pure.healthy.baby
We hope that you are enjoying the beautiful day and soaking in every ounce of Mother’s Day Love!
Here’s a photo of me with two of the most amazing moms that I know, my Mom and Grandmother. My mother for her selflessness, passion, energy, strength and endless love; and my Grandmother for her loving and nurturing nature, patience, determination, and she has always told the best stories at bedtime. 
Many wishes to you for a happy Mother’s Day!!!
-Heather and Jasmine
I love newborns. When they sleep, their sweet faces scrunch up, their lips pucker, they whimper, smile, and make some of the cutest involuntary facial expressions and noises. I could seriously stare at my six-week old’s precious little face all night long. Especially when she’s in a really deep, serene sleep and her face bears a look of utter peacefulness.
And they smell really, really, REAlly divine. Like a bed of flowers. Even their little bums smell good. I don’t know what gives them their fragrance (hormones maybe?), but I do know that it’s one of the most precious, fantastic-ly delicious and enjoyable scents that I’ve ever experienced in life.
As much as I’m yearning for a night full of slumber myself, like longer than say 3 or 4 hours, I know that I will miss not having a newborn in our house.
What makes me the saddest is knowing that if we decide that 3 kids completes our family, then the next newborn in our house will probably be when my kids have babies. And of course as much as I love newborns, I don’t want that to happen for a long, long, LONG time.
I can’t wait to watch my baby girl grow. What color will her hair be? Will her eyes stay blue? Will she love books as much as her sisters? What will her sweet voice sound like?
So much to look forward to.
Ultimately, I guess this is why photo albums were invented – so that we can relive a time in life that can’t be returned to. To savor the moments that have passed.
And to dream about the future.
-What did you like/dislike about the newborn phase?
Walmart has issued a nationwide recall of Enfamil Premium Newborn powdered formula after a 10-day old baby boy died in Missouri, and another Missouri infant was hospitalized with the same bacterial infection.
The recalled formula comes in 12.5 oz cans with lot number ZP1K7G. It is unclear whether other retailers may have the same lot on their shelves.
The bacteria, called “Enterobacter sakazakii,” or E. sakazakii for short, occasionally appears in infant formula. No known cases of E sakazakii have been found in exclusively breastfed infants.
Health officials with the CDC and FDA are investigating samples of formula and distilled water used by the parents to prepare the formula but have not yet called for an Enfamil recall. It could be several days before the results are in, but milk-based powdered infant formulas have been implicated in prior outbreaks of this bacteria.
Mead Johnson, maker of the formula, says that the batch used by the infant’s family tested negative for the bacteria when it was produced and packaged, and they are working with health officials to identify the source of the bacteria. Meanwhile, Walmart is taking no risks and has pulled the product from shelves and is recalling purchased cans. Any customer who has purchased the recalled formula may return it to the store for a full refund or exchange for another brand. Customers may also call 1-800-BABY-123 for more information.
To read more about this bacteria and powdered formula recall:
Wal-Mart pulls formula after Mo. baby’s death
Walmart Recalls Enfamil Infant Formula After Baby Dies
Walgreens, Kroger, Supervalu Restock Formula – 1/4/2012
FDA Says No Need to Recall Enfamil Formula - 12/31/2011
14 U.S. Commissaries Pull Formula – 12/30/2011
FDA Visits Mead Johnson Factory as Part of Continuing Investigation – 12/28/2011
Oklahoma Baby 3rd Sickened by Rare Bacteria – No Link to Enfamil – 12/28/2011
Commissary Recalls Baby Formula Amid Bacteria Tests – 12/28/2011
Parents of Another Sick Child Fear Enfamil Formula May Be The Cause – 12/26/2011 Mead Johnson Says New Tests Did Not Detect Cronobacter – 12/25/2011
Walgreen, Kroger, and Safeway Pull Formula – 12/23/2011
Price Chopper Supermarkets Voluntarily Recall Enfamil - 12/23/2011
Enfamil Recall: More Retailers Pull It Off Shelf (Supervalu) - 12/22/2011
Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels.
Do Babies with Flat Heads Need Helmets? New guidance from the AAP says perhaps not.
Consumer Reports Study Backs Dr. Oz’s Claim About Arsenic in Apple Juice - Consumer Reports study validates Oz claim; finds arsenic and lead in apple juice at levels exceeding drinking water standards. And while the FDA had blasted Oz for his claims, turns out they were holding on to similar findings from their own testing.
Apple Juice Can Pose a Health Risk – From Calories – Better than worry about what juice is safe, skip the juice and try whole fruits instead.
Top 100 Baby Names of 2011 – BabyCenter.com released its annual list this week, with Aiden and Sophia topping the list.
News Anchor Draws Chicago Ire after Santa Denial – In an opinion segment on evening news (see video in the link), a Chicago anchor says as soon as kids can talk, parents should say “There’s no Santa!” Criticism and an apology have ensued.
Horse: Coming Soon to a Meat Case Near You? The recent spending bill lifted a ban on slaughtering of horses for meat. I may be with PETA on this one. It may be more humane than what is otherwise happening to these animals, but you won’t see me eating it anytime soon.
40% of Kids Who Attempt Suicide First Try in Elementary or Middle School
A chilling discovery was made in the process of a study evaluating whether recall of previous suicide attempts was a reliable way of gathering data. Of 883 young adults aged 18 and 19, 78 had tried to commit suicide. 39 of the teens reported multiple attempts, with attempts beginning as early as age 9, the average age of a third grader! Researchers suggest that we should consider suicide prevention programs at younger ages and opening lines of communications providing children with options for letting adults know that they are not doing well.
Cigarettes May Be Useful for Distance Runners?
I’m sure you read the headline and said, what? Well, in actuality, this is a great read about a review study that was put together to show how conclusions can be drawn by selectively using data to support the theory. See the article’s alternative title: “How to prove anything with a review article.” It’s a good read about the dangers of over-interpreting correlations, reminding us to approach research with a skeptical eye.
7 Foods You Should Never Eat - 7 Foods that notable food experts refuse to eat and their suggested alternatives.
Hilary St. Pierre: A Christmas Miracle - One child’s wish for his cancer-stricken mother. God and Santa grant miracles.
12 Unique Etsy Gifts for Babies - Some adorable and natural gifts on the list.
CPSC Child Product Recalls
Child Safety Seat Recalls
No child safety seat recall announcements this week.
USDA/FDA Recalls
If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it our way to jasmine@purebebe.com. We hope your week is off to a great start!
XOXO,
Jasmine & Heather
Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels.
Serious Head Injuries to Infants Continue Due to Falls from Bumbo Baby Seats Used on Elevated Surfaces - Infants aged 3-10 months old have fallen out of the Bumbo seat and suffered skull fractures and other injuries. At least 45 incidents from elevated surfaces have occurred since the recall of the seat in October 2007, when warnings were added to the seat. At least 50 other incidents have been reported in which children fell out of the chair on the floor or an unknown elevation onto hard flooring. Please use these chairs with caution.
The 8 Germiest Places in the Mall – Ewwww. Just ewwww. I must say a couple of these surprised me. While highlighting germy hot spots, the article does also provide some practical tips.
Consumer Interest Group Releases Annual Hazardous Toys Report - The U.S. Public Interest Group has released its 26th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report, in which it highlights toys on store shelves that contain potentially toxic chemicals or contain choking, strangulation, or noise hazards. The group has created an interactive site, www.toysafety.mobi, where you can find information about the toys you are shopping for. The site can be accessed by smartphones, so you can have this information at your fingertips!
C-section Delivery Linked to Higher Risk of Childhood Asthma
In the largest study yet on the topic, Norwegian researchers examined asthma risk in more than 37,000 children. The researchers found that, even after accounting for other risk factors and protective factors such as duration of breastfeeding, children born via C-section were more likely to have asthma during their first three years. While the results are consistent with earlier studies, the reasoning is still not clear. Researchers believe that children born via C-section may miss exposure to important immune challenges compared to children born via the birth canal.
Canned Soup Raises BPA Levels Significantly
While we all know that soup cans are lined with BPA, a new study published this week was the first to measure the amount of BPA ingested from canned food. The participants in the study consumed a single serving of canned soup daily for a week, and their blood levels at the end of the week showed a 1221% increase in BPA levels, from approx 2 micrograms per liter to over 20. While the increase is likely temporary and will go down after a few days, we don’t know the health effects of transient increases in BPA such as this.
Delay in Clamping the Umbilical Cord has Benefits Months Later
A study published this month found that waiting three minutes or more to clamp a newborn’s umbilical cord can reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency later on. Swedish researchers studied 334 infants, statistically identical, assigning half to be clamped at 10 seconds and the other half after 3 minutes. There was no significant difference at 2 days after birth, but at 4 months iron concentrations of infants in the delayed clamping group were 45 percent higher. The study is one of the largest randomized trials on delayed cord clamping and the first to assess iron status beyond the newborn stage.
Letting the Green Guilt Go from Canada.com - It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with so much information at our fingertips and still so many more questions about what truly is safe. I agree with the author that it helps to be flexible. Do what you can, little by little. Be happy with the healthy choices you’ve made so far, and continue to drive change with your pocketbooks. Little by little, you are doing the best that you can.
CPSC Child Product Recalls
No child product recall announcements this week.
Child Safety Seat Recalls
No child safety seat recall announcements this week.
USDA/FDA Recalls
If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it our way to jasmine@purebebe.com. We hope your week is off to a great start!
XOXO,
Jasmine & Heather
How old is too old to have children? My husband and I have had this debate when we discuss how many more children we want for our family. He likes to jokingly give me an ultimatum based on his age on the premise that he doesn’t want to be the parent who is too old to keep up with his kid in high school. We were both born to parents in their early 20s, so we’re used to having younger parents and we don’t intend to wait too long before completing our own family.
However, for others, that is not the case. For some, a career has come first, but for others, the opportunity of a spouse or the ability to have children has not presented itself at an early age. According to the Centers for Disease Control, birth rates among women in their 20s and their 30s are declining and the average age of first motherhood has risen from 21 in 1970 to 25 today. But what is more interesting is that birth rates are rising for women in their 40s and above. In 2008, nearly 8,000 babies were born to women 45 or older. That is more than double the number in 1997. And even more surprising, 541 children were born to women 50 or older.
This week, New York Magazine ran a feature article on Parents of a Certain Age addressing the rising age of parenthood. Initially, the article puts forth all of the typical arguments against mothers of a certain age giving birth, particularly those 50 and older – but then about half-way through, the author does an about-face and begins to justify aged parenthood on the basis that children of older parents are smarter and better cared for because parents are more engaged, more affluent, and suffer less anxiety. Furthermore, late birth and older parenting may encourage parents to live healthier, longer lives. Yet, if a parent does die while the child is young, the article cites research stating that these children cope just fine.
The article is a very interesting read, despite calling anyone who questions the about-face an ageist. It is a difficult and sensitive subject. Who would want to deny someone a child who desperately wants one, especially when so many children are born to less fortunate situations? Is it selfish for older parents to want to give birth at a certain age or unethical for fertility doctors to facilitate it? How old is too old?
In 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested the blood of 10 Americans for 413 different toxic chemical pollutants. The tests revealed 287 of these chemicals present, an average of 200 in each individual. These chemicals included 28 waste byproducts (i.e. PCBs), 47 consumer product ingredients (i.e. flame retardants), and 212 industrial chemicals and pesticides banned over 30 years ago.
Of the 287 chemicals identified, they have some alarming characteristics:
Did you know that the average women uses about 12 personal care products a day? And in doing so, we encounter more than 160 chemical ingredients. Not that all chemicals are bad, but when chemicals in the U.S. market are considered safe until proven guilty, how are we to know? Manufacturers are not required to disclose the results of any safety testing (nor are they actually required to complete safety testing), and the average chemical is approved by the EPA in 3 weeks time before going to market.
So the big question is how did the 10 Americans in EWG’s study come into contact with the 287 chemicals found in their blood? That’s the crazy part. Yes, 10 Americans sounds like a pretty small sample, but these 10 individuals are not just anyone. They’re newborns barely a moment old - the blood was taken from their umbilical cords. These newborns encountered these chemicals in the womb. Our children are exposed before they even enter this world.
And do you know what their chances of getting cancer in their lifetime are? 1 in 2 for males, and 1 in 3 for females. That is staggering. gut-wrenching. unacceptable. Our children deserve better. We can reduce these odds, but it’s going to require some serious change. We can make changes at home, but ultimately we need chemical reform.
These statistics are just some of the highlights from the video presentation below prepared by Ken Cook, president and co-founder of EWG. Ken has testified numerous times in front of Congress regarding chemical and other reform. His presentation is eye-opening, to say the least. It’s a little long at 20 minutes, but it is incredibly informative and an easy view.
I’d encourage you to watch at least the first 12 minutes. Then, if you haven’t already, contact your local senator and urge them to support the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011. The bill will be up for a vote in the fall, and our politicians need to hear our voices. Share this video with friends, and get the word out. It is time for change.
If you want to know more about the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 and our currently ineffective chemical policy, read our earlier post about it here: Pediatricians Call for Change: Protect Children from Toxic Chemicals.
Other Resources:
Body Burden - The Pollution in Newborns
The University of Virginia, by dbaron, Flickr
Since many of my friends have asked me about the college savings plans that we chose for our children, I have decided to write about college savings options. Every state has different college savings plans that you can research at the College Savings Plans Network, which is a national non-profit association that provides detailed information about 529 college savings plans located here.
Since I live in the state of Virginia, I will focus on and outline the Virginia Internal Revenue Code Section 529 Plans. Please check out the Virginia College Savings Plan Comparison for a full comparison and complete details of the four options. For simplicity, I have provided a high-level overview of the options below.
All four programs below grow free of federal income taxes and withdrawals are tax free as well (as long as they are used for their intended purpose). Also, Virginia taxpayers receive up to a $4K annual income state tax deduction per account.
1. VPEP – Virginia Prepaid Education Program
Enrollment period opens for a limited time yearly, from December through March, and is limited to infants through 9th graders.
As the title suggests, this program allows you to pre-pay for your child’s in-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees for the normal full-time course load at Virginia public universities and colleges. For a list of colleges included, click here (Go to Page 26).
You can pre-pay for up to 3 years of Community college or up to 5 years of University education. For a run-down of VPEP pricing for 2010-2011, click here. Note: The total pre-pay price increases every year, so participants are encouraged to “lock in” their rates early on in their child’s life. Also, in order to take advantage of this program, you have to reside in the State of Virginia while your child attends college.
Enrollment for the year ends on March 31st! To enroll in VPEP now, click “Enroll Now” on this Virginia 529 page.
2. VEST – Virginia Education Savings Trust
Enrollment open year-round and can be applied to adults and children.
VEST is an individual savings account. You can invest in your choice of portfolios of stocks and bonds which can be used for tuition and fees, room and board, texbooks, and other required supplies.
3. CollegeAmerica
Enrollment open year-round and available through financial advisors only. Can be applied to adults and children.
CollegeAmerica is a college savings plan in partnership with the American Fund, a large mutual fund. CollegeAmerica allows participants to choose from 22 American Funds while working with your financial advisor to tailor a college savings plan that meets your needs. Savings can be used towards tuition, room and board, textbooks, and other required supplies.
4. CollegeWealth
Enrollment open year-round through participating banks (BB&T and Union First Market Bank) and can be applied to adults and children.
CollegeWealth is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured 529 college savings plan, provided in partnership with participating banks (BB&T and Union First Market Bank). Savings can be used towards tuition, room and board, textbooks, and other required supplies.
Each of these plans allows you to save at your own speed. As for me, my husband and I enrolled our firstborn in VPEP. We have opened a VEST account for our second daughter. Just like any investment portfolio, we feel that we need to diversify our children’s college savings plans in the event that one of them gets a scholarship or decides to go to a private college (VPEP can be used towards private college tuition, but will obviously not cover the full cost of private tuition). As the comparison chart outlines the details, all of these plans can be transferred among siblings if you’re lucky enough to send your infant to college on a free ride…next week.
Just for the record, we don’t get any compensation (or credit, etc.) when you sign up for an account – we just want to spread the word and research to our wonderful PureBebe readers!
Related Articles:
Big News for Nursing Mothers
Life From The Eyes Of A Three Year Old
By Talia Terry
I’ve told you now about your options with cloth diapers and why you should consider it. Assuming you’ve decided to give it a try, let’s talk about what you will need, what you might want, and what to avoid. Then we’ll talk about wash routines.
First off, decide on a brand. There are several companies that let you “rent” a variety of diapers for a limited time to give multiple styles and brands a try if you have looked at a variety of websites and reviews but can’t make up your mind. One such company is Diaper Daisy. For under $20, you can really give cloth diapering a shot for two weeks. If you have decided on a brand, I’d recommend only ordering a one day supply at most to begin with to make sure you’re happy with your decision. You can also buy used diapers at Diaper Swappers and purchase several styles. If you don’t have the following, life might get a little messy:
A diaper pail liner
Yes, that’s right. A liner. It’s sort of like a reusable garbage bag only better. The liner is made out of the PUL that the diaper covers are made from and usually have elastic at the top. They generally fit a 13 gallon kitchen trash can. I went and purchased a can with a spring loaded flip-up lid specifically for my diapers, similar to what you see here. The button to open the lid is quite handy and the lid keeps any odors out of the room (smell is not usually a problem until the end of the second day and even then it’s not bad). I simply grab my liner and give it a little shake to empty the diapers in the wash then drop the liner in, too. They all wash together. Because I line dry my diapers and the elastic on the liner seems to take longer to dry than I’d like, I actually went and purchased a second liner so that I can have one in the pail while the other one dries. If I was able to wash diapers at night this wouldn’t be necessary. Most people aren’t going to need a second liner.
I have a friend who uses an old pillowcase but there are two problems with this. First, the pillowcase gets wet so her hands get dirty when she puts the diapers in the wash. Yuck! Second, the pillowcase only holds one days’ worth of diapers, which isn’t enough for most people. Plus, since it wicks moisture to the side of the pail, the pail (if plastic) eventually starts to smell, too. The PUL pail liner eliminates all these problems.
A wet bag
This is nothing more than a zippered bag that lets you keep your wet diapers in while on the go. Many of the cloth diapering companies sell their own versions. I confess that I’ve taken to using a clear zippered plastic bag that a set of twin size sheets came in. 
Because the bag is clear, I get other moms that remark on the contents, sparking conversations about cloth diapers that otherwise might not happen. I’m a cloth diaper advocate, so any chance I have to talk about them—I will!! If you’re particularly frugal, you could use a plastic grocery bag and just throw it out when you’re done with your outing, but that’s not as beneficial to the environment as using a reusable bag.
Detergent
No, you can’t wash diapers with any ol’ soap you want. Bummer, right? Only a little. Once you find a detergent you like then everything works out. There are a lot of different detergents that are cloth diaper friendly and each diaper manufacturer has a list of approved detergents. You’ll need to check with the manufacturer you decide on to pick a detergent. 
Some names I’ve run across that people like are Charlie’s Soap, Rockin Green, and Dropps. Avoid any detergents with optical brighteners or fabric softeners built in. These leave residues on the diapers and can void many manufacturer warranties. Also, avoid all “free and clear” type detergents. The natural soaps they use also have oils in them that build up on the diapers rapidly. This build-up will cause leaking and ammonia-like smells, which nobody wants!
Diaper Sprayer
The rest of the things you’ll need are optional but may come in handy depending on your situation. Many parents decide to get a diaper sprayer. 
This is a little sprayer like you’d find at a sink, but it attaches to the plumbing of a toilet and allows you to spray off any seriously yucky mess that a simple shake won’t take care of. In the “olden days” mothers would swish these diapers in the toilet bowl to loosen the mess. The sprayer makes this unnecessary. I have been through toddler-hood and infancy with cloth diapers and have not needed one. When there was a diaper that was particularly gooey, I have just done an extra pre-rinse to my normal wash routine.
Cream
If you have a child who has fairly regular bum-reactions to foods, you may want to purchase a cloth diaper friendly diaper rash creams/salves. There are several varieties available. The only time I’ve wished for a diaper rash cream was after my first daughter had too much fruit and had diarrhea for a day. I still had disposable diapers at that time and used one of my regular creams and a sposie for that night.
Diaper Liners
When dear daughter number 2 had a yeast infection, I simply placed a washcloth between the cream on her bum and the cloth diaper. She is now trying new solids so we get the occasional red rash. Because I haven’t invested in a cloth-diaper-friendly cream yet, I’ve taken an old piece of flannel and place that between the cream on her behind and the fleece of the diaper. This is working great! However, you can also use biodegradable flushable liners as well.
Washcloths/Cloth Wipes
With my first cloth diapered child, I still used disposable wipes. I’m not sure why, but somehow using washcloths seemed like too much trouble. Boy was I wrong! With my second, I found myself always hunting for the “dang garbage can,” as I began to refer to it, to place the wipes in. I got to where I was just throwing the wipes in the diaper pail with the diapers and letting them go through the wash then throwing them out. That’s how I ended up converting to using washcloths instead of regular wipes.
If you decide to use washcloths, I’m going to recommend that you buy or make ones without a sewn-over edge. Simple is better. Some people prefer flannel for their wipes; others use micro fleece. I purchased a set of generic brand baby washcloths in fun colors and they work great.
For getting the wipes wet there are a variety of choices (surprise!!). My friend just grabs one and gets it wet in the bathroom sink on her way to the changing table (two or three if she knows the diaper is stinky). Other moms use a spray bottle. I have filled up my peribottles. Yes, that squirt bottle you have to use after you’ve had the baby. For whatever reason I never threw my first two out (I got two from the first hospital—not sure why!) and then I got another one in June when Clara was born. I fill them and add about a half a teaspoon of baby wash to each to keep her smelling fresh. For a diaper change, I simply squirt the amount I want onto my folded wipe and away I go. When I’m on the run, I just grab a bottle to throw into the wet bag with the diapers and washcloths. Easy Peasy!
Perhaps it’s an indicator of something, but I’ve saved the only difficult thing about cloth diapering for last: the wash routine. Some parents take a long time to find a routine that works for them. If you have a front loader, your task may be a bit more challenging. Here is a link to some directions I found helpful for getting me started.
Stripping Diapers
I’ve mentioned before that my friend uses cloth, too. She borrowed about 8 of my diapers for two years and returned them, but included 4 new inserts to replace ones she thought were beyond use. She has really hard water and a poor wash routine. They had so much build-up on them they were stiff and light brown. 
I’ve fixed all of them using a total of 2 tablespoons of Rockin Green and a stock pot and a process called stripping (Note: There’s more than one way to strip a diaper). I took 4 inserts at a time with 1 tablespoon of the Rockin Green (this is actually a LOT of detergent for cloth diapers!) filled it about ¾ full and put the lid on. As they began to boil, the bubbles lifted the lid off. That’s when I carefully lifted the inserts out and replaced the water. The remaining washes had no added detergent. I continued replacing the water each time it boiled over until there were basically no bubbles to be found. Each set took about 4 hours. As they heated up and boiled, I pushed them down with a spoon to force the extra air out (the inserts sort of blew up like a balloon). All those inserts are just as serviceable as the new ones. They’re not as fluffy, but they hold just as much and that’s the important thing.
If your cloth diapers begin to stink, there are two things you need to do—try a different detergent or change up the wash routine. Most of the stinkies are caused by a build up in the diapers. This could be a detergent build up or ammonia salts, which are deposited into the diaper via urine. The salts can be stubborn to get out if you have hard water. The key to solving the stink factor is a lot of hot hot hot water, just as I mentioned before.
The moral of that story is: Find a routine that works! For most diapers, stripping is considered maintenance and should be done as needed to prevent leaks. However, if you have a great wash routine, you won’t need to strip your diapers at all.
My Routine
Just to illustrate, I’ll share my location and routine with you. Please don’t let this scare you off—it isn’t that bad! I live in Virginia so water is fairly hard, but not as bad as in Utah, where my friend is. The machine is a top loader (those with front loaders will want to research a different routine because mine probably won’t work for you!). Because Clara is now 6 months old and eating solids, or maybe it’s just the way she is, she poops about 3 times a day. There tends to be some yuckies left on the diaper even after shaking, so here we go:
The routine may sound like a lot, but I’ve found that as long as I turn the buzzer on the machine, or set my watch with a timer, I do just fine. It helps that I have a three day supply so if something goes wrong on the day I’d normally wash diapers, I do have enough to get me through a third day. I just don’t like doing this because three day old diapers stink up the baby’s room when I open the pail to put another diaper in. Pee-u!
I’d like to share a few tips regarding clothing and cloth diapers. First off, yes, they are bulkier than disposables, so clothes won’t fit the same. I’ve found that for onesies, I need to buy up a size. If her sleeves are a little long, I simply fold them. Pants and skirts are a different story. Do you love jeans on your baby? Well, you may need to kiss those goodbye until s/he’s walking. Jeans don’t stretch very far so by the time you buy them big enough to go around the diaper while your child is in the sitting stage, you’ll have to fold them up to the knees! Overalls are fine, but for whatever reason jeans just haven’t fit my infants while in the sitting/crawling stages. Again, once they’re walking and the jeans have the adjustable waist it’s not such a problem. I have found that Carter’s and Jumping Bean fit over cloth very nicely. Anything with some extra stretch works. In the summer I sometimes forego bottoms on my little ones all together.
Another thing, if you don’t want to buy the onesies up a size, you can get the extenders. They actually fit great with cloth diapers, but can be hard to find for brands other than Gerber. I know Amazon.com sells a set with a variety of snap sizes. After infancy, I found that I just bought t-shirts and bottoms rather than the outfits that snapped between the legs. Onesies that squish the diaper cause them to leak, like squeezing a full sponge. To help with this, I often snap only the middle snap.
Lastly, if you have a child in daycare, they may or may not allow you to use cloth. You’ll need to first read the wording in your contract, then, if there isn’t anything prohibiting you, be sure to bring a sample diaper with you when you decide to bring up the topic. A good show-and-tell can go a long way in helping your provider understand how simple the new diapers are! If you want to view a list of cloth-diaper-friendly daycares, check out Real Diaper Industry Association.
So, are you ready to jump in? Still have questions? Please feel free to comment or to email me personally with your questions. I’m not a professional, but I’ve run across some great cloth diapering blogs and can point you in the right direction, depending on what you want to know.
Good luck!
Talia
dimplenwink@gmail.com
Talia Terry is a former math teacher and in-home daycare provider, now stay at home mother of 2 beautiful girls, ages 4 and 8 months.
Related Articles:
Cloth Diapering: Why It’s Worth It
Cloth Diapering 101: An Introduction to the World of Cloth Diapers
From Disposables to Cloth…Making the Switch!
10 Things I Never Thought I’d Say (Until I Became a Parent)
Holy Poo!
By Talia Terry
The other day while at an activity full of children, my husband passed our daughter to me with the words, “She needs a diaper change”. Ugh! I was leading a room full of 45 children and couldn’t go change her! My little one was clearly at her wits’ end or I would have just waited the ten minutes until the activity was over. Another adult came over and asked if she could help. The conversation went something like this:
Me: “She needs a diaper change.”
Mom of baby one month older than mine: “Oh, I’ll go change her.”
Me: “I use cloth.” I grab my clear bag containing two FuzziBunz and one Kawaii diaper with bottle and wipes. She gives me the look of panic.
My harried response: “Use the light green one. It’s got Velcro and will be just like a normal diaper”.
She looked skeptical. I would have too if I were in her shoes! Ten minutes later I met up with her in the hall to retrieve my 4 month old. This wonderful young mom said, “Wow, that was easy! I was expecting safety pins and plastic. And they’re so cute!”
This isn’t the first time I’ve had a fellow mom think my cloth diapers were cute, but it was the first time I’d ever just handed my daughter over without any instructions other than, “Use the light green one.” And yes, it truly is that easy.
Since 1999 when Tereson Dupuy invented FuzziBunz, there has been a growing trend towards reusable diapers. There are so many different cloth diapers out there it’s hard to categorize them without leaving someone out, but I’ve broken them down into three systems.
Pre-folds/Flats and Covers(I’ve never used these, so all information is second-hand)
This is the more “old fashioned” cloth diapering system, but with updated options. Most moms* don’t use safety pins any more. Instead, the diapers have adjustable covers that hold the insert in place. If using a pull-on style cover, they use a Snappi, a rubbery, stretchy claw-clip that is easy to use and safe (no pin pricks!). 
Moms like these because you can use not only the inexpensive pre-folds found at the store, but just about any other fabric you chose, such as old t-shirts or towels. These can be dyed for fun or bleached for sanitation if wanted.
The covers come in a wide array of styles. 
Most are made of a waterproof material, generally polyurethane laminate (PUL) and have either snap or hook-and-loop-style (i.e. Velcro) closures. By hook-and-loop I mean Velcro, but not by that brand. The diaper covers are also known as wraps.
Pros:
Cons:
*When I use the term “Mom”, I mean mother, father, or any other person who might be diapering a child. “Mom” is just a whole lot easier to type than “care giver” each time!!
This is the style of diaper I prefer for a variety of reasons. These diapers are made of two pieces of fabric, an outer layer that is waterproof, generally PUL, and an inner layer made of fleece, flannel, or suede. This layer is designed to wick the moisture away from the skin and into the liner. This “stay dry” layer is always extremely soft! It’s impossible to tell in a picture how soft it is, but think of your baby’s softest fleece jammies and imagine putting that against his bum. Now imagine the paper-type stuff in a disposable. Which would you prefer?!?
In between the two layers there is a pocket that you stuff with an absorbent insert. These come in various types of cotton, hemp, and microterry. Some are contoured to fit between the child’s legs for a trimmer fit. Again, they use snaps or hook-and-loop for their closures. Some have snaps at the hip and waist while others have adjustments at the waist only.
Pros:
Cons:
All-In-OnesThese diapers are similar to the pocket ones except that the insert is actually sewn to the diaper, rather than stuffed inside it. Similar closures are available (i.e. snaps or hook-and-loop).
Pros:
Cons:
Cloth diapers come in two different fits: one-size and sized.
They call it this because the diaper should quite literally fit your baby from birth (or within a week or two) until potty training. The brand below and several similar to it have snaps along the front of the diaper that allow you to adjust the rise of the diaper. A shorter rise would be used for a smaller baby and as he grows, you use the next set of snaps until you reach the point where the snaps aren’t necessary. The picture to the left is an example, with one set of snaps showing. My daughter is 15 pounds and wears this diaper on the middle setting.
Other brands use an alternate method of sizing the diapers. In the diaper to the right, a One-Size FuzziBunz, adjustable elastic in the leg casings can be tightened or loosened according to the child’s leg width. One piece of elastic was pulled from its casing to show the adjustment. There is a similar piece of elastic at the back of the diaper. This diaper fit my little girl when she was 7 lbs.
Sized diapers are those that come in specific sizes, such as Small, Medium, and Large. Sized diapers can offer a better fit at each stage. It may mean having a larger stash of diapers, but most babies will likely only use Small and Medium size diapers and will potty train before they get to Large. My oldest daughter wore a medium Perfect Size FuzziBunz until she was potty trained at 27 months old. The diapers fit her, even though she was in the 90th percentile for height and weight. And as you move up in sizes, you’ll need fewer diapers in each larger size (i.e. newborns require more diapers than infants and toddlers).
Cloth diapers are commonly referred to as fluff, so here are some pictures of my fluff stash, drying on a rack. This supply was a little over 48 hours’ worth of diapers and wipes. Yeah, I use disposable wipes, too! More about that later!
You may see there are two custom diapers in the stash. Both are made by a work-at-home-mom, or WAHM. The company name is Diapers by Deb. There are a large number of very small, independent businesses like hers that can custom make diapers. I purchased the BYU patch and had it shipped to Deb. The other says “Enclosed: Terry Tush” with different fonts and colors for the lines of text. The custom ones don’t generally cost any more than the name brand ones such as BumGenius or FuzziBunz do.
Kissaluvs All-in-One (AIO)
Kawaii Pocket Diapers
Happy Heinys One-Size Diaper
Talia Terry is a former math teacher and in-home daycare provider, now stay at home mother of 2 beautiful girls, ages 4 and 8 months.
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