Cloth diapering in the hospital

Using cloth diapers in the hospital can get you some funny looks, but you can get those anywhere.

I have converted/changed the opinion of many a nurse when it comes to using cloth. The nurses actually referred to us as "the cloth diapering mom" for awhile. :P

We frequent the hospital due to my son's medical issues so, I have tried a few different methods of cloth diapering there.

NICU Babyshower

For all the mom's who either know ahead of time that they will have NICU time (high multiples for example) or those, like me, missed/canceled/postponed their own shower due to being on bed
rest or Pre-term labor/delivery. This is going to be a list of great in-the-NICU or post-NICU items for whenever someone asks "what can we do" or "what do you need?" you will have somewhere to send them :)

Repairing elastic in Smartipants

We all know that I use cloth diapers, and I love them.  But after so many washings and tons of abuse elastic can begin to wear out, just like any article of clothing.  I searched the web for a tutorial for repairing Smartipants (my favorite brand and the majority of my stash) elastic but couldn't find one, so I'm making one!

Now before you proceed...  following these steps WILL DESTROY YOUR WARRENTY! So if you still have your warranty contact Smartipants FIRST!  If, like me, it was already shot due to using baking soda or something in the wash, then continue.  Or, if you don't care about destroying your warranty and just want it fixed today. 

DIY diaper wipes and solution

So we have LONG established that I'm a gung-ho cloth diapering mom who loves to DIY everything I can.. so is it any suprise that I make my own wipes and solution?  Nah.. didn't think so.
Well here is how I do it.

You will need: a box to hold your wipes. (I find that the Kroger brand wipes box works best for this, their wipes suck but the box is fantastic!),  Bottle to mix in (squirt bottles work great, we got that one for free at a Dollar general grand opening), baby oil, aloe vera gel, your favorite baby shampoo, and wipes.  To make our wipes we took 4 flannel receiving blankets (we use the rest at Flat diapers when we need them) and cut them into squares the size of the wipes that came in the box, about 6"x6"  I surged the edges but you don't have too.  You can also use the CHEAP baby wash cloths.  The expensive ones have to much grip and won't "pop-up" well.

DIY Extreme Wet Bag

Our old wetbag. Great single pouch wet bag.

As I have said before... we use cloth diapers.  When you use cloth then you become introduced to SOOO many other neat things..  One of which is the "Wet Bag", which is basically a carry all for wet/dirty things.   I suggest one to any parent, even the 'sposie using ones.    They can be used to carry dirty cloth diapers, wet swim suits, dirty outfits of a potty-training toddler, etc.  home to be washed.

I shall 'splan

It wasn't supposed to be a big deal...

I kinna feel like I need to explain myself...  After seeing all the other bloggy Moms doing the flats challenge I feel kinna left out...
or something like that...
The reason I decided NOT to do the handwashing part is actually pretty simple...  I've already done it.   I lived in Hattiesburg, MS in August of 2005.   I was living in a nice apartment complex off of I-59.  No one took the storm all that seriously...  We were all joking about how we would all get a day off from class... and that would be the extent of it.... boy were we wrong.
The eye of Katrina actually passed directly over my apartment.  I still vividly remember the feel of the walls of my neighbor's apartment shaking under my fingertips.  I remember watching the faux chimneys on the sides of the apartment buildings rip off and fly past the windows.
My neighbor had friends from the coast, with him who had run from the storm to the "safety" of Hattiesburg.
After the storm passed we were without power and water for about 2 weeks.  
Between the two apartments there were 8 people.  I fed everyone on a small 1/4" steel grill that didn't have any feet.  We burned the wood from the faux chimneys to cook and heat water. 

I had two of these.

Me and the only other girl between the two apartments (were we outnumbered or WHAT!) ended up washing clothes in my fabric stash buckets.
Yep.. I washed clothes for 8 people for 2 weeks in buckets.  See why I decided not to hand wash?  I've had enough hand washing for a life time.

But I did learn something from the flats challenge.  I learned LOTS. 
I learned that I like using flats, most of the time.  DH hates them and refuses to use anything other than Smartipants.. or some other form of easy change diaper.  Sometimes, if all else fails, he will change a Flip. 
I think they are great for at home use and for healing diaper rash.   Sure I have gotten wet a few times since I started using them, but that is because I never use a cover.  It isn't like I get soaked... just a bit damp.   We have also had a few poo leaks.  These past few weeks have been crazy with him being sick.   The antibiotics caused horrible diarrhea which caused horrible yeast diaper rash. The rash needed to breathe as well as meds.   Well.. I REALLY don't wanna use diaper ointment of any sort in my Smaris..  So.. I got rather good at the origami fold... and learned to make sure I fold it right to keep the diarrhea from leaking out..  ICK!!!

I'm still hopping to eventually get a Snappi though... I'll have to beg DH.. :P

What did you learn from the Flats Challenge?  Have you ever had to hand wash?  If so, Why?

Flats Challenge

We only partally praticipated in the challenge.  Lil' C did get some flats in his rotation.. Well .. flannel blanket "flats".

Cloth Diapering in the Hospital

We have already established that I'm a cloth diapering Mama.. really .. it isn't that hard.

The LAST time he ever wore 'sposies.

But cloth in the hospital takes some maneuvering....  The last two times Lil'C has had a hosptal stay (one over night and one for about a week) we used cloth.   The time before (his open heart surgery) he used the hospital provided Dry Max Pampers......  OMG... his poor poor bum..  Chemical burn.  So I swore then to avoid 'sposies from then on.
So how do you use cloth in the hospital?
There are a few ways.

Flats Challenge

Lot's of wiggling going on

Next week is the DDL Flats Hand-washing Challenge.   For me it could not have come at a better time.  Lil' C is cutting teeth.  How does cutting teeth and a hand-washing challenge have anything to do with one another?  More than you would expect.  Cutting teeth causes ALOT of drool... Which in turn causes diarrhea... which causes some BAD diaper rash..  (Seriously... the last time his bum looked like this was when he had to wear Pampers Ultra Dry in the hospital).

Cloth Diapers, would I do it again?

First time in Cloth,  still in the NICU.

When we were pregnant (and before the world changed)  I started researching ways to save money, and the most common thing to come up was to go with cloth diapers.  I realized how much money is wasted on disposables (or 'sposies in the cloth diapering world).  I have never really been a fan of disposable 1-use items.  If I use something disposable it usually is something that is used multiple times but if I forget it somewhere, then it's no biggie.  I always thought 1-use items were a major waste of money...  sposies are a HUGE HUGE waste of money.
Whenever the discussion comes up (usually by me first :P, and second only to breastfeeding!) I usually get the "look".. like "are you nuts woman?" 

Getting connected

Lil' C on a good day..

I have been following Dan (of Single Dad Laughing) on his newest endevor, Will work for followers.  I'm trying to get this blog up and out there.  It's has been kinna stuck.  Well today I'm going to TRY adding twitter.....  I have never had twitter... nor ever had the urdge to tweet...  I was actually kinna proud of that fact.  I have enough websites I'm a member of!  I still have my MySpace!.. even though I haven't looked at it in in almost a year.. it's probably still there....

Breastfeeding & Coth Diapering... but WHY???

ok .. I've gotten this ALOT! from almost EVERYBODY...

Reasons for Breastfeeding EXCLUSIVELY from the American Assn of Pediatrics-
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Facts-for-Fathers-About-Breastfeeding.aspx

Reasons for Cloth Diapering... well excluding the environmental stuff.. that's not the main reason. It's a nice plus but really didn't contribute to the overall decision. -
http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php

You will notice that all the info is FACTS, not personal opinion. Notice.. CITED!! WOW!

All in all.. I believe it is healthier for my child. If you want to do something different with yours.. then do so.

The other cloth diapering questions.
Don't they Leak?? - their not supposed to. If they do it is a detergent, diaper cream or fit problem.. all of which can be fixed. In general.. they leak about the same amount as disposables or less, but some systems allow you to change the absorbency (pockets, my personal fav) so it can be more absorbent at night.

Don't they stink?? - actually totally breastfed babies... not really. Disposables tend to smell more than cloth (I have heard this from ALL OVER the place, but have no facts because smell is an opinion.

Don't they take alot of work??- again.. not really. Throw 'em in a pail, throw 'em in the washer. wash, dry, fold, diaper, repeat.

What about scraping?? - Did you know it is ILLEGAL to put "poo" in the garbage?? Modern cloth diapers are made so that the poo does not stick, so it can be shaken off. Plus there are these great little diaper liners that can be flushed. And breastfed poo is water soluble, so it goes right in the wash. So if your using disposables & NOT shaking off, scraping off the "poo" your breaking the law.

Surprise, surprise.

Now from this point on.. I'm just going to refer everyone to this post.

Thanks, rant over.

 Here is a list of various Cloth Diaper info.  I have yet to try any yet.. (kinna hard when my son isn't due for 3 months..)
There are many diffrent styles of cloth diapers.
Prefolds- the closest available to what Grandma used to use.  It has still gone through a bit of improvements & is the cheapest method. Requires a cover
Fitteds- Similar to prefolds, but there is no "folding" involved. It's shaped like a "regular" diaper & has elastic & velcro or snaps to hold it on. Also Requires a cover.
Pockets- My PERSONAL favorite. ALOT like disposables, but has a pocket to for the absorbent material to go in, so you can personalize it for your child/ time of day.
All-In-Ones- The most like disposables. It's all one piece.  The problem with this is they require more drying time & you can't adjust the absorbency.
All-In-Twos-  A mutint mixture of a pocket & an All-In-One.

Multi Size-  These are the standard.  This means the diaper comes in diffrent sizes, just like clothes.  S, M, L and sometimes XS and XL.
OneSize- I love this as well.  These diapers are made to fit multiple sizes.  they have different settings that allow them to do so.  This is great for families diapering multiple children.  You use the same diaper from Infancy to Potty Training.  The only problem is that very few One Size fit newborns, So another system is needed first.  I'm planing on either using disposables (cuz I know some have already been bought) or a trial package which will allow me to try different styles before we buy the final one-size stash.

Some various pocket one size brands. 
SmartiPants-my personal Fav, made in USA https://www.smartipants.com/
Bum Genius- the most popular brand, Target even carries them http://www.bumgenius.com
FuzziBunz- also rather popular http://www.fuzzibunz.com
Flip- http://www.flipdiapers.com/
Happy Heiny's- http://www.happyheinys.com/
Tweedle Bug- http://www.tweedlebugs.com/
Econobum- http://www.econobum.com
Tiny Tush- http://www.tinytush.com/Tiny-Tush-Elite-Pocket-Diapers-One-Size_p_19-713.html
Katydid- http://katydidcloth.com/

They vary in price from $11 up to as much as $26 depending on brand and "organic" or not, but keep in mind.. 12-24 diapers lasts all the way up to Potty training.  The prices also vary from retailer to retailer as well. Personally I hope to end up with Green, Blue and White Diapers... but we'll see...