Cloth Diaper and Babywearing 101

For everyone who was at my support group at Village Pediatrics on Friday, I said I would post the handouts for you, so here they are! For everyone else, these are great resources for getting started with cloth diapers or babywearing.

1. My laundry detergent recipe can be found here.

2. The Babywearing handout can be found here. Check out their site for lots of babywearing info.

3. I want to give credit to Megan Hillyer of Diaper Parties by Megan for the cloth diaper handouts. Hers were so awesome I just stole them instead of making my own! Show her page some love. Here they are:
 

Cloth Diapering 101

How Many Diapers Will I Need?

To successfully cloth diaper full time, you will need at least 24 diapers. Newborns can easily soil a dozen diapers a day, so 24 will be a two day stash. To have a little breathing room and back-up, it is recommended that you have 30 diapers so that you have a few on hand to use while the rest are in the wash. Having ‘extra’ definitely makes the wash routine a lot more convenient! Be sure to rotate your diapers so that they are used equally. Remember that the fewer diapers that you have means more wear and tear on the diapers.

                Typical Newborn Use: 12 diapers/day

                Typical Baby Use: 8-10 diapers/day

                Typical Toddler Use: 6-8 diapers/day

How Much Money Will Cloth Diapering Save My Family?

Let’s say the average time for a baby to be in diapers is two and a half years. This number will vary depending on gender, first born child, younger sibling, and many other factors. The average cost for a disposable diaper is $0.30. We’ll be conservative on the changes per day number and say the average is 8 changes per day. Let’s do a little math break-down:

8 changes/day x .30 cents/diaper x 365 days x 2.5 years = $2,190 for disposable diapers

Please note that this number does not include disposable wipes, rash creams, powders, trash bags, or the time, effort, and gas money to pick up diapers. The average family will spend approximately $1,000 per year on disposable diapering and associated costs.

There are, of course, associated costs with cloth diapering such as cloth diaper safe ointments/creams if needed and cloth diaper safe laundry detergent, which can be used for household laundry as well.

The average cloth diaper start up is $200-$500, depending on the method you chose and the cost per diaper.  That’s a savings of around $2,000 with a child diapered for 2.5yrs.

Cloth diapers can be used on multiple children, thus passing on additional savings! Quality used diapers may also be sold to recoup start-up costs.

Types of Diapers

Type	Description	Brand Examples (Not All Listed)
All In One (AIO)	A diaper that has the waterproof cover and absorbent material sewn into one unit.	- Swaddlebees - GroVia AIO - BumGenius - Lil Joeys
Hybrid	A diaper system that is made up of a reusable outer liner called a shell or diaper cover and a disposable, biodegradable, absorbent insert liner. Reusable, washable inserts may also be used.	- Best Bottoms - Flip - GroVia
Fitted	A term referring to diaper that has its own closures, but requires a waterproof cover, and comes in sizes like Sm, M, L, or Size 0, Size 1, etc.  There are fitted AIOs, pockets, etc.	- Blueberry - EcoPosh - GroVia - Kissaluvs - Sloomb
Flat	Your grandmother’s diaper. A traditional, single layer of material. These require a waterproof, reusable diaper cover.	- Blueberry - Hemp Babies - OsoCozy - Swaddlebees
Pocket	A diaper that has an opening, or pocket, between the outer waterproof layer and the inner layer. One or more absorbent insert is stuffed into the pocket.	- Blueberry - BumGenius - FuzziBunz - Happy Heinys -Rumparooz
Prefold	A flat diaper that has been prefolded and stitched so that the middle is thicker and the sides are thinner. These require a waterproof, reusable diaper cover.	- Econobum - GroVia - OsoCozy - Thirsties

Pros and Cons of Different Diaper Types/Features

Diaper Style	Pros	Cons	Average Cost Each
Prefolds	Simple, wash well, durable, inexpensive	Needs a separate cover. Must be folded before use, can be bulky, baby will usually need more than one size.	$1.25-9.95
Flats	Simple, wash well, durable, inexpensive	Needs separate cover. Perceptually difficult, must be folded before use	$1.25-9.95
Fitteds	Absorbent, prevents most blowouts, durable	Needs a separate cover, more expensive than prefolds/flats, need to buy bigger sizes as baby grows	$12.95-34.95
Hybrid	Simple, flexible, disposable option	Disposable option can be expensive	$15 and up
Pocket	Simple for babysitters/daycare, dry quickly, wash well, less expensive than AIOs, easy to customize absorbency needs with inserts	Inserts must be stuffed into diaper for each use, entire diaper must be washed each time	$14.50-24.95
All-In-One (AIO)	Very simple, one-piece construction, good for daycare	More expensive, longer dry time, entire diaper must be washed each time	$14.95-25.95
Snap Closures	Durable, won’t snag other diapers, harder for baby to take off	Requires more hand strength/flexibility, takes longer to put on	N/A, Feature
Velcro Closures	Quick and easy to size and fasten with tabs	Will eventually wear out, can easily snag other diapers in the wash, easier for baby to take off	N/A, Feature
One Size	Grow with baby, no need to reinvest for larger sizes	More bulky on smaller babies, will wear out faster due to extended use	$12.95-25.95

Other Cloth Diaper Necessities

Product	Reason / Benefits
Cloth Wipes	Reusable, washable, leave in the diaper after a change, no worrying about throwing away or washing a disposable wipe, can be used to clean up other messes
Cloth Diaper Safe Rash Cream	Normal rash creams will coat the fibers of the diaper, making it repel moisture. This leads to leaks and blow outs.  Some rash creams can stain your diapers. Cloth diaper safe creams are better for baby’s skin and can be used for more than just diaper rash! These cloth safe creams are petroleum by-product free, allow airflow to baby’s skin for faster healing, are easier to clean off, and contain more natural based ingredients. Please use a band such as: GroVia, Eco Sprout, Grandma El’s, Thirstie’s, CJ’s, or Mum + Bub.
Wet Bag	Wet bags are waterproof bags that store soiled diapers. They generally have a handle that can be hung from the door or changing table, are great for use on the go, can be easily washed with the diapers, and can be used for other things like wet clothes, bathing suits, towels, etc.
Pail Liner	If using a diaper pail, a pail liner is useful to hold soiled diapers. This liner can be tossed in the wash with the diapers for easy clean up.
Bottom Spray	If you choose to use cloth wipes, bottom spray is useful for tough to clean messes and wetting wipes.
Flushable Liner	Flushable liners are useful for catching solid waste that can be easily flushed away. These thin, disposable liners do not absorb moisture.
Cloth Diaper Safe Laundry Detergent	Use a detergent that does not contain any lighteners, brighteners, bleach, fabric softeners, or fabric life extenders. Most generic laundry detergent will damage the diapers, can cause repelling, and diaper rashes. Please use a brand such as: Rockin Green, EcoNuts, Eco Sprout, Tiny Bubbles from GroVia, BumGenius Detergent, or Ruby Moon.
Diaper Sprayer	A diaper sprayer is useful for getting out the last of the bits. This is a sprayer that attaches to the toilet’s water line and is used to spray off any poop that does not easily roll out of the diaper. Though poop will not ruin or make your washer gross, many parents like to ‘pre-wash’ off the poo.

How do I wash my diapers?

Every manufacturer has their own recommended instructions for washing diapers, please check the product information before washing to be sure you do not void any warranties. Keeping a wash routine simple, here are my suggestions for washing:

Prewash your diapers before the first use. Natural fibers such as cotton and hemp should be washed separately from synthetic fibers at least 4-5 times in hot water with a small amount of detergent. Dry natural fiber diapers for 20-30 minutes in between every second or third wash cycle. Synthetic fibers can be prewashed once in warm water with a small amount of detergent then dried in the dryer on low.

TIP: To reduce drying time while prepping your diapers for first use, throw a clean, dry towel or two in the dryer with the diapers.

Once diapers have been prewashed properly, all diapers except wool can be washed and dried together.

Regular Wash Routine: Using as much water as possible, run a quick cold wash or prewash with a very small amount of detergent or no detergent at all. Then run a hot wash (not a sanitize cycle) with the recommended amount of a residue free detergent or 1/2 the recommended amount of other detergents (1/4 the recommended amount if you use an HE front loader). Bleach can void warranties, but if you must use it, 1/8 cup is plenty. Either hang your diapers to dry in the sun or dry them in the dryer on a low to low/medium setting.

Tips: Don’t use anything with additives such as softeners, dyes, perfumes or enzymes. These can decrease the absorbency of diapers. Don’t overfill your washer with diapers. Diapers need plenty of room to swish around in, so use plenty of water. If you still see detergent suds during the rinse cycle, rinse again. If your diapers still smell stinky after washing, wash them again (some babies produce stinkier diapers than others). Stripping your diapers is rarely necessary, but I can tell you how to do it.

**This is the wash routine we use at home and that has proven to be simple and easy to follow. Before you use any additives, please check the manufacturer’s instructions. Diaper Parties is not responsible for damage or injuries caused by following our suggested wash routine.**

Wool and Washing Wool

Wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight before leaking! Got a baby with tiny legs or chunky legs? Wool is great for both. It fits around chubby thighs without chafing or hurting sensitive skin. While many PUL covers don't get a tight seal around skinny legs, wool can provide protection from diaper leaks even if it is loose on little legs. Longies and shorties can be used as covers but also as clothing. This prevents you from having to pull down pants and a cover to change a diaper. Covers can be worn under clothing or in warmer weather, on their own. Wool is breathable so it keeps baby cool in warmer weather and warm in cool weather. Longies are great for pjs, especially in winter. If you are looking for a bullet proof night option, wool is a wonderful option. It may be more costly than other covers but you need far fewer. Most feel that 3-4 covers is sufficient but if you are using them as clothing because they are so cute, you might want a few.

About Lanolin

Lanolin is anti-microbial and waterproofing. It's what keeps sheep dry. Lanolin turns pee into ammonia salts and water. When the lanolin has been used up, you will start to smell the pee on your covers even when dry. This is how you know it's time to wash and lanolize.

Sloomb recommends solid lanolin. You can use tube or liquid lanolin but it won't work as well, especially not for overnight use.

Washing

To wash wool, you will need a "soap" (liquid wool wash like eucalan, wool wash bar or baby wash). Just get your warm water soapy then gently squish and squeeze your wool (right side out) around in the water. You can spot clean with a wool wash bar or soap if needed. Rub gently so you don't felt (squish the fibers together) your wool. Let soak for a few minutes and then rinse. Gently squeeze out the water. You can use a towel to roll it in, to get even more water out. If your washer has a low spin cycle, you can use that too. Lay flat to dry. Wool needs to air dry and can take a couple of days depending on the humidity in your home. You can point a fan at your wool to speed this up.

Lanolizing

You will wash your wool first to get all those "pee salts" out and spot clean any dirty spots with a wool wash bar. Follow the instructions above for washing. While your wool is soaking in the soapy water, get your lanolin ready. Warm a cup of water in the microwave, add a teaspoon or so of lanolin per cover (more for larger pieces or for heavy lanolizing). Once this melts, you will need to emulsify your lanolin with one of the following: wool wash bar, liquid wool wash, baby wash or a small piece of a Sloomb cube (easiest!). Add a little bit of your emulsifier to the cup and stir, stir, stir. Once this mixture looks like whole milk, you are ready to go. If you use the Sloomb cube, fish out any remaining chunk of the cube, once your mixture looks right and save for next time. If it looks like skim milk or you can still see the yellow of the lanolin, keep adding more emulsifier (soap, cube, etc.) until you get to whole milk. This prevents lanolin chunks and stains.

Rinse your wool and set aside. Keep wool warm so you won't shock your wool when you add the warm water and lanolin mixture. You can keep spraying it with warm water or just keep it in a little bit of warm water.

Now, fill your sink or small tub (or bathtub for lots of pieces) with warm water. Add the still warm lanolin mixture and stir to combine. Be sure your water and your wool are close to the same temp so you won't shock your wool and felt it. As long as you aren't going from cold to hot, you should be fine. Add wool (inside out to get the most lanolin on the inside where it's needed) to the bin/tub, you can gently squeeze it a bit to get things started and then use a spoon or plate to weight it down. You can soak anywhere from 15 minutes to overnight. After soaking, you can follow the instructions above for getting the water out. Gently squeezing, wrapping in towel, using spin cycle etc.

It's best to have a few covers in rotation even if you are just using them overnight so they will have plenty of time to dry between uses. Check for urine smell once dry. If they smell ok, keep using, otherwise it's time to wash and lanolize. You only will need to wash every couple of weeks depending on how frequently you use your wool, how dirty it gets, and how many pieces you have. You do not have to lanolize every time you wash, unless you want to, of course. New wool may need a few rounds of lanolizing to be at its best for nighttime use. If your wool is sufficiently lanolized but it is leaking or very saturated in the morning, then you may need a more absorbent diaper or additional inserts.

Why Cloth Diapers?

Cloth diapers are not only good for the environment, but they’re better for baby and your budget! Here are a few facts to consider:

-  No one really knows how long it takes a disposable diaper to decompose, the first one hasn’t

even decomposed yet, but it’s estimated at anywhere between 250 and 500 years

- Disposable diapers contain dioxin, a chemical listed by the EPA as one of the most toxic of

cancer-linked chemicals.

- Disposable diapers can cost up to $2,500 PER CHILD. Buy a stash of cloth diapers for an

average of $300 and use it for multiple children, save yourself THOUSANDS of dollars!

- Cloth diapers are CHEMICAL free and rarely do babies with cloth diapers have rash issues

- Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal

problems in humans and animals.

- Disposable diapers contain Sodium Polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer (SAP),

which becomes a gel-like substance when wet. This chemical can cause skin irritations and

severe allergic reactions including vomiting, staph infections, and fever.

- In 1955, before modern disposable diapers were sold and consumed, it was estimated that

7% of babies and toddlers had diaper rash. In 1991, long after plastic disposable diapers

dominated the market, the number jumped to 78%.

- Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about

4% of solid waste. In a house with a child in diapers, disposable make up 50% of household

Waste

- If you purchase disposable diapers, you can easily spend over $65 a month. You will have

spent more than $1,600 by the time your baby turns two. You will have nothing to show for this money except stinky diapers in a landfill!

Source for above info: Real Diaper Association Trifold Hand-Out

- Cloth diapers save money

- Cloth diapers help the environment

- Cloth diapers are easier on baby’s skin

- Cloth diapers are much easier to use than before

- Cloth diapers come in a range of colors and prints, lending style and excitement to an otherwise disliked aspect of child rearing

 

Apple Chips

I am always looking for healthy, easy and affordable snacks for my boys. One of my new favorites is apple chips. I grabbed some apples at the Farmer's Market and used our dehydrator we purchased fairly inexpensively at Walmart to make these. This apple was a Granny Smith, but any type would work fine.

I used my peeler to core and my mandolin to slice the apple. I sliced them on the thinnest option.

I then layered the chips in the dehydrator. We got it to use for beef or deer jerky, but it has proved to be awesome for making dried other things as well.

I let these chips dehydrate overnight. It took around 14 hours for them to be completely crunchy.

 

The kiddos really enjoyed munching on these with sandwiches instead of greasy chips. I let them dip them in caramel and it made them extra yummy. I also served some the next day sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar and they were great as well. This method also works great for peaches and bananas.

How I am a Stay at Home Mom: Cheap Summer Fun

I see moms and kids all the time talking about being bored in the summer and I cannot understand why. We have a very small entertainment budget and are still able to go on weekly summer adventures. Here are some ideas for keeping your summer fun:

1. Utilize local resources. We live in a small East Tennessee town and there are tons of things available, even to us! A neighboring town has a park called the Splash Pad that is free to attend. My boys are happier to spend the day there than at any expensive park.

 

We also have a local pool that only costs $3 per adult and kids are free with a paying adult.

 

Local parks and rec websites are great ways to find out what is available in your area.

The library is also a great way to find fun, and generally free, activities. Our library has a summer reading program that my boys love, offering a special guest one day a week and an awesome closing program with fun and games.

They also recently hosted a Touch-a-Truck event with all kinds of trucks for the kids to check out.









Our library also sponsored a Kiddie Car Show which my preschooler loved! He also won the "Best Super Hero Car" award, so that was pretty much the highlight of his life.

 

On Wednesdays, our area offers a local farmer's market. It is a fun way to get some healthy snacks and check out some homemade and home-grown items.

 

2. Create your own fun! On a rainy day, I decided to pirate-theme the day. My preschooler had so much fun and it cost me no money and very minimal effort. You can read more about it here.

We also use our water hose to create lots of fun. We bought a very inexpensive Slip N Slide, though any piece of plastic would be fine (think $2 plastic painting cover). These kiddos would literally spend hours every day playing on this piece of wet plastic. They also add dish soap for extra slippery fun.






For one of the girls' birthdays, we did an at home spa day. They loved soaking their feet in the tub and painting each others' nails and I used stuff we already had at home.




3. Be responsible when you do plan costly adventures. Look for Groupons or similar deals. My husband and I recently purchased a local coupon deal for a dinner theatre for the two of us for $25. It was something fun and different to do and we could not have purchased dinner and a show for that price otherwise. I also got a Groupon for Yo Gabba Gabba Live! We would not have been able to afford this show regularly, but the Groupon cut the price to less than half, so it made it affordable.

Also, if you are planning a trip to an amusement park or similar place, check out their calendar before you go. We took a trip to Tweetsie Railroad while they were hosting "A Day Out With Thomas." For the price of admission, we also got extra Thomas events and a ride on Thomas the train.

Our local race track hosted an event that was both rally cross and monster trucks, so for $20, we got four hours of nonstop car action. It was a fun way to take the boys to the race without spending $100 per ticket.

4. Explore nature! We are blessed to be surrounded by some amazing nature where we live. My preschooler went fishing for the first time this summer. We are lucky enough to have friends who own a house boat, but you can find a fishing spot anywhere! Laws vary in different states, but in Tennessee, fishing is free until age 15. This was a great way to spend a day and only cost a can of corn.

 

 

Camping is another fun and inexpensive way to spend a summer day. Since we have a nine month old, we decided to venture into the backyard and do a little camping at home. The boys made a fire and smore's and it was a memorable and inexpensive adventure.

 

I have posted before about gardening, but it is a great way to learn about the food we eat and spend time outside together. The girls love to pick the peaches from the tree in the backyard and then be creative with ways to cook them.

 

 

 

5. Look for local businesses hosting events. Chick-fil-a always has awesome events for families. You can find a calendar of events on their website. This summer we attended their Mother-Son Date Knight and for the price of dinner at Chick-fil-a, we got to do family activities and pictures tableside and the boys got to joust in their free inflatable. They also hosted a Super Hero event, where kids got free kids meals for dressing like a Super Hero. Earth Fare and several other local restaurants have weekly kids events, so checking them out can be an inexpensive way to feed those hungry babies after a long day.

 

I hope my ideas help you create new adventures for your family this summer!

Adventures in Preschool: Arrrgh! It's Pirate Day!

We have been so busy this summer, I haven't posted any of our fun-ness lately, but I couldn't resist sharing our pirate morning adventure! I knew today was going to be a rainy, boring day, so I thought I would create a little pirate magic. 

When he first woke up, I had a pirate ship and a pirate cup sitting beside the potty, along with his pirate clothes.

 

We had a pirate sword and hat in the dress up box, but no telescope, so we made one! I just let him color a piece of construction paper (he chose to draw a pirate ship), rolled it up and wrapped it with tape. I know this is so simple, but he seriously has carried this thing around all day looking at stuff.

 

 

He was then greeted in the dining room by pirate books. This was a great opportunity to read and learn, not only about pirates, but also about the ocean they sailed. We talked about what pirates did and what they ate- which was a great segway to pirate lunch!

 

This happy little cutie loved his skull and crossbones and pirate hat sandwich. I used cookie cutters purchased for a pirate birthday party a couple years ago and he thought it was awesome.

We ended our pirate morning with a treasure hunt. Since we are working on letters, I just had him find all the things he could that started with C. 

 

 This was such a fun morning, doing thing we normally do, but with a pirate twist. And did I mention that it didn't cost anything? Arrgh! Now, that's a good adventure, mateys.

What if some Moms really shouldn't be macro traders?

In recent days, Paul Tudor Jones has gotten some harsh criticism about his comments about moms in the workplace. He said that having children was a "focus killer" for women. You can read more about his comments here.

Let me start by saying that my degree is in communication. If you know much about a degree in communication, you know that I was blessed to take many, many classes about feminism, gender stereotypes, equality in media and the workplace, etc. etc. This post goes against all of that.

It does go, however, with everything I feel, love and believe is right about being a mother.

When I first heard about this incident on the news and saw all the women offended by his words, it took me a minute to form my opinion. As a good little PR student, my instinct was to also be offended. But then I thought about my boys. And, here comes the shocker, I get what he's saying. I don't want a mob of angry mamas leaving me grouchy comments, so let me explain.

Am I grateful that I live in a country where women are free to do the same things men can do? Absolutely.

Do I think Jones was saying women are not as capable as men? No way.

But do I believe that being a mommy can change you? Oh you betcha.

When I was pregnant with my first little one I was in my last semester of college. I had big plans for when I graduated. They included a corner office with a framed picture of my sweetly smiling infant perched on the corner. To the people who know me now, you will be utterly shocked, but I actually looked into daycare!

Then it happened. When I looked into those beautiful brown eyes that cold January morning, I knew my life would never be the same. I didn't care if I never made another dollar or if no one years from now knew my name. I wanted to never leave that brown-eyed baby ever again. And three years later, I haven't, much.

Now I am not saying that no woman or no mother should, or more importantly, could, hold these jobs, but I'm just saying maybe we should cut this guy some slack. Do we have it all wrong in this country when we start to think that a mother being changed by the most precious gift of a child is bad? Do we have it wrong to make women believe that they should not be affected by the loving gaze of a sweet baby or feel instantly devoted when he, as Tudor said, "touched that girl’s bosom?"

I understand the issue with the implication he made, but sometimes I think we are afraid to take off our feminist hat and put on our mommy hat and the one who suffers is that big-brown-eyed baby boy.

I am proud of the mamas who work outside of their home to feed their families. I am even more proud of the mamas who say, "This kid's a 'focus killer' and I'm staying home." Be confident in what your heart is telling you is right, mamas. And be courageous to make the decisions that aren't always popular in this nation if they are right for you.

That kid needs a spanking! Or does he?

This is not a post to preach about why you should or should not use spanking as a punishment technique. This post is just to explain our reasoning in choosing not to spank our kids.

First off, let me say, we started off really terrible at discipline. I have been blessed with an amazing little boy who very rarely- I'm talking twice a month- does something genuinely punishable. What that means is, when he actually does something that deserves discipline, his father and I are scrambling, looking at each other, like what the heck are we supposed to do?

So, I started doing some research about discipline and I found that many, many times, parents just spank because they don't know what else to do. Either that, or they are embarrassed of the behavior and they think spanking makes them look like they have control.

Here's why it doesn't work for us:

We were at a children's event where my then two year old and I witnessed a father repeatedly spanking his little girl. She was obviously tired and hot and needed a nap and a cuddle more than a spanking. But, she was screaming and crying and he was embarrassed, so it went like this "Stop crying or I'm going to spank you again." Child is fearful and cries more. Dad spanks her. She cries louder. "Stop crying or I'm going to spank you again." Over. And Over. And Over. This man was pleading with this toddler to stop crying so he wouldn't have to spank her again, but spanking her just made her cry more. And by the end they both were just tired and needed to cuddle.

My toddler's reaction to this was stunning to me. He said, "Why does that man keep hitting that little girl?"

Just stop for a second and think about that. Why does that man keep hitting that little girl?

At that moment, I knew I would never hit my children again. Because that is what it is. A big person is hitting a little person and that just doesn't feel right to my heart.

The second reason we don't spank is because I did spank. One time. When my child was around 18 months old and I was that parent I just talked about. Tired, frustrated, busy, didn't know what to do. I told my child to do something and he ran away. I found him and swatted his cute little cloth diaper butt. No big deal. Except that he told me that entire scenario and how scared he was of me on that day yesterday. Yea, he's three now. And he remembered the entire thing. And that's why I am writing this post today. Just hoping that somebody else might be at the point of spanking, or spanking often, and not realize the impact they might be having.

The third reason we don't spank is because I don't want my children to be afraid of me. As a child and even a teenager, I was threatened with spanking. I was 15 years old and my mom would say, "You're not too old to spank. Your Granddad still spanked me when I was dating your dad." That, my friends, is ridiculous. And I know that now and I know that my mom was that parent I just talked about that didn't know what else to do. But, at a time when my mom should have wanted me to talk to her the most, she put fear into me and it made me back even farther away from her. I want to talk to my boys so they will listen and listen so they will talk. I should be their biggest comfort in this world, not what they are most afraid of. I can find other methods of discipline that turn them into fine young men of God without them being afraid of me.

So, do what you want with your children. It really is up to you. Maybe in that moment that you want to hit, put yourself and your child in time out and take the time to decide if spanking is the right punishment for the crime.

But as for my house, we will not hit each other. And the joy I get from hearing my toddler say that and be confident in it is worth more to me than the instant satisfaction of giving a spanking could ever give me.

Cloth diaper tips

When I decided to cloth diaper, I only knew one other person who did CD. There are also no stores in my area that carry cloth diapers, so I couldn't just go ask someone or look at what I was buying. Needless to say, I was a little overwhelmed. Here are a few tips I wish someone had told me before I started CD.

1. Many diaper creams are not safe to use on  your diapers. Coconut oil is a great alternative.

2. Just like I tell people about breastfeeding, you have to be confident in what you're doing or you may get discouraged. I would encourage you to find some CD friends or join groups online, so you have someone in common when you feel overwhelmed or frustrated.

3. I really wanted somebody to tell me that I needed X amount of diapers and I have really had to figure out for myself what I needed. I had five covers and that was not enough for me. Now, I have 18 and half of them never get used. If you don't mind to throw a load of laundry in every day, you won't need as many as someone who wants to wash once a week. You really just have to see what works for you.

4. Cheaper is not always better. I was so excited because I found diapers from China for $2 or so each on eBay. About half of those are now swim diapers because the lining separated. Though I still cringe when I see mamas spending $50+ on one, yes one, diaper, I do think that you might want to consider buying some quality products. I know it seems like a lot up front, but your little is going to be wearing these for his whole infant life so I promise you will get your money's worth.

5. If I have stains, I hang my diapers in the sun and it generally takes care of it.

6. Packing your diaper bag doesn't have to be stressful. As a general rule, I like to keep an extra cover and one prefold or insert for every hour we will be gone plus one. I keep a travel pack of wipes in my bag. Many cloth mamas have great success with cloth wipes in a travel wipe box, but I just stick to disposable wipes when we're out.

I will add tips to this list as I think of them! :)