The Christmas Season

We've been doing a lot around here the past month or so to put ourselves in the Christmas spirit! We began the season by watching Claymation and Frosty movies, followed by some other classic cartoons, such as the Charlie Brown episodes.

Of course, we also began the Christmas shopping. While we didn't rush out super early on Black Friday or do a ton of searching, we did brave the crowd later that day to look for a few particular items, including a new Christmas tree. Unfortunately, Costco was already completely sold out of trees we were looking for! Despite our disappointment, we found a giant Rudolph toy that Caleb loved. It took a little convincing from Mommy, but Daddy decided to cave and buy our furry friend with the glowing nose. The reindeer provided plenty of entertainment for the rest of the month. Caleb touched and chewed its glowing nose, rode it, hugged it, and even wrestled a little.

While Caleb was entertained with the movies and Rudolph, Mommy began wrapping presents. I wrapped most of my presents at the end of November, but we had a few still left over on Christmas Eve. We tried to let Caleb help wrap those.

Aside from enjoying the wrapping paper and bows, the Christmas trees and ornaments also provided a lot of excitement. We had three trees this year: our main one that we placed in the breakfast nook's bay window, a small country tree for our formal living room, and a fancier tree that went upstairs in the hall in front of a large window. You could see a Christmas tree in the windows in both the front and back of our house. Caleb helped by putting the star on one of the trees. He loved playing with the ornaments and lights as well as pulling them off the tree. At one point, he decided to lick one of the glittery ornaments, so Mommy had to immediately go scrub his tongue. He has also played with and even pulled apart some other decorations sitting about, which has been a nice distraction for a little boy who seems to become more mobile every day.

Outside of the house we made plenty of memories too, shopping and taking Christmas pictures. One day, Caleb even got to spend a little time on Santa's knee. He was pretty curious about this interesting character even though our particular St. Nick wasn't the jolliest.

The Tuesday before Christmas, we also went to enjoy the decorations and stores on Main Street with Max and Natalie. Caleb gave Max his gift and tried to help him open it.

We've enjoyed singing and listening to Christmas carols, receiving Christmas cards, and seeing family and friends. Dave and I were also able to watch Christmas plays at two different churches. It's been a great month of making memories!

Cloth Diapering 102

Probably the scariest part of cloth diapering to many is the thought of cleaning them. Let's face it, handling sopping wet inserts and poopy covers doesn't sounds fun to anyone. However, I think having a good system in place really makes everything pretty easy. Trust me! It's not nearly as much work as I expected the first time I heard about it.

I recommend setting up a good diaper station to help keep things easy. Rather than trying to fold the prefolds and stuff the pocket diapers when he needs to be changed, I try to prepare everything in advance. This is important when they are little so you don't get squirted and when they are bigger so they don't have time to roll or crawl away. I use a basket to keep everything organized or the diaper stacker on the side of Caleb's Pack-N-Play.

I also prepare my wipes by folding them, wetting them, and tucking them into the warmer.Here is a picture of the cloth wipes and the wipe warmer I use:

There are three different types of wipes pictured above. The ones on the left are flannel and are the cheapest. The ones in the middle are theThirsties fab wipes - cotton velour on one side and fleece on the other. On the right are Warmies; they came with the wipe warmer. Dave likes the flannel best and I prefer the Thirsties. The Warmies are terrible! They fell apart after being washed just a time or so, plus they are expensive and really small. Even if you decide not to cloth diaper, using cloth wipes may be an option. Even if you buy the most expensive cloth wipes you save money in the long run, plus it's just like washing a load of washcloths.

A lot of people assume diapers need to be soaked once they are removed. However, most websites I read and other cloth diapering moms I spoke with recommend using a dry pail. For one, it is a lot less mess. Secondly, allowing the diapers to set in water breaks down the fibers. I prefer to remove all the solid material into the toliet before placing it in the dry pail, but I know some people who are exclusively breastfeeding that don't scrape out the waste because it is supposedly water soluble and bacteria free. You can make your own choice. If you are using prefolds or AIO diapers, you can just throw the diapers in the pail. If you are using something with an insert, it is best to go ahead and separate it before throwing it the pail so it is ready to empty directly into the machine. Make sure to secure any of the Velcro tabs to prevent the diapers from clingy to each other and making snags in the fabric.

You can buy a "wet bag" to line the trashcan or pail like the brown one below. These come in many different sizes. I have one for my dry pail and one to take with me when I go out. The small one is great for wet or soiled clothes as well.

When you are ready to wash diapers, it is best to wash no more than about fifteen at a time so they are thoroughly cleaned and rinsed well. Most people I've talked to seem to wash diapers about every other day which is what we tend to do as well. You simply dump the wet bag into the machine and add your detergent like you would normally.

Note: Many types of detergent - like Dreft - are not compatible with cloth diaper, but there are several types that do work well. Crystal recommended Country Save to me and found it at a cheap price, so that's what I use. Here are some charts that shows what types are best: http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoicesataglancepspd.htm and http://www.diaperjungle.com/he-detergent-chart.html. Do not use fabric softner because it will clog the diapers and may cause irritation. Make sure to read the directions that come with any of the diapers you buy because some provide specific laundrying directions.

I've seen people debate whether or not to use bleach on the diapers. I personally choose not to because it strips the diapers and can cause burns/irritation to be baby because of it's reaction with their urine/waste. At one point I was concerned about some staining that I couldn't get out by just washing the diapers and was wondering if bleach would be necessary. Crystal suggested hanging them outside instead. Believe it or not, the sun bleached them out the first time I tried it! If you line dry the covers or inserts though, may want to throw the diapers back in the dryer afterwards though to soften them a bit.

Now that you know our routine, I wanted to give you a few tips I've learned. Diapers can be clogged by several different things and require stripping. If you read my previous post about all of my beautiful diapers being clogged, you remember me warning other mom's that certain diaper creams and hard water can cause major problems. Desitin, A&D, and Butt Paste are definitely not compatible. Try this website to see if the type you have is safe and/or which types to buy: http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/diaperrashcreams.htm. Personally, I choose Grandma El's which can be purchased online from Target. Several cloth diapering websites suggest putting a liner in the cloth diaper if you have to use another cream, but I say JUST USE A DISPOSABLE! Trust me on this one. I tried everything to get those diapers unclogged. (By the way, the only method that worked to cut the grease came from my dad; he told me to use the orange goop mechanics use to get the grim off their hands. I don't know how he figured it out but I was at my wits in and about to throw everything away before he had this wonderful epiphany.)

If you have hard water, I don't recommend cloth diapering until you buy a water softner because unclogging diapers is a time-consuming mess. We haven't been cloth diapering at our new house much because we have had a lot of issues with hard water and iron. I'm waiting until this is fixed so I don't ruin my diapers.

Okay, so I am going to try to do a FAQ section here:
What do you do out in public?
Personally, I usually opt to use disposables because it is easier to throw away the diaper and I have to carry less stuff. However, many people just carry a wet bag to throw everything in and take it with them. This is probably easier when a baby is still breastfeeding exclusively and doesn't have smelly diapers. When I take Caleb to church or leave him with people, I also tend to use disposables, unless I know the caregiver is comfortable using cloth diapers. Even though they are pretty simple to change and throw in a bag, I want to do what makes the person watching him most at ease.

What do you do at night time?
Again, we use a disposable at night time because I don't like the wetness laying against Caleb's skin. However, a lot of people just put in an extra insert to help absorb the wetness. It depends on how long your baby sleeps and how heavy he/she wets at night.

What do I do if yeast builds up in my diapers?
It is common for a diaper rash to turn into a yeast infection and if you are cloth diapering, the yeast may get in your diapers. Here is a website with suggestions for how to deal with this problem: http://www.pinstripesandpolkadots.com/YeastvsCloth.htm. (Make sure though that your child really has an infection and that the continued diaper rash is not simply a food allergy - We learned this the hard way.)

Where can I purchase diapers?
There are a ton of places to purchase cloth diapers. Two popular sites I've seen are http://bananapeelsdiapers.com/ and www.cottonbabies.com. Crystal recommended www.diaperjungle.com because it gives a comparison of the diapers. If you search online at Target, Walmart, and Babies R'Us you will find a few types of diapers, but I recommend doing a Google search and trying to find a store with the best price for the diapers you want. If you live near Baltimore, there is a store called Soft and Cozy Baby. Does anyone else have sites they prefer?

Can my baby wear these diapers in the pool?
There are certain cloth diapers made just for swimming. Some work well and others don't. Make sure to do your research before purchasing these.

Like I said, I'm a novice when it comes to cloth diapering so take this info with a grain of salt. Figure out what works best for you and your baby and go with it. I love the Pin Stripes and Polka-dots website as a resource but I also use google a lot to find out what other moms are doing. If you have any questions, please ask. I know there is a lot to digest at first, but once you start buying those cute little cloth diapers I bet you'll be hooked. :)

Cloth Diapering 101

There are so many of you who have asked me about cloth diapering that I thought it would be best to do a post about what we use, our routine, and all the mishaps that have taught us lessons about what to do in the future. I want to preface this post by stating I am a cloth diapering novice. A great deal of what I've learned has come from my sister-in-law (Amy), my friend from church (Crystal), and various websites. However, I hope this is somewhat helpful to all of those who are interested in trying it out with your little ones. For those who think those of us who cloth diaper are nuts, you're invited to read along too. These aren't the cloth diapers your grandma or mama used! I'm not talking about primitive diapering methods with safety pins and rubber pants. Everything is a little fancier these days....

To begin, I'll give you an introduction to some of the cloth diapers we've tried and our opinions of each type.

1. The least expensive diapers, and the type we've used the most, are prefolds. Crystal loaned us several diaper covers and a ton of prefold inserts when I began talking about cloth diapering. Initially, they didn't work well for us because of the bulk on a newborn baby. However, since then, we've preferred them because they are easy to use, don't clog, rarely leak, and are easy on our bank account. There is a lot less laundry with these because you can reuse the covers instead of washing a ton of bulky diapers.

We've tried Thirsties Duo Wraps and Bummis diaper covers. I prefer the Thirsties because they adjust in size with snaps to fit the baby better lengthwise. (However, the regular Thirsties covers don't adjust so make sure to look for the Duo Wraps.) The Bummis only adjust around the waist with Velcro like a disposable does, requiring you to purchase different size covers more frequently and often not fitting as snugly. I love the print patterns Bummis uses though. Amy suggests Prorap covers because they are less expensive than some and work well. I've never tried Proraps so I can't give my opinion on those.

Inserts and Thirsties covers

Here is a step by step guide of how I do this:

1. First, I lay the insert flat and fold it. When Caleb was really small, I folded it in thirds to make it fit in the diaper, but now that he is older I just fold it in half.

2. Put the insert inside the diaper cover.

3. Diaper that baby! (As you can see from the picture, these tend to be pretty bulky.)

Here is a website for purchasing prefolds, but there are many to chose from: bananapeelsdiapers.com. Because prefolds sometimes tend to be bulky, Crystal says you can also use other types of inserts, even old towels, washcloths, hand towels, or blankets cut to fit in the diapers.

2. We also have tried gDiapers which are similar to prefolds in that you have an outer cover and that they require inserts. The difference is that the outer cover is made of cloth with a snap in liner that holds hemp inserts. It also fastens in the back unlike normal diapers, which can confuse dads who may accidentally put these on backwards (wink, wink). While I loved how these fit and looked on Caleb as a newborn, they quickly became too tight around the middle for our chunky boy. They also often leaked which was probably because they didn't fit him quite right. From a financial perspective these really aren't the best option, but they were easier to find in stores that most of the other types.

The gDiaper company offers a starter package with newborn diapers though which is nice because a lot of the cloth diapers seem to swallow the babies at first. Another unique option they offer is disposable inserts rather than just the hemp. It is supposedly better for the environment than a traditional disposable because they are plastic free and can be used to make compost or can even be flushed because they are biodegradable. Personally, I choose to use a regular disposable when leaving the house because I don't like the wetness against Caleb's skin if I can't change him quickly. I also think disposables are much more convenient when you're on the run.

1. Fill the liner with a hemp insert.

2. Snap the insert into the diaper cover.

3. Turn the diaper the opposite direction it looks like it should go (i.e. the tabs should be in the front.


4. Wrap the tabs around to the back to secure.

Rather than using the hemp inserts, you can use these disposables. When you are done you can put them into a compost pile or flush them. To flush them, just tear one end and let the middle fall in. Then, you use the little stick here to stir it around and break it up. Personally, this wasn't something I ever decided to do and it may not be the best option if you have a septic.

3. Pocket diapers are another type to consider. They have a outer cover that can be stuffed with an insert. You can choose what type of inserts to stuff the diapers with based on how much your baby wets. We tried: Fuzzibunz and BumGenius. Both can be purchased or put on a registry at Target. Both types have adjustable snaps that allows the diapers to grow with your baby. You still will have to purchase several different size diapers but these snaps help you to buy fewer sizes and to adjust them as necessary based on your baby's body shape. They are not the most expensive diapers out there but they aren't as inexpensive as prefolds either.

The Fuzzibunz fit Caleb best. I loved how these looked on Caleb, how they adjusted to fit his body, and how durable the snaps were. While the Velcro sometimes makes adjustments more precise and diaper changing quicker, the snaps are great because you don't have to worry about the diapers getting stuck to each other in the laundry because you forgot to secure a tab. The outer shell is very soft and waterproof; the inside is lined with a fleece pocket that holds an insert. I also thought they were also very absorbent. Sometimes I couldn't tell by touching the fleece if Caleb was wet and had to pull the insert out to see if he need to be changed. This is definitely a plus over the prefolds where the wetness is against his skin.

After stuffing the insert into the fleece lining, there are several sets of snaps to help you adjust the diaper to fit your little one around the tummy and legs.

The BumGenius diapers were decent as well but I probably would prefer to buy others instead. Other people I know love these diapers and use these exclusively though, so don't take my word for it alone if you are interested in them. They have snaps on the front to help adjust to the appropriate length but are bulky as a result. Unlike the other diapers, the covers cannot be dried in the dryer so it takes some extra time to go through and pick them out. I didn't realize they couldn't be dried and I think I may have messed them up because they often leak now.

1. First, use the snaps to adjust the diaper to the correct length.

2. Then, stuff the diaper fleece pocket with an insert. (Note: You will need to stuff the Fuzzibunz above the same way, but there is no use being repetitive with pictures.)

3. Finally, fasten the Velcro.

4. There also two All-In-One (AIO) diapers we've tried: Thirsties and Kushies. This type of diaper is the most similar to a disposable diaper. There are no inserts to stuff or pull out and no covers to use. Just put it on and close the Velcro!

I actually love the Thirsties AIO diapers!!!! Crystal also told me she preferred these and found a decent sale for me - about $12 a piece. Their extra small diapers were the first diapers that I think really fit Caleb. They cannot be adjusted in size like the pocket diapers we tried, but I thought they fit him great and looked super adorable. Unfortunately, because they can't be adjusted, they are the most expensive; you have to buy quite a few different sizes from newborn to toddler. On the other hand, since they don't have to be stuffed, they weren't bulky at all and were incredibly easy to use. (If your child is a heavy wetter though, there is an inner pocket where you can put in an insert if necessary, especially for over night.) I also really liked the lining around the legs that helped prevent leaks. The main problem I had was that they didn't always dry thoroughly in the dryer; I had to turn them inside out and try to dry them more. Thirsties has now discontinued these diapers despite my love for them, so I've only been able to purchase them from retailers who still have them in stock.

There is no step-by step instruction needed for these because you simply do the same thing you would with a disposable.


The Kushies diapers, on the other hand, are definitely not my favorite even though they have some perks. I think the main reason I dislike them is because the outer shell is a stiff plastic-like material. (Some websites said it is nylon coated polyurethane and another said polyester - either way it is stiff and looks terribly uncomfortable.) On a positive note, the inside is a cotton flannel versus the fleece most of the other diapers I've described use which makes it more breathable and seems to prevent them from clogging as easily. I'm pretty sure I remember reading reviews a while ago from people who felt the diapers fell apart in the wash but I never had this problem. They provide an extra piece of flannel to lay in the diaper if you need more absorbency but it was very thin. They can be purchased or registered for at Babies R' Us, but I couldn't find them in any of the actual stores. Overall, I just really don't recommend these even though I thought they worked okay. They're just awkward feeling and not worth the money in my opinion.


Again, no instructions are really needed for these. If you can do a disposable, Kushies are easy. If you feel the need to add an extra fleece layer, you have the option of doing so. Plus, if you want to use a disposable liner, so you can throw the waste away or to prevent diapers from staining or getting diaper cream on them, that's an option too.



5. Thirsties also started selling a new diaper to replace the AIOs called a Duo-diaper. It's similar to their old diaper except now there is are openings for inserts. The openings are not quite like the pocket diapers though because the Duo-diaper is open on both ends. This is good because rather than having to separate the wet insert from the outer layer after the baby wets, the insert is supposed to fall out in the wash. They include two inserts (terry and hemp) which is supposed to be seven layers total of maximum absorbency. Sometimes I don't use the hemp though because it is so absorbent that it holds a ton of water from the washing machine, making it difficult to truly dry out. I still prefer the AIOs because I like not having to deal with inserts and I like the look of them better, but the new diapers only require you to buy two sizes from birth through potty training making them much more economical. Like the BumGenius, these diapers have snaps on the front to adjust for the child's height as he/he grows and Velcro around the waist to adjust to their belly.


1. Again, with these you will need to use the snaps to adjust for the baby's length.

2. Here are pictures of the two inserts I mentioned above. You simply snap them together.

3. Notice that both ends of the diaper have openings for the insert so it can fall out in the wash instead of having to be pulled out like the pocket diapers. Once you stuff the inserts into the cover, you'll be ready to attach the diaper just like a disposable.




I hope that gives you a decent overview of the kinds of diapers we've tried. Some are more work than others and everyone has their own preferences. For those who cloth diaper, please comment on this post telling us what diapering methods you like or don't like.

Next time I'll talk about our cloth diapering routine, how to clean the diapers, diapering accessories, and things I've learned not to do!

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Any questions?