When You Just Can't Hack Cloth Diapering

This baby shall remain anonymous because he is embarrassed his mother put him in a disposable diaper.

OK, not really.

He seriously doesn't care.

So, why do I?

I could spout something about how I'm filling landfills and how I'm putting chemicals next to his sensitive skin, but it won't change the fact that right now I cannot hack cloth diapering.

Now, don't get me wrong...I LOVE cloth diapering.  There is something terribly satisfying about putting cloth next to your baby's skin.  And cloth you've made...well, that's even better!  I am looking forward to returning to cloth diapering, but I refuse to be a martyr to something that is simply a preference.

It is a "good thing", but it does not own me.

But, "good things" are like that, aren't they?  They are so good that we would gladly stand on soapboxes for them.  They are so good that we would gladly sacrifice other "lesser" things in order to continue with the good things.  We feel so strongly about them that we have a hard time imagining our life without them.

And then life throws a curve ball...

And the "good thing" starts to have consequences we can't manage.

For me, it was the ick factor (yes, there IS an ick factor with cloth diapering.  You can read how I usually deal with it HERE.) and the fact that even my normal, everyday laundry wasn't getting done, let alone the cloth diaper laundry.

The good thing became the difficult thing.  No, I don't ditch everything that is difficult, but I do have a few guiding principles that help me make decisions when good things start to cause me grief.

1) What does the Bible say about it?
2) Will it matter in 10 years?
3) Is the situation a forever situation?
4) If not, what will the short term effects be? On me?  On the children?  On my husband?
5) If it is, what will the long term effects be? (same people as before)
6) Is this a pride issue?

Ooooo!  Did you catch that last one???

All too often good things get wrapped up into who we are.  We are defined by the things we are passionate about.  When they go south or become more than we can bear (even if just for a time), we find ourselves scrambling to make sure we're still who we once were.  We are afraid to tell people for fear they will either point fingers or think less of us.  We don't want to admit defeat or failure, even when that's not really what it is.

We are proud of the things that define us.  Losing those things hits us where we live.

I've had some major realizations in the pride department lately.  Things that I felt defined me were falling away at a rapid rate and I found myself distraught.  Recently, I sat crying as I read an email pertaining to one of the things being stripped from me thinking, "Why is this bothering me so much?  It shouldn't matter to me as much as it does."

That's when I realized it was pride that was causing me the most grief. 

So, as for cloth diapering (among other things that have to go by the wayside-either temporarily or permanently) I have to see it for what it is.  It isn't who I am.  I don't suddenly change without it.  I don't have to do XYZ to be me.

And admitting it doesn't make me weak...it makes me real.

Realizing and humbly accepting my limitations Works For Me!  To read more WFMW tips & tidbits, follow the link!

Homemade Wipes Solution Recipes

I'm sure there are some of you wondering what I use to wet down my homemade cloth wipes.  Well, folks my truly flibbertigibbet personality hasn't allowed me to land on one wipes solution I use consistantly, but there are three that have been my favorites over the years that I'll share here, along with tons of links to others!

Amy's Wipes Solution #1 (aka Froo-Froo Solution)

You'll need a container of some sorts like an old disposable wipes box.  (I do know some people who use spray bottles to wet down wipes individually with their favorite solution, but I am not coordinated enough to accurately aim a spray bottle at a square piece of cloth...go figure)  I fill the container with wipes and then pour over this solution:

Mix together:
2 c. warm water
1/4 c. aloe vera gel (I use Lily of the Desert)
2 tsp baby shampoo (I use Burt's Bees)
1 tsp vinegar
5 drops lavender essential oil (I use Aura Cacia)
5 drops tea tree oil (also Aura Cacia)


Amy's Wipes Solution #2 (aka Diaper Rash Solution)
Once again, you'll need a container.  Fill with wipes and pour this solution over it:

Mix together:
2 c. water
1 tsp vinegar

Gently and liberally wipe diaper area.  Let air dry.



Amy's Wipes Solution #3 (aka Simply Lazy Solution)

Warm tap water on dry wipe as needed


(Can you guess which one I use when I'm pregnant or overwhelmed or both?)

Here are links to more wipes solutions you might be interested in trying.  Got a favorite of your own?  Share it here in the comments section!

Diaper Jungle Wipes Recipes
Natural Birth & Baby Care Wipes Recipes
MakeBabyStuff.com Wipes Recipes
Zany Zebra Wipes Recipes

Make Your Own Baby Wipes For Cheap

Baby wipes just come with the territory, don't they?  If you have a baby, you have baby wipes.  It's not really something you can get by without.  You don't wake up one day and say, "You know, baby wipes are a hassle.  Think I'll quit using them."  It just ain't gonna happen.

So, now that we've established your "need", how's about we get creative?

Cloth diaperers the world around know that once you start cloth diapering, you'll soon be cloth wiping as well.  There are tons of sites selling absolutely adorable cloth wipes, but honey, when you get right down to it, wipes really have but one purpose, cute or not...need I say more?

So, this little tutorial is all about fast, functional, & frugal.

If you make your own cloth diapers, oftentimes you end up with scraps that are perfect for making wipes.  Here's a scrap of organic cotton flannel that I could easily get 2 wipes out of.

But really, any old mostly-cotton fabric will do.  And don't forget your recycled/repurposed fabrics.  One of my favorites is an old t-shirt.  Knit is a great fabric for wipes.  Does your husband's t-shirt have too many holes in it?  Make it into baby wipes!  Has your t-shirt been ruined by greasy fingerprints and stains?  Don't pitch it! Repurpose it!

A good guage for the size of your wipes is to simply lay an outstretched hand on the fabric:

I like to make my wipes 2 ply.  (T-shirts make this an easy task.)  Simply lay your hand out there to guage size and then cut fabric into squares based on your hand size. (this is not rocket science...don't worry about  measuring exactly)

Now sew up the edges.  This can be done a couple of different ways.  I own a serger, so I usually serge my wipes (not caring one bit if the thread in the machine matches the wipe color...remember what these are used for...)

Here's a picture of the finished project with serged edges (total fluke I had pink thread in the serger!):

Not everyone has been blessed with a serger, so if you are using a regular sewing machine, either zig-zag the edges or use a "pine-leaf/serged" edging:

Here's the finished product using a traditional sewing machine (notice I only bothered to stitch 3 sides since the 4th side is already closed due to knit being tubular.  Let go of your need for perfection...remember what these are used for...)

That's all there is to it.  It really is that simple.  And that cheap.

What if you don't have a sewing machine, you say?  My first cloth wipes were baby washcloths.  You can usually find these for cheap at thrift stores.  No need to pay for new...remember...yeah, ok, you're gettin' the idea.

Got too many receiving blankets around the house?  Cut them up and make them useful.

Buy up some of those cheap (not too scratchy) washcloths that come in the huge packs at your local discount store.  They make great wipes!

Repurpose, repurpose, repurpose!  Pretty soon you'll be seeing baby wipes everywhere!

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And hey, all you cloth diapering mamas!  Don't forget today is the FINAL DAY to enter to win a cloth diapering package from Angie's Essentials!  Go to my Diaper Giveaway Post and enter to win!

Lookie, Lookie, I've Got Longies...and an AWESOME Giveaway!

 **THE WINNER IS SUNFLOWERMOM!**

(How cool is that?  I link to her AND she wins a diaper all in the same post!)

Congratulations!

I've never been a wool diapering sort of gal.  The few wool covers I've been given as hand-me-downs throughout the years struck fear in my little wash-n-wear heart and eventually hit the resale forums.  I was just sure they were terribly difficult to take care of and with all these little ones, who needed the extra headache?

That's when I ran into Deborah over at Sunflower Stories at a La Leche League meeting.  SHE had no fear of wool.  SHE didn't get knock-kneed and shaky every time SHE put a wool cover on HER babies.  As a matter of fact, SHE had some of the cutest longies and skirties a girl could ever want.  And I began to think maybe....

Several years back I made longies from THIS PATTERN.  They were cute and easy to make, but they were NOT wool.  They were just some sweaters I picked up at a local thrift store.  Since I already knew how to make longies from sweaters and thought I should make my wool adventure as easy (and cheap!) as possible.  A trip to the thrift store in search of wool sweaters found me in my sewing room with a stack of enough wool to make a sheep jealous.

But, again, I froze.

Did I really want to make the leap into caring for wool?  Did I know what I was getting myself in to?  Did I even have the time to spend transforming these wool sweaters into diaper covers?

So, the pile sat...

and sat...

and sat...

until one day I decided I really did want to find the wool love!  However, I knew I didn't really have the time to sew up all those sweaters, and besides, just how many longies did a little guy need (DON'T answer that question!)

Enter my idea to BARTER!  I posted on MOMYS my offer of a pile of wool sweaters in exchange for 3 pairs of longies, and lo and behold, someone replied!  That someone was Angie R. of Angie's Essentials.

I cannot rave enough about Angie's work!  Here are some action shots of my favorite pair, a lovely cable-knit from Europe...

OK, so are you wondering if I've gotten over my fear of wool?

ABSOLUTELY!

Let me give you some reasons why...

• Wool is all natural and I LOVE that!
• Wool longies are fun & functional in that they act as both cover and pants for my little one.
• My cloth-diapering twitter friend Muggabug taught me about using Eucalan No-Rinse Wool Wash for hassle-free washing and lanolizing in one simple step!  Talk about easing my mind!

Now, let me tell you a little bit about the Angies (and Dusti) behind Angie's Essentials because they really are a very talented group of ladies!

First of all, they are all related with 63 years of experience between the 3 of them!  Here's a real live generational cottage industry!

They are a one-stop diapering business with everything from diapers (organic, regular, & recycled) to covers (nylon, wool, & fleece) to mama cloth (called LadyLiners).  In addition to that, they carry breast pads, baby wipes, clothing, hand-knitted socks, ..you name it, they have it!

For more information, visit their blog site or email Angie R at:
angiesessentials@frontiernet.net

*Now for the REALLY EXCITING PART!*

Angie's Essentials is giving away to one of my readers this awesome package:

• 1 cloth diaper of your choice
• 1 Dappy cover
• 1 LadyLiner

That's right, you could have a whole set of essentials all your very own!  Here's how to enter to win:

1.  Hop on over to Angie's Essentials and then leave me a comment here on what kind of diaper you would choose if you won. (1 entry)
2.  Twitter, Facebook, and/or Email friends about this giveaway, linking directly to it.  For twitter, please include @raising_arrows in your tweet. Leave a comment here letting me know you've done so.  (1 entry each)
3.  Blog about this giveaway, linking back here. (1 entry)

Giveaway ends December 7th at midnight.  Winner will be chosen by Random.org and announced the following day.  Good luck!

Disclosure Statement

Barter, Baby, Barter!

There have been many, many times I have lamented the fact that someone out there decided to do away with the barter system. How cool would it be to share our abundance in order to get something we truly NEED.



But NOOOOO....

now we NEED money and there is abundance everywhere. Stinks, doesn't it?

But every now and then you find bartering alive and well. And it just so happens I've found someone to offer my abundance to in exchange for her craftiness!

What's my abundance you might ask???

Wool Sweaters!

Surprising? Probably not to any of you cloth diaper addicts! ;o) You know what I'm hording all these wool sweaters for, don'tcha?

Yep, that's right...Someday I am going to make longies. (For those of you still scratching your heads, click HERE).

However, the longer these wool sweaters reside in my sewing room, the less is my desire to start cranking them out. When I walked into my long-neglected sewing room last night, my eyes landed on that pile of sweaters and I knew I had to do something.

But, if you are like me, it is sooooo hard to let go of a great deal no matter how burdensome it might be. That's when I got the idea to try bartering with someone. On a favorite forum of mine I offered up my sweaters in exchange for 3 of them being made into longies for me. And guess what?! Someone bit! Woo Hoo!

Angie R of Angie's Essentials is my bartering buddy! She gets 6 great wool sweaters and Micah gets 3 longies (yes, I had 9 of these things laying around!) How cool is that?!

I sent them off today, so when I get the longies back, I'll post pics!

And lookie what I found!

Visit SWAP MAMAS


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And don't forget...the Fall Festival is all this week!

Today's topic is Fall Family Fun hosted by Daily Dwelling. My post is a repost of last year's found HERE. Click on over to Daily Dwelling to find more!

Diapers for Baby

Babies need diapers. Even the die-hard Elimination Communication crowd has a few diapers stashed away somewhere.

With my first child, diapers were a no-brainer. Take what the hospital offers, buy whatever you have coupons for or whatever is cheapest from there. With my second child, I pretty much followed the same guidelines until she was about a year old. That's when I read that people still practiced the archaic form of diapering a child known as CLOTH DIAPERING. *gasp*

At this particular juncture in my life, I was searching for what good Christian mamas who aspire to have large families do all day. Apparently, they were all cloth diapering! (ok, so I was a little misinformed) My biggest trepidation was the fear of having to dunk poopy diapers all day long, but if it would make me a better mama, then I would do it. I did not want to somehow be "less-than", so I began diligently researching cloth diapering. Well, come to find out cloth diapers were no longer prefolds, pins and plastic pants. Oh sure, they still sold a large number of those, but there were tons of new-fangled dipes hitting the market that were supposed to make cloth diapering a breeze.

So, I jotted note after note to myself as I read about what other cloth-diapering mamas used and loved and then checked websites and prices. Well, let me tell you, for a mama with little cash to spare, forking over $300 dollars for a stash of diapers seemed utterly frightening. Now, I know I could break that up by sizes and spend less at a time, but was this cloth diapering thing really worth it?

In case you are wondering the same thing, here is a little calculator to help you figure it all up. Diaper Pin Calculator I didn't have this handy little tool, so my figures were not as accurate, but I did find that cloth would most definitely pay for itself eventually.

HOWEVER, by this time, my daughter was nearing her 2nd birthday and I figured it wouldn't be long before she was completely out of diapers. With no new baby entering the scene, I knew I could not recoup my money and decided to stick with disposibles.

Fast-forward 2 years to the impending birth of our 3rd child. The cloth diaper thought re-enters the scene. I mention it to my mother. My mom begins to pester me about whether I'll choose cloth or disposibles. I get tired of telling her I don't know and finally say disposibles, money still being a bit of a hang-up in the whole thing for me. Next thing I know, I find myself at a surprise diaper shower! A year's worth of diapers was what I ended up with! Definitely NOT doing cloth!

But, then something interesting took place. When my newest daughter turned 9 months, we discovered that what I figured was an ulcer turned out to be a baby! Couple this with the fact that the free diaper supply was quickly dwindling and you have a mama who considers cloth once again.

Then one day I ran out of diapers at church and a friend loaned me a prefold of hers...pins and all! She walked me through the whole thing and the diaper actually stayed on!

What finally sold me once and for all, was when my friend, Sarah, got a stash of cloth diapers for cheap. They just happened to be the same ones I had about convinced myself to buy all those years ago, and she was more than willing to let me try a few since her baby wasn't due for another couple of months.

I fell in love.

No, I'm not kidding you. I literally fell in love with cloth diapering from that moment on. There was something very satisfying to me about putting those Motherease One-size diapers and Air Flow covers on my chubby little 1 year old and watching her crawl and toddle about.

From there, it snowballed. I did invest in a stash of used Motherease, but during that purchase, I was introduced to what I did not know existed back in 2001 when I first had researched cloth diapering. There were literally HUNDREDS of diapering systems out there. Best of all, there was this thing called a MiniShower that I could spray the diapers off with and never dunk them! WOO HOO!!!

As the birth of our 4th child drew nearer, I was informed that the Motherease diapers don't do so well on newborns. I was advised to try fitteds, but was aghast at how much it was going to cost me. I bought a few fitteds online and realized that the construction wasn't something that was beyond my meager sewing skills. Not to mention, there were a ton of How-To sites for making your own cloth diapers. It really looked fairly easy.

So, I stocked up on flannel and began sewing like crazy. Not too long into my diaper sewing frenzy, my husband's grandmother offered me a serger she had packed away brand new. WOW! A woman from church came to help me with the serging and sewing of my stash and by the time it was all said and done, I had quite a nice stash costing me about $3 per diaper.

I've learned a lot since then. My sewing skills got better with each new diaper I churned out. I now prefer other types of fabric. I've gone to using snaps instead of velcro. And at one point in time, I even owned my own diaper business. One thing; however, has remained constant...I am a cloth diaper fanatic!

I could sit and talk diapers for hours. I see diaper fabric everywhere..."You can't send that old shirt to Goodwill! It would make a perfect diaper!"

I still sew up new diapers for each new baby. I love seeing them wear something I've created, something made just for them with love. This baby is no exception.

So, without further ado, here are some of this baby's stash of cloth diapers made by mama...

Here are the links to the pictures of the soakers:

Turned & Topstiched Soaker

Serged Soaker

How the soaker lays in the diaper

And here's a bonus:
Fleece Soaker/Cover

I used the free pattern found HERE: