) will be your best friend. And know that you can take up to 6 a day.
1. Learn to swaddle! We feed the babies, burp 'em, swaddle, and put them back in the crib. They fall right to sleep. We swaddle the babies first in a receiving blanket and then in a Swaddle Me. That seems to work best.
2. Staging is everything. My OCD tendencies have come in handy as a mommy. Staging, as I call it, helps tremendously especially with two. After each feeding I wash the bottles so they are ready for the next feeding. I lay out burp clothes before hand and even put in a dvd at the end of the feeding. Then next time I'm all set in case the babies are screaming for food, I just push play. Same thing with the breast pump, have it all ready and set up. You get the idea.
3. Make a plan and throw it out the window. I've heard this expression before but I appreciate it in a whole new way. Besides coming home with two healthy babies, nothing else has worked out the way I wanted.
4. Research stuff now. I wish I would have looked into breastfeeding more before the babies got here. Maybe I wouldn't have gotten so upset because I would have known what was normal.
5. If people bring you food, have a notebook for them to write down their address before they leave. Then it's there for you to send them a quick thank you note. I thought of this but only asked one couple to write their address down. But it's not as though I've had time to write thank yous.....
6. Sleep when the baby sleeps. I'm sure people have told you this already but it is SO TRUE! Forget everything else, let your husband take care of it. Your priorities are you and the baby.
7. If you're breastfeeding....
-Meet with the lactation consultant at the hospital. Once you leave the hospital, you have to pay (a lot) for their advice. I met with a LC at home ($40 for the visit). She was amazing and totally worth the money. She gave me the confidence and reassurance I needed.
-Your milk may take a few days/weeks to fully come in.
-Fenugreek is an herb that will help with your supply if need be. We had to research to find out about it. When you smell like maple syrup, you know you're getting enough. One day I woke up and my armpits smelled like pancakes! True story.
-Start using nipple cream NOW. Breastfeeding is gonna hurt, so the sooner you can start toughening them up, the better. Your OB may prescribe a compounded nipple cream that it worth the money.
-You’re gonna have to eat and drink a lot. I tried to eat every time I breastfed, just so I remembered to eat.
-It helps to pump after each time you feed. Not that you’ll feel like it always but it helps increase your milk supply.
8. Let me say it again. Your priority should be to take care of you and your baby. Don’t worry about the other stuff.
9. If you’re cloth diapering, pre-stage the diapers. We use the bikini twist and it helps to prefold the diapers that way so when you have a squirmy baby on the changing table, it’s done. STAGING!
10. It’s not unusual for babies to lose weight the first week after being born. The average weight loss is 10% of their birth weight. We didn’t know this and I freaked out a little at our first check up.
11. Colace (docusate sodium) will be your best friend. And know that you can take up to 6 a day.
Thursday, February 10
Cloth Diapering Twins
Then there was breastfeeding. I always knew I definitely wanted to breastfeed my children even before I was married. When I got pregnant, that desire was reconfirmed. Five weeks into breastfeeding two babies, I decided it wasn't for me. The babies weren't gaining weight like the doctors would have liked and I was exhausted. So now they are strictly formula fed. *If you're pregnant, I highly recommend taking a breastfeeding class. I wish I would have. I guess I assumed since I had larger than average breasts, I wouldn't have any trouble breastfeeding. Wrong!
One of the other hot topics I was passionate about during my pregnancy was cloth diapering. My mom cloth diapered both Sister and me, and the idea of spending all of that money on disposable plastic didn't seem like the right thing to do. Most people told me I was crazy to think I could cloth diaper two babies. (You know how when you're pregnant you get all kinds of unsolicited advice?) Sure we have to wash diapers every other day, but it's just sort of become part of our routine. And to know we aren't adding to the loads of diaper waste already in landfills is great. I am so glad there is at least one thing that worked out for me.
We bought our supplies from Mothering Grace. We use indian prefolds in combination with Thirsties Duo Wrap covers. (I prefer the velcro closure covers instead of the snaps. With wiggly newborns, the velcro is much easier.)
To wash our diapers we start with a cold rinse. (If the diapers are extra poopy we add an extra rinse to this cycle.) Then we wash our diapers in a hot cycle (always rinse a second time after this cycle) with Purex Free & Clear detergent. Here's a great list of detergents to use/not use with cloth diapers. Never use bleach or softener when washing cloth diapers. Hanging your diapers in the sun will naturally bleach any remaining stains.
Here's a great article comparing cloth and disposable diapers.
Sunday, January 16
Etsy Sunday
This week's Etsy Sunday is all about Valentine's Day, baby themed Valentine's Day items.
Pillowcase Dress
Pink Beanie with Earflaps
Polka Dot Onesie
Cupcake Shoes
Sweetheart Bloomers
Bib and Onesie Tie Set
Hugs and Kisses Onesies for Twins
Olive You Shirt
Pillowcase Dress
Pink Beanie with Earflaps
Polka Dot Onesie
Cupcake Shoes
Sweetheart Bloomers
Bib and Onesie Tie Set
Hugs and Kisses Onesies for Twins
Olive You Shirt
Wednesday, January 12
Constipated Baby
I've become that woman...the woman that discusses her childrens' bowel movements. Although slightly disgusting, this post is meant as a helpful tip for new mommies.
Today's tip: a little Karo Syrup in your baby's bottle helps to relieve constipation. Start with just a little (maybe 1/2 teaspoon) and adjust as needed.
With two babies on soy formula (soy is gentler on the stomach but has an awful side effect......) we use a lot of syrup. We have found that 1/2 cup of Karo Syrup added to our 3 pint pitcher of formula does the job. Light or dark syrup work fine, but remember the dark will turn the formula an odd shade of brown.
I hope that all of my "mommy posts" can be used by someone like me, who might not know all the tricks and shortcuts to babying. Always remember to consult your pediatrician for your baby's needs.
Wednesday, December 1
Pregnancy Lingo
Epidural- anesthesia produced by the injection of an anesthetic into the lumbar area of the spine in the space between the spinal cord and the dura, which eliminates sensation from the point of insertion downward
Spinal Block- interruption of conduction of nerve impulses by the injection of an anesthetic into thespinal canal that reduces sensitivity to pain
Episiotomy- an incision into the perineum and vagina to allow sufficient clearance for birth
Perineum- the area in front of the anus extending to the fourchette of the vulva
Perinatologist- an obstetrical subspecialist concerned with the care of the mother and fetus at higher-than-normal risk for complications
Preeclampsia- a serious condition developing in late pregnancy that is characterized by a sudden rise in blood pressure, excessive weight gain, generalized edema, proteinuria, severe headache, and visual disturbances
Breech- the delivery of an infant with the feet or buttocks appearing first
Vertex- the delivery of an infant with the head-first
Station- the descent of the baby into the pelvis
Dialated- the process of the cervix opening in preparation for childbirth
Effacement- refers to the thickness or thinness of the cervix
Mucus Plug- a plug that is located in the cervical canal that protects the fetus from bacteria during pregnancy, and is expelled some time before labor
Braxton Hicks- called “practice contractions” because they will prepare you for the real thing
Gestational Diabetes- high blood sugar that starts or is first diagnosed during pregnancy
Jaundice- the yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood
Bilirubin- a brownish yellow substance found in bile produced when the liver breaks down old red blood cells
Non-stress Test (NST)- non-invasive test that measures fetal heart rate and contractions
Group B Strep (GBS)- a type of bacterial infection that can be found in a pregnant woman’s vagina or rectum
Monoamniotic-Monochorionic (mono mono)- twins that share both their amnions, chorions and placenta
Monochorionic-Diamniotic (mono di)- twins that share the same placenta
Dichorionic-Diamniotic (di di)- twins that have separate chorions and amniotic sacs
Here's a helpful link for signs of labor.
Spinal Block- interruption of conduction of nerve impulses by the injection of an anesthetic into thespinal canal that reduces sensitivity to pain
Perinatologist- an obstetrical subspecialist concerned with the care of the mother and fetus at higher-than-normal risk for complications
Breech- the delivery of an infant with the feet or buttocks appearing first
Vertex- the delivery of an infant with the head-first
Station- the descent of the baby into the pelvis
Dialated- the process of the cervix opening in preparation for childbirth
Effacement- refers to the thickness or thinness of the cervix
Mucus Plug- a plug that is located in the cervical canal that protects the fetus from bacteria during pregnancy, and is expelled some time before labor
Braxton Hicks- called “practice contractions” because they will prepare you for the real thing
Gestational Diabetes- high blood sugar that starts or is first diagnosed during pregnancy
Jaundice- the yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood
Bilirubin- a brownish yellow substance found in bile produced when the liver breaks down old red blood cells
Non-stress Test (NST)- non-invasive test that measures fetal heart rate and contractions
Group B Strep (GBS)- a type of bacterial infection that can be found in a pregnant woman’s vagina or rectum
Monoamniotic-Monochorionic (mono mono)- twins that share both their amnions, chorions and placenta
Monochorionic-Diamniotic (mono di)- twins that share the same placenta
Dichorionic-Diamniotic (di di)- twins that have separate chorions and amniotic sacs
Here's a helpful link for signs of labor.
Wednesday, September 29
Just Plain Ridiculous II
Add this to the list of super ridiculous baby items: Radiation Dress
The description reads "99% Radiation Proof (Radio/TV/Cell Phone/Microwave Oven)." So are you supposed to wear these dresses everyday for nine months?
The description reads "99% Radiation Proof (Radio/TV/Cell Phone/Microwave Oven)." So are you supposed to wear these dresses everyday for nine months?
Monday, September 20
Ridiculous Baby Items
While browsing Babies R Us I ran across this ridiculous thing. Seriously?! I can't imagine ever using this. Now I know the metal pieces of the buckle get super hot sitting in the car but the whole seat? It looks like an astro-baby carseat or a ginormous baked potato. Wow.
I have to go right now in search of more absurd baby items to add to this post.
Okay, what about the movement monitors? Aren't you already freaked out enough having a new baby, especially as a new mom? I don't need some thing beeping at me everytime The Babies aren't moving. Good grief, I'd be a nervous wreck!
Speaking of monitors, I don't get the video baby monitors. A girlfriend and I discussed the pros of having an audio and visual monitor. I still don't get it. Not to mention, they ain't cheap.
The Tummy Tub, have you seen this? I think my first response when The Pope and I saw one was, "umm, that's a bucket." It looks dreadful for the baby.
Here are a few more lists full of random, sometimes scary, baby items.
Saturday, September 18
Things The Pope Doesn't Want To Hear
Pregnancy definitely changes your marriage. Like a rollercoaster, there are ups and downs. Take our situation for instance. We had a little scare at about 7 weeks. We went to the OB not only to find out it was a viable pregnancy but that we were pregnant with two babies. Feeling completely thankful and blessed, we started planning. The next few months felt like falling in love all over again. The Pope and I had created two beings. Cra-zy! This feeling of oneness brought us closer together.
As I got bigger, pimplier, and more hormonal things changed again. And the transition from working full time to permanent maternity leave was difficult. I was staying home but unable to do most of the necessary housework. Steph the Pregzilla assumed The Pope resented her for not getting things done when actually it was just my own guilt making me feel that way. We sort of got a new routine figured out and things got better.
Then later in pregnancy everything becomes very real. We started talking about things we had never talked about before. I was actually even showing The Pope pictures of women's breasts in books and sharing way too much information. Here are some actual conversations heard in our house.
*Some subjects may be too much for male readers. Reader discretion advised.*
"Hey baby, I need you to come here and shave this for me."
"You probably don't want to know about the big poop I just took, huh?"
"This says later in the pregnancy women have a hard time reaching to wipe their butt."
"They say you can have sex six weeks after delivery but most women think six months. (I laughed)"
"Women on the forum refer to the state of their vagina after delivery as hamburger crotch."
"Would you please rub this on the pimples on my back? I can't reach."
In addition to not being able to breath, super oily hair, acne, heartburn, and the occasional nosebleed, I am now snoring and drooling in my sleep.
As I got bigger, pimplier, and more hormonal things changed again. And the transition from working full time to permanent maternity leave was difficult. I was staying home but unable to do most of the necessary housework. Steph the Pregzilla assumed The Pope resented her for not getting things done when actually it was just my own guilt making me feel that way. We sort of got a new routine figured out and things got better.
Then later in pregnancy everything becomes very real. We started talking about things we had never talked about before. I was actually even showing The Pope pictures of women's breasts in books and sharing way too much information. Here are some actual conversations heard in our house.
*Some subjects may be too much for male readers. Reader discretion advised.*
"Hey baby, I need you to come here and shave this for me."
"You probably don't want to know about the big poop I just took, huh?"
"This says later in the pregnancy women have a hard time reaching to wipe their butt."
"They say you can have sex six weeks after delivery but most women think six months. (I laughed)"
"Women on the forum refer to the state of their vagina after delivery as hamburger crotch."
"Would you please rub this on the pimples on my back? I can't reach."
In addition to not being able to breath, super oily hair, acne, heartburn, and the occasional nosebleed, I am now snoring and drooling in my sleep.
Wednesday, August 25
Sunday, August 22
Etsy Sunday
Soooo, I got babies on the brain, imagine that. It seems like everyone is pregnant or has just had a baby....this post is for you (and all the other folks out there that just like babyness and Etsy.)
Tegwyn the Tooth Monster (because fairies are for girls)
Alphabet Soup- hand embroidered
Hand Painted Tea Set
Recycled Lego Crayons
Baby Nunchucks
Traveling Family House- hand embroidered
Tegwyn the Tooth Monster (because fairies are for girls)
Alphabet Soup- hand embroidered
Hand Painted Tea Set
Recycled Lego Crayons
Baby Nunchucks
Traveling Family House- hand embroidered
Monday, August 16
Our Must Have Baby Items
Maybe I should wait until after The Babies are here for a post like this but, hey, I'm excited about all of our cool baby stuff. These are just a few of the great things we have chosen for The Babies.
Puj Tub- This thing is ingenious!
Moby Wrap baby carrier
The First Years Infant to Toddler Feeding Seat- You can use this in your dining room chairs.
So Easy breastmilk and baby food trays
Sing-A-Ma-Jigs- These are hysterical! Here's a video.
Snappi Diaper Fastner- Yes, we're cloth diapering two.
I see lots of baby/twin posts in my future. Oh how quickly life changes.
Puj Tub- This thing is ingenious!
Moby Wrap baby carrier
The First Years Infant to Toddler Feeding Seat- You can use this in your dining room chairs.
So Easy breastmilk and baby food trays
Sing-A-Ma-Jigs- These are hysterical! Here's a video.
Snappi Diaper Fastner- Yes, we're cloth diapering two.
I see lots of baby/twin posts in my future. Oh how quickly life changes.
Sunday, March 21
Not One, But Two Babies
Having been married for almost two years, I was ready to begin the next part of our life together. It got to the point that I would get teary eyed when I saw other women with babies. (I can be such a silly woman!) Even though we had planned for March, The Pope and I decided it was time to start trying.
The weekend of Valentine's Day I took two pregnancy tests. The first one just had a very faint second line (indicating I was indeed pregnant). Then The Pope went out and bought a digital test. He much preferred the "pregnant" "not pregnant" reading. Yep, we were going to have a baby, just one.
Then I started bleeding. Every few days I would spot a little and sometimes I would bleed a lot (sorry if this is too much information for some of y'all). Since my first OB appointment was still a few weeks away, I called to get their opinion. The triage nurse kept saying things like, "We need to make sure it's a viable pregnancy. If I were you, I would go to the ER just to be sure." She must have said "viable pregnancy" five times. I freaked out.
I called my GYNO and was able to be seen that day, since I was an established patient with them. The best phlebotomist ever (I asked if I could put her in my pocket and take her with me) took about eight vials of blood to be tested for various things. Then we went upstairs to get an ultrasound.
The Pope and I had no idea what we were looking at on the big screen on the wall.....just lots of black and white swirls. The technician got very quiet, which of course worried me. She asked, "Do twins run in your families?" We just started laughing and I asked The Pope, "What have you done to me?!"
Now we are reading and researching all the we can in the next 7 months, getting prepared for not one, but two babies!
The weekend of Valentine's Day I took two pregnancy tests. The first one just had a very faint second line (indicating I was indeed pregnant). Then The Pope went out and bought a digital test. He much preferred the "pregnant" "not pregnant" reading. Yep, we were going to have a baby, just one.
Then I started bleeding. Every few days I would spot a little and sometimes I would bleed a lot (sorry if this is too much information for some of y'all). Since my first OB appointment was still a few weeks away, I called to get their opinion. The triage nurse kept saying things like, "We need to make sure it's a viable pregnancy. If I were you, I would go to the ER just to be sure." She must have said "viable pregnancy" five times. I freaked out.
I called my GYNO and was able to be seen that day, since I was an established patient with them. The best phlebotomist ever (I asked if I could put her in my pocket and take her with me) took about eight vials of blood to be tested for various things. Then we went upstairs to get an ultrasound.
The Pope and I had no idea what we were looking at on the big screen on the wall.....just lots of black and white swirls. The technician got very quiet, which of course worried me. She asked, "Do twins run in your families?" We just started laughing and I asked The Pope, "What have you done to me?!"
Now we are reading and researching all the we can in the next 7 months, getting prepared for not one, but two babies!
Thursday, October 15
Baby Names
I was browsing Etsy, my new favorite pastime, and I ran across this post. Of course it caught my attention because The Pope is a sheriff's deputy. At first I misunderstood and thought the woman was asking for her son's name to be placed on the belt buckle instead of Sheriff. NO, her son's name is Sheriff. Seriously?!
What is it with baby names in the last few years? Everyone has named their son Liam, and celebrities have gone crazy with their children's names.
Seraphina Rose Elizabeth: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner
Bronx Mogli: Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz
Shiloh and Maddox: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Sparrow James Midnight and Harlow Winer Kate: Nicole Richie
Spec Wildhorse: John Mellencamp
Sage Moonblood: Sylvester Stallone
Personally I prefer old Southern names like Jackson, Caroline, Nathan, Isabelle. I especially like last names for boys like Anderson, Jones, Davis, and Thompson.
What is it with baby names in the last few years? Everyone has named their son Liam, and celebrities have gone crazy with their children's names.
Seraphina Rose Elizabeth: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner
Bronx Mogli: Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz
Shiloh and Maddox: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Sparrow James Midnight and Harlow Winer Kate: Nicole Richie
Spec Wildhorse: John Mellencamp
Sage Moonblood: Sylvester Stallone
Personally I prefer old Southern names like Jackson, Caroline, Nathan, Isabelle. I especially like last names for boys like Anderson, Jones, Davis, and Thompson.
Saturday, May 2
Disposable vs Cloth Diapers
The Joy of Cloth Diapers
By Jane McConnell
May/June 1998
I have three children in diapers--a nine month old, a two year old, and a four year old who wets at night. In rough numbers, this means our household has changed more than 20,000 dirty diapers in four years.
Now, I'm not a glutton for punishment, and like all working mothers I don't have a lot of spare time. But I've chosen cloth diapers over disposables from the beginning. Like breastfeeding and drug-free childbirth, cloth diapering has always seemed to me to be the most "natural" approach. Yet, even in an environmentally conscious town like Boulder, Colorado, I'm surprised at how few parents use cloth. Some are put off by the perceived inconvenience; others have argued that cloth diapers are actually more harmful to the environment than disposables. To aid you in your own decision, or to help you educate your friends who are new parents, here is a current look at some of the issues involved in cloth and disposable diapering.
Which Is Better for the Environment?
To most, the environmental impact of disposable paper-and-plastic versus reusable cotton diapers seems clear-cut. But delve into the facts, and things begin to get murky.
The debate started to get heated in 1990, the 20th anniversary year of Earth Day.
Environmental awareness was at a peak, and many states were considering initiatives to tax or ban the sale of disposable diapers. Procter & Gamble, the nation's largest manufacturer of disposable diapers, fearing a loss of market share, commissioned a study by Arthur D. Little, Inc., on the environmental impact of disposable diapers. The study came to the conclusion that, lo and behold, disposables were actually no worse for the environment than cloth diapers. Procter & Gamble followed with an ad showing tree roots in compost, stating, "90 days ago this was a disposable diaper." After several lawsuits based on the fact that composting facilities for disposable diapers do not actually exist, the ad was pulled, but not until millions of parents had read and believed it. Meanwhile, the National Association of Diaper Services sponsored several reports of its own, prepared by consultant Carl Lehrburger, showing that there was a clear environmental advantage to using cloth diapers.
So which study was right? It depends on your bias. Sponsored research, or any research for that matter, is inherently subjective. The set of assumptions you start with--How many diaper changes will a baby go through in a day? Is the life of a cloth diaper 100 uses or 150?--will greatly influence the outcome of the study. Ultimately, the Little study was deemed misleading by the Advertising Standards Authority in Great Britain, and Proctor & Gamble was prohibited from mentioning the study in its advertising. However, public opinion had already been influenced.
Some of the facts: 18 billion disposable diapers are thrown in landfills each year, taking as many as 500 years to decompose. Disposable diapers make up the third largest source of solid waste in landfills, after newspapers and food and beverage containers--a significant fact, considering they are a single product, used by a limited portion of the population.1 It takes upwards of 82,000 tons of plastic and 1.3 million tons of wood pulp, or a quarter-million trees, to manufacture the disposable diapers that cover the bottoms of 90 percent of the babies born in the US.2
Some will argue that in areas where water is scarce, disposables are the better environmental choice. However, carrying this argument to the extreme, we should be wearing disposable clothes, and using paper plates and plastic utensils. Washing cloth diapers at home uses 50 to 70 gallons of water every three days--about the same as a toilet-trained child or adult flushing the toilet five to six times a day. A diaper service puts its diapers through an average of 13 water changes, but because of the economies of scale, uses less water and energy per diaper than one laundry load at home.
Today, as a rule diaper services use biodegradable detergents not harmful phosphates. The waste water produced from washing diapers is benign, while the waste water from the manufacture of the pulp, paper, and plastics used in disposable diapers contains dioxins, solvents, sludge, and heavy metals.3 Chlorine bleach, whose manufacture is harmful to the atmosphere, is used in whitening diaper service diapers, but the environmental impact is far greater in the paper-bleaching process used in making disposable diapers.4
Cotton, of course, is not without its evils. Conventionally grown, it is a major user of harmful pesticides. There are, however, several companies offering organically grown, unbleached cotton diapers as an alternative.
Ultimately, instead of getting bogged down in each side's scientific data, the most commonsense approach is to use commonsense. Weigh the impact of manufacturing and disposing of 8,000 paper-and-plastic diapers over the average diapering period of a child versus that of a few dozen cotton diapers, and decide for yourself which is better for the environment.
Which Is Better for the Baby?
With all the focus on environmental issues, the baby often gets overlooked in a discussion of cloth versus disposable diapers. All parents want to do what's best for their baby, but many people aren't aware of, or don't consider, the short-term and long-term health effects of their diapering choice.
Although the disposable diaper industry spends millions of dollars on ad campaigns touting the fact that their diapers feel drier, there is no benefit to the baby in terms of diaper rash. In fact, diaper rash is caused by numerous factors ranging from food irritations to soaps used on the baby's skin, and the number one factor in preventing it is frequent diaper changes. For this reason, babies in disposable diapers may experience more diaper rash; because the diapers feel dry, parents tend to change them as infrequently as every four to five hours. But though the outer layer may appear dry, bacteria from the urine is still present in the baby's diaper, and still comes in contact with the baby's skin.5 Furthermore, plastic does not "breathe" to let out the ammonia formed in the bacterial breakdown of urine, while a cotton diaper and nylon or wool wrap are breathable, allowing air to circula te to the baby's skin, keeping it healthy.
Of more serious concern are the toxic chemicals present in disposable diapers. Dioxin, which in various forms has been shown to cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and skin diseases, is a by-product of the paper-bleaching process used in manufacturing disposable diapers, and trace quantities may exist in the diapers themselves.6
And what about the material that makes "superabsorbent" diapers so absorbent? If you've ever used disposable diapers, you've probably noticed beads of clear gel on your baby's genitals after a diaper change. Superabsorbent diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, which absorbs up to 100 times its weight in water. Sodium polyacrylate is the same substance that was removed from tampons in 1985 because of its link to toxic shock syndrome.7 No studies have been done on the long-term effects of this chemical being in contact with a baby's reproductive organs 24 hours a day for upwards of two years.
Neither type of diaper can claim to be more sanitary. In the early 1990s, right around the time many states were considering offering incentives to hospitals and daycare centers to switch to cloth diapers, disposable diaper manufacturers attempted to prove that cloth diapers contribute more to the spread of bacteria. In fact, it is the caregiver's hand-washing habits, and not the type of diapers, that is the deciding factor. "The research in this area was funded by special interests," points out Janet Primomo, RN, PhD, associate professor of nursing at the University of Washington, Tacoma. "It's not a question of whether cloth or disposables are more sanitary--it all depends on practices and procedures, such as hand washing habits and what kind of storage containers are used."
There is, however, a more serious threat of contamination from disposable diapers, because of human sewage going into landfills. The disposal of human waste in residential garbage is technically prohibited, and instructions on disposable diaper packaging recommend that you shake out any fecal matter into the toilet before disposing of it; but in practice this is almost never done. Live viruses in the feces, such as the polio vaccine, can live in landfills for a long period, and if there were ever any leakage, could potentially contaminate a community's drinking water. So far, there has been no evidence of contamination--this is more of a concern in Third World countries, where landfills aren't as well constructed, and disposable diapers are being marketed aggressively.
What About the Inconvenience of Cloth Diapering?
It's true that the thought of rinsing, soaking, and laundering dozens of cloth diapers a week is overwhelming to most new parents. But if you're a parent, you're doing laundry around the clock anyway, and what's a few more loads a week? However, it's not for everyone--and that's where diaper services come in. Many parents don't realize that with a diaper service there's no rinsing or soaking involved. You don't even need to flush solids away--you simply throw the soiled diaper directly into a diaper pail lined with a garbage liner. Once a week, you put the bag of dirties out, and a bag of fresh, clean diapers is delivered to your door. Can that really be considered less convenient than throwing a disposable diaper in the trash and taking an extra garbage can out to the curb each week? In fact, with a diaper service there's the added convenience of not having to remember to buy diapers--you simply never run out.
Yes, you do have to rinse out the occasional soiled diaper cover, and tote back soiled diapers from an outing. But this is really no more inconvenient than sorting glass and cardboard for recycling, and most of us don't think twice about that. And you don't have to be a purist. I personally feel that disposable diapers (preferably the chemical-free variety) have their place when I'm traveling and not close to laundering facilities.
Even home laundering diapers isn't necessarily as time-consuming as you may think. Ginny Caldwell of Ecobaby argues that it takes less time to dump a load of cloth diapers into the washing machine and transfer them to the dryer than it does to shop for disposables, load them into the car, unload them at home, and take out an extra garbage can once a week.
But Isn't a Diaper Service Expensive?
Although a diaper service seems like a luxury, in fact it can cost considerably less than using disposables--and home-laundered cloth diapers are, of course, the cheapest alternative of all.
Each week, many parents think nothing of buying a pack of disposables, whose cost is often hidden in the grocery bill. But when you add it up over the entire diapering period, the costs are substantial. The figure, of course, depends on the number of diaper changes a day (as pointed out earlier, babies in disposables are often changed less frequently--at the expense of the baby's health) and the age at toilet training. But assuming an average two and a half-year diapering period, and an average of eight to ten diaper changes a day (based on every hour for newborns, every two hours for toddlers) this translates to 7,000 to 9,000 diapers over the diapering period. At an average price of $.24 per disposable diaper (premium diapers cost closer to $.33 apiece), the price tag for disposable diapering is around $2,000, plus several hundred dollars for garbage disposal costs of an additional can per week.
By contrast, diaper services charge anywhere from $10.00 to $15.00 a week, depending on the part of the country you're in. This works out to $1,300 to $2,000 over two and a half years, for clean diapers delivered to your door each week, the use of wraps in whatever size you need at the time, and a diaper pail. if you have more than one child in diapers, the price drops considerably (usually by 75 percent) for the second child.
Home diapering, on the other hand, can be done for as little as $400, or as much as $1,200, depending on the type of products you buy. Well-made products should last for subsequent children. Diapers can range anywhere from $20.00 a dozen for diaper service-quality prefolds, up to $60.00 or even $100 a dozen for fitted, contoured diapers with snaps or organic cotton diapers. You'll need somewhere between three and five dozen. Covers range from $4.00 to $18.00 apiece, depending on the quality and material, and you'll need up to 25 (about five in each size range). Figuring in detergents and energy costs of about $.60 per load, the average parent will spend well under $1,000--usually more like $500--for home diapering.
An Added Benefit: Earlier Potty-Training
Another advantage to cloth diapers is that they usually lead to earlier toilet training because the child actually knows when he or she is wet. Now that many children go straight from disposable diapers to disposable pull-ups, it's not uncommon to see four and five year olds who still aren't completely potty-trained wearing pull-ups to school. This has an obvious impact on the child's self-esteem, not to mention the added impact on landfills.
"We get customers calling up to start a diaper service when their child is three and a half and not yet toilet trained," says Brian Smithson, president of the National Association of Diaper Services. In fact, several diaper services around the country are, as an incentive, starting to offer the service free after the 30th month if your child is not toilet trained by then.
"We live in a fast-paced society where people don't want to deal with the `yuck' factor," adds Smithson. "Parents look at a diaper as a container that doesn't leak and can be left on for eight hours, instead of looking at it as clothing worn on the most sensitive parts of the body. Shouldn't we b e changing babies when they wet?" Adds Erica Froese, owner of Mother-Ease Diapers, "A diaper is not meant to be used as a toilet."
The "Bottom" Line
Aside from the environmental and health arguments, many parents feel, as I do, that cotton is a purer, softer, simpler choice than paper and plastic, and that if their babies could vote, they'd choose cloth themselves. In fact, my four year old, who has tried pull-ups at night and inevitably wakes up with an itchy rash, has made it clear to me that she prefers cotton. Many cloth diaper companies are now offering adult sizes, as incontinent adults look for alternatives to the feeling of a mushy mass of paper wadded between their legs.
The bottom line is that choosing cloth diapers doesn't have to be a daunting prospect--it's simple, it's convenient, it's inexpensive. And it's the best choice you can make for the health of your baby, and of the planet.
By Jane McConnell
May/June 1998
I have three children in diapers--a nine month old, a two year old, and a four year old who wets at night. In rough numbers, this means our household has changed more than 20,000 dirty diapers in four years.
Now, I'm not a glutton for punishment, and like all working mothers I don't have a lot of spare time. But I've chosen cloth diapers over disposables from the beginning. Like breastfeeding and drug-free childbirth, cloth diapering has always seemed to me to be the most "natural" approach. Yet, even in an environmentally conscious town like Boulder, Colorado, I'm surprised at how few parents use cloth. Some are put off by the perceived inconvenience; others have argued that cloth diapers are actually more harmful to the environment than disposables. To aid you in your own decision, or to help you educate your friends who are new parents, here is a current look at some of the issues involved in cloth and disposable diapering.
Which Is Better for the Environment?
To most, the environmental impact of disposable paper-and-plastic versus reusable cotton diapers seems clear-cut. But delve into the facts, and things begin to get murky.
The debate started to get heated in 1990, the 20th anniversary year of Earth Day.
Environmental awareness was at a peak, and many states were considering initiatives to tax or ban the sale of disposable diapers. Procter & Gamble, the nation's largest manufacturer of disposable diapers, fearing a loss of market share, commissioned a study by Arthur D. Little, Inc., on the environmental impact of disposable diapers. The study came to the conclusion that, lo and behold, disposables were actually no worse for the environment than cloth diapers. Procter & Gamble followed with an ad showing tree roots in compost, stating, "90 days ago this was a disposable diaper." After several lawsuits based on the fact that composting facilities for disposable diapers do not actually exist, the ad was pulled, but not until millions of parents had read and believed it. Meanwhile, the National Association of Diaper Services sponsored several reports of its own, prepared by consultant Carl Lehrburger, showing that there was a clear environmental advantage to using cloth diapers.
So which study was right? It depends on your bias. Sponsored research, or any research for that matter, is inherently subjective. The set of assumptions you start with--How many diaper changes will a baby go through in a day? Is the life of a cloth diaper 100 uses or 150?--will greatly influence the outcome of the study. Ultimately, the Little study was deemed misleading by the Advertising Standards Authority in Great Britain, and Proctor & Gamble was prohibited from mentioning the study in its advertising. However, public opinion had already been influenced.
Some of the facts: 18 billion disposable diapers are thrown in landfills each year, taking as many as 500 years to decompose. Disposable diapers make up the third largest source of solid waste in landfills, after newspapers and food and beverage containers--a significant fact, considering they are a single product, used by a limited portion of the population.1 It takes upwards of 82,000 tons of plastic and 1.3 million tons of wood pulp, or a quarter-million trees, to manufacture the disposable diapers that cover the bottoms of 90 percent of the babies born in the US.2
Some will argue that in areas where water is scarce, disposables are the better environmental choice. However, carrying this argument to the extreme, we should be wearing disposable clothes, and using paper plates and plastic utensils. Washing cloth diapers at home uses 50 to 70 gallons of water every three days--about the same as a toilet-trained child or adult flushing the toilet five to six times a day. A diaper service puts its diapers through an average of 13 water changes, but because of the economies of scale, uses less water and energy per diaper than one laundry load at home.
Today, as a rule diaper services use biodegradable detergents not harmful phosphates. The waste water produced from washing diapers is benign, while the waste water from the manufacture of the pulp, paper, and plastics used in disposable diapers contains dioxins, solvents, sludge, and heavy metals.3 Chlorine bleach, whose manufacture is harmful to the atmosphere, is used in whitening diaper service diapers, but the environmental impact is far greater in the paper-bleaching process used in making disposable diapers.4
Cotton, of course, is not without its evils. Conventionally grown, it is a major user of harmful pesticides. There are, however, several companies offering organically grown, unbleached cotton diapers as an alternative.
Ultimately, instead of getting bogged down in each side's scientific data, the most commonsense approach is to use commonsense. Weigh the impact of manufacturing and disposing of 8,000 paper-and-plastic diapers over the average diapering period of a child versus that of a few dozen cotton diapers, and decide for yourself which is better for the environment.
Which Is Better for the Baby?
With all the focus on environmental issues, the baby often gets overlooked in a discussion of cloth versus disposable diapers. All parents want to do what's best for their baby, but many people aren't aware of, or don't consider, the short-term and long-term health effects of their diapering choice.
Although the disposable diaper industry spends millions of dollars on ad campaigns touting the fact that their diapers feel drier, there is no benefit to the baby in terms of diaper rash. In fact, diaper rash is caused by numerous factors ranging from food irritations to soaps used on the baby's skin, and the number one factor in preventing it is frequent diaper changes. For this reason, babies in disposable diapers may experience more diaper rash; because the diapers feel dry, parents tend to change them as infrequently as every four to five hours. But though the outer layer may appear dry, bacteria from the urine is still present in the baby's diaper, and still comes in contact with the baby's skin.5 Furthermore, plastic does not "breathe" to let out the ammonia formed in the bacterial breakdown of urine, while a cotton diaper and nylon or wool wrap are breathable, allowing air to circula te to the baby's skin, keeping it healthy.
Of more serious concern are the toxic chemicals present in disposable diapers. Dioxin, which in various forms has been shown to cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and skin diseases, is a by-product of the paper-bleaching process used in manufacturing disposable diapers, and trace quantities may exist in the diapers themselves.6
And what about the material that makes "superabsorbent" diapers so absorbent? If you've ever used disposable diapers, you've probably noticed beads of clear gel on your baby's genitals after a diaper change. Superabsorbent diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, which absorbs up to 100 times its weight in water. Sodium polyacrylate is the same substance that was removed from tampons in 1985 because of its link to toxic shock syndrome.7 No studies have been done on the long-term effects of this chemical being in contact with a baby's reproductive organs 24 hours a day for upwards of two years.
Neither type of diaper can claim to be more sanitary. In the early 1990s, right around the time many states were considering offering incentives to hospitals and daycare centers to switch to cloth diapers, disposable diaper manufacturers attempted to prove that cloth diapers contribute more to the spread of bacteria. In fact, it is the caregiver's hand-washing habits, and not the type of diapers, that is the deciding factor. "The research in this area was funded by special interests," points out Janet Primomo, RN, PhD, associate professor of nursing at the University of Washington, Tacoma. "It's not a question of whether cloth or disposables are more sanitary--it all depends on practices and procedures, such as hand washing habits and what kind of storage containers are used."
There is, however, a more serious threat of contamination from disposable diapers, because of human sewage going into landfills. The disposal of human waste in residential garbage is technically prohibited, and instructions on disposable diaper packaging recommend that you shake out any fecal matter into the toilet before disposing of it; but in practice this is almost never done. Live viruses in the feces, such as the polio vaccine, can live in landfills for a long period, and if there were ever any leakage, could potentially contaminate a community's drinking water. So far, there has been no evidence of contamination--this is more of a concern in Third World countries, where landfills aren't as well constructed, and disposable diapers are being marketed aggressively.
What About the Inconvenience of Cloth Diapering?
It's true that the thought of rinsing, soaking, and laundering dozens of cloth diapers a week is overwhelming to most new parents. But if you're a parent, you're doing laundry around the clock anyway, and what's a few more loads a week? However, it's not for everyone--and that's where diaper services come in. Many parents don't realize that with a diaper service there's no rinsing or soaking involved. You don't even need to flush solids away--you simply throw the soiled diaper directly into a diaper pail lined with a garbage liner. Once a week, you put the bag of dirties out, and a bag of fresh, clean diapers is delivered to your door. Can that really be considered less convenient than throwing a disposable diaper in the trash and taking an extra garbage can out to the curb each week? In fact, with a diaper service there's the added convenience of not having to remember to buy diapers--you simply never run out.
Yes, you do have to rinse out the occasional soiled diaper cover, and tote back soiled diapers from an outing. But this is really no more inconvenient than sorting glass and cardboard for recycling, and most of us don't think twice about that. And you don't have to be a purist. I personally feel that disposable diapers (preferably the chemical-free variety) have their place when I'm traveling and not close to laundering facilities.
Even home laundering diapers isn't necessarily as time-consuming as you may think. Ginny Caldwell of Ecobaby argues that it takes less time to dump a load of cloth diapers into the washing machine and transfer them to the dryer than it does to shop for disposables, load them into the car, unload them at home, and take out an extra garbage can once a week.
But Isn't a Diaper Service Expensive?
Although a diaper service seems like a luxury, in fact it can cost considerably less than using disposables--and home-laundered cloth diapers are, of course, the cheapest alternative of all.
Each week, many parents think nothing of buying a pack of disposables, whose cost is often hidden in the grocery bill. But when you add it up over the entire diapering period, the costs are substantial. The figure, of course, depends on the number of diaper changes a day (as pointed out earlier, babies in disposables are often changed less frequently--at the expense of the baby's health) and the age at toilet training. But assuming an average two and a half-year diapering period, and an average of eight to ten diaper changes a day (based on every hour for newborns, every two hours for toddlers) this translates to 7,000 to 9,000 diapers over the diapering period. At an average price of $.24 per disposable diaper (premium diapers cost closer to $.33 apiece), the price tag for disposable diapering is around $2,000, plus several hundred dollars for garbage disposal costs of an additional can per week.
By contrast, diaper services charge anywhere from $10.00 to $15.00 a week, depending on the part of the country you're in. This works out to $1,300 to $2,000 over two and a half years, for clean diapers delivered to your door each week, the use of wraps in whatever size you need at the time, and a diaper pail. if you have more than one child in diapers, the price drops considerably (usually by 75 percent) for the second child.
Home diapering, on the other hand, can be done for as little as $400, or as much as $1,200, depending on the type of products you buy. Well-made products should last for subsequent children. Diapers can range anywhere from $20.00 a dozen for diaper service-quality prefolds, up to $60.00 or even $100 a dozen for fitted, contoured diapers with snaps or organic cotton diapers. You'll need somewhere between three and five dozen. Covers range from $4.00 to $18.00 apiece, depending on the quality and material, and you'll need up to 25 (about five in each size range). Figuring in detergents and energy costs of about $.60 per load, the average parent will spend well under $1,000--usually more like $500--for home diapering.
An Added Benefit: Earlier Potty-Training
Another advantage to cloth diapers is that they usually lead to earlier toilet training because the child actually knows when he or she is wet. Now that many children go straight from disposable diapers to disposable pull-ups, it's not uncommon to see four and five year olds who still aren't completely potty-trained wearing pull-ups to school. This has an obvious impact on the child's self-esteem, not to mention the added impact on landfills.
"We get customers calling up to start a diaper service when their child is three and a half and not yet toilet trained," says Brian Smithson, president of the National Association of Diaper Services. In fact, several diaper services around the country are, as an incentive, starting to offer the service free after the 30th month if your child is not toilet trained by then.
"We live in a fast-paced society where people don't want to deal with the `yuck' factor," adds Smithson. "Parents look at a diaper as a container that doesn't leak and can be left on for eight hours, instead of looking at it as clothing worn on the most sensitive parts of the body. Shouldn't we b e changing babies when they wet?" Adds Erica Froese, owner of Mother-Ease Diapers, "A diaper is not meant to be used as a toilet."
The "Bottom" Line
Aside from the environmental and health arguments, many parents feel, as I do, that cotton is a purer, softer, simpler choice than paper and plastic, and that if their babies could vote, they'd choose cloth themselves. In fact, my four year old, who has tried pull-ups at night and inevitably wakes up with an itchy rash, has made it clear to me that she prefers cotton. Many cloth diaper companies are now offering adult sizes, as incontinent adults look for alternatives to the feeling of a mushy mass of paper wadded between their legs.
The bottom line is that choosing cloth diapers doesn't have to be a daunting prospect--it's simple, it's convenient, it's inexpensive. And it's the best choice you can make for the health of your baby, and of the planet.
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