Traveling with Cloth

Well, it is inevitable. At some point you will end up traveling somewhere while a child is in diapers. When you use cloth, many question how they will travel and still use cloth or if disposables should be the diaper of choice.
We are preparing for our own travels as summer leaps upon us. Summer brings vacations and many times, for us, that means camping. Soon BG will have her first time camping, and we plan to stay in a tent (other family members will be in campers).
What will we do for diapering BG while camping? 
Well, I asked Hubby this and his response seemed to be along the lines of "why would we do any different?" We will be using cloth. After the flats challenge, I am even more prepared than I would have been if I had not participated in that challenge. I have plenty of flats and t-shirts, along with covers, to last us the weekend that we will be away. If I did not feel so comfortable using our flats, I don't think I would be so prepared to cloth diaper BG for the whole weekend. I plan to use the pad fold and the origami fold for my flat diapers (I switch between these at home as well). This means that I will just pick up the clean diapers from our pac-n-play and not have to refold anything.
I also of course have our normal diapers with more stay dry inner fabrics and cute bells and whistles. These will probably be our night time diapers. I also am thinking that I will be taking my camp washer, just in case I have to wash covers or anything. It can also be pretty handy for storing dirty diapers too.
While cloth diapers may be a little bulkier when traveling, I think the benefits far outweigh their very slight pitfalls.
How do you diaper when traveling?

Until next time... Happy Travels!

Book Review: The Medium Next Door

I have now had the chance to do my very first book review. I am happy that this book, Medium Next Door: Adventures of a Real-Life Ghost Whisperer was it.
I have almost always been one that needs to be captured by the book early on or I just can't get through it. If I don't get interested early on, 9 out of 10 times, it won't get finished. This book is not one of those books. I wanted to pick up The Medium Next Door each night and get at least one chapter read before bed. If I had my way, I would have kept reading it, but Hubby and I go to bed together each night and it is shortly after the kids are in bed. Book lights can also keep Hubby awake depending on how bright it is.
Anyway, back to the review...

In The Medium Next Door, Maureen Hancock writes a memoir of sorts about her life as a medium.

"It's basically part memoir about my life as a medium, yet I'm just like your next door neighbor...only I hear and see dead people,”
Hancock explains. “I write about my work with the sick and dying, helping people pass, assisting detectives to help find missing children and adults, and some profound readings that have changed families’ lives.”

Descended from a long line of legendary Irish mystics, she was no stranger to the spiritual realm, but she kept the otherworldly messages to herself throughout her childhood, eventually suppressing them almost completely.

Today, known as the "Medium Mom," Maureen strives to balance her motherhood and mediumship. “Other than my work with the sick and dying, helping parents who’ve lost children is a top priority for me,” Maureen Hancock explained. “I receive at least 10 new requests per week from parents who have recently lost a child. “ She provides free sessions to connect families for closure and peace. “It feels really good to say I never charge for my private medium sessions.”

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have long been intrigued by mediumship. Growing up I felt very sensitive to spirits and I feel it may have been from losing close family members at such a young age. I loved reading letters from some of those who have been helped by Maureen. I will admit that I would be interested in checking out one of her sessions. 

At the end of each chapter Maureen gives reflections, suggestions, and meditations of good ways to cope with loss, meditating, and ways to even help yourself develop your sensitivities to spirits, healing, and knowledge. I did enjoy reading each reflection as it really helped to ground myself. 

One topic that comes out in the book is that she is working with ABC on a reality series of her life. 

Sander and Moses’ reality project, is in development at ABC Media Prods., the ABC Daytime production entity. The half-hour show would feature well-known psychic Maureen Hancock as she goes "coast to coast calling up the past, seeing the future, and contacting spirits.” Hancock travels the country in real-life, doing Postcards From Heaven shows.

Maureen's book, The Medium Next Door, became available in book stores and online at amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble on May 2, 2011. You can also learn more about Maureen, her shows, and the book on her website, http://www.maureenhancock.com/.

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own and are not influenced in any way. This post may contain affiliate links. 

The final day of the Flats Challenge

Today marks the final day for the week long Flats and Handwashing Challenge. My Baby Girl has been in cloth diapers full time for a week and I couldn't be happier! I have hand washed diapers for a week, and I couldn't be happier! I now have more tools to help mommas who could really benefit from using cloth but are too scared for one reason or another. I couldn't be happier! I have loved taking this challenge.
Today I did a load of diapers knowing full well that I will be doing another one tomorrow after the Memorial Day parade that my home town hosts each year. It is going to be pretty hot again and sunny so my diapers can have fun blowing in the breeze.

I am so happy that I have been asked on multiple occasions how this challenge is going for me. I know that my friends that read this blog are really interested in how this all goes. I could have people reading who have never thought of cloth, but taking this Challenge and writing so much about it, has peaked interest.
I know this may not convert anyone on its own, but from what I have learned this week, I KNOW anyone could cloth diaper. You don't need much money (I used old t-shirts cut into squares as some of my flats). You don't need a washing machine. If you have will to save some money and be kinder to the tush of your child, you can do this. I washed diapers in my camp style washer when the kids were asleep. I washed when the whole house was alseep. But, I have also washed when the kids were awake. One day BG sat in her bouncy seat while LJ helped his mommy wash sister's diapers. He loved it and I didn't have to work my arms quite as much. I loved that he was always concerned when I said he shouldn't touch the water because it was very hot. He was scared that the diapers would be hot when I put them on sister.

While, I know that I can go back to using whatever diaper I want and using my washing machine and dryer tomorrow morning, I have found that it isn't holding as big of a draw as I thought it might.
Flats have been pretty easy to use and really hold up well. The hand washing of the diapers helps keep my arm muscles toned. :) Drying my diapers outside is something I like to do this time of year anyway. Sun is an awesome tool for diapers! I had one or two flats that were stained pretty decent from some pretty messy diapers. I hung them out to dry after washing them this afternoon and the sun has taken those stains right out of the diapers.
I am so glad that Kim thought of this in response to the news of moms reusing disposable diapers. I am thankful that Diaper Junction provided me with a dozen flats to use for this challenge. I am happy to have such a great husband who was on board for this and kids that made it pretty easy for me to do this as well (though BG is getting super wiggly during changes now). Thanks to my readers for putting up with these posts too. I hope that these have maybe helped even just one person feel that cloth diapering (and using flats even) is not nearly as bad or difficult as they thought it would be.

Did you take the Challenge? How did the week go for you?
If you don't use cloth, is there something holding you back? Do you have questions or would like to see how things work more?
I love talking cloth! Feel free to ask me!





Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

FlatsChallenge - Days 3 & 4 & 5

Well, I am happy to say that we have not had any leaks these past three nights! I am so happy about that. A lot of moms are bringing up chapped hands and needing moisturizer. I am feeling very lucky to not be needing any of that. I think part of it may be that I have been able to space my washings to every two days or so. Also, I really do not get my hands in the water. The only time my hands hit wet, I am wringing out diapers. Yes, that does get to my hands, but they recover quickly. This is why I am loving my camp style washer as much as I am. I don't have to get my hands dirty.

I am still really glad that I got myself to do this Challenge. I have been wanting to use cloth on BG since she was born and this was the push I needed. I know that I can, now. I don't think I would have been quite as eager to do that challenge if it weren't for the generosity of Diaper Junction either. They were so nice as to give 30 bloggers a dozen flats each and I happen to be one of those bloggers. I love the flats I was sent. They really take a beating, but stand up to it all!
I do love seeing her in fluff that I created too. Okay, so the flats that I "made" were just pieces I cut from shirts and didn't do any sewing, but I am the one that got them into their current state. And you just have to love not using disposables! I have not had to buy any disposable diapers for my baby girl and we still have plenty to fit her until 15 pounds (give or take since she is skinny like her brother). I like the thought of not having to buy diapers. LOVE IT!

During the day, our diapering has been pretty uneventful. I have been trying a few new folds that seem to be helping with containing her poo as well. The one that I am really keen on really isn't a new fold, but a different way of doing the origami fold to help contain the poo. I found this in a post from a guest blogger on the Kellywels.com site. She has coined it the butterfly fold and it is the origami fold but you fold up the wings a bit more before putting the flat on the baby. The link above takes you to the full tutorial.
I am also trying out the "Diaperbag" fold. This is one that I first found on DDL's blog and she has linked back to the original tutorial where she found it. This fold does allow for a lot of layers where you may need it (I think it may be better for boys) and it folds up nicely for the diaper bag. That is where it got its name.
I have remained partial to the origami fold and I just fold it more like the butterfly fold in case she makes a mess of it. I believe that it may be my go to fold for the time to come as well because it just works for us.


For those who are wondering what I am talking about when I talk about the "Challenge," well, Kim of Dirty Diaper Laundry has challenged herself and any who want to join her to cloth diaper their children full time for one week (Monday to Monday) with flat diapers and to wash by hand and air dry. You can find more information about the "Flats and Handwashing Challenge" on her site. 

For now, I am going to leave you with the linky to check out the other bloggers who are taking the challenge. I am off to wash some diapers!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. 

Diapering for the cost of covers - Tutorial

Yes, I think I have found a way to use cloth diapers full time on a child and only pay the cost for a few good covers. If you are lucky you might not even have to pay for those (Freecycle.org is a great place to start).

How can you cloth diaper full time without paying anything? Easy. Do you have old t-shirts that you no longer wear, but don't want to throw away as they still have some kind of use left in them? If you are like many people, you do. If you don't have enough, you can always ask family and friends for their shirts.

How does a t-shirt = a diaper? Let me show you!

Start with a t-shirt (the larger the baby the larger the shirt)

I can use youth mediums and larges on my newborn

If there is a picture, put it facing down 

(you will want the blank area towards baby)

Fold the shirt into thirds

Fold down the top so the sleeves are folded in half

Fold up the bottom of the shirt to length

I make the top of the shirt and bottom meet when folding in prep and then just fold to the correct rise when putting the diaper on baby.

A shirt diaper all folded and ready for the next change!

It really isn't difficult to do and I just fasten them with a snappi if I really want to, but I have found that as long as the cover fits well, you don't have to fasten it (at least not on an infant). 

In no time at all you can go from

to .

Now all you need are some covers from stores like KellysCloset or DiaperJunction and you are set for diapering full time! Buying one size covers makes it even cheaper.
I have been blessed by a lady that I met through Freecycle that has given me her unwanted shirts to the tune of over 250 shirts and counting! Not only can I diaper my little girl, I can offer "diapers" to friends and family that also want to use cloth, but cannot afford the cost of modern cloth diapers upfront. I also still have more than enough left over for sewing projects for my business.

What ways have you found to diaper on a tight budget?

Until next time... Happy Diapering!

Note: This post contains some affiliate links.