The Diapering Experience: Part Duex

source: google images (markitwithab.blogspot)

Last week I started writing about diapering.  Then I realized exactly how much information there was!  Not only in the debate between cloth and disposable, but just in the vast amount of information on each topic.  So last time I covered why disposables were not the greatest choice anymore.  You can find the blog and relating articles HERE.

This time around, it'll be the cloth diapering.  The in and outs, and a brief overview of what kinds there are.  

I ultimately started looking at cloth diapering because I wanted something that was more economical and better for the environment.  I have memories of hearing of horror stories about cloth diapers, having to fold them, sticking the kids with pins, having diapers hanging out in the toilet all the time...fun stuff.  However, cloth diapers of today have come a long way from yesteryear, complete with velcro tabs and separate inserts that can be washed instead of just a huge cloth.


The Economics of Cloth Diapers
     We all know that disposable diapers are ridiculously expensive.  And I find it outrageous and absurd that companies charge those prices, knowing that they can, because it's a necessity.  You have to have diapers, and with the monopolizing of brands, companies, and products these days there is less and less competition, so these companies really go for the jugular.  With how many diapers your kiddo will go through, you are looking at roughly $1000-$1200 a year just for the diapers.  This doesn't include the wipes, rash ointment, etc.

    The initial investment can be a pretty scary number to look at.  You're looking at generally anywhere from $400-$1300.  This number all depends on if you are willing to go the lower end of the spectrum, where more folding is involved, or if you want to go high roller style with the bamboo diapers that are already formed, or are the 'all-in-one' style.  The initial investment will also include your velcro tabs or pins, diaper pail, a rinser hose if you desire, wipes (or you can make your own, the DIY blog for homemade wipes can be found HERE), inserts and covers.  That's a hell of a lot for what would amount to one year of disposable diapers.


What Kinds Are There?
     My head was literally spinning as I started researching different kinds of cloth diapers.  There are so many different kinds, and so many of the articles were so long and informationally dense that I contemplated throwing the computer across the room.  Luckily, I found a great article from momadvice.com which broke everything down into readable sections while still giving all necessary information.

Diaper Covers:
   Just as the name implies, this covers the inner layer of the cloth diaper and acts as a waterproof barrier.  The diaper covers come in all kinds of cute colors and designs and are used in conjunction with the Prefolds, Fitted Diapers, and Contoured Diapers.

Prefolds:
    These are the traditional cloth diapers we all think of.  A big 'ol cloth diaper with a thick strip down the middle.  There are three different kinds of prefolds available.  First there is the Chinese Prefold, which is the most popular prefold out there.  It is made of twill, has heavy duty stitching, and stands up to some heavy washing.  The Indian Prefold are made out of gauze and are softer than the Chinese Prefold (CPF) and are more absorbent, however they tend to wear out a bit faster than the CPF.  The other prefold is a Diaper Serivice Quality (DSQ) Prefold.  All this means is that they are more absorbent that the generic type you may find at the store, and are what you will get from a diaper service company.  As stated above, these will be used with a diaper cover.

Fitted Diapers:
     These diapers have elastic gathering at the legs, which makes them easier to fit around baby, and they also have velcro tabs (no need to pin!) which makes it quite easy to use.  Fitted diapers are also used with diaper covers, and are the least expensive option, second to the prefolds.

Contoured Diapers:
     Contoured diapers are pretty similar to the fitted diapers, except they don't have the elastic gathering at the legs.  The contoured diaper has wings that will need to be fastened, and is also used with a diaper cover.

One Size Diaper:
 As the name implies, the One Size Diaper fits your baby from birth until they are 30-35 pounds.  They have snaps that go across the diaper and can be folded down to make a smaller size.  Obviously this one would take a bit of practice to get the folding right so that your baby isn't dropping his pants when you pick him up off the changing table!  This one seems like it would be a good investment however, since different sized diapers would not be necessary, and you would be able to spend less on your diaper investment.

All In One Diaper:
 Again, the name says it all.  These diapers are made of an outer layer (usually wool), and the absorbent inner layer, which is all put together in once piece.  They are fastened with a loop or hook, and are the best bet as far as daycare, grandparents, or last minute outings are concerned.  

Pocket Diapers:
This is an easy fasten on diaper that is made of two layers that form a pocket to be used with absorbent inserts.

Inserts:
These are used with the Pocket Diapers, and are literally just nice soft cloths that are put into the pockets.  You can just use regular Prefolds, or get ready made ones that are made of materials like terrycloth, micro-terryclolth or even hemp!  

Wool Soaker:  
These have a high lanolin content, and are used as covers since they can hold up to 40 percent of its weight in moisture.  They are often used with the Contoured, Fitted, or Prefold Diapers.

To begin with, it's suggested that you get a couple dozen diapers and inserts, and about 10 covers.  This way you don't have to worry about doing the laundry every single day, and so should be able to get away with washing only 2-3 times a week instead.  And although it is a sizable initial investment, it's best to keep in mind, that these will last you for years, are reusable, and have no chemicals that might end up causing a bad rash on your newborn's sensitive skin.  Also, make sure you have a diaper pail on hand, along with a hose to rinse off the diapers, and a few wet bags on hand so you can keep one in the wash, one in the pail, and one in your diaper bag.

Hope this helped with the break down of what kinds of cloth diapers there are, and provide a bit of clarity on the situation.  As for myself, I will probably be using the fitted diapers with covers.  Easy peasy.  

Tune in next week for the breakdown of the how to's for cloth diapering: Folding, cleaning, and general care. 

     

A House Divided: Mealtimes

These days there are so many ways of eating.  Some do Atkins, some do Paleo, some are vegetarian, some are omnivores, have food allergies or intolerance, vegan, solely junk food eaters.......whew! The list is exhausting as it is extensive.  Everyone seems to have a food preference, whether out of choice or necessity.  

In our house, we have two completely different eating styles.  I have severe gluten intolerance and prefer vegetarian.  Now, that I'm pregnant I tend to crave this meat or that sometimes, and if i've only cooked a roast for him I'll probably eat some instead of making two meals.  Dustin is a Paleo follower through and through. Grains (making very few and small exceptions for tortilla chips or onion rings) are out, meat is in, and thankfully most vegetables.  

It can be extremely difficult to manage meals to suit everyone, especially when one of them will whine and complain if there isn't dead animal on the plate, or some rice has been thrown in with the tortilla soup (I'll give you a guess as to who is the whiner).  But thankfully, I've started learning how to make substitutions and compromises to make both of us relatively happy at meal time.  

1. Always have vegetables. You should be having vegetables at every meal anyway, but when you have a house divided like we do, it's crucial.  Even if I just sauté some zucchini, tomatoes and squash, I use that as the base of the meal.  For him, I'll have some chicken or pork baked or pan fried and ready to mix in.  For myself, I'll have quinoa and mozzarella prepared to have a make-shift "casserole".  Or if I'm in the mood for pasta, I'll have maybe a roast in the crockpot and then a huge beautiful salad made, where my pasta and his roast is the accompaniment instead of the main show.
2.     Find substitutions and alternatives.  I have no problem with ready-to-go Gluten Free flour mixes.  Dustin doesn't like all the grains that are in them.  So we found that almond and coconut flour work well for pretty much anything we need to make.  And seriously, fried chicken made with almond flour and spices is amazing!  I'll post the recipe for that later ;)  Finding the substitutions can be quite daunting at first, but that's what Google and cookbooks are for.  It gets easier, I promise.
3. Be willing to compromise.  There are some nights where it's too much effort for me to cook two meals. Or we're down to whatever is in the house and the grocery store is out for a couple days.  I'll have whatever I made him.  Or he'll suck it up and have some Mac n' Cheese (Gluten Free of course) with me.  Unlike Burger King, you can't always have it your way.  Sometimes you just have to find a middle ground and suck it up for the night.
4. Have staples on hand and in the pantry.  Yes, it can be annoying, and with many of us struggling to maintain a budget and get bills paid, the last thing we think of is stocking up.  I certainly don't have a huge stock pile, but even just stocking up on canned goods and dry goods when they are on sale, or buying just one or two extra things when you go to the store each time will lead to a decent stock so you won't have to worry about not having at least something on hand for each of you.  For him, it's ground meat and ready to cook sausages.  For me it's rice, beans and Gluten Free pasta.  Whatever you like to eat, and can have stored for a long time is a good idea to always have on hand.
5. Plan ahead.  I'm not disciplined enough to make meal plans for the week, but I do think a day ahead.  Just taking a few minutes to figure out what's on hand and what you can do for dinner will make a huge difference in lowering stress levels.  You don't have to rush home from work or school thinking about what needs to be defrosted, or wanting to make something in particular then realizing you don't have all the necessary ingredients.
6. Tell them what's up.  I've found that if I just tell him what I'm making for dinner, instead of asking what he wants, it's a lot less headache for me.  Confidence is key.  And he hasn't complained about any of my cooking so far, so I know he'll be ok with whatever is placed in front of him.  If you have a picky eater on your hand (adult or child), firmness is key.  "This is what is for dinner."  Done.  9/10 times, I guarantee they will happily pick up their utensils.  

I won't lie, at first it is very difficult when a house is divided at mealtime. But after awhile, with some (a lot of) figuring out what works and doesn't for all parties involved, things smooth out and cooking actually becomes pleasant again.  And when in doubt, do breakfast for dinner.  Seriously, who doesn't love quiche, or bacon and fruit salad and pancakes :)

Happy Eating

Ways of Inspiration

Inspiration is a funny thing. It comes to you in the plainest of moments, in the quietest, most uninspiring ways.  A gentle nudge from inside reminding you that you are destined to do great things in life.  A pull towards something creative is usually the inspiration. A desire to paint again ( or for the first time), sculpting, cooking, writing.  All of these inspirations are brought to us when we are ready to move forward, ready to evolve into another, higher version of our best Self. Nature, while not always my inspiration, usually gets me centered and grounded, which leads to inspiration.  I receive inspiration while I'm just sitting around or in the shower.  It is usually a whispered thought in my head, along with confidence and the sudden desire to use something as an outlet; painting or writing lately, and in the past, my dance.  

Inspiration can be for creativeness, or for receiving instruction from a higher power (whether your Self, or God, or Nature, it is all a higher power) which will lead you down the path that you are supposed to be moving on or towards.  Being still and quiet are some of the best ways to receive inspiration, you don't even have to be looking for it.  Usually when you are just trying to put your life back together and calm yourself down is when you will feel that lightness surround you and that desire to just do something takes over your body.

Ways to help get inspired

• Walk in Nature. Fresh air will always bring you back to center, and moving the blood in your body stimulates your brain, which gets the "creative juices" flowing.
• Sit on a hill, or a mountain, or up in a tree.  Height gives perspective. Perspective brings thoughts. Thoughts turn into musings, which lead to creativity and the possibility for inspiration.
• Meditate. 5 minutes a day of just sitting quietly and letting your body be open to messages can make a world of difference. You don't have to do the "om" sound, nor be a guru looking for enlightenment. But a peaceful person is a happy person.  Try my guided meditation here.
• Read a book, listen to classical music, watch a documentary.  It's so tempting to watch all the normal crap on tv, as a way of numbing ourselves from the day to day struggles we endure, whatever they may be.  But silencing all that nonsensical noise and putting on something that engages the brain, and thus you, can help spark some activity in the creative and analytical parts of our brain, leading to inspiration to try or learn something new.
• Times of crisis are great opportunities for receiving inspiration.  This is not to celebrate crisis, or downplay it. Lord knows, I have had many moments of crisis where all I could do was lay in bed and eat myself sick.  But after the initial shock has worn off, we look for ways to feel better.  And it is in those time of looking to feel better that we often are inspired to try something new, do something different, be a different person. Just be sure that you are paying attention to what you are being drawn to; is it helpful or hurtful? How does it make you feel? If the answer is "numb" or "I don't care" then it is not helpful and it may be a wise decision to not pay attention to that information.
• Look at something pretty.  Flowers, fashion magazines, the scenery outside your house are all great places to get inspiration.  
• Clean the clutter.  In Feng Shui clutter is the ultimate bad energy keeper. It slows down the chi and blocks it from circulating throughout the house efficiently.  How can you be creative or inspired in rooms where things are piled high in corners, or it is dark and dingy. I am not the best housekeeper, but I definitely feel it when clutter becomes too much. I feel more drained, slower, heavier. Simply cleaning one corner a day will do much to help the chi in your space.
• Pinterest.  Not even kidding. I have a board called Back to the Brush, where I have pinned art that inspires me, painting techniques, and just beautiful things that helped inspire me to pick up the brush again to help me heal in a time of crisis.
• Religion.  I am not mainstream religion. I have always leaned more towards Native American beliefs, and after having a professor who was a Lakota Shaman, that sealed the deal for me.  Religion can be a beautiful thing, no matter what you believe (or don't believe) in.  For some, reading the bible can bring inspiration.  For others, it can be the teachings of Buhddah or the scripture in the Torah or Q'uaran.  

Whatever fills you with a feeling of lightness, whatever gives you a drive to do something in life however minimal it may seem, is inspiration.  Don't ignore it. It's one of the best gifts you can receive while living on this awesome rock we call Earth.