Cloth Diapering Q&A

Why did we even consider cloth diapering?

Ha! The title of this post makes me laugh. Like, it is seriously hilarious. Because if you know me at ALL you would know that I am pretty open to most things...however cloth diapering would have NOT been one of them. I am or was not anti cloth, it was just one of those things that I thought I would hate so never gave it a chance.

So anyways, 4 years and 3 daughters later, we have ventured into the cloth diaper world. I am not sure I would ever even have considered it except little C kept having a reoccurring diaper rash that I could not get rid of.

So I emailed/called a few cloth diapering friends, got advice, suggestions, and so forth...

The one great thing about cloth diapering now instead of even 4 years ago, is that the whole industry has completely blossomed. More and more momma's are choosing to cloth diaper their babes, which means SOOOOO many more options are available. I honesltly have learned a pleathera of information just in the past few weeks.....just in case you wanted to know:)

What are the types of cloth diapers available?

There are basically 5 types of cloth diapers: prefolds, All in Ones, pocket diapers, fitted diapers, and hybrid diapers. Seriously, who knew all these options existed? If you want to know more about the different types then click here and it will give you a good description of each. It explains all of the options except the hybrid diaper, which is the newest cloth diaper, which includes the Grovia and Flip diaper system.

How much does it cost to start cloth diapering?

This all depends on how much you want and "what" you want. We have spent between $300-$350. Our main reason to start cloth diapering was not economical at all but now that we are doing it we realize how much money we will save, especially if we have another baby. We currently have 12 pocket diapers, 3 covers, 12 inserts, and (12 more fitted diapers, and 6 more covers on the way...made my awesome friend Pam). We also have a few other accessories that I will go into detail on later. You could really do cloth for as little as $100. I actually was just told about a website that sells super cute pocket diapers for $8.95 (which is super great), called www.gogreenpocketdiapers.com...Too bad I don't need anymore:(

But as far as the money goes, we won't spend anymore money on diapers....EVER. It is actually pretty liberating. I also think we are going to eventually move to cloth wipes too:)

How many diapers do I need?

Truthfully, I thought I could get by with less, but you really need enough to get through 2 full days and maybe a few more. Newborns need to be changed 10-12 times per day, so optimally 24 diapers would be great! I like pocket diapers so instead of buying 24 of these, I got 12 and am supplementing with some other cheaper kinds. It is working great so far. And once I get the ones from my friend, I know that I will have more than enough.

What else do I need in addition to the diapers?

We got a planet wise pail liner, the Bum Genius diaper sprayer, and a Bummis wet bag in size Medium for the diaper bag.

What about the laundry?

This was by far one of main reasons I did not want to cloth diaper. I just already do so many loads per week, adding more did not sound too appealing. However, the laundry is so easy. It really does not take much effort at all and there is really no folding involved. I throw all the diapers in the washer and run a short cycle (with no detergent) on cold to rinse out any more soil that is on the diapers. Next, I wash them on Hot with detergent. Then I rinse them (or do another short cycle) again. I then dry the liners and hang up the outer part of the diaper.

For detergent I use one called Eco's (got it at Wal-mart) for my regular detergent and then once every 5 washes or so I use the Bum Genius diaper detergent. For detergents that are safe for cloth diapers check this list. (You want to make sure there are no additives in the detergent, even brighteners can cause build up which will make your diapers not absorb effectively. A lot of free and clear detergents still have brighteners.) I am washing every 2 1/2 days and will most likely be every 3 once I get the rest of my diapers.

*I also dry my liners and diapers outside in the sun about once a week for the natural bleaching of the sun.

Which diapers should I get?

There are literally SOOO many options. I asked a lot of friends what they used and we just decided to go with BUMGENUIS 4.0's as our main diaper. (If I had found the gogreen website prior to buying the BG's, I would have totally tried those out first.) I really have no reason for picking these over something else...but I have really loved them so far. I have heard that pocket diapers do tend to work really well with moving toddlers:)

Do I have to get new diapers when my child grows?

Most cloth diapers (or at least a large percentage of them) are One Size. They fit babies 8 -35 lbs.

Knowing what I know now, would I have done this with my older daughters?

Yes. Absolutely. I was always so against cloth diapering and I had no reason to be. It is so much easier than I ever imagined, it is a great economical choice, and it is definitely green.

I am not even close to being an expert on cloth diapering. I honestly still know very little....but if you have any questions feel free to ask!

These are some of the new Bum Genius Prints. Are they not the cutest things ever? Seriously. Love. Them.

Little C being cute in her grasshopper Bum Genius 4.0

Alphabet Soup Letter "K"

Some of our favorite things that begin with the letter K....

Well if you know me at ALL you would have to assume that letter K would be one of my favorites...why????

1.KENTUCKY- Seriously, I love Kentucky. If you have never been there, you should go. It is just beautiful. Truthfully, I feel God's presence there more than anywhere else I have ever lived. It is just so serene.

2. Kentucky Sports- We love some football and basketball in the major house!

3. Kitchen(s)- I have said before I am somewhat of a house snob. I admit it, and I am seeking therapy. But I love pretty kitchens. My parents build houses for a living, here is a kitchen they did a while back.

My dream kitchen would be some shabby chic/rustic farmhouse mix. It would have white or antique white cabinets, a huge island, a farm sink, and a farmhouse table. I love kitchens mostly because they are where most life happens. SO much of the family life revolves around the kitchen. It is a great place to be.

4. Kisses- From all my littles and of course the hubby.

5. Keys- One of those major things you need almost everyday.

6. King Ranch Chicken- One of the few "casserole" type dishes that Matt will eat.

7. A Knights Tale- Have you ever seen that movie with Heath Ledger from like 7 years ago or so? I love it. I am sure it did not win any awards or anything, but is one of those movies you can watch over and over again.

8. Key Lime Pie-This would certainly not make my list (I do like it, it is jut not a favorite) but it is one of Matt's favorite deserts.

9. Kohl's- I love this store. They usually have really nice clothes for women for a lot less than department prices.

Check out the Mr. Tomato post below!!!

Mr. Tomato

A few months ago the girls and I went to Lowes to look for something. I would camp out there if they would give me free stuff love Lowes. I remember being tortured as a child when my mom and/or dad would drag me with them to different home stores. I go into Lowes now (or Home Goods, or Kirklands) and I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. I love all the appliances, the paint, the wood, the bathroom vanities and so forth. As the girls and I were browsing the isles I spotted the clearance section towards the front of the store. I don’t know about you but when this girl spots red priced items, this girl gets excited.

On this cart, was this cute little tomato plant on sale for $3. I have always wanted to be a gardener. Maybe one day when we actually settle somewhere I can grow the majority of our produce. The girls and I immediately named our new plant. I threw Mr. Tomato in our cart. He already had two almost ripe tomatoes growing. We were excited to get him home.

I put our newly named friend on the porch for us to admire. We watered him and made sure he would get enough sun light in his designated spot on the porch. The next morning we got up and two icky worm/bugs had taken over our two almost ripe tomatoes. We took the infested tomatoes off and threw them away, hoping that new tomatoes would start to grow soon.

Weeks went by and we took great care of Mr. Tomato. We gave him a permanent home in the backyard, watered him, took off his dead leaves, watched out for bugs/worms, and so forth. More weeks went by and still no tomatoes. After a month or so we started to completely neglect Mr. Tomato to care for Mr. Tomato a little lessJ I considered many times just pulling up Mr. Tomato and throwing him away. I was sure that he was only on clearance because he was clearly not a very good tomato. I just knew no more tomatoes were ever going to grow. Months went by and we welcomed our newest daughter into the world. I hardly ever even thought about Mr. Tomato except when I would see the empty plant out the kitchen window when I was doing dishes. The girls had long forgot we even had a tomato plant.

Just this week the girls were outside playing play dough. It is now November (long past the prime tomato growing season) and it has been fairly cold here the last few weeks. I heard them yelling for me to come look at something. I walked outside and they were pointing in the direction of Mr. Tomato. My jaw about hit the ground. I could not believe my eyes. We had a TOMATO. A lonely little tomato, but beautiful none the less. There he was in all his glory, perfect, in the middle of November. I just sat there for a minute and looked at Mr. Tomato and wondered how in the world this happened. And how we would have never even seen his beautiful offspring if I had just given up and thrown him away? We neglected him and he still brought forth fruit.

And then I laughed. I just starting cracking up. The girls thought I was nuts. God is sneaky like that. This had nothing to do with our “miracle Mr. Tomato” plant that is producing fruits in near winter. God is and had been teaching me something, over months and months, He was there, cultivating that little tomato, pruning it, watering it, loving it (when we just neglected it) to show ME something about Him.

HE is always there. We are the tomatoes and God never neglects us.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Matthew 6:30

He is a gracious God. Even in the midst of our sin, He sent his son to die for us. He loved us despite the worms and bugs that encompass us. He thinks we are worthy even when no one else does (or when we are on clearance!)

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

He transforms us. We were dead in our sin and now we are alive in him. We were made for His glory.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:3-5

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2