New Stuff!

Okay, I'm sorry. Last post I had a teaser about laundry routines and Charlie's Soap, and I know I haven't delivered yet. I will get there. Keep using your Charlie's. I'll get to it. A friend (and DD follower) sent me a facebook message asking if she should not use Charlie's, and the short answer is this: Charlie's Soap is so awesome and wonderful, and the problem I need to address has nothing to do with them specifically. More, the problem is that CS gets diapers so clean that you may not realize that your diaper washing needs another step. That other step is disinfecting. I'm going to write all about it another day.

First, I want to tell you that Cotton Babies is extending their fourth of July shipping promo through tomorrow, July 7th. Just use the coupon code FIREWORKS to get free economy shipping on any order!

Second, I need - NEED - to tell you about a new fitted diaper that I want to try. I am all about fitted diapers, as you may have gathered. I use pretty much only fitteds and prefolds during the day, and then we use our pockets for naps and overnights. But I don't want a million different sizes of fitteds, so I'm always on the lookout for one-size fitteds.

Well Kissaluvs, the maker of my faaaavorite newborn fitted diaper, has come out with a one size (10 to 40 pounds) fitted diaper called the Marvel. It's constructed much like their sized fitted, with 3 body layers and a microfleece soaker, and comes in three precious prints. It's a little pricey at $24.95, but most one-size fitteds are. The only place I've found them so far is at Kelly's Closet, which happens to be one of my top places to shop anyway! Here's the page for the Marvels at KC.

Speaking of Kelly's Closet, I don't think I've ever written on here about The Cloth Diaper Whisperer, although I'm sure a lot of you are well aware. The owner of Kelly's Closet maintains a great and informative cloth diapering blog, and hosts fantastic giveaways every single Friday! Check it out! This week's giveaway, which will end on Friday, is for the new Kissaluvs Marvels.

Okay, I need to run. Happy Monday to everyone!

...wait, what?

As I was washing dishes tonight (gag, cleaning the kitchen is my single least favorite house chore), I had a really fantastic idea for a cloth post that I could do after everyone else went to bed. It must have been witty, because I was chuckling to myself like a crazy woman.

Before I posted, though, I was excited to enjoy some downtime with my man. I usually write in the witching hours when everyone else is abed, because I'm a night owl. Do you like my 18th century slang for sleeping?

Anyway, my hubby and I had planned on watching "FireProof." But we chose to have a disagreement instead. Hey, I'm just being honest. And ironic.

Then we watched some tv (too late to start a movie, especially when Dear Hubs is generally passed out cold on the couch by 10pm). Then I updated and worked on our family blog (while Hubs slept on the sofa). Emailed a few friends. Signed into this blog account, got ready to write...

And could not remember what I was planning to write about.

Completely out of my head. Gone.

Man, it's really feast or famine over here, isn't it? I post a whole bunch in a short period of time, and then I'm silent for a few weeks (or months). But I'm no Kelly, I don't have any team writers (yet, hint hint!), and I've still got normal life going on. Please bear with me! :o)

(Hubs just woke up and stumbled to our room, mumbling something that I'm guessing was "Good night, please come to bed soon.")

Anyway, I've been checking my sitemeter referrals to see how many folks are visiting and where everybody is clicking in from. Mostly, it's either Passionate Homemaking or from googling "how many diapers does a newborn need" or "yearly cost of diapers." Still and all, I'm excited that people are visiting me here. Please spread the word to your friends, whether they use cloth or not!

Okay, so here's what I've got on tap for The Diaper Diaries:

First, I'm taking away the table of contents and going back and labeling all the posts, and then I'll put up a label directory. I think that will be more user and search friendly than what I have now.

Second, I may delete/rework some of the older posts that have a lot of information in them to consolidate the info that "belongs" together.

Third, I recently tried out 5 - FIVE - cool new fitteds that I'm pretty much in love with, so I need to add the reviews of those to the Fitteds Reviews post.

Fourth, for posting, I've got to finish out my series on reviews, with posts on pockets, all-in-ones, miscellaneous diaper products, and create a directory of where to buy diapers online and rate the sites I've purchased from.

Finally, for regulars and visitors alike, please let me hear from you! If you read the reviews and discover that there's no information on a diaper you completely love (or hate), please comment and tell us about it! If you have info on stripping, stains, stuffing, sewing, or even a hilarious epic poopie story, please tell us! This will be so much fun "interactive" if you guys participate.

I'm off from blogging (here) for the weekend, but please chime in and I'll have some new stuff for you next week. Cheers!

Cloth Confessions

1. When I change my little girl's diapers, I just drop them over the baby gate on the bathroom floor, and then I go set her down with her brother and toys and go back to wash the diaper out and put it away. But sometimes, I let the dirty diapers sit right where I drop them on the bathroom floor. All. Day. Long. And I just go in and wash them all out and put them in their respective hanging pails or wet pails after everyone is in bed. And the days that I do this, yes, my whole (small, ranch) house smells kind of gross.

2. More often than not, I don't fold the clean diaper laundry anymore. It just sits in a laundry basket in the living room or my daughter's room, and when it's time to change a dipey I fish through the basket and find what I need. This is kind of a pain because I can't really keep track of what I have to pull from for her, but for some reason, a lot of times I just don't want to take 20 minutes to fold up a basket of laundry. (Wow, that's embarrassing.) So then what ends up happening is that 2 or 3 times a month, I have an over-flowing basket of inserts, microfiber towels, cloth wipes, plus all the fitteds and pockets, and it takes me 45 minutes to fold it all.

3. It's really hard for me to remember that cloth is still the exception and not the rule when women hang over my shoulder in public restrooms while I'm changing a diaper. It's hard to give a patient and graceful answer to all the same questions that I hear time and time again!

4. But, at the same time, I secretly hope every time we're out and a diaper is visible or a change is needed that I'll get a chance to share some cloth love with a stranger. :o)

5. I get really frustrated that our church nursery won't change a cloth diaper, but our gym nursery will. (Yes, I use sposies for church, because at this time we don't feel led to pursue family corporate worship during the services, and 1 or 2 diapers per 3 services a week doesn't break us, but it's still more than I would be going through if our church would permit cloth.)

6. I don't really have a fluff addiction like a lot of CD parents do. Once I get comfortable with my stash, I don't even think about ordering more diapers. In fact, I'm so practical about things that it's hard for me to buy super cute, gender specific diapers. I have bought hardly any pink and purple little diapers and covers for my sweet little girl!


Okay, this last one is hard for me to share with you...


7. I love cloth diapering. I do, I really do. I mean, I write an entire blog about it. I have shared, educated, encouraged, and done multiple cloth demos just to get other parents to see the manifold wisdom of cloth. I love it. Except sometimes...

I hate it.

Sometimes, the laundry seems to multiply. And I can't get - or stay - caught up with the diapers, let alone our clothing, sheets, and towels. Sometimes I don't feel like folding, stuffing, snappi-ing, wrapping, covering, and finding clothes big enough to fit over a bulky bottom. Sometimes I dread washing out a nasty poopy diaper. Or getting ready to run errands, and taking up half the diaper bag with spare fluffies.

Sometimes, I keep the baby in sposies all day on Sunday, even after we get home from church. And when there's a stomach bug involved, you better believe I'm using sposies. Sometimes if I'm headed somewhere that would require a trip to the laundromat to wash the diapers, well then...you guessed it.

And the thing is, I don't really feel bad about it. I think it's okay - and I think it's important that I tell you guys that it's okay - to NOT love using cloth diapers 100% of the time. And there's no need to get all legalistic about it. If I'm having a rotten, no good, very bad day, and I feel like using fluffs - and washing them - is just more than I can handle that day, then I have given myself permission to not use them. Yes, it costs a little bit of money. But seriously, $4 worth of paper diapers for me to keep my sanity, and love and care for my family and home without a sense of grudge and drudgery? Totally worth it. And really, having given myself the freedom to do this every once in a while when I feel like I need to makes me feel like I want to FAR less frequently. So then, the 1 or 2 days a month that I just feel like stripping all my diapers and listing them on Craigslist, it's easy for me to just kind of buckle down and suck it up and push on with the cloth dipeys, knowing that if and when I have a really rough day, the fluffs can stay on the shelf and I can stay "Happy Mama."

Because besides - 99% of the time, I love it!

So what about you guys? Let me hear your cloth confessions!

Guest Post!

Today and tomorrow I'm guest posting on one of my favorite websites, Passionate Homemaking, while the author adjusts to life with her newest little one! Some of you may have wandered over here from there in the first place, but I have no way to know since my SiteMeter is apparently not working.

Anyway, Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking is a believer who loves the Lord, and delights in serving her family in ways that are healthful, frugal, and honor our Creator. I figured some of the frugal, green, and crunchy-minded people who might stumble across this blog would be interested in that!

Here is the permalink for the first part of the post, where I discuss why to use cloth.

Here is the permalink for the second part of the post, where I give a VERY general and broad overview of cloth diapering. Perfect for newbies, beginners, and just starting to research!

Feedback?

Hey there!

I'm still trying to work out product reviews, but I have a bit of housekeeping business to tend to first. But since you're here, please leave me a comment and let me know that you're here. If no one is reading, I'm stopping!

When you comment, please let me know if you currently cloth diaper (how many kids, their ages, whether or not you EC, etc) or if you're just gathering information for a possible switch, or even if you're just generally interested or curious. If you're a CDing mama who feels like you have some insight or different opinions that people might be interested in, I'd love to share your thoughts on here! And if you're still just gathering information, please please please let me know if you have any specific questions regarding CD in general, certain brands, prices, pros and cons, etc.

I have my comment settings so that anyone can leave a comment without having a blog of your own or anything, so you comment anonymously but I'd love to know who you are! If you'd rather not comment the information, you can email me at diaperdiaries@hotmail.com

Thanks!

PS - This feedback request does NOT have an expiration date! Whenever you come across this entry, please let me know you were here and if/how I can better help you!

Welcome and Why I'm here

I originally wrote an entry on my family blog about the general basics of cloth diapering. There was a really positive response, and I quickly realized how much there was to know! It can be a really overwhelming undertaking when you first begin to do your research. There's so much to know, all the terminology and abbreviations, different styles (what's the difference between a flat and a contour?!?), how many will I need?, how do I wash them once I get them? Aaugghh! It's enough to drive a woman crazy!

So here I am, just a stay at home mom who navigated it all by herself and wants to help you now! I'm a busy lady, so it will take me a while to get through all the things that I feel like are important, so please be patient with me, but feel free to ask questions too!