Cloth Diapering a Newborn

Knowing which cloth diapering method to use for a newborn can be tricky.  There are so many different ways to diaper and so many different kinds of diapers that finding just the right one for any occasion can be tricky.  Having scoured the web for opinions and advice on just this subject, I am now bringing together what I have learned from the many wonderful resources out there, to help you decide how to diaper your newborn.

Cloth diapering a newborn can be more challenging than diapering slightly older babies because (1) they do A LOT of peeing and pooping in those early days; (2) everything that comes out tends to be pretty runny; and (3) newborns are so itty bitty.  Therefore, it is necessary to have a diapering method that takes all of this into account.

There are several different cloth diapering methods available, so it is best to really explore your options first.  The basics are prefolds, fitteds, pocket diapers, and all-in-one diapers.  Prefolds are the old school - but still popular - diapers that are divided into thirds with an extra-absorbent layer in the middle.

If you use prefolds for your newborn, you will also need to use Snappis or some other kind of diaper fastener to keep them nice and snug on your teeny baby.  You can also use fitteds, which are similar in shape and design to disposable diapers.

Whether you use prefolds or fitted diapers, you will need a waterproof cover for them.  For newborns, one of the most recommended covers is the Thirsties Diaper Cover, which has double gussets around the legs which provide extra protection against leaks.  Alternatively, the Thirsties Duo Wrap has similar features but is  available in just two sizes that you can use from birth to potty-training.  There are also a ton of other brands out there to try, but Thirsties seem to be the most popular for newborns.  The inside of the cover can be wiped out, which means you don't need as many as you would with other types.

In addition to prefolds and fitteds, you can also use pocket diapers or all-in-one diapers.  Pocket diapers are diapers that have a pocket that you can stuff with a liner of some sort or with a prefold diaper.  All-in-one diapers are diapers that come with the liners inside and are, as the name suggests, a one-piece diaper.  The all-in-ones, while convenient, are also the most expensive.

For some reason, I fell in love with the prefolds, and I plan to use them with covers and with pocket diapers.  I will probably try some all-in-ones at some point in the future.  If you are looking for more diapers to try, check out my Giveaways page for the most recent giveaways around the web.  You can enter to win cloth diapers, baby gear, and more, and you can also find a ton of honest reviews on all different brands and kinds of diapers.

Visiting the Brick and Mortar Cloth Diaper Stores

My husband Jesse travels A LOT for work, something that has become more difficult for me to deal with since I became pregnant.  I mean, I always miss him when he is away, but being with child makes me want him here for every little thing, even if it's just me telling him that the baby is moving.  (We're still at least several weeks from him being able to feel the movements, so there really is no legitimate reason for me to want him physically here instead of on Face Time.)

One of the benefits of him traveling, however, is that at some point, he starts to feel bad for trotting the globe while I pine for him at home.  So, last week, on a call from Finland, he promised to take me shopping to Abby's Lane, a cloth diapering store in Manassas, Virginia.  It was my first time in a cloth diaper store, and it was so much fun!  Seeing all those diapers in one place, with about a hundred different colors and designs, just made me so excited to start using them.  Jesse, of course, was not quite as excited as I was, but he did pick out a couple of diapers that he would like to see in the stash once we figure out if we're buying for a guy or a gal.

Sadly, Abby's Lane is closing their store location and going online only in April, and there are no other cloth diaper stores nearby.  Of course, there are plenty of online retailers, but there is something so amazing about being in the store, surrounded by all those adorable diapers!

If you are trying to locate a cloth diaper retailer, you can find a full listing, along with store type, features, brands, and more, offered by Padded Tush Stats.  If you do have a brick and mortar store nearby and are considering cloth diapers, I strongly recommend that you go check them out in person.  They are absolutely adorable, and you will fall in love!

Professional Maternity Clothes that Won't Break the Bank

This past weekend, I headed to the outlet center in nearby Leesburg to try to locate appropriate interview maternity clothes. I am interviewing for an attorney position next week, so my attire must be very professional.

I dug through rack after rack at the Motherhood Maternity outlet, searching for a nice blazer or suit, but all I found was a nice pair of pants. None of the tops were formal enough, so I headed home with my pants and jumped online.

Well, it turns out that Motherhood Maternity does sell some very nice blazers. Unfortunately, the cheapest I could find was ON SALE for $100. I don't even pay that much for clothes I can wear during the majority of my life when I'm not pregnant.

So I kept up the search, and the more I looked, the more I realized that if a woman wants to maintain her professional experience throughout her pregnancy, she has to really be ready to shell out some serious cash. I suppose if you are a pregnant professional, this might not be too much of a hardship. But when you're still pursuing the opportunity to be one, like me at this point, that is a ridiculous amount of money to spend. What's worse is that other sites were selling blazers for 2-3 times as much. Who would buy that? But I guess people do.

Anyway, I was not about to admit defeat. I kept scouring the Web, and I found a few stores and/or websites where you can purchase professional maternity clothes for a reasonable price.  Also, I found that sometimes the best way to complete the outfit is to go for a nice shirt or blouse and just top it off with a basic, non-maternity blazer.  I am 4 months along, and I plan to wear one of my pre-prego blazers - unbuttoned, of course - over a nice red top.  If you are further along, you might need to buy a size or two bigger, but you don't necessarily have to purchase a maternity blazer.  Selecting a jacket with higher buttons allows you the option of just buttoning one and leaving the rest open.  Or, just leave them all unbuttoned.

There are a lot more options for affordable maternity shirts, including Kohl's, Gap, and even Motherhood Maternity.

There were only two stores where I found nice blazers for under the $50 price point: Target and Matriarch Maternity.  Although they do not offer a ton of options, they do have the basic black that you can pair with pretty much anything.  If none of these work for you, my advice is to stock up on the cheaper, professional tops and pants and move out of the maternity department for your jackets.  Kohl's, JCPenney, and a lot of other stores have great suit separates for a fraction of what the maternity stores charge.

Super Bowl Commercial Blues

It is Super Bowl Sunday, and this mama is excited for the big game!  I am an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which my husband, not a sports fan at all, tolerates well.  Our living room is filled with Steelers gear - a blanket commemorating their sixth Super Bowl win, a clock, several framed paintings, and even a gnome dressed in Steelers overalls and balancing on a steel beam.  To say that I am obsessed would be an understatement.

This year, I will be watching the Super Bowl at home with just Oliver and Stella, our two dogs.  Jesse got called away on a business trip and is currently running around Europe trying to keep several different parties happy, which means he is going to miss the Super Bowl, a circumstance that I found devastating and he found irrelevant.

I was particularly looking forward to our yearly tradition of plunking ourselves in front of the television, me with eyes and ears focused and him with a book or laptop or something to entertain him through the game.  Because this is our last childless Super Bowl, I mentioned a few weeks ago how sad it is that we will soon have to begin leaving the room when the commercials come on during the game.  Jesse initially dismissed this idea on the grounds that Super Bowl commercials really "aren't that bad."  So, like any good wife, instead of insisting on my position, I directed him to a few choice specimens of debauchery, told him to take a few minutes to watch them, and if he still thought it was appropriate for a child's eyes (or mine for that matter), I would defer to his decision.

Needless to say, it didn't take long for him to come around to my way of thinking.

The whole situation just makes me so angry.  My whole life I have looked forward to introducing my children to football and spending hours together over the years, teaching them and watching with them, just like my dad did with me.  It irritates me no end to think that I will have to turn the channel or move my child away from the television every time a commercial comes on during what is probably the biggest sports event of the year.

Families all across the country sit down on Super Bowl Sunday and watch the game together.  It comes on early enough that most kids are up for at least the first half, maybe a little longer.  I am a firm believer in sticking to a routine, but even I plan to allow my children to stay up for the whole game if the Steelers are in there.  There are so many reasons that the commercials should be held to a higher standard during the game.

Now, believe me, I am a firm supporter of freedom of speech and expression, and I do not think it - or anything else, for that matter - should be over-regulated by the government.  As a Christian woman, I believe that it is my duty to help others see what I see in being a Christian and help them come to know Jesus.  In time, people will make the right decisions for the right reasons.  Forcing their hands is never a long-term solution.

However, something really needs to be done about the blatant sexual nature of so many of the Super Bowl commercials.  Every year, it gets worse.  Ironically, the biggest outcry over a Super Bowl commercial came from the Tim Tebow/Focus on the Family commercial a few years ago.  Where is the outcry over Danica Patrick doing a striptease?

Sure, it is my responsibility as a parent to see that my child is protected from such things.  This, however, should be a reason to keep my little ones from watching HBO or Showtime, not the Super Bowl on network television.

Pregnant Shopping Day Ups and Downs

I ventured out in search of an interview outfit today.  I have a job interview coming up in less than two weeks, the first legitimate interview I have had since graduating from law school a year and  a half ago.  I am wondering how to approach the pregnancy issue with them.  I am far enough along, and big enough, that they should notice, and I don't plan to go to any great lengths to hide my belly because that feels dishonest.

I know that employers are not permitted to discriminate on the basis of pregnancy, but as a lawyer, I also know that there is a huge difference between what the law prohibits and what you can prove actually happened.  Much like certain types of racial discrimination, it is nearly impossible to prove what someone's motives were in a pregnancy discrimination situation.  How can anyone say definitively what was going on in someone else's head?

My search for clothes is only half over.  I did find some super-cute pants that fit me really nicely at the Motherhood Maternity outlet.  They were about half what I would expect to pay in a regular store, and they are petites, which means that unlike most of my pants, I can just wear them without pinning or hemming...or tripping.  The search continues for a top, but I am hoping Target will have what I need.  That is a search for another day.  I do have some nice blazers that I could wear with the pants, but buttoning them is just not an option anymore.

After my clothing strikeout, however, I had time to do some more fun things.  I went to Michael's and picked out two skeins of yarn.  I bought yarn for making baby wipes, which I have never done before but plan to try.  I picked Lion Brand Baby's First yarn in Beanstalk for my first batch of wipes.  The yarn is super-soft, thick, and absorbent, and of course machine-washable and dryable.  If they turn out well, I plan to buy more colors, just to keep it interesting.  

I also bought a skein of yarn for making burp cloths.  For the burp cloths, I plan to use Bernat Baby Blanket yarn.  I bought one skein of white, and I plan to buy one or two more in other colors once we know whether we are having a little boy or a little girl.  (20 days!)  The yarn is also very soft, perfect for wiping little mouths and chins, and it is thick enough to make a very absorbent cloth.  It also has the ultimate necessary feature of being machine washable and dryable.

Finally, I picked up four Snappis from another Craigslist user.  (In case you haven't read my other blog posts, I am a big fan of shopping via Craigslist.)  The Snappis, though used, are in perfect condition, and they only set me back $3.00.  All in all, it turned out to be a great shopping day.

Incidentally, my husband thinks I am a little nuts because I have decided to try cloth diapering and resusable wipes.  He is always supportive of saving money, but he also would not mind spending the extra dough for disposable diapers and wipes.  I keep telling him that I want a Ford Flex after the baby comes, and this is just one more way of saving towards a more family-friendly vehicle.  (We have two dogs, both of whom accompany us on most of our trips, so we are going to need to find some way to split up the dogs and the baby anyway.)  

I am so excited to prove him and the other naysayers wrong!  I am practicing now on stuffed animals to get my technique down, and I am working on a laundry system to make sure that I have enough time to do diapers without letting it get ahead of me.  By the end of the first couple months, I think I may even have some converts to the cloth diapering way of life!

Book Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Garth Stein weaves a heartbreaking tale as seen through the eyes of a dog named Enzo.  The story itself is somewhat devastating and was, at times, frustrating to read because of its stark injustice.  Sometimes, I almost wanted to put it down because it was too sad, but Enzo's narration always provided some kind of relief just in time.  I am so glad that I stuck with it to the end.

The Art of Racing in the Rain is so much more than a story told from a dog's perspective.  It challenges us to look at the roles that dogs play in our lives and how their perceptions are sometimes as great as or better than our own, though their means of communication may be limited.

This is a must-read for dog lovers everywhere...and for those who have not yet been fortunate enough to understand what makes dog lovers love their dogs so much.

Book Review: College Bound: A Pursuit of Freedom

 

This book takes a hard look at what kids really face, not just when they leave home for college, but anywhere outside the home. Without sugar-coating in the name of tolerance, College Bound: A Pursuit of Freedom calls for an examination of where Christians draw the lines and reminds readers that they must always guard themselves against the chipping away of their faith. 

Although geared towards college students, the lessons of this book apply to Christians of all ages and are a valuable reminder of how easy it is to fall away from God.  The struggles of protagonist Molly are the same struggles that Christians of all ages face every day, and her battle to separate herself from the world is one that must be fought not just once or twice in a lifetime, but continuously and daily.

Even non-Christian readers, especially parents, would do well to take a lesson from this book and learn to look for warning signs in their own children.  Today's young generation faces so much temptation to engage in risky behaviors like sex, drugs, alcohol, and more.  This book helps prepare parents so that they, in turn, can help to prepare their children to make good decisions.

Inexpensive Cures for Cabin Fever

I have two nieces who live in Pennsylvania, and when they come to visit, I always make it a point to have a lot of activities planned.  That way, by the time that last hour before bedtime rolls around, everyone is good and tired, and everyone is set up to sleep through the night.  When it is cold outside, many of the traditional free activities, like walks or trips to the playground, are no longer viable options.  Playing inside can be nice for a time, but nothing wears a little one out and ensures a good night's sleep for all better than some mini-field trips.

Unfortunately, many activities these days can cost a bundle.  A trip to the movies - even if you forego the popcorn, which I refuse to accept as possible - can set you back $7.00 or more a person.  Zoos and aquariums, depending on size and location, can be as much or even more.  Indoor playgrounds often come at a steep price, as well, not to mention a nerve-wracking place for a parent trying to teach kindness.  I have taken my oldest niece to two different indoor playgrounds.  Both times, I had to remove her from situations where other children were downright nasty to her, and the parents were nowhere to be found.

In an effort to save money and my own peace of mind, I came up with a handful of free places to take the girls when they visit (and eventually my own little one when he or she arrives in July).  One of my favorite standbys is Chick-fil-A, where you can usually count on finding a decent-sized play area, complete with twisty slide, ball pit, and more.  You can sit and enjoy some chicken strips while the little ones have a blast   Most of the time, managers will not complain if you want to hang out for a little while, even if you don't order anything.  Personally, I can't go to Chick-fil-A and NOT order something.

Along these same lines, check out your local malls.  Often the bigger ones will have a nice play area with all kinds of toys and equipment.  Any time you can find a place that is free and allows you to sit and still have your child in sight at all times, take advantage of it.

Another great place to take the kiddos is the local pet store.  The best pet stores are the ones that sell all types of animals - birds, mice, ferrets, lizards, fish, etc.  The kids will constantly have some new and exciting kind of animal to check out, and this can mean a good hour or two of entertainment, depending on the ages of the children and their interest in animals.  My youngest niece loves animals and could probably spend a whole day in a pet store just watching the animals.  Instead of paying $15 - $20.00 at the zoo, we just hang out at the pet store for free.

I also will sometimes take the girls to the local dollar store and let them mill around the toy department.  Dollar General is my favorite of all the dollar or discount stores because it usually has a large toy selection, and the toys are actually of decent quality.  For slightly older children, maybe around age 3 or 4, it can be fun to take them to the dollar store and tell them to pick one toy.  There is enough of a selection to keep them looking for a while, and it gives you an opportunity to teach them a nice little life lesson about not having EVERYTHING that they want.

I would love to hear from other people with their ideas and tips for keeping the kiddos entertained through the long winter months.

Book Review: Shymers by Jennifer Naumann

 

I won a free copy of Shymers in a book giveaway on GoodReads.com, which was awesome.  I have to say that it sucked me in right from the very beginning.  The characters were believable, and I could identify with their emotions.  I also loved the suspense of the book and all the buildup to the resolution.

What I did not like was that there was no resolution.  Unless I somehow ended up with a copy that was missing the final pages, this book left me with the same disappointed and searching feeling that I experienced when I discovered there was no Season Two of Dirty Sexy Money.  (Don't judge me.)  So many questions were left unanswered.  Maybe if this were a different kind of book that would be okay.  But in a futuristic, science-fiction novel, the reader should not be expected to try to figure out the ending.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and the author's writing. I just think that she owes us a sequel and some answers. (Hint, hint.)

Planning Ahead for Cloth Diapering

Today, I am celebrating 17 weeks as a mama-to-be.  I have a long way to go, but in many ways, my pregnancy is flying by!  I can certainly see why God gave us 9 months to prepare because there is so very much to do.

I got turned on to cloth diapering - something I never even thought I would consider - when I stumbled onto a post entitled How to Use Cloth Diapers.  It all just seemed so easy, so I continued to do research and soon decided to give it a try.  Because I have lots of time to plan ahead, I have been able to really minimize my costs and to think through how best to make cloth diapers fit into our lives.

My husband and I both work full-time - usually more than full-time, in fact - so I know if we are going to make cloth diapering work, I have to have enough diapers to get me through about 2 days so I am not constantly doing laundry.  I am hoping we will have a nanny who can assist with the wash, but it will depend on whether or not I am able to get into a better-paying job.  I wish I could stay home and take care of all of these things myself, but I also want the security of knowing that if something were to happen to my husband, I would be able to provide for our child(ren).  Maybe someday...sigh.

When I first started pricing diapers, I was blown away by the cost.  Of course, I didn't know yet where I should be looking, or how many different options there were, so I was kind of flying blind.  More research helped me decide that I wanted to use prefolds and covers, much like the ones pictured on the blog referenced above.  For some reason, I just love the way they look, and I felt I could be comfortable using them.

I got on Craigslist and found some great deals.  One woman sold me 50 diapers - 35 that will last me from newborn to about 18 pounds and 15 that will last me the rest of the time.  Remember, you do not need diapers in every single size there is.  You can fold down the diaper to the correct size before folding into the middle.  (Again, see very helpful cloth diapering guide.)  She also threw in 4 covers and 2 rolls of flushable liners, which are really great for rolling up that poop and flushing it away.  All of this cost me $100.  I wanted to be extra prepared, so I also bought 12 8-18 pound prefolds from another Craigslist user for $15.  I now have all the prefolds I will ever need - and far more than a stay-at-home mom would need.

The first seller had never used her diapers.  They were a gift, but she never got into the cloth diapering.  The diapers had already been treated and could not be returned, so she was happy to unload these brand new diapers, and I am thrilled to have them.  The second seller was a huge fan of cloth diapering and had used the diapers on both of her children.  (I couldn't believe how new and white the diapers looked after two babies!)  She was so nice and sent me a long list of resources and places to buy, as well as tips on cleaning.

One of the best tips she gave me was to look for online giveaways, something I had not yet thought to explore for cloth diapers.  A quick search led me to a site with links to tons of baby gear giveaways, not to mention a ton of other great information.  I have spent the last few days entering giveaways like crazy and waiting to hear all the great things I have won.  I will post updates as I win, which I am sure will be happening soon!

Because I am starting now, I have a lot of time to spend entering giveaways and, hopefully, winning!  By the time I really need to start purchasing the rest of the diaper covers I want/need, or at least putting them on the registry, I may already have received enough to get me through.

I also have taken some time to locate the right diaper pail.  The one I plan to use is the Bambino Mio diaper pail, which has a locking lid.  I plan to take it along with me on weekend trips, which we do a lot of since our families are out-of-state, so I don't have to use disposables every time we go away.  It is small enough to fit into the trunk, and the locking lid will keep the odors - and the diapers, of course - in on the ride home.