photo credit: Photocapy

In the minefield known as Motherhood, there is an awful lot of judgement.  And a lot of it is, actually, unconscious.  It is an uncertain time in our lives, this journey into Parenthood, and we ALL worry about whether or not we’re doing a good job.  In that respect, it almost makes sense that once we think we have a tenuous grip on the “right” answers, that we will think of all other answers as being the “wrong” ones.

Cloth diapering is no different in this regard, sadly.  However, the good news is that not everyone judges other parents for their choices.  Think of it this way.  Do all mothers who breastfeed their babies think poorly of mothers who feed their babies formula?  Of course not.  Do parents who sleep in the same bed as their children think poorly of all parents who put their babies into cribs from day one?  Nope.  I could go on and on, but I think you get my point.

Not ALL parents who cloth diaper their children think poorly of parents who use disposables.  Sure, there are some that do.  There’s always an exception to the rule.  But I think it’s just that.  An exception.

I, for one, used disposable diapers a LOT longer than I’ll be using cloth.  And my toddler still uses some disposables since our stash isn’t quite big enough for two children.  So I would be the last person to think harshly of someone who uses disposable diapers.  My choices are mine.  Sure, I wish I had ventured into cloth diapering years ago.  That I knew just how EASY it was.  And if a mom who uses disposables were to belittle my choices, I would be very upset.

So therefore, it stands to reason, that if a mom who uses cloth were to belitter a mom who uses disposables, perhaps it would make her very upset too.

Maybe, instead of trying to evangelize cloth diapering, we should just be glad that there is an option like cloth diapering available to us.  And that maybe, if we continue to sing it’s praises, more and more mothers will be drawn towards it as an option.  Isn’t that the best way?  To support each other and our choices as parents?

This is a hard job, being a mom.  Let’s try really hard not to make it any harder.

Tags: choices, cloth diaper, disposables, judgement, parenting

If you want to get specific, saving money is one of the big reasons to start cloth diapering in the first place.  Considering the cheapest diapers out there still cost at least $20 a month, it doesn’t take too long for virtually any cloth diapering setup to save you money.

However, I totally get it.  A lot of people are reluctant to switch to cloth diapering not just because of the thought of nasty laundry chores or difficult to manage diapers, but because of the cost.  And while by NO means do you need to go whole hog from the word go (you can just buy a diaper here and a diaper there as you are able), it still represents a significant investment.

So here are my tips for cloth diapering on a budget.

• Use baby washcloths as cloth wipes.  A pack of 8 Gerber washclothes is pretty cheap and you can find even cheaper options that will work just as well.  Just fold them and store them in an old plastic disposable wipes container.  Then, when it’s time to change baby, just run them under the warm water of the faucet and voila.  You’ll never have to buy another wipe again.
• Prefolds are NOT that hard to work with!  There are many folds that work for many different babies.  Prefolds are enormously versatile workhorses.  And, if you’re crafty enough, you can easily make them into prefitteds which are easier to deal with.
• Or you can buy prefitteds, which are still much cheaper than most diaper options out there.
• Most PUL covers are pretty cheap anyhow, but you can get even more thrifty if you can sew by making your own fleece soaker out of an old fleece receiving blanket.
• If you’re really desperate and have diaper pins available, you can always use an old tshirt as a diaper when in a pinch.
• Look for gently used diapers on Diaper Swappers FSOT (For Sale Or Trade) forums.  You can find some really good deals here and a lot of people buy ALL their diapers used.

You don’t have to break the bank to cloth diaper your baby.  I’m already enjoying not having to buy a ginormous box of diapers each month.  Though my middle child still wears disposables at night (we don’t have quite enough diapers on hand to diaper both kids full time), we only have to spend about $10 a month.  I can’t wait for the day when that number becomes $0 a month!

So what are your favorite money-saving tips?

Tags: budget, Diaper Swappers, fleece, prefitteds, prefolds, saving money, soaker, wipes

I caved.  They stocked some more print diapers over at goodmama today and I saw this and I just had to have it. I mean, come on.  Pink with juicy pink watermelons on it?  Slightly ribbed knit?  OBV inner?  I’M NOT THAT STRONG, PEOPLE!

Actually, it’s more than just common weakness on my part (shut up!  It totally is!).  There is some practicality behind my decision.  Evie is outgrowing some of her prefitteds.  I have five prefolds that I’m going to be having my mother in law make into prefitteds for me, just a size larger.  So I’m going to be without at least six diapers in the meantime (the five prefolds plus one prefitted so she can see how it’s made).  I’ve got the two Rumparooz coming so with this, that’ll be three diapers.  Should be enough to keep me covered.

Also, once I have my stash “intact”, I’m going to sell off a few.  Starting with a Mutt 3sr that I’ve never fallen in love with.  Then there’s a medium Bagshot Row Bamboo prefitted that has never fit that great and never been my favorite.  I’m also thinking about ditching my Rumparooz in the “Jack” print.  I like it, but it is a bit on the boyish side and since it has the old-style aplix, doesn’t stay “stuck” very well.  That’s no good when you’ve got yourself an ornery toddler around.  I can still put it on Evie, of course, but like I said, it’s kinda boyish.  Simply put, if it had snaps, I’d be keeping it.  And if I’m going to ditch that, it makes me reconsider the other aplix Rumparooz I have.  I also will probably be selling Evie’s regular prefitteds, once I get the new ones from my mother in law.  So maybe selling some and recouping some cash will help me feel better about my splurge.  You think?

(Of course, you realize that means that I’ll just be buying new diapers.  Sigh.)

Tags: BSRB, Goodmama, Mutt, prefitteds, Rumparooz

It took a while for me to get the courage up to cloth diaper. It’s true. I was a fraidy cat.  Now as we leave the diaper daze behind us (slowly, but surely) I miss the diapers the way I missed breast feeding.  It just ends one day after what seems like years. And sometimes, is.

Four years. Four years of diapers. And I’m finally walking away from that yellow and poop stained brick road.

It’s been days since I washed diapers.  That panicked “what? only one clean diaper?” feeling has been replaced with, the ‘what’s that I smell?’ feeling.  I keep forgetting to wash the diapers.

I’m just saying. That day is coming!

I’m here to do more than just gloat I’m here to offer insight. My oldest son was not cloth diapered, and I have to say the transition to training pants has been so much easier this time then it was last time.  I already have the ’set up’ as it were.  Messy pants just go in the diaper pail.

With my first son I was washing and soaking dirty underwear all day and it was a waste of time and water, but having my second in cloth diapers has meant that as we transition out of of the diaper daze the clean up is much easier and that makes it more enjoyable.

In case you weren’t sold on cloth yet I’m just giving you that little push.  No buckets of poo pants sitting by your washer, you already have the set up.

Finally, at the end I feel like I got a brain.

I think I’m rambling with joy.

But the heart of the matter? Is that I’m going to ask you for money. All that money you are saving on cloth diapers? (ha!) Well throw some over here at me. Friday is the last day for a fundraiser I’m having on my other site.  It’s for a Young Man I’ve know for a very long time.  His name is Lee, he is 22 and last March he received a brand new heart, now his family is struggling with medical bills, and I’d like to help out the best I can.

Take a minute to read my story about this Young Man who has a new Heart, and maybe give up that  beautiful diaper on hyena cart this month. (Next months designs will be cooler, you know they will!

Lets make the world a nicer place for our kids, one cloth diapered mama at a time.

All we need is love people! And cloth diapers…and pants.

It’s that most blessed of events, the monthly paycheck!  For the past several days I’ve been debating which diapers to purchase this month.  I may be able to swing getting both of my top choices, but for starters, I had to choose.

Goodmama fitted diapers has been doing some amazing stuff lately.  Suzanne, who runs the show, has long wanted to have an “in stock” store instead of always having her customers have to “stalk” her stockings.  And it looks like that time is here!  Right now, there are 11 (count ‘em, ELEVEN) print fitted diapers in stock and 23 “Switched” OBV diapers in stock.  WOW.  I had my eye on the pretty fitted diaper above.

On the other side, I was also interested in some Rumparooz diapers, one of my favorite one size pocket diapers (next to the bumgenius, of course), especially if they have snaps instead of aplix.  They’re having a “seconds” sale, which means these diapers have something that’s “off”, making them not exactly storefront-worthy.  However, they’re still operational and offered at a very decent discount.  I was eyeballing some of their “minkee” snap diapers which run for about $25-$27 and the seconds sale had them offered at $16!  Add in a microfiber insert and they’re $17.50 each!  At those prices, I could get two for the same price as one of the goodmama diapers above.

Decisions, decisions…

I ended up going with the Rumparooz because a) I kinda feel like we need more pocket diapers more than we need another fitted and b) two diapers versus one.  Value wins out.  But I still feel like I’m going to have to get a print fitted from goodmama eventually.  Because, really, who can resist?

Tags: Fitted, Good Deals, Goodmama, One-size, Pocket, Rumparooz, seconds sale, shopping