Cloth Diapers for First Timers

I'm an economically minded human. I have never been seduced by designer brands. I believe its basically a scam making me pay extra for someone else to tell me what's cool. I prefer to treasure hunt, problem solve and create.  So, naturally my approach to motherhood would hold true to those principles.  I knew from the beginning that cloth diapers were going to be part of my parenting plan. It would save money, be better for the environment, and the designs were so cute. The shopping was the easy part, but figuring out a system once my Little Bear was here took a little more support. Here are 7 tips that helped me through the process.
 1) Wait on the umbilical cord. Our midwife suggested we use disposables until the umbilical cord fell off. She shared that many of the moms that insisted on cloth diapers from the beginning had higher rates of infection.
 2) One size fits all, does not fit all. Honestly, the adjustable diapers are amazing and you certainly get your moneys worth, but they don't really button down to a newborn size. This worked great for us considering our midwife's feedback regarding the umbilical cord anyway. We decided to do newborn disposables until our baby's but grew into a size 1 diaper. Then we adjusted the snaps as he grew. 
 3) There is no line! When do I change it? So yes, many disposables have this great line that turns color when it times to change your Little Bears diaper and guess what, the cloth diapers do not. Instead, start by changing at least the liner every 2 hours until you learn your babies pattern.
 4) How do you rinse the byproduct? So, now you have a dirty diaper..... and I mean #2 dirty! First, dump the solid into the toilet and flush. Then place the diaper face down in the clean toilet water and flush again. As more new water enters the bowl shake and move the diaper in the flow to give it a good rinse. If this isn't a good fit for you, there are hoses you can attach to your toilet for about $20.00 or you can drop the solid in the toilet and use the bath tub water to rinse the diaper.
 5) If I choose cloth, do I have to only do cloth to get my moneys worth? Some moms are hardcore and do 100% cloth all of the time. I am not that mama. When I am home, we are 100% cloth, but when I am out and about, we use disposables. Also, as my Little Bears bladder grew, we ended up transitioning to disposables during the night as well. A disposable can hold a full night of pee and a cloth most likely will require a minimum of one changing. You will find what path works best for you.  Price wise, its still worth it. Here is why, 1) Most of our cloth diapers were purchased from our registry (the gift that keeps on giving!), 2) Your cloth diapers can last through more than one kid, 3) If you do my version of cloth and disposables, you are still using way more cloth and make your disposable pack last a lot longer.  
 6) How do I wash them? This is really up to you and your philosophies. Some moms do an all natural soap with a rinse cycle on cold and then a wash cycle on hot.  I did this for a while, until I was over the whole "new-mom-no-chemicals-near-my-baby" phase. Now, I simply throw them in the washer with laundry soap and wash them on our longest cycle on hot. Every few weeks, I do a bleach load on the liners to give them an extra cleanse.
 7) Extra perk! You wont need swim diapers.... EVER! Cloth diapers are perfect for the pool, river, where ever you and your little one swim. You will never need to buy swim diapers. Overall, there are so many different brands and types of cloth diapers. All-in-Ones vs pockets, snaps vs. velcro, etc.  The good news is you don't have to commit to just one method. Buy a variety. There is no harm in having options. We started our collection off with about 12 diapers and 30 liners (most diapers come with 2 liners). This bunch lasts us about 2-3 days depending on my Little Bear's age. You will find what works best for you over time. Happy diapering!

Little Bear with his Bestie. Photo by: Tedeye Photography

10 Tips for Weaning

Congratulations on successfully nursing your Little Bear, whether you made it 3 months or 3 years, the weaning process can be confusing and full of emotion.  These 10 mommy tested tips should help make the process a little easier, regardless if your Little Bear or you are taking the lead. 1) Begin eliminating the easiest feedings first and leave the most crucial for last. If baby is self weaning, the same recommendation applies and includes not offering the boob for unsolicited feeding sessions. 2) Plan to eliminate one feeding every 2-4 days with the goal of officially weaning in approximately 4-6 weeks. 3) Once a feeding has been removed from your daily routine, do not introduce it back. 4) Work to increase other soothing techniques, patting, singing, rocking, etc. 5) Ask for help. Your Little Bear may need some positive distraction from Mommy's boob. This is a great time for another caregiver to try laying baby down for naps or soothing through an injury. 6) The daytime nap can be a hard feeding to wean but using a car or swing to tire baby out is a super handy trick. After a few days, your Little Bear wont ask anymore for that feeding. 7) When engorged, self express or pump just enough to take the pressure off. You don't want to empty your breast because that will encourage continued production. 8) A warm cloth or bath will help with sore breasts. Massage out clogged or full ducts. Ibrophen may also be helpful. 9) As your supply reduces, Mommy's hormones will change and for many this can cause another round of "baby blues." Just be mindful and practice self care. 10) There are natural supplements that can help decrease your supply, for example parsley, peppermint, sage, etc. Also, certain over the counter medications like Benadryl can also decrease your supply. This wont be necessary for most, but if you are weaning over a shorter period of time (less than 4-6 weeks), you may need some extra help. Good luck on your weaning process and welcome to this next phase of Mommy-hood!

Photo by Mary Larsen Silvermoon Photography San Antonio