I think I have stretched my stash as far as it can go in longevity for Veronica. The prefolds I have just don't fit well anymore and a majority of my covers are aplix which she can undo in seconds. With the weather still being very warm, I like to simply opt out of clothing (especially at home) to lessen my laundry load. I've got enough laundry to do with the older kids. I find myself becoming jealous and envious of the stashes some women have (as I read their blogs). As you know, the grass is always greener on the other side! However, as a part of this remedy, mom has volunteered to help me buy some of the Kawaii diapers I have been wanting to try. These will actually replace almost all of my prefold stash for Veroncia. I'm actually getting worn out with having two/three parts to my diapering of one child. This little girl does not lay down for one second happily for a diaper change. Add to the mix that we have a baby coming in about 3 1/2 weeks, I must keep things simple. Getting these new diapers will also help me to feel a little bit better about retiring a couple of covers. I have about three of my Thirsties Duo wraps that need to be out of service (or at least put as last resort use).
I had mentioned in an earlier post about altering a prefold into a fitted. Well I attempted this yesterday and in all honesty, I feel like it was a failure. I am not a seamstress. I'm not sure if I will try to do another one or not. The Green Mountain Diaper material is pretty stiff and not very fluffy. Hence one reason why I'm slowly working my way out of the whole prefold/cover combo. Granted it has been a pleasantly cheap way of cloth diapering, but I'm ready for simplicity.
So with all that said my point of today's post is I'm needing to work through my thoughts about becoming a business owner. Yes, I am looking to start my own cloth diapering business. Why not? This is a prime area for it. The nearest store is an hour away. (I just did a very quick online search and I found stores only in Lincoln and Omaha.) What mom, who is about to have three kids ages 2 and under, wants to pack up the crew and drive an hour into the nearest big city to shop for cloth diapers. Yes, granted there are hundreds of online sites that sell diapers. But I find that the problem with this is that you can't feel, hold, and touch the said product. Yeah, you have a picture of it and many times you can find a video on Youtube about how the product works, but it is not the same as having it right there in your hands. Plus being able to hold it and see it with your eyes, you can figure out how it would actually fit on your baby. So I want to set up shop (yeah, starting in my home for now) in central Nebraska so that I can help reach other moms in central and western Nebraska. Now that's not to say that there are no moms out this way that don't do cd. I've come across a few and have been so totally excited to talk to them about cd. I just want to get the word out more. And who knows, as I start I may be surprised at how many moms in NE really do cd.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Which one to choose.
I came across a great blog about whether or not the all in one style diaper is the right choice. Just like anything out there, you have to study and weigh all the pros and cons. First and foremost, the biggest pro to an all in one system is its simplicity. It doesn't get ANY easier than stuffing or snapping in a liner putting it on baby and off you go. Just like a disposable but only reusable!! When it is wet or soiled, take it off (put the poo in toilet) throw the whole thing in the diaper pail and put on a new one. To make it even easier, at the beginning of your day, line all your dipes with the soakers and have everything ready to go for the whole day. No time spent on prepping anything before having to put it on baby.
I will have to confess though, with my two BG 4.0 I will reuse the dipe if it has only been a wet one. I will take the liners out put them in pail, air out the diaper on the edge of the changing table and use the other one. At next change, if it is a wet one, I will take the one airing out and re-stuff and re-use. Not sure if others do this, but to me there is no ick factor. I simply use my nose. After it has been used only once, I have smelled it and there is no urine odor. Once it has been used the third time then it begins to have a smell so then I just toss it into the pail and on to the next diaper. Now, if I had 12 of these diapers I would not do this. I would just get a new one each time.
Okay, all that being said, I had read this blog . Prefolds with a cover can last after one baby, but the all in one system does not have that kind of durability. Not that they are made poorly, but simply with all the washing (not to mention all the pooping and peeing) that this compact system endures, it simply will wear out quicker. But don't fear! It won't fall apart on you in just a couple of months; more like once your baby is potty trained it is time to retire the diaper.
I will have to confess though, with my two BG 4.0 I will reuse the dipe if it has only been a wet one. I will take the liners out put them in pail, air out the diaper on the edge of the changing table and use the other one. At next change, if it is a wet one, I will take the one airing out and re-stuff and re-use. Not sure if others do this, but to me there is no ick factor. I simply use my nose. After it has been used only once, I have smelled it and there is no urine odor. Once it has been used the third time then it begins to have a smell so then I just toss it into the pail and on to the next diaper. Now, if I had 12 of these diapers I would not do this. I would just get a new one each time.
Okay, all that being said, I had read this blog . Prefolds with a cover can last after one baby, but the all in one system does not have that kind of durability. Not that they are made poorly, but simply with all the washing (not to mention all the pooping and peeing) that this compact system endures, it simply will wear out quicker. But don't fear! It won't fall apart on you in just a couple of months; more like once your baby is potty trained it is time to retire the diaper.
My wish list is still growing.
I know I have said is so many times, but I really do have a serious cloth diapering addiction. Part of me prays I continue to have a couple more kids just so that I can actually reach my stash nirvana.
As I continue to blog, chat and research diapers, I have come across some other pocket/AIO (all in one) diapers that I would love to add to my stash. The first is a Kawaii (I think I have mentioned this before on another post). Kawaii One-Size Pocket diaper is a less expensive version of the Bum Genius 3.0. (I currently have two BG 4.0 and LOVE them). These Kawaii are only $10 per diaper and are less if you buy in bulk. What makes me ogle over them is the fact that they are one size. My baby history proves that we really do not make small babies. So, I am confident that if these don't fit my newborn right away, I can rely on my prefolds and covers for about a month and then switch to the one size. And beings that they are one sized, I can use them for both him and Veronica, and Mary (potty training is not going so well). One diaper for three babies? How convenient is that!?!
My next item on my wish list is the Fuzzi Bunz One Size Diaper. This is one I have not found an equal for lesser price yet. It is a bit pricey at almost $20 per diaper, but the options on the diaper are amazing. There are different areas on the diaper to adjust the sizing for the waist and the legs by simply buttoning the elastic where you want it. Another lady has done a fantastic job of showing the versatility of this diaper on her blog. I am drooling over these diapers. Again, its one I really believe we could use from beginning to end with our kids.
The best part about these diapers is that even though they come with inserts when you buy them, you don't HAVE to buy more inserts. My stash of prefolds work just as good as inserts. Now granted a prefold is a bit more bulky, but I haven't heard any complaints from Veronica yet! :) However, I am beginning to think that once winter comes, I may change my mind about that. It is more difficult to find pants that will cover a cloth bum compared to a disposable. One remidy for this though, are baby legs which essentially are leg warmers for a baby. If I am going to be at home and have a bulkier diaper on the babies, just throw a pair of baby legs on and viola they stay warm. However, I've only considered buying baby legs and have not been too serious about them. On the site though they are having a sale and it is hard to pass up.
Finally, the one thing I know I can do now to alter my stash is take my gigantic Green Mountain Diaper toddler prefold and change it into a fitted diaper. I found a fantastic tutorial for this. I had attempted to change some of my prefolds, but what I had done to them did not work out. When I washed them, they would not dry properly so I had to take the stitching out. Now being such a newbie to sewing I am a little nervous about trying this, but I have read the tutorial about a dozen times now and I think I get it. I'm still not very familiar with my sewing machine, so I need to figure out how to change the stitching type. This would be very helpful in saving us a few dollars. Veronica is quickly growing out of the current prefold I have for her. It works to trifold it into some of the covers, but not all my covers accommodate that. I need the next size up in prefolds and unfortunately all I have found so far has been the GMD toddler. And well frankly, it is just way too big. I have to do extra folding to make it fit properly and then it is bulky in the cover. So, I would like to try it out on one of my GMD. Now I know it won't shrink it a whole lot, but I think if I do it right, it will give me a better fitting diaper for Veronica.
As I continue to blog, chat and research diapers, I have come across some other pocket/AIO (all in one) diapers that I would love to add to my stash. The first is a Kawaii (I think I have mentioned this before on another post). Kawaii One-Size Pocket diaper is a less expensive version of the Bum Genius 3.0. (I currently have two BG 4.0 and LOVE them). These Kawaii are only $10 per diaper and are less if you buy in bulk. What makes me ogle over them is the fact that they are one size. My baby history proves that we really do not make small babies. So, I am confident that if these don't fit my newborn right away, I can rely on my prefolds and covers for about a month and then switch to the one size. And beings that they are one sized, I can use them for both him and Veronica, and Mary (potty training is not going so well). One diaper for three babies? How convenient is that!?!
My next item on my wish list is the Fuzzi Bunz One Size Diaper. This is one I have not found an equal for lesser price yet. It is a bit pricey at almost $20 per diaper, but the options on the diaper are amazing. There are different areas on the diaper to adjust the sizing for the waist and the legs by simply buttoning the elastic where you want it. Another lady has done a fantastic job of showing the versatility of this diaper on her blog. I am drooling over these diapers. Again, its one I really believe we could use from beginning to end with our kids.
The best part about these diapers is that even though they come with inserts when you buy them, you don't HAVE to buy more inserts. My stash of prefolds work just as good as inserts. Now granted a prefold is a bit more bulky, but I haven't heard any complaints from Veronica yet! :) However, I am beginning to think that once winter comes, I may change my mind about that. It is more difficult to find pants that will cover a cloth bum compared to a disposable. One remidy for this though, are baby legs which essentially are leg warmers for a baby. If I am going to be at home and have a bulkier diaper on the babies, just throw a pair of baby legs on and viola they stay warm. However, I've only considered buying baby legs and have not been too serious about them. On the site though they are having a sale and it is hard to pass up.
Finally, the one thing I know I can do now to alter my stash is take my gigantic Green Mountain Diaper toddler prefold and change it into a fitted diaper. I found a fantastic tutorial for this. I had attempted to change some of my prefolds, but what I had done to them did not work out. When I washed them, they would not dry properly so I had to take the stitching out. Now being such a newbie to sewing I am a little nervous about trying this, but I have read the tutorial about a dozen times now and I think I get it. I'm still not very familiar with my sewing machine, so I need to figure out how to change the stitching type. This would be very helpful in saving us a few dollars. Veronica is quickly growing out of the current prefold I have for her. It works to trifold it into some of the covers, but not all my covers accommodate that. I need the next size up in prefolds and unfortunately all I have found so far has been the GMD toddler. And well frankly, it is just way too big. I have to do extra folding to make it fit properly and then it is bulky in the cover. So, I would like to try it out on one of my GMD. Now I know it won't shrink it a whole lot, but I think if I do it right, it will give me a better fitting diaper for Veronica.
The taste of pregnancy
I love how foods taste during pregnancy. I think this has been the inspiration for my enjoyment of cooking in the last couple of years. With my last three pregnancies, foods that are saucy and full of seasoning really please my palate. But that's not to say that I haven't made some dishes that have tasted quite icky to me.
This morning I took my vitamins with a glass of Minute Maid original orange juice and it was the most delectible thing I have ever tasted in a long time. It was so sweet and full of wonderful orange flavor. I felt like I could have just stood there and drank right out of the carton for more. Another huge taste pleaser of mine is whole milk. Oh my, I crave a big glass of this every night. Oh, and not to mention that it really helps with the raging reflux I get at night too. I'm trying to not be so quick to reach for the Zantac and depend on medicine to solve all my pregnancy woes. I've taken enough pills/drugs with this pregnancy due to kidney stones, UTI, and bladder spasms that if I can avoid taking more pills daily to ease something like heartburn or reflux, that is what I will do. So I have found that a nice tall glass of ice cold whole milk really does the trick for the night. And then we just rinse and repeat the following night.
This morning I took my vitamins with a glass of Minute Maid original orange juice and it was the most delectible thing I have ever tasted in a long time. It was so sweet and full of wonderful orange flavor. I felt like I could have just stood there and drank right out of the carton for more. Another huge taste pleaser of mine is whole milk. Oh my, I crave a big glass of this every night. Oh, and not to mention that it really helps with the raging reflux I get at night too. I'm trying to not be so quick to reach for the Zantac and depend on medicine to solve all my pregnancy woes. I've taken enough pills/drugs with this pregnancy due to kidney stones, UTI, and bladder spasms that if I can avoid taking more pills daily to ease something like heartburn or reflux, that is what I will do. So I have found that a nice tall glass of ice cold whole milk really does the trick for the night. And then we just rinse and repeat the following night.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
My day of diapers.
Okay, so since I'm a cloth diaper junkie and because I haven't blogged anything in a very long time, I thought I would show pictures of my day of cloth diaper changes. Now I didn't take a picture every single time I changed her because I have a limited stash and they would be repeats. But I did take one each time I used a different prefold and/or cover.
This is a Diaper Rite orange edge prefold trifolded into a Bummis Super Whisper Wrap. This is a super duper easy combo. Simply fold the diaper, put in cover and put on baby. Just like a disposable but reusable!
On the top is the Diaper Rite orange edge prefold with a Snappi holding it together. I have pins, but the Snappi is so much better at keeping the diaper in place. On the bottom the diaper is covered with a Size 2 Thirsties Duo Wrap. Not one of my favorite covers. Their durability is not quite to my liking.
On the top, Veronica is sporting the Green Mountain Diaper toddler green edge prefold. Now, these are huge. I bought these because I needed another size bigger from the DR orange edges. The DR are getting too small around so it is getting trickier to Snappi them on. However, the GMD toddlers are much much bigger so I have to do a little extra folding to make it the right size. These are my second go to choice when all of my orange edges are dirty. On the bottom it is covered by the Size 2 Thirsties Duo Wrap with snaps. LOVE the snaps. This combo is a little bit bulkier, but it doesn't seem to inhibit her mobility in the slightest.
This has been one of my favorite covers. It is a one size Coverall from Blueberry. The rise has three adjustment sizes and again it is snaps. It is over the DR orange edge prefold. And in my opinion it is pretty trim.
This is my newest addition to my stash and has become one of my favorites to use. Unfortunately I only have two of these. It is a BumGenius 4.0 all in one diaper. Love it, love it, love it. Each diaper came with two inserts which I use at the same time. All I have to do is stuff the pocket on the inside (this one has the inserts in them) on the largest rise setting. When I run out of the inserts, I simply trifold a DR orange edge prefold and stuff it in. Works wonders!
And there we have it. That is my limited stash and I oh so desire to make it more versatile, but that does cost some money to do. When the time comes, I will need to sell some of what I have and then add more. With my recent adventure into all in one diapers, I would LOVE to build up a bigger stash of those with my prefolds as back ups. As much as I have enjoyed using my Thirsties covers, I've not been too terrible impressed with how they have held up in the laundry. I always line dry them and the hook and loop closures (velcro) is terribly frayed.
This is a Diaper Rite orange edge prefold trifolded into a Bummis Super Whisper Wrap. This is a super duper easy combo. Simply fold the diaper, put in cover and put on baby. Just like a disposable but reusable!
On the top is the Diaper Rite orange edge prefold with a Snappi holding it together. I have pins, but the Snappi is so much better at keeping the diaper in place. On the bottom the diaper is covered with a Size 2 Thirsties Duo Wrap. Not one of my favorite covers. Their durability is not quite to my liking.
On the top, Veronica is sporting the Green Mountain Diaper toddler green edge prefold. Now, these are huge. I bought these because I needed another size bigger from the DR orange edges. The DR are getting too small around so it is getting trickier to Snappi them on. However, the GMD toddlers are much much bigger so I have to do a little extra folding to make it the right size. These are my second go to choice when all of my orange edges are dirty. On the bottom it is covered by the Size 2 Thirsties Duo Wrap with snaps. LOVE the snaps. This combo is a little bit bulkier, but it doesn't seem to inhibit her mobility in the slightest.
This has been one of my favorite covers. It is a one size Coverall from Blueberry. The rise has three adjustment sizes and again it is snaps. It is over the DR orange edge prefold. And in my opinion it is pretty trim.
This is my newest addition to my stash and has become one of my favorites to use. Unfortunately I only have two of these. It is a BumGenius 4.0 all in one diaper. Love it, love it, love it. Each diaper came with two inserts which I use at the same time. All I have to do is stuff the pocket on the inside (this one has the inserts in them) on the largest rise setting. When I run out of the inserts, I simply trifold a DR orange edge prefold and stuff it in. Works wonders!
And there we have it. That is my limited stash and I oh so desire to make it more versatile, but that does cost some money to do. When the time comes, I will need to sell some of what I have and then add more. With my recent adventure into all in one diapers, I would LOVE to build up a bigger stash of those with my prefolds as back ups. As much as I have enjoyed using my Thirsties covers, I've not been too terrible impressed with how they have held up in the laundry. I always line dry them and the hook and loop closures (velcro) is terribly frayed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)