Diaper Plan Revised

Are you tired of reading about cloth diapers yet? Sorry. I remember how little I cared about this topic until I really opened my mind to it. Now that I've dragged you into this, though, I feel obligated to keep you posted. Don't worry, I will move on to different topics soon :).

Even before receiving my new gDiapers in the mail, I've decided to return them. I love the concept and have heard great things about the brand, but one feature has kept nagging at me ever since I clicked "Purchase". As I mentioned in my last post, the gDiapers have a cloth cover (not waterproof), a snap-in plastic lining, and a stay-dry cloth (or disposable) insert. You can rinse out the plastic liner if it becomes soiled and re-use along with the cover.

Similarly, the Flip Hybrid (waterproof) cover can be wiped and reused with each diaper change. It's basically the same concept, except with fewer pieces...a waterproof cover (plus insert) versus a cloth cover and plastic lining (plus insert). Fewer pieces = More husband-proof (am I right?).

I originally decided on the gDiapers because I thought that their fitted sizes would give a less bulky appearance than the Flip's one-size design. After reading TONS of positive reviews, though, everyone seems to be raving about the Flip's trim appearance. In fact, I've read very few complaints about the Flip in general, while gDiapers tend to get mixed reviews.

I am going to dip my toe in the water by buying one "Day Pack" to start with ($49.95). It includes two covers and six cloth inserts, and if you order from www.cottonbabies.com, they will throw in a free pack of disposable inserts and free shipping. If I decide to stick with the Flip system, I'll just need to buy another Day Pack for the toddler and eventually two Day Packs for the new baby, with some additional inserts. This is one of the most affordable cloth diapering systems available.

A couple more advantages of Flip:

• The disposable inserts are cheap (remember, you choose whether to use a cloth or disposable insert. We'll use disposable inserts when traveling and possibly when I know Nick will be changing the next diaper, until he becomes more comfortable with cloth!). Flip disposable inserts are $0.28 each. The cheapo disposable diapers I currently use cost about $0.27 each. The gDiapers disposable inserts are $0.41 each if you buy a case.
• The Flip disposable inserts are "dye free, fragrance free, and the only disposable insert that has achieved Oeko-Tex certification", containing only 3g SAP (in other words, better for Baby and for the environment than regular disposables). They're also compostable, but I'm not sure if I trust my compost pile that much!
• Toddler and Baby will both be wearing the same diapers because of their one-size design. With gDiapers, I would have to organize my stash into small, medium, and large. Once Toddler is potty trained, Baby will have a huge stash of diapers all to himself, meaning less laundry for me.
• The Flip cover can be used with any type of insert, prefold, or fitted diaper underneath. Just in case we find that the Flip cloth insert (or two) is still not enough to last my 12-hour-sleeper through the night, I could always buy a few fitted diapers to use under the Flip cover (something like this Kissaluvs contour diaper):

So that's the new plan! I'll keep you posted, whether you like it or not :).

Diaper Decision

I did it. I just bought the cloth diapers. I hope we like them!

In case you're curious, I thought I would do a follow-up post detailing my decision-making process. I'm not going to list every diaper I considered, because this post would be 400 pages long. After weeks of (obsessive) research*, I limited my options to three systems.

1. BumGenius One-Size 3.0

This diaper will fit a baby from 7 to 35 pounds because of its adjustable snap design. You set the snaps to fit your baby and only adjust it when the baby grows, closing the diaper with velcro for each change. This diaper has a pocket where you stuff one or more cloth inserts for varying absorbency. They cost $17.95 each (including two inserts), with discounts for buying multiples.

I was completely sold on this system until I realized that I will have two babies in diapers for at least 6 months. While a one-size system would normally be more affordable (you just buy one set of diapers instead of three sets, size small, medium, and large), in my situation, I would need to buy more diapers. I estimate that I would need 24 diapers for the new baby (which will hopefully last 3 days between laundering) and an additional 12 diapers for the toddler. The cost of 36 diapers, including inserts, is $610.

2. BumGenius Flip Hybrid

This diaper is also a one-size system, fitting babies from 7 to 35 pounds. Each diaper includes a waterproof cover to which you add either a reusable cloth insert or a disposable insert for traveling. The waterproof shell can simply be wiped clean and worn again and again between washes. The waterproof covers (including an insert) cost $16.95 each and additional cloth inserts cost $4.95 each.

This is the most affordable system I considered. For two children wearing diapers, I would only need to buy 8 diapers (4 for the new baby and 4 for the toddler to get through 3 days between laundering, assuming one clean cover per day with a backup just in case) and 28 additional cloth inserts (for the new baby, 20 additional ones plus the 4 that come with the covers to get through 3 days, and for the toddler, 8 additional ones). The total for this system would be $274.

3. gDiapers

This is also a hybrid diaper, similar to the Flip. Each diaper includes a cover, a snap-in waterproof liner, and either a reusable cloth insert or a disposable (biodegradable/flushable) insert. This is not a one-size diaper, so you need to buy three complete sets: small, medium, and large. The covers (including two snap-in waterproof liners) cost between $11.66 and $18.99 each, depending on color/pattern and whether you buy multiples at once. Additional cloth liners cost $2.50 each.

With this system, I would need to buy 4 covers in each size plus 24 cloth inserts for size small and 12 cloth inserts for sizes medium and large. I won't go into the details of the discounts offered for buying "starter packs", but it made more sense to buy 6 small covers and 24 small inserts (totaling $169), 6 medium covers ($70), 6 large covers and 12 medium/large inserts (totaling $109). The total for the entire system is $348.

In the end, I actually didn't go with the cheapest option. I went with the gDiapers, and the reason is somewhat embarrassing....they're cuter! The one-size diapers tend to look pretty bulky on a newborn, but the gDiapers provide a more fitted look. I figure that since I will potentially be saving thousands of dollars in the long run, I can pay an additional $74 up front for the cuteness factor :).

Accessories purchased:

BumGenius Diaper Sprayer ($44.95)

PlanetWise Diaper Pail Liners ($16.50 each, I bought two)

TOTAL SPENT TO SWITCH TO CLOTH DIAPERS: $425.95

(Although the start-up costs were only about $187 including the size large gDiapers, inserts, and accessories. I'll buy size small and medium later, assuming I like them).

I will be sure to let you know how it works out!

*The Colorado Springs based online store, A Diaper Change, was very helpful in my decision making process. Their prices, which are competitive, are the prices quoted here.

Cloth Diapers?

I am considering a switch to cloth diapers, and I will explain why in a moment, but there are so many options available that I could really use some help making sense of it all. I've been asking around, and it turns out that I don't know a single mom who uses cloth. Maybe, just maybe, someone will come across my blog and be able to give me some advice?

Images courtesy of BumGenius, gDiapers, and CushyToosh.

OK, so here's the story: I love disposables. I buy the cheapo store-brand ones at King Soopers (well, the store-brand ones that are chlorine-free, so they are the second cheapest option), and have never had a problem with them. They're convenient and affordable and don't seem to affect Baby's skin negatively. Last summer, however, Baby started getting a recurring diaper rash (too much information? Sorry, this is a mommy blog after all). Her doctor suggested that we start using wet washcloths instead of disposable wipes, because the wipes contain tons of chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin. I made the switch and fell in love with my new cloth wipes. My mom helped me sew really cute ones with flannel on one side and a soft terry cloth fabric on the other. I keep a solution of water, aloe vera juice, tea tree oil, and baby oil near the changing table and wet each wipe before use. Her diaper rash immediately cleared up and it actually made diaper changes a more pleasant experience for both of us (the new wipes are better at getting the job done, too, so I only need one or two instead of 45 disposables per diaper change).

A couple months ago, I got lazy (actually, I got morning sickness) and switched back to disposable wipes. Within a week, her diaper rash was back in full force. Once I switched back to cloth, it was gone almost immediately. Now I'm totally sold.

I'm already doing extra laundry for the cloth wipes. It kills me to run a nearly empty load of laundry, since I don't want to combine them with our other clothes. I finally realized that switching to cloth diapers would actually simplify my routine at this point. Rather than keep two separate diaper pails (I have one for disposable diapers and a little one for the cloth wipes), I can just throw all the cloth into one pail. I'm already doing extra laundry, so I can just throw the diapers in with the wipes. No extra work!

Plus, I'll theoretically save a bunch of money in the long run by switching to cloth. I've found estimates online that for the cheapest disposables, you'll pay about $1200 from birth to potty training for one child, which lines up pretty closely to my own math. The cost of cloth diapers vary greatly, but I am considering a higher-end system that would total about $500. Ouch, that hurts to fork out up front, but in the long run, it's still significantly cheaper than disposables. Plus, I can use these diapers for multiple children (if we decide to have a third child down the road), and sell them for about half what I paid new. Seriously, people buy used cloth diapers in good condition all the time. What do I have to lose?

Well, I have about $500 to lose. What if I hate them?

Here is where you come in, my wonderful readers. If you use cloth, I would love to hear your opinion. I am fully expecting to not receive a single comment on this post, though, with the luck I've had so far just asking around!

• What's your favorite brand?
• Have you tried a WAHM-produced diaper, maybe sold on Etsy, or is it wise to stick with the bigger brands, like BumGenius?
• Have you tried a hybrid diaper? gDiaper and BumGenius both make hybrids that allow for either a biodegradable/flushable disposable or cloth insert.
• Do the one-size diapers look really bulky on a newborn? Is it worth it to buy a system with small, medium, and large, even though you have to buy three times as many diapers in the long run?
• Are the all-in-one diapers really that much more convenient than a pocket/all-in-two diaper? Is it nasty to pull the soiled inserts out of the pocket diapers?
• How did you convince your husband that this was a good idea? :)

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a million!

Milk

As Baby approached her first birthday, to be honest, I started counting down the days until we could stop breastfeeding. I had set a goal to breastfeed for her first year of life. It was a wonderful experience, especially when she was a sweet little newborn, but by the time she was a year old she was getting wiggly and bound to spring teeth any day (which didn't happen until 18 months, but who could have predicted that?). Plus, the grandparents were all excited for an overnight visit from Baby, and Nick and I started planning a weekend at a bed and breakfast. Baby had already started solid foods by then, of course, but a large portion of her nutritional needs would still be fulfilled with milk. With all of the controversy about milk these days, I began researching what option would be the best for my little girl.

Here's a very brief summary of what I learned about the current problems with cow's milk*. In an effort to make more money, many dairy farmers give their cows the artificial growth hormone rBGH, created by the corporation Monsanto (big surprise). This added hormone is banned in most of Europe and many other parts of the world. It's my understanding that rBGH increases milk production in cows, but because their bodies are often not able to handle the added milk, it can cause mastitis (an infection). To treat the mastitis, cows are given antibiotics, which theoretically pass into our milk and could potentially not be great for our health.

The other controversy related to rBGH is that the added hormones themselves may be bad for our health. Consumer advocate groups theorize that it can be a cause of early puberty in children. However, several studies have disproven this theory, and it seems that the rise in early puberty is more likely related to an increase in childhood obesity. It is, however, possible that rBGH may be linked to cancer in humans.

While much is still unknown, I decided that it was important to find a milk clear of rBGH for Baby. My criteria for The Ideal Milk was:

• rBGH-free
• Locally produced (for environmental and economic reasons)
• Affordable

Now, I'm not going to list all of the options for milk available in Colorado Springs, because there are MANY, but I will name a few that I considered:

• Robinson Dairy: While local and convenient (they deliver to your home), the prices were a bit high for the amount of milk we drink.
• Organic milk available at the grocery store: Not locally produced and pretty expensive.
• Raw milk from a local farmer: Although arguably the most healthful option for adults, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be fed only pasteurized dairy products. Plus, it's usually VERY expensive.
• Colorado Proud milk: I shop at King Soopers, and Colorado Proud is the brand name of their cheapest milk. It's usually priced around $1.68 - $2.29 per gallon. Not only is it locally produced (I'm defining "local" as "Colorado" here), but it's rBGH free!

So, surprise, surprise, the least costly option ended up being the best choice for my family.

Now I'm curious: If you choose organic milk for your family, what is your reasoning? Am I missing something?

*I'm sorry, I can't quote sources for you...I think I learned the most from Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle", but I also did some internet research, and this was nearly a year ago so I don't remember where I found most of it.

Denver's Downtown Aquarium

Baby watching some "pishies".

Nick's sister Elise, Grandma Carol and Baby experiencing a flash flood.

Grandpa Jim, cousin Joey, Daddy and Baby hanging out while sharks and sting-rays swim overhead.

Baby ever-so-cautiously standing on glass while sharks swim underneath.

Overlooking the tiger enclosure.

Baby touching a sting-ray.

Cute new word of the day: "Fishy Horsies" instead of Seahorse.

Halfway

I thought I'd do some baby bump modeling in celebration of reaching the halfway point in my pregnancy! We learned that we are expecting a baby boy a couple weeks ago with an ultrasound, and more importantly, we learned that he seems to be growing at just the right pace and appears perfectly healthy. My morning sickness lasted until about week 16 this time around, so for the past month I have felt absolutely fantastic. I've been swimming at the gym often after discovering at the very end of my first pregnancy that weightlessness is a wonderful feeling when you're packing on the pounds.

Thank you to everyone who commented on my post a couple weeks ago when I asked your advice about the epidural versus a natural birth. Since I am not strongly opinionated about either option, it was nice to read all of your experiences and gave me a lot to think about.

20 weeks down, only 20 to go! Hopefully the nesting instinct kicks in at some point...

Just a Couple Pictures

Baby enjoying the awesome play area at Focus on the Family.

Making a big mess with her little indoor sandbox (of rice). The 30 minutes of solid entertainment are worth the 2 minutes of vacuuming when she's done.

You guys know how bad I am about taking pictures, so that's all I have for now. Well, aside from half a dozen naked pictures from when she escapes and runs around "Hanky" (her word for naked) after her bath!