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If you had tried telling me about the benefits of Baltic Amber 10 years ago, I would have thought you were crazy. But now, I consider it a lifesaver. If I'm completely honest, I still wasn't 100% convinced until last week. Bean had been gifted a beautiful Baltic Amber necklace by a dear friend at our baby shower. I had misplaced the necklace and didn't find it until after Bean had started teething. We weren't quite in the throws of the teething storm, yet, and I didn't notice much of a difference. He was a little less fussy, but I thought it could just be my imagination. I had seen it make difference in other children, though, so I was still pretty positive it was working. And then Bean broke his necklace, and we had to send it back to the maker to be restrung. It took me over a week before I was able to get it to the post office. After two weeks without it, it became apparent that something was not right. Bean was constantly in tears, in obvious discomfort, and had started a napping strike. I was exhausted, and Bear and I started discussing getting him a second necklace while waiting for his first to be fixed. Bear has a bad back from a work injury several years ago, and has been on and off anti-inflammatory medication since. I have fibromyalgia, minor scoliosis, and carpal tunnel, all of which can often be helped with anti-inflammatory medication, as well. The main healing property of Baltic Amber is an anti-inflammatory, so we started thinking about getting ourselves each necklaces, too. We figured that, even if it didn't help, they'd at least look pretty. That’s when I discovered StarlightAmber by Gabba. Gabba and I are in a crafty mama’s group on Facebook, and she was sharing some of her most recent custom pieces. I was thoroughly impressed with her work, and have since developed a crafty crush on her! I messaged her about some custom necklaces for Bear and myself. I noticed that she worked with many different gemstones, not just Amber (which is actually petrified tree sap), so I asked her about what might help with my anxiety, fatigue, and thyroid disorder, as well as my physical discomforts. She worked with me for nearly 2 hours on Facebook Messenger figuring out the best blend of stones for me! I still wasn’t convinced that the stones would have any effect on me, but again, if nothing else, they’d be pretty. After discussing both Bean’s and Bear’s needs for at least another hour, I finalized our order with her. Gabba had them done in less than 24 hours! We got them a week after she dropped them off at the post office, which was impressive given the facts that she mailed them from Germany, and that we were in the middle of the massive snowstorm. The day after I put Bean’s on him, he had no more tantrums and had started napping again! He wasn’t nearly as clingy, and started playing and crawling around more. I was one happy mama! For myself, I was able to go to bed the next night with minimal back pain, and noticed that my consistent anxiety had gone down dramatically. Bear still has his back pain, but has been sleeping better. As the icing on the cake, each necklace is gorgeous and perfect for each of us! She even fashioned Bean’s after one of our favorite shows, Firefly (RIP Wash <3). After a full week, Bean still has minimal tantrums, is back to taking his daily naps, and is all around back to his happy self! My back and wrists feel a lot better, and I can crochet for longer periods of time. Bear is still sleeping better. I am convinced that this is not a happy coincidence, and that the amber really does work. Gabba keeps an awesome stock on her Etsy page, but if you can’t find exactly what you need, shoot her a message on Facebook and she will work with you to make the perfect custom piece. I highly recommend her work! I asked her if she would be willing to share a bit about herself and her necklace crafting, and here’s what she had to say: “New York born, Florida/Hawaii raised. Chef. Combat Vet. World Traveler. Mother. Wife. I have been crafty my whole life! I have about 200 paintings roaming around the world hanging in friends and family homes, coffee shops and all over my own house. I sew, paint, draw, write and have been making necklaces for about 6 months. I started the amber necklace crafting after getting the supplies to repair the ones my son had broken! I had about 5 broken necklaces, so I did the research for the best materials and repaired them to my liking with a few extra gemstones I had ordered. A few local mamas asked me to do the same, then I realized how much fun this would be to do more often! Amber and gemstones is not something I had knowledge of before I had children! When I was deciding on a vendor I tested my first original samples (salt water test) but since I know they are a reliable distributor, I no longer test each batch. When my first son was teething [amber] was something that was recommended to me and I right away saw a difference in his demeanor and the massively less amount of drool going down his chin. My husband is Wiccan and knows a lot about the proper healing abilities of gemstones, so he was my original knowledge guide when I wanted to add gemstones to my own necklaces. As my crafting ideas grew, I researched the healing power of gemstones and I'm amazed how far back this knowledge goes! I originally only thought to do children’s necklaces, but after wanting a pregnancy/birth support necklace for myself... it all took off from there. At this point I also learn a lot from my customers!” Thank you, Gabba, for sharing! We are incredibly happy with our necklaces, and look forward to getting more pretties from you in the future! <3
*I realize that Bean's necklace is a bit long, we requested this size for him to grow into. Baby should never be able to reach necklace into his mouth without constant supervision. Be sure to measure baby's neck for proper size necklace.* So, yeah, I realize that this is the second month in a row that I've completed my decor/blog post for the month on the last day. In my defense, I totally had another one planned for this month that had to get put on the back burner thanks to the massive dumping of snow that we got a few weeks ago. We still have several inches of ice covering a portion of our carport. Ew. Anyway, after being cooped up in the house for almost 2 weeks, we got to escape to Hobby Lobby and I got my craft on! Knowing I needed something simple and quick, I hit up Pinterest for "DIY Wall Art". I found this birch wall art tutorial. I looked over it a few times and decided that it would either turn out awesome or terrible (no in betweens with this one), but it's been forever since I've had the chance to paint, so why not? I picked up my supplies yesterday (yeah, I know, procrastinator extraordinaire), and got to work as soon as I got home. I already had most of the paint, as well as masking tape. I got the canvas for 40% off thanks to my Hobby Lobby app (originally $19.99, paid $11.99), so all in all, this cost me less than $15 out of pocket! I started by putting tape on randomly across the canvas. Since I have wider areas of the walls that I want to cover, I decided to go horizontal rather than vertical. I like the blue that was used in the original, but in my imagination, if I'm going to be in a birch forest in springtime, it's going to be green. I had nearly the tint of green that I wanted, but not the shade, so I got mixing. I love the swirls ^_^ They remind me of oil paintings I made in elementary school. Then I filled in all of the negative space between what would soon be my branches. It took me a couple of coats, and I let it dry for 5-10 minutes between each coat. Then I let it dry overnight. The next part was tricky for me. For some reason, I couldn't figure out which tape strips to remove first. If I did it over again, I would just use thicker tape. But I used what I had on hand, and I eventually figured it out (though thinking about it still makes my brain hurt). Once I got the first set of "trees" untaped, I started with a layer of beige paint using the card trick. I had a feeling that it would give the trees more depth, reality, and character. Once the beige was sufficiently dry, I added the black paint on top. I continued until I had filled all of the tree spaces, letting it dry for 30 minutes or so before starting the next "layer" of trees.
And here is the finished product! I actually really like how it turned out. Unfortunately, in my last-minuteness, I forgot to get something to hang it with, so for now it's sitting on a shelf behind the couch -_- But that will be taken care of shortly! It's the perfect size for the wall space I wanted filled. Additionally, it was inexpensive, used stuff I already had on hand, was relatively easy, and made minimal mess. Personally, I'm calling this one a win! What do you think? Pinterest win or fail? Recently, yoga pants broke the Internets. Because I am opinionated, and because I love yoga pants, I have to throw in my two cents. I know, too many people have already said just about everything there is to say. But I’m going to say what I have to say anyway. First, I want to commend the original poster for making the statement that no longer wearing yoga pants or leggings was a personal decision, and that she doesn’t feel like it’s every woman’s job to follow her lead. However, I disagree with her, and here’s why: 1. It is not my job to control other people’s thoughts. Growing up in a Southern Baptist home-school family, I heard the “dress modestly so that you don’t make anyone stumble/lust/think bad thoughts about you” line a million and one times. Am I against dressing modestly? No. Here’s the problem: modesty is subjective. I have decided to dress in a way that makes me feel comfortable and occasionally accentuates my body. So when it’s 95 degrees and 95% humidity, you bet your floor-length skirt I’m going to be in a tank top and shorts. I am not going to cover myself from neck to ankle so that a random guy doesn’t have perverted thoughts about me. This puts all the responsibility on me, and not whoever might be looking at me. Their thoughts are not my responsibility. Which leads me to my second point. 2. This train of thought encourages victim blaming. When it becomes my responsibility what others think about me by the way I dress, it perpetuates victim blaming. Saying, “Well, s/he wore [clothing], so s/he asked for it,” when a person is sexually harassed or raped is victim-blaming. When I was raped, I was wearing jeans, sneakers, and an over-sized, baggy band t-shirt. But even if I had been wearing a miniskirt and a crop-top, it still would not have been my fault. I was overpowered and forced into an act that I did not want to commit. My clothing choices had nothing to do with it. In fact, I’m pretty sure if you were to ask the guy who raped me, he couldn't have cared less what I was wearing at the time, nor would he be able to remember. And yet, when anyone hears about something like that happening, one of their first questions is always, “What were they wearing?” This is unacceptable, and we as a society must stop blaming people’s wrong thoughts or actions on what the victim may have been wearing (or how much they had to drink, or how flirtatious they were being, etc.). 3. You're basically calling my son incompetent. Yup, I said it. By saying that she will no longer wear yoga pants in public so that no guys think lustfully about her, she is also saying that men are animals and have no control over their thoughts. I hope that we raise our son well enough to where he is respectful of all people; and that, if he is thinking any “bad” thoughts about any person, he is able to change what he is thinking about. I already know that my son is not stupid, and if he is anything like his Papa, he will know and be in control of his own mind. “But wait! I thought you were a Christian! What about not being a stumbling block for your brother?!” Here’s the thing. If you read that phrase in context, what Paul was telling the church was to not do things that were not necessarily sins, but that they knew would make being a Christian confusing more difficult for newer converts. In other words, even though eating meat is no longer a sin, if someone else feels it is a sin, don't eat meat in front of them. But it’s still okay to eat meat. I’ll put it this way. If someone in my church tells the congregation that they’ve been struggling with alcoholism, I’m not going to invite them to my home for beers. But that’s not going to stop me from enjoying a glass of wine or hard cider with dinner now and again. So if someone in my church says that they’re having a hard time not thinking lustful thoughts when they see women in yoga pants, I’m not going to wear yoga pants to a church function out of respect for that person. That person is still responsible for his or her own thoughts. 1 Timothy 2:22 (ESV) says, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” That means it’s the looker’s responsibility *gasp* to look away if they start thinking bad things, not the wearer’s job to stop wearing leggings and start wearing formless dresses that cover them neck to ankle. In summation, if you feel convicted to stop wearing these or other articles of clothing, that’s fine. But just do it. Please don’t make yourself righteous and continue to enable the above points. You’re not doing anyone a service. My dearest love,
In recognition of Valentine's Day, I wanted to share a short list of a few of the reasons I adore you so. In no particular order... 1. You always give me the bigger half - never begrudgingly or with any hesitation. 2. You tell me I'm beautiful every day, even when I haven't showered in a week. 3. You text me "good morning" every day you're at work. 4. You always kiss me last when you leaves, and first when you comes home. 5. You voluntarily and willingly conformed to my dietary restrictions at home before I even moved in with you. 6. You read the labels for me. 7. You never call me lazy or put me down for being a stay-at-home mama. In fact, you thank me regularly. 8. Actually, you never put me down in any way. 9. You actively communicate with me throughout the day, whether we're together or not. 10. When I ask you how your day was, you tell me about it instead of just saying, "good." 11. You encourage all of my efforts at entrepreneurship, and have never asked me why I don't get a "real job." 12. When I found it impossible to get a "real job" after moving in with you, instead of getting mad or frustrated, you took over my car payments happily, and promised to take care of me and Bean to the best of your ability, for as long as you can. 13. You are actively involved with Bean, playing with him, bathing him, and have said on multiple occasions that diaper changes are your favorite because you get to have one-on-one time with him. 14. You genuinely think I'm funny, and can pretty much always make me laugh. 15. You squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom. 16. You know my favorite order at pretty much every place we frequent. 17. You take me seriously, and never make fun of me. 18. You always take my side, no matter what. 19. You're always excited to see me. 20. We never run out of things to talk about, even when we start re-telling stories the other already knows. 21. You never get annoyed when I get on my soapbox; instead, you listen intently, and generally give your well-thought-out opinion. 22. You happily help out with Bean, even after a long day at work, so that I can work on projects, run a quick errand, take a shower, or even take a much-needed nap. 23. You rarely ask me to drive, even if you're sick of it, because you know how much I dislike it. 24. You never buy me roses (you know I don't like them); instead, you pick me wildflowers (my favorite). 25. You fully supported me in my desire for a home birth; and, when that didn't happen, were by my side the entire time we were in the hospital. 26. You did more research about pregnancy and birth while I was pregnant than I did, and you never missed an appointment. 27. You have supported my goal of breastfeeding Bean, and bring me food and water when I'm tied to the couch with a hungry babe. 28. You enjoy cooking with me and for me. 29. You still open doors for me. 30. When I'm upset or angry, you respect my space and never push me, but somehow you always know when I need and am able to talk about it and get me to talk it out. 31. You willingly help me with laundry, dishes, and housework without me asking. 32. Even though you makes 99.9% of the money, you call it all "ours", and respect me enough to ask my opinion on bigger purchases. 33. For my 27th birthday, you made me gluten-free cupcakes, after I told you that no one had made me a birthday cake in years. 34. You always put me first, and work to make sure I take care of myself, too. 35. You make time for all of Bean's appointments, in part so that I don't have to hold him during his shots because you know how upset it makes me. 36. You constantly tell me I'm awesome. 37. You are a fan of pretty much all of my favorite shows: Firefly, Dowton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Vikings, New Girl, and any History or Science Channel specials. Not only that, but you'll binge-watch any and all of them with me, over and over. 38. You love and respect my family, and are the reason I continued to strive for a relationship with my parents. 39. You love Ikea as much as I do. 40. 8 words: great green gobs of greasy, grimy gopher guts. 41. You hold my hand as often as possible. 42. You always smell good. 43. You never complain when you come home to a messy house and no dinner. 44. You drove 6 hours to meet me and drive another 3 hours to see a band you'd never heard of because they're my favorite band and I had an extra ticket and no one to come with me. 45. Motorcycle rides through EKY. 46. You fix my car. 47. Cuddling on the couch in our pj's and watching anime on a Saturday morning is just as romantic as a night out. 48. You never complain about my cooking. 49. You make the bed every night before we go to bed. 50. You still give me pedicures, even though I'm no longer pregnant and can reach my toes again. I cannot thank God enough for bringing you into my life. You're an amazing father, and the most incredible life partner I could ask for. I'm proud to call you my best friend. I can only hope to be as wonderful to you as you are to me and Bean. My Sun and Stars, you are the light of my life. I love you the most, Kitty <3 Holy cow, it’s been a long time since I’ve updated about Bean. He’s going to be 8 months this Saturday (Valentine’s Day!).
8. Months. Why didn’t anyone tell me that he would grow up this fast?! J/k, j/k. Plenty of people did, I just didn’t believe them. It’s been a good 3 months since I last posted an update. I actually had to read what I wrote to see how far he’s come, and it’s far! Bean now sits up on his own. In fact, he can now get himself up into the sitting position from being on his back or belly. He still scooches more than crawls, and since my friend called him Lieutenant Dan, I giggle every time he drags himself around with his arms, his little legs dragging behind him. He went within days from being able to pull himself up to his knees to pulling himself into a fully standing position. He loves to stand up, but he’s not sure what to do from there! Bean has also started eating from the table – well, his high chair. So far he has tried (and liked!), in no particular order: Avocado Sweet potato Toast crust Black beans Rice Banana Egg Baked chicken Spinach Cheerios Oatmeal He is still mainly breastfed, and I hope we continue through at least a year or longer! He’s mastered pinching with his thumb and finger, which is great for him eating, but not so good when it’s Mama or Papa’s skin. Bean cut both bottom front teeth on Christmas Eve! I guess that’s all he wanted for Christmas. Haha! He’s also still a babbler. No words yet, but he understands “milk” and “more” in sign language, and has recently begun to sign “milk” when he gets hungry. Yay for communication! He has become increasingly independent in his play, and he now loves Veggie Tales and Baby Einstein. He takes fewer naps (cries to self) and is sleeping longer periods through the night. Bean loves when Bear or I blow raspberries on his belly, and he’s recently begun blowing raspberries on my belly! It is the funniest thing! If I lay down on the floor with him, he will pull himself to standing next to me, pull my shirt up, and start blowing at my belly. Sometimes he actually manages to get his face on my belly, and comes up with a grin of satisfaction after hearing the funny sounds he makes. Bean loves being around other children, though we’ve had to limit his exposure due to the height of RSV and Flu season. He is usually gentle with other children, doesn’t get overwhelmed with having several others around, and likes to smile and laugh at them. We got to visit our sweet friend in the hospital the day she gave birth to her second son. Bean was very curious, and not the least bit jealous when Mama held the new baby. I was so proud of him! It’s hard to believe that Bean was ever that itty bitty, and yet it seems like yesterday. I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty sure I have the fever again… Baby fever! If you follow my blog page on Facebook, you may know that I'm a HUGE fan of Repeat Crafter Me's blog. Sarah is incredibly creative, and makes the neatest/cutest patterns. I'm pretty much addicted to her website. So when I got the request to do a penguin hat, her blog is the first place I looked! Sarah's patterns are incredibly easy to read, and she gives the best points/tips. Every pattern of her's that I've used has turned out great on the first try. I highly recommend her page if you are into crocheting, even if you're brand new! You can find her original pattern for the penguin hat here. If you take a look, you'll see that my project ended a bit differently than Sarah's. The original hat has cute ear flaps with pompoms on the bottom (love!), but the sweet lady who requested this from me wanted the long scarf with pockets instead. The only alteration I made to her pattern was to continue DC's in place of the ear flaps. I crocheted 16 DC for 60 rows, then increased to 20 DC for 24 more rows. I followed her instructions for placing the second earflap to place the second half of the scarf. When I did the SC around the outside of the hat/scarf, I folded the bottom section of the scarf in half (12 rows of 20 DC) and continued to SC through both layers to hold it together. See? This is why I don't write patterns. Haha! I'll leave that to Sarah and the rest of the professionals. Didn't it turn out too cute? I'm so excited to put it in the mail tomorrow!
And thanks, Sarah, for the awesome patterns! I've been so gratefully overwhelmed with custom orders. I was concerned that the orders would stop after Christmas and that I may have to work outside the home. I have SO much respect for the mamas (and papas!) who go back to work after baby is born. The thought of it breaks my heart. BUT I have maintained enough orders to let me stay home! It does take a lot of my time, though, especially with Bean teething and crawling and trying to stand, so if I haven't posted in a while and you're wondering where I'm hiding, it's likely behind a crochet hook! :D At the beginning of this month, I made a list of goals for 2015. One of these many goals was to decorate in some way or another to make our house more of a home. Since we hope to sell this year, part of the goal was to keep each idea simple, inexpensive, and easy to take down/remove. Well, the end of the month snuck up on me. Eeek! I had this stack of granny triangles I made while I was pregnant with Bean, using this pattern by Lulu Loves. My intention was to make a pennant banner/bunting to go in Bean's room. I left off the shell edging, because - let's face it - I was lazy. But it works. Because it's the end of the month already, I knew I had to do something quick. Since these were already made, it made it easy! I stacked them up, then laid them out in the order I wanted. I ended up with 1 extra of each color. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the extras yet, but I'll figure it out - eventually. I'm calling this "The Great De-Stash" because I have SO. MUCH. YARN. Please, if you come to visit, don't look behind the couch. That is, if you can even see the couch with all of the projects I have going on here. Poor Bear, he has to clear a place to sit every day when he comes home from work. Oops. I'm working through all of the bits and pieces I have, and am making scrap-busting projects, many of which I hope to sell at the upcoming Artisan Fair in town. Anything that doesn't sell will probably be listed on my Facebook page, or taken to the Appalachian Artisan Center a few towns over. See this hook? It's the one my grandmother taught me with when I was 8. Yup, 2 whole decades ago. And I still have it. It's the most common size for most regular (worsted weight) yarn projects, so I get to use it a lot. It has super sentimental value! I pulled out the cream-colored cotton yarn I got in bulk forever ago, chained 15, slip-stitched into the top of each triangle with 5 chains in between, and ended with another 15 chains. When I finished up, I used some scraps to make tassels for the ends. Have you ever found a yarn that you just absolutely fall in love with? And then bring it home and have no clue what to do with it? Yeah, that was this yarn. I've had it for at least 6 years. I'm so glad to have finally found something to use at least some of it up on. I keep thinking about making a lovie with it, but part of me doesn't want to part with it as a big, pretty ball of yarn. I know, I'm weird. I hung it above Bean's changing table in our bedroom, using Command hooks. We never ended up finishing a room for Bean, but he doesn't need one yet, since he sleeps with us, and his changing table is in our room. Now he has something to look at while getting changed! Maybe it will help distract him from doing the crocodile death-roll while getting changed. Nope. He still does the death-roll.
But now our room is a little bit prettier ^_^ P.S. Yes, we have a rifle hanging on the wall. Don't worry, it's well out of Bean's reach ;) So, now all of the diapers have been explained (again), and you're left to wonder, "but what do I choose? How will I know what works for me?" The simple answer is: there's no wrong or right. Seriously.
Different kinds work for different families. When Bean was itsy bitsy, our favorites were newborn fitteds with PUL covers, and AIOs for outings. Once he outgrew the newborn sizes, we switched to prefolds with snappies and GroVia hybrid shells. We also use the snap-in GroVia hybrid inserts for outings and when the prefolds are in the wash. We have some wool covers (some that were bought and some that I've made) that we will sometimes use in place of the hybrid shell. Our overnight system has graduated to using a flat with a prefold, under a hybrid shell, for extra protection. Here is my sister's experience: As a mother of a 2.5 year old, Abbey, and a 15 month old, Buggy, and 1 on the way! I can honestly say I have tried everything out there! From “Chinese cheapies” to some more expensive brands, one sized diapers to sized diapers, PUL to wool, the options are limitless and it honestly is a trial and error to find what works best for you! My history in cloth diapering, much like my sister's, started when I was a baby. Mama Bear’s diaper sensitivity started my mom on cloth diapers and she continued them with me and our younger sister. I didn’t really think much about diapering until later in college when I met a good friend of ours who introduced us to the wonderful world of being a Crunchy Mom. When I became pregnant with my first I already knew I wanted to cloth diaper. I spent hours and hours researching and dreaming on the internet. I asked my friends countless questions (I’m sure I was getting annoying). Money was really tight and so I settled on some covers that were cheap and made in China. My mom and I made some prefolds out of an old towel and left over flannel. I got the covers in the mail and I was so excited! However that excitement didn’t last long once the baby arrived as I quickly realized that the diapers swallowed my 6lb baby girl whole! Thankfully that good friend I mentioned had a little man not too much older than my Abbey (I don’t have awesome code names for my family) and she loaned me a bunch of newborn fitteds and covers. They were amazing and I loved them. For a newborn fitteds are by far my favorite diapers. Once she outgrew the newborns I tried the covers again, bought some pockets and used those for a while. Bought and traded and sold diapers trying every style out there. There are pros and cons to all of them. Currently I am back to simple covers and flats because we don’t have a washer machine and so we are going to be using a camper washer and “hand wash” our diapers. Flats and covers are the easiest to wash. Once we have been doing it for a while I am going to write about that too. *Edit* after only 1 week of attempting to balance 2 kids, pregnancy, a full time job, and hand washing diapers I gave up. While the girls are at my mom’s (2 days a week) they are in “sposies” (shhhhh….. don’t tell!) and I have now signed up for a cloth diaper service for the rest of the week. I have only been using it for a week as of now but I am in love! I don’t have to give up my beloved cloth and I don’t feel as if I am throwing money away but I also don’t have to add an extra thing into my day. It is saving me time, energy, and my brain. I can write more about the cloth diaper service if anyone is interested! So that is my story and where I am at. Please if you managed to read all of this ask me any questions. I love talking about cloth! (And baby wearing and anything baby related!) Happy diapering! **************************** When I was getting Bean's registry together, I asked my friend for a list of suggestions for a newbie. She had been cloth diapering for years and through multiple children, so I knew she'd give me great suggestions! Please keep in mind, this list is just that, suggestions. This list will give any newbie the opportunity to explore several styles and get a feel for what works for them. The best thing is, cloth diapers have excellent resale value, so if you get a bunch that you don't use, you can sell them and pretty much get your money back! This list is by no means exhaustive or final, nor has anyone been reimbursed by any of these companies in any way.
I warn you, cloth diapering can become addictive, especially when you get into all of the cute designs and the excitement of fluff mail! I will say, though, that our current stash has cost us less than all of the disposables we went through in the first 6 weeks of Bean's life. There are a ton of great resources out there, and what we've covered here barely scratches the surface. My best suggestion is to find a local group of cloth diapering parents. It's the best place to get information and support. I wish you well on your own cloth diapering journey! Cloth diapers have come a long way in recent years. In time gone by, diapers have been in all kinds of forms, but mostly lengths of cloth wrapped around baby’s bum and secured in some fashion. But what we will cover today aren’t your grandmother’s cloth diapers! AIO – AIO (all in one) is a diaper that does not need any preparation. Many people like these for daycare or for daddies. It is most like a disposable, as you don’t need to do anything besides put it on! AIO have a waterproof layer and an absorbent layer. Popular AIOs are BumGenius Freetime or Elemental, GroVia, and Blueberry. AI2 - AI2 (all in two) is a diaper that has 2 pieces required to use it. Similar to a cover and prefold but the insert usually snaps into the diaper cover. Some can be used multiple times by just replacing the insert, while others can only be used once. Popular AI2s are GroVia Hybrids, Best Bottoms, and Flips by BumGenius. Hybrid – A hybrid diaper is a cover with multiple insert options. Hybrids usually have a cloth insert option and a disposable insert option. Many people like to use the disposable parts while out and about. Popular options are Gdiapers, Grovia, and Flips by BumGenius. Pockets – One of the most common modern cloth diapers is a pocket diaper. A pocket diaper has a PUL layer, then a micro fleece layer with a pocket opening to insert an absorbent layer. You can adjust the absorbency based on your baby’s needs. Unlike a cover, a pocket can only be used once before needing to be washed. Popular pockets are BumGenius 4.0, Thirsties, and ALVA baby. Accessories Fasteners – Old-school way of fastening a diaper is the classic diaper pin. There are more modern ways that include a stretchy piece of silicone and plastic teeth to grab the diaper. Popular brands are called Snappi and Boingo. They are a “safer” option to pins because you can’t stab the baby, but they bite hard! I have bled from a boingo before! I have also used pins and never once stabbed my baby or myself. Wet Bags – a wet bag is a bag that usually has a PUL or other waterproof lining. It is used to store wet or soiled diapers while out and about (or at home!). Some have drawstring openings and others have zippers. They range in size holding 1-2 diapers to 8-10 diapers. They keep the wetness and stink inside so they can go in your diaper bag. I also use a small one to hold damp cloth wipes. Pail Liners – These are similar to a wet bag but they line a pail or a trash can to store used diapers at home before wash. They generally don’t close and just use an elastic band to wrap around the lip of the pail. Cloth Wipes – Cloth wipes are pretty self-explanatory. People use name brand wipes, cut up pieces of scrap fabric, WAHM wipes, or baby washcloths. You can pre-wet or use dry with a spray. There are many options available. I personally like to wet my cloth wipes in the morning, and place them in a small wet bag to use throughout the day. Diaper Sprayer – Diaper sprayers attach to the toilet to spray waste into the diaper. Spray Pal – A spray pal is to be used with the diaper sprayer to shield nasty water from getting everywhere while spraying. Okay, so now what?Now that we have all of these names rolling around in your head, you're probably wondering, "But where do I start?!"
Don't worry, that was my first question after finally sorting out what was what. In our next post in this series, we will cover what worked for us, and at what stages. Stay tuned! |
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AuthorMama Bear of one Baby Bear, Bean, who both love Papa Bear, and live in a crafty, gluten-free cozy den. Archives
June 2017
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