We use cloth diapers. No, we aren't crazy. Yes, it is a little more work than disposable diapering but not much. In our opinion and for our family it is completely worth the extra work. Amelia can't wear Pampers brand diapers, she gets an AWFUL rash. Huggies work and we have used them when traveling but prefer to use cloth even when out and about. Here is a little about what we use, our favorites and our least favorites, and our wash routine.
Our Stash: 3 Grovia Hybrid shells and 8 inserts
$16.95/shell; $17.95/2 inserts
3 Best Bottoms Covers and 9 Size medium stay dry inserts
$83.85 for package of 3 covers and 9 inserts here: Best Bottoms Package or
$16.95/Cover and $3.95/stay dry insert
1 Softbums cover
$21.95
6 Nicki's Pocket Diapers
$9.95/diaper
1 Little Monster Pocket Diaper
$11.95
1 Thirsties Duo Wrap Cover Size 1 w/ velcro
$12.95
1 Thirsties Duo All In One (AIO) Size 1
$15.75
We also have a bunch of Fuzzi buns pocket diapers that were given to us by a friend. When she was smaller we tried a trial package from Jillians Drawers that is for newborns. In this we tried Bumgenius Newborn AIO, prefolds, the Thirsties Duo AIO and Thirsties Cover, Kissaluvs fitteds, Prowrap cover and a Bumgenius Freetime AIO. We also purchased a Grovia Newborn AIO.
Newborn Period:
Favorites: Grovia Newborn AIO and Kissaluvs size 0 fitteds with Thirsties cover
OK: Thirsties Duo Size 1 AIO- we still use this one, not my favorite but
works in a pinch. I also liked the prefolds ok but they weren't my
favorite and they were not as user friendly.
Least Favorites: Bumgenius Newborn AIO (leaked) and Bumgenius Freetime AIO (too bulky)
Now: 6 weeks and up
Favorites: My favorite is the Bestbottoms insert in the Bestbottoms or Softbums cover. The softbums cover is more trim fitting. The Bestbottoms covers are capable of preventing the most serious breastmilk poo blowouts. I also really like the Grovia shells and inserts. Jonathan's favorites are the Grovia ones followed by the Bestbottoms ones.
OK: Thirsties Duo Size 1 AIO and Nicki's pockets. They work ok but are very bulky. The Nicki's pockets do have some seriously cute prints. I also really like the print on our Little Monsters Pocket (penguins) and it works similar to the Nicki's pockets.
Least Favorites: Fuzzibuns. They just don't seem to fit her very well and leak.
We have discovered that our Thirsties Duo size 1 wrap will fit our Bestbottoms inserts which is nice.
Closure types: We both prefer the snap closure to the velcro.
Wash Routine: Amelia goes through about 10 diapers a day. I prefer to line dry our diapers. If I am going to do this (it takes all day) I have to wash every day to day and a half. If I am going to dry them in the dryer I can go 2 days between washes. We really need about 6 more diapers and then I can go every 2 days and still dry them outside.
Washer Type: Whirlpool Cabrio Platinum Top Loader
Water Type: Hard
Detergent: Rockin Green Hard Rock
We start by spraying her poop into the toilet using a diaper sprayer attachment on the guest bathroom toilet. We then toss all diapers into the diaper pail liner in a normal trash can with a lid that is stored in the guest bathroom. We have never had problems with stink by rinsing the poo off and washing every 2 days. At wash time I dump all contents of the wet bag and the wet bag (turned inside out) into our washer. I first run a rinse and spin cycle without soap. This is followed by a cycle set to bulky with warm water with 2 tbsp of soap added to the soap dispenser. I also choose an extra rinse cycle. I then hang the diapers and covers to dry outside or place the diapers in the dryer and lay the covers to air dry. I dry the diapers on warm in the dryer (takes about 60 min to get them good and dry). After I line dry the diapers I toss them in the dryer for about 10 min to help soften them. I have never had problems with leak or stink issues with our microfiber diapers but we have only been doing this for a couple of months.
Cloth Wipes: Yes, we also use cloth wipes but only when at home. We use Circo brand newborn cloth diapers for wipes with a spray bottle of water. I just spray her bottom and wipe it clean. The wipe goes in the diaper pail with the dirty diapers and gets washed with them.
When we are out and about I take a couple of inserts and an extra cover in the diaper bag. The nice thing about the BestBottom covers is the inside is wipe-able so if it just gets wet or a little bit of poop on the inside of the cover you can wipe it clean with a baby wipe and let it dry while using a different cover and it's good to go again. We take a travel size wet bag with us to store dirty diapers in.
There you have it! Cloth diapering Bybee style!
Friday, October 25, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Preparing for Change...Returning to Work
My maternity leave will soon be ending. I have been so blessed to have these past few months. I will have taken 10 1/2 weeks off since her birth and I was off the week before she was born because that's how my schedule happened to fall. This means I haven't worked in almost 12 weeks. Yikes! I miss work. I miss using my brain and helping sick kids. However, I love being with her all day every day. Yes, there are times when I just want a few minutes without a baby on my lap (or nursing :) ) but for the most part when I am away from her I miss her. Since I am soon returning to work Jonathan and I have started trying to get her used to me being gone. In my 2 month post I put that she hates bottles, it's because she does. She HATES them. She will drink from one if she is hungry but she usually gives you a look while she does it. We find it hilarious that she seems to look at us and say with her eyes "seriously, you think this is the same as my mom?"
I work nights. Amelia has colic, worse at night. Can you see how this may not be a good thing? At least when both of us are home we can share the burden on a bad night. Amelia usually doesn't go to bed until 11 or 11:30. She does sleep until 6 or 6:30 almost every morning though. This week we have started trying to have Jonathan put her down every other night (the nights when he doesn't have class early the next day). The first couple of times he did this she went to bed a little later than normal and fussed more than normal but he succeeded and seemed to be no worse for the wear. NOT the case for last night! Last night she didn't go to sleep until 4:15am! Jonathan came and woke me up at 2:45 and told me it was my turn. For some reason she just didn't want to sleep. She would fall asleep in his arms for 10-15 minutes and when he laid her down her eyes would pop wide open and she would cry and cry and cry. I nursed her at 2:50 and tried to put her down at 3:20. No luck. She wanted to look at me and smile and coo. She nursed again at about 4 and finally fell asleep at 4:15 and let me put her down. She was awake at 8:30! We will continue working on getting her to go to bed at night without nursing. This is going to be a struggle. She is one stubborn little girl :) Please pray for our sanity over the next few weeks as we continue to work on getting her used to me not being around all the time. It is hard for her, hard for me, and hard for Jonathan. I'm going to miss her sweetness when I am working. For a little bit of humor after a long night we put her in a shirt that says "I'm a cotton headed ninnymuggins".
I know this is just for a "season" and that it will get better, but it is so hard to see your baby sad and know that you can help but shouldn't because it will just make things worse later.
I love this little girl and am blessed to be her mom!
I work nights. Amelia has colic, worse at night. Can you see how this may not be a good thing? At least when both of us are home we can share the burden on a bad night. Amelia usually doesn't go to bed until 11 or 11:30. She does sleep until 6 or 6:30 almost every morning though. This week we have started trying to have Jonathan put her down every other night (the nights when he doesn't have class early the next day). The first couple of times he did this she went to bed a little later than normal and fussed more than normal but he succeeded and seemed to be no worse for the wear. NOT the case for last night! Last night she didn't go to sleep until 4:15am! Jonathan came and woke me up at 2:45 and told me it was my turn. For some reason she just didn't want to sleep. She would fall asleep in his arms for 10-15 minutes and when he laid her down her eyes would pop wide open and she would cry and cry and cry. I nursed her at 2:50 and tried to put her down at 3:20. No luck. She wanted to look at me and smile and coo. She nursed again at about 4 and finally fell asleep at 4:15 and let me put her down. She was awake at 8:30! We will continue working on getting her to go to bed at night without nursing. This is going to be a struggle. She is one stubborn little girl :) Please pray for our sanity over the next few weeks as we continue to work on getting her used to me not being around all the time. It is hard for her, hard for me, and hard for Jonathan. I'm going to miss her sweetness when I am working. For a little bit of humor after a long night we put her in a shirt that says "I'm a cotton headed ninnymuggins".
I know this is just for a "season" and that it will get better, but it is so hard to see your baby sad and know that you can help but shouldn't because it will just make things worse later.
I love this little girl and am blessed to be her mom!
Monday, October 21, 2013
2 Months Old.....Where Has the Time Gone?!
Time is going way to fast for my liking. Amelia is growing every day it seems like and I am wondering where my little baby has gone. Today was her 2 month doctors appointment. Here is what she is up to!
Weight: 11lbs 13 oz (75%)
Height: 22inches (45%)
LOVES: Cuddles and nursing
HATES: Bottles, Pacis, swaddling
She coos, smiles and holds her head up. She is trying to roll over already (that needs to stop :) ) She loves to "stand" in our laps and actually has pretty good control of her body. She's super colicky at night and cries most nights starting at around 7pm and going until she crashes around 11 or 11:30, some nights later. She sleeps great once she falls asleep and sleeps 6.5-8 hours most nights. She is happiest in the mornings and that is when we get the most smiles out of her. We are blessed!
Here are some recent photos!
Weight: 11lbs 13 oz (75%)
Height: 22inches (45%)
LOVES: Cuddles and nursing
HATES: Bottles, Pacis, swaddling
She coos, smiles and holds her head up. She is trying to roll over already (that needs to stop :) ) She loves to "stand" in our laps and actually has pretty good control of her body. She's super colicky at night and cries most nights starting at around 7pm and going until she crashes around 11 or 11:30, some nights later. She sleeps great once she falls asleep and sleeps 6.5-8 hours most nights. She is happiest in the mornings and that is when we get the most smiles out of her. We are blessed!
Here are some recent photos!
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| First Time to Church, Sept 29 |
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| 2 month doctor appointment |
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| Princess stickers on chubby thighs after my shots |
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