A few tips on cloth diapers...

I want to start this post off by saying that I am not even close to an expert when it comes to cloth diapers.  I am still learning!  But since so many people asked me to do a post about cloth I decided that I would just take this opportunity to document my cloth experience from the beginning.  I have now been doing it about 2 months.  


To start with I thought I would do a post that is just full of tips....sort of like a "things I'm glad I knew" and "things I wish I'd known" post.  Next up I will tell you all the things I like and don't like about each diaper I've tried.  I hope that someone who is thinking of doing cloth will find this informative but not overwhelming.  


1.  First of all, I highly recommend buying from a site that will send you free diapers.  I have ordered pretty much everything I have (except 3 diapers) from Kelly.scloset.com.  They usually have a coupon for a free diaper with purchase of a certain amount ($39 or $49).  I have gotten 4 free diapers this way!  How awesome is that???  It tells you that the free diaper will be a $17 or $19 value...so you aren't getting any cheap little thing.  I am sure there are other sites that do this, this is just the one I know about and have used.  This site also gives you one point per dollar you spend.  Then you get a gift card for a certain number of points you have.  Such a great incentive! 


2.  Do your research before buying.  Looking into cloth can be super overwhelming due to the multiple different types and brands of diapers.  Most of the sites that sell cloth diapers have a page with a bunch of information for people looking in to cloth.  Here are a couple of those...
kelly.scloset  lots of general information
jilli.ansdrawers (has a pull down menu at the top)


If you just go.ogle cloth diapers or how to wash cloth diapers, etc then you can find a ton of info! 


I also learned a lot from blogs that I read.  A few of them use cloth and I really enjoyed reading their posts about it.  I especially think Ashley at Stealing Baby Kisses has some great and informative posts


3.  If you are a beginner (and not diapering a newborn, because I don't know a thing about that since I started at four months old), I recommend starting out with pocket diapers and/or all-in-one diapers.  This is all I have right now.  All the others just seemed too complicated for me.  I am sure that I will try them out eventually but I wanted to keep it simple to start with.  All-in-ones are the easiest and the most like a disposable.  You just put it on (snap or velcro) and then take it off when soiled and put it in a diaper pail.  A pocket diaper is easy as well.  This type of diaper has a pocket that you stuff with an absorbent insert.  When you change the diaper you take the insert out and throw everything in the pail.  These are great because you can adjust the absorbency for over night use or for a heavy wetter.  After I wash all my diapers I stuff the pockets and then put them away.  That way they are ready to go.  All of the pockets come with inserts, by the way.  


4.  DO NOT order a bunch of one thing to start with.  Everyone likes a different diaper for a different reason.  Also, diapers fit all babies differently.  When I first started I ordered 4 different diapers. Once I got used to those I ordered four more to try.  Now I have a whole stash of things that I know I like.  Just because a diaper is popular doesn't mean you will like it.  You just have to find what works for you, your baby, and your family.  It would totally suck to order 25 of one type of diaper and then it doesn't fit your little one well!


5.  Quite a few sites have a diaper trial that you can order.  I didn't do this but it really sounds like a great way to try different types/brands of diapers.  You get to try them out for a while and then send them back if you don't like them.  Part of me wishes I would have done that because then I would have tried something other than all in ones and pockets.


6.  If there is a cloth diaper store near you, GO THERE!  We only have one in the entire state and it is 3 hours away so, needless to say, I wasn't able to make it there.  I would have loved to actually see a cloth diaper before I ordered.  I mean I had never seen one in my entire life until I bought my first four.  It would have been so helpful to see all the different types of diapers.  Also, a lot of those stores can  be very helpful if you have questions about how to get started.  I think some of them even have classes for newbies.  Definitely check those out!  


7.  Don't get overwhelmed.  When I got my first diapers I about freaked and sent them back before even washing them.  I was scared and I didn't think that I could do it.  I didn't feel like I knew how to put them on or how to wash them AT ALL.  I was afraid I was going to ruin them.    I told myself that I was going to try for at least 6 weeks and then if I felt like I couldn't do it then I would give up.  Well after only a few weeks I got the hang of it and fell in love.  I started out on a very part time basis but now we are in cloth all the time except for over night.  I am still working on that one :)


8.  Please know that everyone washes their diapers differently.  I worried more about the washing than anything else.  It seemed like there were different instructions on every website and every diaper.  You just have to pick a detergent (cloth friendly, of course) and give it a whirl.  The general guidelines for washing are a cold rinse, then a hot wash with cold rinse, then an extra rinse.  If you start with this you will be fine.  I tweaked it a little bit and my routine is this.  Cold rinse, cold pre wash with a teaspoon of detergent (I use Rockin.Gr.een), hot wash with a tablespoon and a half of detergent (sometimes 2 if I have a lot of diapers), cold rinse, and then an extra cold rinse.  I added the cold pre wash to just be sure to get the poop out before washing.  It's working for me so far.   


9.  If your baby is exclusively breastfed then you can just throw the poopy diapers strait into the washing machine.  I realize how crazy that sounds but the poop is water soluble so it is rinsed away in the first rinse cycle.  The first time I did diaper laundry I checked after the rinse and sure enough it was gone!  It seems Blakely poops 4534 times a day which is why I added the cold prewash to make sure to get all the poop out since most of the diapers were poopy.  If your baby is on formula or has started solids then you need to spray the poop off.  We haven't gotten to that point just yet so I'll have to let you know how that goes when we do!  I can't get the child to eat cereal!!  


10.  The resale value on cloth diapers is amazing.  I have yet to sell any on E.bay but I think I am going to try to sell a couple that just don't work for me.


11.  Visit the bab.ycenter cloth diaper forum.  I actually didn't do this until after I was in love with cloth.  I have learned a lot just reading the posts from there.  Just a warning though, it can overwhelm you big time.  Remember, people go there and write posts usually when something is WRONG with their diapers so they can get help to fix it.  So there are a lot of posts that can be very discouraging.  There is also a lot of cloth lingo that I totally didn't understand at first.  Sort of like all the infertility lingo :)  But, I feel like the more you read and research (anything really) the more you know!  


12.  Snaps vs. Velcro.  That is a big debate in cloth diapering.  Everything I read said that snaps were way better and lasted much longer than velcro, also called hook and loop or aplix.  So I ordered everything in snaps!  The first free diaper I was sent was velcro.  I loved it and my husband really loved it.  The velcro is easier for babysitters and grandparents to put on.  It is also great for those middle of the night, in the dark, changes or for when you are out and about.  Now my stash is about 70% snaps and 30% velcro.  I can tell that the velcro probably won't last until potty training like the snaps will but I feel like having a few velcro diapers is a good idea.  I think you can also get some people to replace your velcro, for a price of course ;) 


I think that is all I have for now!  If anyone has any questions you can always email me at southernprincesskelly at gmail dot com...I will be happy to answer any if I can!  Hope everyone has a great Monday!  

Big Day!

Today is my 30th birthday!  Woo hoo!!  It is a beautiful day to turn the big 3-0.  I am currently sitting outside on my deck watching my sweet girl try oh so hard to roll over.  I have a feeling that is going to be her birthday present for me :)  My husband made me a fantastic brunch and we are just enjoying this great day!  We have a babysitter for a few hours tonight so we can go downtown to the St. Patrick's Day parade.  Then we are coming home and Lonnie is going to cook me a great dinner.  This girl is excited!  I could not be any happier than I am right now...

Someone is excited for mommy's birthday :)

Sorry I have been absent for a bit...it's been busy!  We went on vacation to New Orleans this week and had such a great time.  We drove (about 9 hours) and Blakely did wonderful!  I'll have a post all about that coming up this week.  I must say that I am so glad to be back home though.  

I didn't take my laptop so I was reading all your blogs from my phone.  But the stupid thing wouldn't let me comment!  UGH...so very frustrating!!  I have quite a bit of catching up to do.

Hope y'all have a great weekend!!!  
  

TVT

• First of all, can someone please OH PLEASE tell me how to turn off the word verification on my comments.  I can't seem to figure it out???!@?#?$?!?@  It's driving me nuts...
• Quite a few of you asked me to do a post about cloth diapers.  I am working on it but it will be another week or so before I get it up.  I'm crazy busy right now and I want the post to be detailed and very informative so it is taking me a while!  But I am still absolutely loving it so far.  It is easier than I even thought!  I actually look forward to doing diaper laundry...
• My 30th birthday is in 9 days, St. Patrick's Day.  I am super looking forward to it, actually.  I think I am going to be getting a pretty sweet gift from the hubs...not sure though.  I hope so!  He is not really a gift giving kind of guy but I told him he had to get me at least SOMETHING for this one...didn't have to be big...just something.  We have a parade here in town and we will probably go to that.  We are trying to decide if we want to take B and have a low key family type of evening or if we want to meet up with some friends and go listen to our friends band after the parade.  I'm not sure yet...not sure I can get a babysitter.  And I kind of want to hang out with my girl on my birthday :)
• Blakely is still eating 7 times a day.  I feel like this is so much.  Is it??  How many times a day do your little ones eat?  She will be five months old next week.  A couple of times I tweaked her schedule and she only had 6 feedings and she still slept through the night.  But she still wants to eat 7 most days.  I will be so happy when we cut it down to 6...
• We are headed to New Orleans soon with Blakely and I am getting very excited.  It is hard to decide what all I need to pack for her.  Winter stuff?  Spring stuff?  The weather is different here every day and the forecast in NO looks about the same.  I will probably just pack her entire wardrobe....
• I took my mom to the doctor for her 8 week checkup on her ankle fracture.  They told her she could FINALLY start putting a little weight on it....Thank goodness!  She is so tired of hopping!  
• I seriously can't believe that my girl is about to be 5 months...I mean doesn't that sound so old???
• We started Blake on some cereal recently.  That was super fun and I can't wait to make some baby food for her!  
• Happy Thursday and I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Wordless Wednesday

reading daddy's newspaper....

and trying to drink daddy's beer....

Uh oh....

Top Ten

I've seen a few of these posts on other blogs and I've been wanting to do one of my own.  
Here are the top ten things that I don't think we could have survived without since having Blakely.  Some were great just for those first few months or weeks and some we still use all the time.  

1.  Boobies.  Honestly, this girl loves her some boob.  It is like magic and I don't know how I am ever going to wean her.  I might still be doing it when she's 5...I'm totally kidding.  I was so lucky that almost everything went smoothly with breastfeeding and now we are in a groove.  I don't know what I would do without these miracle baby feeders....

2.  Bouncer.  I didn't have this until a few weeks after she was born.  I ordered it because her swing was too upright and I needed something that was reclined but not too reclined because of her reflux.  She loves it.  I got one that you can turn on to bounce or to vibrate, so it doesn't just bounce when the baby moves.  Miracle I tell you.  This is also what we have been using when we give her cereal now.  And an added bonus of it these days is that she poops every time I put her in it...very sweet.  This is the poop face....

3.  Boppy pillow.  Get one of these, people.  I have used it damn near every single time I feed this child.  The few times I haven't used it (covers were dirty, too lazy to walk downstairs to get it, etc.) my back killed me a few minutes in and I wanted to kick myself.  This thing also has a million uses besides feeding.  You can lay your reflux baby on it to help prop her up after feedings.  She can sleep on it when she will NOT nap anywhere else.  (I was always watching, don't freak).  She can do a little tummy time on it.  You can put it around her waist when she is learning to sit up and it will help her balance and if she falls over it is a cushioned fall.  This is the one thing I have used every single day since she was born.  Except the boobies, of course.

4.  First Years Steam Sterilizer.  I love this thing.  I use it to sterilize bottles, nipples, and all of my pump parts.  In the beginning I was washing all the pump parts by hand and then sterilizing them in the Med.ela microwave sterilizer bags (which I like, just not for every day use) or in the dishwasher.  The microwave bags took too long because they would only hold 2 bottles at a time or two pumps sets at a time.  And the dishwasher....well obviously it took forever.  I saw on another blog this sterilizer and ordered it immediately.  This is very easy to use.  It holds 5 bottles at a time and has another tray for all the accessories.  I can usually do 5 bottles and 3 pump sets and a few bottle caps and nipples at a time.  I just put water in it and it takes about 10 minutes to sterilize.  Totally worth the money.  Heart it...

5.  Med.ela Pum.p in St.yle breast pump.  As you know from my previous post I have been pretty attached to my pump for the past 4 1/2 months.  We have a love/hate relaysh.  I love it because it has allowed me to store a bunch of milk.  I hate it because it isn't comfortable and who wants to spend all that time attached to a pump???  For like the first 8 weeks B would only eat off of one side and I was scared that my supply would go down so I would pump the other after EVERY feeding.  Boy was I glad when she started doing both sides!  

6.  Swing.  This is a newer love.  She hated the swing in the beginning.  I could only put her in it if she was pretty much asleep.  Now I put her in it and turn the vibrate on and she will play for a bit but eventually fall asleep.  This is pretty much the only way I can get her to take and afternoon nap most days.  Yay for the swing.

7.  "The Ball".  Obviously, we could live without toys but this is a favorite around here.  This was the first thing she could grab on to and play with.  She loved it.  Anytime she would get fussy I could give her the ball and she would be happy for a good 20-30 minutes.  She can chew on it which she loves.  She isn't as interested in it now because she can play with a bunch of other toys but for a long time this was my go to toy. 

8.  Video monitor.  I love this thing.  I love that I can see her during the night.  When she makes a noise I don't have to wonder what is going on, I can see.  Every time I wake up in the night (like 4011 times usually) I can peek over and see her breathing, feel better, and go back to sleep.  I also really enjoy watching her play by herself in the mornings.  It is frickin' adorable.

9.  Pandora radio on my iphone.  I never had this until someone on Face.book that had a new baby mentioned it.  I downloaded it and I have used it endlessly.  We listen to the lullaby station or Adele radio and she loves it.  She loves any kind of music so we listen to the stereo upstairs a lot too.  But having this on my phone is great for when we are downstairs, or when I am trying to put her to sleep and she just won't quite give up. This and the bouncer are the only way I have gotten a shower in the past 4 months.  Meltdown saver...

10.  Pam.pers Swad.dlers diapers with the wetness indicator.  I know this sounds crazy.  In those first two weeks of breastfeeding, before I got confirmation that she was gaining weight properly, I was so worried about her having enough wet diapers.  These dang disposables are so freakin' absorbent that sometimes it was hard to tell if she had peed or not.  Even when she did pee it wasn't very much.  These diapers that have the yellow line that turns blue when there is pee made me feel so so so much better.  Thinking back now I realize I was way too worried but I couldn't help it.  If we hadn't had those diapers I would have been sniffing those things like a crazy person and more than likely cutting them open to see if there was pee.  Insane.  **sidenote** I am not a huge fan of these now because her poo shoots out the back every.single.time (of all different brands of disposables) but in the beginning I would have probably lost my mind without them :)

So there you have it.  There are plenty of other things that we love, like the jumparoo, her play mat, her light up toy that we use for tummy time, etc.  But the above things have just been total lifesavers for me up to this point.  

Stash

I have been dipping into my freezer stash of frozen breast milk WAY too often.  

I first started freezing milk on November 1.  In the beginning I was storing it in my freezer inside.  They said it is only good for 3 months that way since the door is opened so much.  For Christmas, my dad got us a deep freezer for the garage so we moved everything out there (good for 6 months in that).  Thanks, Dad!

I still thought I needed to use the milk from November though before the 3 months was up.  So, I've been giving her a bottle or two a day of the frozen.  This gave mommy a perfect opportunity to have a cocktail!  I pumped SO often in the beginning that I had a ton of milk.  The November milk lasted all through January and February, giving at least one bottle a day and the occasional day of 3-4 bottles if I was away from her.  All the milk filled up two entire shelves in the deep freezer.  Now it only fills up one and a half.  

I sort of had a panic attack when I noticed that.  Why?  Because I am crazy.  I was a pumping machine because I thought I was going back to work.  I also pumped because I was always worried about my supply and I wanted to make sure I produced enough.  And, if I am totally honest, I pumped a ton because I didn't know when I would be ready to have another baby.  I wanted her to have breast milk as long as possible but I knew I couldn't be breastfeeding when we decided to try for another one.  So pump I did.  After every feeding.  For the first 8 or so weeks she only ate off of one side so I would pump the other.  Then when she started eating from both sides I would double pump after almost every feeding.  I wouldn't pump after the evening feedings because my supply was on the lower side then.  But I did pump after every middle of the night feeding even when she started sleeping longer stretches and every morning feeding.  When she started sleeping through the night at about 10 weeks I did too.  But she could only do one side when she woke up because I was so full.  So I would pump the other side and get a crazy about of milk.  This has since slowed down now that my supply has evened out.  

I still pump every night when I go to bed which is about 2 hours after she does so I get a decent amount then (4-5 oz).  I also pump after she eats in the morning because sometimes she can still only do one side (3 oz).  This is a good amount, although not near as much as I used to get.  These are the only times a day that I pump.  

I have enjoyed being able to have a cocktail when we give her a bottle at the 7pm feeding!  But I am going to stop dipping into my stash and just give her a bottle of what I pumped that day.  If I take something out of the freezer I feel like I need to put that same amount back in.  

Isn't it insane that I am worried about my freezer stash?  What is wrong with me?  I mean I saved it for her to DRINK!  Hello!!!  But for some reason I hate to see it get smaller.  Here is a picture of it now...

That top shelf used to be full up to the vent thingy!  These are all 3-5 oz bags. 

I guess it's just that I am proud of all that milk!  I don't know, I mean, I worked really hard for it.  I know that I am so lucky to have this and I guess that is why It makes my heart race to see it dwindle.  But it is ridiculous to worry so much about it.  Since I noticed it was so much smaller I have been like a drill sergeant when it comes to her bottles.  I only want a certain amount put in and if it gets wasted (as in she ends up not taking it from someone else) I get all worked up.  So stupid.  GAHHH!!  I have also started pumping like crazy too.  It is 2 pm and I have already pumped three times.  I have pumped enough for her to have a bottle this afternoon and will probably pump enough for her bottle tomorrow by the end of the day.  I need to relax and breathe.  Is anyone else this crazy about their stash???  Or anything else baby related??

And just because she is almost too adorable to handle...

TVT

A little thought vomit for your Thursday....even though Thursday is almost over...

• The weather has been beautiful here the past two days...like 75 and sunny!  Yesterday we went downtown and took a long walk.  Then we sat on a blanket in the grass and let Blakely play.  It.was.awesome.  I am so very ready for spring!  I even breastfed in public for the first time, if you consider the park public.  Lonnie was kind of surprised that I did it but, seriously, I was NOT going to the car just to feed my baby...crazy...

I bought the poor baby some sunglasses after I saw this picture...

she really just wanted to chew on the thing the whole time.

• Speaking of boobies, I'm pretty certain I have lost most of the sensation in my nipples.  I'm a little sad about this.  
• I haven't had a period yet...I've randomly had cramps here and there.  I wonder when that will happen...
• My super great friend that I hosted the shower for is having her baby like right now.  I am so very excited for her.  I've been talking to her throughout the day today because she thought she was having contractions but she wasn't quite sure.  She didn't want to go to the hospital just to be sent home.  Well it was the real thing!  
• Speaking of contractions and labor and all of that...it has brought back a lot of memories talking to her about that stuff today.  I have literally been on the verge of tears just thinking back to that day I had Blakely and all that lead up to it.   
• I totally took a pregnancy test yesterday.  I just felt weird (exhausted) for like 2 days.  Of course it was negative....it stung a little.  Not because I thought I was pregnant because I totally didn't (breastfeeding, no period yet, thick shell around eggs, no sperm at the moment) BUT I hate seeing that one damn line...I've seen it enough in my life...
• Lonnie has been working the late shift at work this week and I hate it.  I am so ready to get back on our normal schedule.  I am sure this is why I have been exhausted.  I go to bed way too late and then have to get up way too early with the baby.  I have been completely worthless around here...
• Carter's is having a big sale...all you peeps with little ones need to check it out... 
• Ok I have to try to go to bed!