Given the nosie nature of men (at least the men I know) I have no doubt that some will decide to read this just because I said they shouldn't.....whatever. Just don't say I didn't warn you :)
Women have different.....issues....to deal with than men. Monthly issues. Sometimes expensive monthly issues.
I've found a way to deal with these issues while saving money and helping my health in the process.
Cloth
You've read my previous cloth diapering post, right? Cloth diapers have been used forever by women that didn't have any other options. Although I have heard many who beg to differ, using disposable diapers isn't really any different than using cloth. Not really......with one you have more trash, with the other you have more laundry.
What do you suppose women did during the monthly "curse" 100 years ago? Think about it for a minute. Now, let me tell you how I handle it today.
Let me begin by saying that my monthly cycle is very heavy. If I use disposable products then I am spending anywhere from $10-$15 a month on supplies (unless I am careful, find coupons and sales, etc). That adds up quickly. About 5 years ago, I heard some women discussing cloth feminine products on a message board I frequented. I decided that they must be crazy, but I was VERY curious. About 4 years ago, I searched and searched and finally bought some "mama cloth" from Joyful Living Naturals. I ended up purchasing 2 sets of the postpartum size (heavy cycle - remember?). I think the cost at the time was about $42. It depends on what size you want. You CAN make your own. Patterns abound on the internet for purchase or free. A friend made some just tracing the ones I had already purchased. I will probably make the ones I need from now on, but this was the easiest way to get started and 4 years later, I am still using the ones I originally purchased.
How do I "handle" them? It really isn't that big of a deal. You just have to change the way you think. I'm not touching anything gross. I mean, really, you have to take them off whether they are cloth or disposable. I remove mine, fold once and put into an ice cream bucket (with lid) under the bathroom sink. My wonderful husband knows not to look. I keep the clean ones under the sink when I don't need them on in a basket on the back of the toliet when I do. When the bucket is almost full (or on diaper washing day) I throw them into the load of diapers, rinse the bucket out (usually only at the end of my cycle) and put the bucket back under the sink. When I don't have a babe in diapers I will wash them with towels, sheets or dark colors. I don't want to bleach them so I keep them out of the white loads.
I don't care what you say, blood is blood. I deal with blood on clothing all the time around here. (I have THREE boys!) It washes. I don't worry about these items staining because NOBODY sees them. Who cares? But really, almost all of mine are stain free. I use disposables when out and about so I go through about 1/2 a package a month. You could easily keep a ziplock baggie in your purse and use the cloth pads all the time (I've done that when money was extra tight). Just like cloth diapers. I have yet to notice a smell on me, in my bag or in my bathroom.
Also, as a bonus, I've noticed that my cycle is lighter. Not non-existent lighter, but noticeably lighter. I had heard from various discussions that this would happen, but honestly didn't believe it. I now know it is true. (It has something to do with the chemicals in the disposable products).
So, there ya go. Now you know all kinds of stuff about me you didn't dream of, did you? LOL You can think that I'm weird. That's ok. I can handle it. If you've got any questions, let me know :)
Showing posts with label cloth diapers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cloth diapers. Show all posts
Friday, June 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Coth Diapering
It always comes up in conversation (especially with a little girl often in a dress)......are those CLOTH diapers???
Yes, yes they are.
No, I haven't lost my mind. No, we are not dirt poor. No, I'm not super mom. No, it's not really that big of a deal. No, you don't have to touch poop (or anymore often then you would with a disposable).
Moving on.
I started using cloth diapers when Bear was 4 months old. I bought my first set from Craig's list for $50 plus $10 shipping. I bought a few more over the next year (cheaply made - but cheap!). Yes, they saved us a ton of money. I used disposable diapers any time we went somewhere and at night but my diaper bill was very low.
What do I do with the "dirty" ones? Well, the wet diapers get thrown into a medium sized trashcan lined with a pillowcase. When it is full, I pull the pillowcase and take it to the washing machine. The "dirty" diapers get taken immediately to the bathroom and dipped in the potty to removed any solids. Then I wrap the very wet diaper into a towel and set on the top of the dryer. I never notice a smell in the laundry room.
Washing: When it comes time to wash the diapers (usually every other day with my stash) I toss them in the washing machine. I do 1 cold water rinse, then set the washing machine to hot wash/cold rinse and add the appropriate amount of Rockin Green Diaper Detergent (this stuff works great on clothes also). When that is done I run another cold water rinse. Then into the dryer or onto the clothes line they go.
I only used cloth with Bear until he was about 16 months old. At that time his bladder was so big that he would leak very quickly. So we went back to disposables until he was potty trained at his 2nd birthday.
When Abby was born I used disposable diapers until she was about 4 months old. The diapers I had left from Bear were sized and at 4 months she could finally fit into them. However, they had been used when I bought them, and then used for Bear so several of them weren't usable anymore. My stash had gotten quite small. I made a stop at Mommy and Me boutique in Effingham and over the next 3 months bought 18 BumGenius 4.0 diapers. I LOVE BumGenius diapers. I cloth diaper ALL the time now. I carry a wet bag in my diaper bag. Diapering while out-and-about is the same as it is when home. I use cloth at night with no issues at all. I bought a case of Size 3 Pampers in October and if it wasn't for the washing machine kicking the bucket I would still have almost a full case (I still have half a case). The BumGenius diapers are all one size. The 18 diapers I bought in October-December will last Abby until she is potty trained (and they work on a baby as small as 6 lbs). Since Abby is our last baby I will be selling my stash when she is potty trained so I will make some of my investment back then (most BumGenius diapers can be resold for 50% of new price).
Cloth diapering and using the laundrymat aren't an issue either. I manage the diapers here at home the same way and then wash them in town with the rest of my laundry. The diapers don't make a full load in the big machines alone so I wash them with towels or sheets.
So now that you are properly freaked out, I'll tell you that I also use cloth "women's" products as well. But that's for another post. LOL
Yes, yes they are.
No, I haven't lost my mind. No, we are not dirt poor. No, I'm not super mom. No, it's not really that big of a deal. No, you don't have to touch poop (or anymore often then you would with a disposable).
Moving on.
I started using cloth diapers when Bear was 4 months old. I bought my first set from Craig's list for $50 plus $10 shipping. I bought a few more over the next year (cheaply made - but cheap!). Yes, they saved us a ton of money. I used disposable diapers any time we went somewhere and at night but my diaper bill was very low.
What do I do with the "dirty" ones? Well, the wet diapers get thrown into a medium sized trashcan lined with a pillowcase. When it is full, I pull the pillowcase and take it to the washing machine. The "dirty" diapers get taken immediately to the bathroom and dipped in the potty to removed any solids. Then I wrap the very wet diaper into a towel and set on the top of the dryer. I never notice a smell in the laundry room.
Washing: When it comes time to wash the diapers (usually every other day with my stash) I toss them in the washing machine. I do 1 cold water rinse, then set the washing machine to hot wash/cold rinse and add the appropriate amount of Rockin Green Diaper Detergent (this stuff works great on clothes also). When that is done I run another cold water rinse. Then into the dryer or onto the clothes line they go.
I only used cloth with Bear until he was about 16 months old. At that time his bladder was so big that he would leak very quickly. So we went back to disposables until he was potty trained at his 2nd birthday.
When Abby was born I used disposable diapers until she was about 4 months old. The diapers I had left from Bear were sized and at 4 months she could finally fit into them. However, they had been used when I bought them, and then used for Bear so several of them weren't usable anymore. My stash had gotten quite small. I made a stop at Mommy and Me boutique in Effingham and over the next 3 months bought 18 BumGenius 4.0 diapers. I LOVE BumGenius diapers. I cloth diaper ALL the time now. I carry a wet bag in my diaper bag. Diapering while out-and-about is the same as it is when home. I use cloth at night with no issues at all. I bought a case of Size 3 Pampers in October and if it wasn't for the washing machine kicking the bucket I would still have almost a full case (I still have half a case). The BumGenius diapers are all one size. The 18 diapers I bought in October-December will last Abby until she is potty trained (and they work on a baby as small as 6 lbs). Since Abby is our last baby I will be selling my stash when she is potty trained so I will make some of my investment back then (most BumGenius diapers can be resold for 50% of new price).
Cloth diapering and using the laundrymat aren't an issue either. I manage the diapers here at home the same way and then wash them in town with the rest of my laundry. The diapers don't make a full load in the big machines alone so I wash them with towels or sheets.
So now that you are properly freaked out, I'll tell you that I also use cloth "women's" products as well. But that's for another post. LOL
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