I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately, as my daughter’s birthday approached. Reflecting on my due date, on the circumstances leading up to her birth, on the pregnancy and then those first few weeks after she was born that just seemed like a blur. It feels as though it is still December 2011, but suddenly here we are, December 2012, and I have a one year old.
My daughter, Penelope “Penny” Ann, was born at 1:05am on December 16, 2011. She was a skinny 6lbs 12oz, though I wasn’t surprised by the weight, and only 18 inches long. You might think she would’ve stayed skinny, but that girl beefed up. Now, at a year, she is about 11lbs and 30 inches tall. My little baby isn’t so little anymore.
I remember bringing her home and having no idea what to do with her. Well, other than feed her and change her diaper, in any case. But what does one do with a newborn? I ended up watching a lot of TV as I recovered from my surprise c-section with her lying on my chest, her favorite place to be. She was a mama’s girl from the start, even if I tried to pass her off as a daddy’s girl. She still is all about her mommy.
Each month on the 16th I would prop her up somewhere in cute clothes and take another photo. One month, two months, three months… I had no idea that one year would sneak up on me like this. I feel like it was just September and my baby had just started crawling. Now I have a walking, talking, one year old. A toddler, in most cases. My baby is a toddler now.
I was never one of those people who was stuck in the past, reminiscing about days gone by and about my baby growing up too fast. I like to live in the present and keep a keen eye on the future. Sometimes, though, I give myself those few moments to reflect on how far we’ve come, to flip through photos of her as a newborn, with her hair sticking out and her skinny legs all over the place. What a doll, my Penny was, and still is.
Here I am now, a mom of a one year old, and proud of it. I am soaking in every moment of this little girl’s life. I am laughing with her father while she toddles around the room blabbering about this and that. I am chasing after her as she is running into the street for the millionth time. I am cuddling with her in the morning when she just isn’t ready to wake up all the way while we watch a show or two. I am letting myself think about the past year with happiness. look how far we’ve come, baby girl, and look how much we still have ahead of us. I am proud to be a mom of a one year old.
Chantal Shelstad, a self-proclaimed “crunchy” stay-at-home mom who lives in Alabama with her daughter, Penny and her husband, a pilot in the Army. Chantal is more than happy to own up to the fact that cloth diapering parents have to face plenty of difficulties, transitions, stigmas (and yes, plenty of poop!) …but it is still worth it in the end.
If you know one thing about babies, it’s that they come with a lot of stuff. You could be going on a simple overnight trip and have the car jam-packed with baby-junk, because you never know what you might need when you’re away from home. Even when you stick close by, you still need plenty of help from the baby gear you’ve collected.
As a crunchy mom, I feel like sometimes I use a different set of baby gear from the conventional mother, because of our cloth diapers, elimination communication and nursing, among other things.
It surprises me how much I rely on certain equipment, day to day. Here’s a list of my favorite crunchy mom (but it applies to any mom!) essentials.
Cloth diapers: You have to have them! If nothing else, your baby needs clothes and diapers. Of course, FuzziBunz is my cloth diaper of choice and my stash is full of them.
Cloth diaper accessories: Think about everything else that comes with diapering. You’ll need a pail and pail liner to store the dirty diapers before washing them, wipes (whether they be cloth or disposable), wipe spray for those cloth wipes and laundry soap to wash the diapers.
Potty: If you’re practicing elimination communication, which we do part-time, then you’ll need a simple potty for the baby. I use a Bjorn potty. It’s light, easy to carry and the perfect size.
Baby carrier: Make sure you get a high-quality, safe carrier. You don’t want to forward-face your baby, because it isn’t good for their hips or back, and you want a carrier that supports their bodies fully, not a crotch-dangler that hurts the poor things! I used a Moby when she was young and then we moved to an Ergo.
Amber necklace: Amber has proven to be effective in helping babies with the pain of teething. Since my daughter was an early teether, we relied on the magic of this necklace, and she wore it all day long. If you’re nervous about a necklace, simply wrap it around their ankle or wrist.
Healthy snacks: We buy mostly organic, all-natural products and rarely get food from a box or can. My daughter, while still young, snacks on carrot sticks, apple wedges, avocado and bananas. We also give her powdered probiotics in her water to aid digestion.
Safe products: It is important to only use safe, natural products on our babies, when possible. I use an all-natural wash and lotion at bath time and use coconut oil as a preventative diaper rash cream.* Read your ingredients!
A good nursing bra: Confession – I realized 8 months in that I couldn’t still wear the one I got when she was born. That’s right, I was wearing the same two bras. First, everything had shrunk so they didn’t even fit. Second, they were falling apart! If you plan on extended breastfeeding like I do, you’ll need a good support system.
Everything else: When she was a newborn, I relied heavily on a set of receiving blankets, so I always tell new moms that those are a must-have.
Of course, you don’t need this baby gear to survive, because all babies want is their moms and a full belly. I’m just glad we have this stuff to help us out!
Chantal Shelstad, a self-proclaimed “crunchy” stay-at-home mom who lives in Alabama with her daughter, Penny and her husband, a pilot in the Army. Chantal is more than happy to own up to the fact that cloth diapering parents have to face plenty of difficulties, transitions, stigmas (and yes, plenty of poop!) …but it is still worth it in the end.
*Editor’s Note: FuzziBunz does not recommend use of any diaper rash ointment while using FuzziBunz®, as this will void your warranty and cause them to repel. We recommend changing the diaper often and allowing the baby to air dry as much as possible. You can also use a combination of a zinc oxide powder / cornstarch powder on baby’s bottom to aid in healing. Bee All Natural baby powder is a great choice. If you need a “paste,” mix the powder with a little bit of water and rub onto the rash to give it more staying power.
Kaylene B. is a mom in her mid-twenties who loves cooking, exercising and in general, living a happy life. She and her husband are expecting a baby boy around Christmas time. Kaylene blogs about her adventures with her cloth diapered, 18 month old daughter, Gianna, at Letters from Momma. She balances her busy lifestyle by staying organized, keeping ahead of household chores and
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
Cloth diapers have changed my life by making me aware of resources used to produce disposable products in general. They’ve added to my laundry time, yes, but minimally. They also help me feel better about other areas of my life where I’m not so “green.” And they’ve made me a few friends, too….CD moms tend to gravitate together!
Q:The first I do when I wake up is…
I’m pregnant, so….use the restroom! And then I go get my sweet 18-month old from her room, because I stay in bed as long as she’ll let me.
Q: No matter how much time it takes, I always…
Get chores done early, rather than let things pile up. I’m one of those ‘annoying’ people who keep a tidy house no matter what.
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…
Hmm…. Liquid silver hand sanitizer? Tiny ‘Pooh’ books to occupy my daughter? Who knows how old smushed cereal bars? What’s unusual with a toddler!?
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be…
Surprisingly, it’d be a dress, though I usually live in workout apparel. I have this one Michael Kors brown zebra print dress that is so comfy (and washable) that I got on super sale several years ago. It is flattering, cute, and easy to toss on for a fancier look than I’m used to. I’d chose it because I’d feel really out of place if I ever got asked to go somewhere nice and only had my beloved t-shirts and athletic shorts. I think ahead people!
Britney Major is a mom of three children under five years old and lives with her family in Idaho. Since she became pregnant with her third child, she has been passionate about cloth diapering and runs a video blog where she provides information and helpful tips to inspire other families to cloth diaper.
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
Cloth diapers have changed my life by not making me feel guilty about diapering another baby. I have three kids under five and had been buying diapers for too long! When I found out I was pregnant with number 3 I vowed to never buy another pack of disposables. Aside from two small newborn packs of disposables that we received as a gift, we have only used cloth diapers on our daughter, who is now four months old. I think the diapers have paid for themselves already! We even went on a 1,800 mile road trip to see family and never once used disposables even on the road!
Q: This summer I am looking forward to….
CAMPING! With three little kids camping is always fun and adventures. We are hoping to go on a two week long camp trip this year and of course cloth diapering the whole time!
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…..
I am pretty crazy about keeping my diaper bag cleaned out and organized but I would say the most unusual thing would be coconut oil. I’m not sure if its unusual or not but I use it for EVERYTHING! I use it as moisturizer, diaper rash treatment and prevention, in my hair to make it shiny, as makeup remover – anything!
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be….
A jersey knit maxi skirt and nursing tank top. This is pretty much my daily uniform – it’s so comfy and easy but at least it looks like I “tried” to get dressed.
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
Enjoy your first baby and pregnancy. Having multiple children is wonderful but there is nothing like being able to devote all your attention to one chid. Once you have more, there will be no more afternoon naps with your new baby. Also, co-sleeping and breastfeeding have been a life saver. I have hardly had any sleep deprived days with this baby and I really think it has a lot to do with the fact that I am not getting up to make bottles all night.
Angela V. is a mother of two who is passionate about knowing what kinds of products you are putting in and on your body. On her blog, Earth Faerie Mama, she writes about the importance of knowing what you are bringing into your home and letting your children eat off of and play with. She makes her own bath and body products, cleaners and prefers handmade toys – and of course, cloth diapers!
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
Since using cloth diapers, I have been wanting to use less disposable EVERYTHING in our house. We now use cloth wipes, un-paper towels, cloth napkins, hankies and mama cloth! I try every day to be more “green.” I even started to blog about how much I love cloth diapers and being green.
Q: The first thing I do when I wake up is…
Change my little one out of his night time diaper. With cloth diapers he is able to stay comfortable in one diaper for 10+ hours with no leaks! Then I spend time with both of my boys.
Q: No matter how much time it takes, I always…
Fold and neatly put away each cloth diaper while admiring the patterns!
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…
Dice! You never know when they will come in handy.
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be…
At first I wanted to say my pajamas…butI can’t help imagining myself in a dress, since I don’t wear one often. I would love to wear my soft summer maxi dress all the time. It’s comfortable enough to sleep in but cute enough to wear out.
Lafayette, Louisiana (May 1, 2012) – FuzziBunz®, the inventors of the modern cloth diaper, today announces the addition of two cloth diaper prints, Strawberry Delight and Whimsical Whale, to its line of award-winning, popular cloth diapers.
“After sharing the Strawberry Delight and Whimsical Whale cloth diaper prints with several moms, we got overwhelmingly positive feedback. These moms told us that they felt the new prints truly represented their tastes and styles,” says Tereson Dupuy, the founder and CEO of FuzziBunz® and who is also known as the Mother of the Modern Cloth Diaper. “The best part is that the latest prints can be repurposed as a cloth swim diaper too, making them as versatile as they are sweet.”
The two new spring cloth diaper prints include:
FuzziBunz® Strawberry Delight: Strawberry Delight is a whimsical and magical cloth diaper print that will please any baby girl and the parents who love her. With swirling pink strawberries surrounded by luscious oranges, this cloth diaper design, available in both the FuzziBunz® One Size Elite and Perfect Size options, looks good enough to eat. (Do not eat them, of course!)
FuzziBunz® Whimsical Whale: This cloth diaper print design will bring a delightful squeal to any baby and his or her doting mom or dad. Whimsical whales adorn this blue and aqua green reusable cloth diaper also available in One Size Elite and Perfect Size options.
Kim Rosas, the owner of the popular blog Dirty Diaper Laundry, says, “The prints are fun and colorful, with patterns that made me smile. FuzziBunz is right on trend this season, with the fashion-forward neon colors and fruit-themed pattern.”
FuzziBunz® forever changed the modern cloth diapering world when it was introduced on the market in 2000. Today, FuzziBunz® diapers are available in One Size Elite cloth diaper and Perfect Size cloth diaper options. The One Size Elite diaper is one of the most adjustable cloth diapers on the market and is made to grow with a child from birth through toddlerhood. The Perfect Size diaper, which comes in x-small, small, medium and large sizes, is made for parents who want a sized diaper that fits perfectly every time with no adjustments needed.
Another blogger, Gina Crosley-Corcoran of The Feminist Breeder, adds, “I absolutely adore the new FuzziBunz prints and am very happy that FuzziBunz has added prints to its line of wonderful cloth diapering products and accessories. Prints were the one thing about the brand that I wanted but was missing.”
The new spring FuzziBunz® cloth diaper prints retail for $13.95-$16.95 (Perfect Size) and $19.95 (One Size Elite) and are available at a variety of stores on- and off-line worldwide.
Further, FuzziBunz® is making several other new additions to the FuzziBunz® collection, which include:
Specialty Sizes: FuzziBunz® Perfect Size diapers now come in specialty sizes XL and XXL for larger babies/children or special needs children who require diapering for extended periods of time.
Comfort Pads: FuzziBunz® is now offering new colors in their line of super absorbent, ultra discreet and oh-so-easy to wash Comfort Pads for eco-minded menstruating moms.
For more information about FuzziBunz® or any of these new products, please visit http://www.FuzziBunz.com.
About FuzziBunz®
Known as the “gold standard in cloth diapering,” the patented FuzziBunz® cloth diapers are a modern, convenient and sustainable diapering solution for today’s busy parents. The reusable pocket cloth diapers ensure no leaks, no rash and no waste. FuzziBunz® diapers include three layers: 1) a waterproof outer barrier to keep wetness contained, 2) a soft microfleece inner layer that touches a baby’s skin and pulls away moisture, and 3) a unique, pocket-style opening that enables a parent to customize the absorbency using super absorbent micro-terrycloth pads. Stay-at-home-mom, Tereson Dupuy, invented FuzziBunz® in January 1999 in response to her infant son’s chronic diaper rash and her overall dissatisfaction with all available diapers. Tereson stitched the first FuzziBunz® in her home and a short time later, the modern cloth diapering movement was born. For more information about FuzziBunz® cloth diapers and accessories and to find a list of retailers, please visit www.FuzziBunz.com.
On Saturday April 21, cloth diapering moms and dads across the country attempt to break the world record for the most cloth diapers changed at one time at the Great Cloth Diaper Change. We asked you to change your babies’ FuzziBunz cloth diapers at the event and send us a photo so that we could see the excitement for ourselves.
Some of you did just that and we put together a quick video montage so that you could all experience the great event together. We are grateful for everyone in our community who is helping to spread the word about the importance of using cloth diapers.
Now, go grab some popcorn and sit back to watch The Great Cloth Diaper Change in action!
Several weeks ago on Facebook we asked “what is your favorite cloth diapering tip or trick?” Well, you answered. Your answers were so helpful and informative that we couldn’t choose just one.
Last week we discussed tips and tricks about cloth diapering on-the-go. Today’s Monday Mama feature is from a compilation of moms (and dads!) who have great tips and tricks about how to wash your cloth diapers quickly and efficiently.
Never give up! “If you have stink (or rash) issues, it could be a number of things: detergent build up, using too little detergent, needing to switch detergent or washing method. Don’t give up on your diapers, because there is always a solution!” – Elizabeth Rivera
Stick to a schedule. “My best cloth diapering tip is to create a laundry schedule and try your best to stick with it. It is harder to get behind and end up with super stinky diapers if you plan ahead. If your schedule stops working, change it! My schedule was originally Tuesday and Thursday nights as well as Sunday morning, but I was finding that Thursday just wasn’t a good day. I switched to Monday and Wednesday night as well as Saturday morning and now that works great for my family!” – Lauren Brodt
Get some sun! ”I like to sun dry my cloth diapers. We don’t do it every time, but there are so many benefits to it. Sun drying helps us reduce staining and we love that lovely fresh air scent. Of course, we like saving some money too!” – Kris Marie Mery
Space saver. “I use a stainless steel hanging rack for my diapers instead of a large foldable rack. It saves lots of space in my laundry room.” -Lindsay Rosselle
Save some H2O. “After I take a super hot night time bath, I re-use the water to soak my diapers! Since I only use Burt’s Bees baby shampoo, I feel safe about letting them soak. It helps rid the urine smell and I always hand wash the “funky” ones before hand (using a liner, of course!). My diapers never smell.” – Leslie Duncan.
I realized something today. Nothing momentous in the least, but I couldn’t believe it hadn’t occurred to me before.
I was taking a break from laundry and cooking for the week and playing with my daughter (almost 16 months – where did the time go?!). Her new favorite toy is one she got for her first birthday a couple of months ago. She didn’t pay it much attention when she received it, but has been carrying it around with her pretty much everywhere she goes this week. Some of you have probably have the same one, I think it’s called “Dress Me Emily.”
Our Emily is one lucky girl. I mean, she is constantly dragged around by her synthetic blonde locks, receives endless rides in a mini-stroller, is given lots of hugs and kisses…what could be better? It actually reminds me a lot of a certain “Dressy Bessie” that I used to treat much the same way. Or so I’m told.
Anyway. So, we’re playing with Emily and I’m helping my daughter take off her shoes, undo and redo her button, zip and unzip her purse and unsnap her dress. I had noticed before that her snap is the same type of plastic snap as the snap on FuzziBunz cloth diapers, but had never realized that my girl cannot undo it.
The snap, like the snaps on FuzziBunz, is tight and secure. As you mamas know, it’s not difficult in the least for me to unsnap it, but as hard as she tried (and as frustrated as she got!), my toddler could not get that darn dress off Emily. As poor Emily was getting whipped around the room by her snapped strap, I realized why my daughter hasn’t been able to – and probably most toddlers can’t – get their FuzziBunz off their bodies: the snaps!
I love her spunk, but my girl is one that would try it. My son never tried. Even with disposables. But he would come home from daycare and tell me about a classmate: “De-wai-wah takes her shoes, her socks, her pants and her diaper off!” Lord help Delilah’s parents. I’m sure that phase was no fun to deal with. I’ll just say that my daughter’s personality would be more like “De-wai-wah’s” than her brother. I’ve heard many a story about duct-taping disposables on kids to keep their curious hands out of them – just glad I don’t have to deal with it duct-taping anything to my children.
Those fantastic snaps. They keep those diapers on, don’t they!? Just one more thing to love about our FuzziBunz!
Have snap closures kept diapers on your baby? Have they ever managed to get them off? Join us on Facebook and let us know!
P.S. Despite her mass-produced background, Emily does make a great companion for my girl. And remember my post from last week about newborn cloth diapers?! Well, I forgot to mention another good use for outgrown newborn diapers…doll diapers! These AIOs fit Emily perfectly – no leaks. Even at night!
Sarah is a mom of two and blogs about her adventures in motherhood, cloth diapering and everything in between. Catch her “Cloth Diapering Unwrapped” series on the FuzziBunz blog every Tuesday.
A week or so ago, I attempted to organize my daughter’s room. Lately, the clutter had grown out of control, with piles and bins of outgrown clothes behind the chair, in the closet and in the bookcase. Baby toys and other gear was stacked precariously in her tiny closet and our cloth diapers looked like they were exploding out of the changing table at all times. Clutter seems to grow exponentially in their rooms, doesn’t it?
As I was sorting and folding and carrying endless bins to the basement, I ran across some of my daughter’s newborn cloth diapers. Eeps – was she really that tiny?! I vividly remember stressing over which ones to buy for those first precious weeks – what about the cord stump, will these hurt it? What if they are too big and fall off? Will the one-size options adjust to someone so tiny? I think a lot of expectant moms have the same stress.
…And new or expectant mamas, don’t want any stress, do we?! It can be all too easy to say: “I don’t think I can do cloth diapers, I’ll just use disposables.” That’s why I decided to dedicate this post to cloth diapering a newborn (and I know you experienced cloth mamas will comment and add even more great ideas!). Here’s a few do’s and don’ts:
DO survey any friends who have used cloth to see if they have newborn/tiny diapers to lend to you. Or even do a search on CraigsList to find some used ones. The truth is, babies are in the super-duper small size for such a short time (about 4-6 weeks) so the diapers get very little wear and tear. I lent all of mine to a friend and was so happy to get some more use out of them.
DO buy two Perfect Size cloth diapers in extra-small. They are just too cute for words, they fit those teeny tiny bodies best and many of them have indents so they won’t bother the cord stump.
DON’T go overboard with the newborn-only diapers. Think about how many you’ll realistically need for those first weeks (hint: I would go with just 4-5). Round out your stash with some One-Size Elite cloth diapers that will last. These are fully adjustable and will last you until you potty-train your little bundle (hard to imagine right now, isn’t it!?). Depending on the size of your baby, they may not fit right away even on the smallest setting, but will fit before you know it! And they are the most cost-effective, longest lasting option.
DON’T be afraid of pre-folds! I would invest in a up to a dozen (or more!) of high-quality cotton pre-folds. They are the workhorse of any cloth diaper stash. They are fully adjustable for even the tiniest newborn and they get deliciously soft after a couple of washes. Diaper covers work well over the top of the pre-fold to keep her precious clothes – and yours! – dry. Check out YouTube for some how-to videos and practice on some dolls if you’re nervous about it. (Even if you absolutely can’t do it, you will use them as burp cloths, wash cloths or doublers).
DO wait until the meconium has passed before cloth diapering. This is my own personal opinion, but I would wait that day or two so you don’t have to worry about that sticky black mess staining your diapers.
DON’T wait too long! Start using your cloth as soon as possible after you get home from the hospital (and the meconium has passed). The longer you wait to start, the easier it is to NEVER START. And the more disposables you put out in the trash.
DO plan on doing diaper laundry almost every day in the beginning. Newborns go through approximately 10 diapers a day in the beginning and I would not recommend having enough diapers to get you through three days – they are just not in them long enough to make the investment worth it.
DON’T worry about the poop. Newborn poop, especially breastmilk poop, is liquid so you don’t need to rinse it in the toilet or spray it out before putting it in the wash. Just throw them in. Believe me, they come out clean. One day, your little sweetie’s poops won’t be quite so pleasant and you will need to rinse them, but you’ll be a cloth diapering pro by then! Baby steps…
DON’T wait until baby arrives to prep your diapers. Practice washing and stuffing or folding your diapers a few times while you’re still in pre-baby nesting mode. It will make the process less scary and give you one less worry once he’s born.
DO give yourself credit for doing this! Cloth diapering is a wonderful thing you’re doing for your child, our environment (and your wallet!), so you can feel really good about your decision!
What other tips for newborn cloth diapering would you offer expectant mamas? Anything you would or wouldn’t do again? Join our discussion on Facebook to tell us your thoughts!
Sarah is a mom of two and blogs about her adventures in motherhood, cloth diapering and everything in between. Catch her “Cloth Diapering Unwrapped” series on the FuzziBunz blog every Tuesday.
