Baby Care

 

Because many friends have asked me about different things when it comes to caring for a baby, I decided to consolidate and write down most of the things I have done. I hope that you find this information helpful. Questions? Comments? Send me an email! You may also want to visit our page on Christian parenting and/or our family blog.

 

 

Cloth Diapers

1)    What kind?

There are basically two kinds of cloth diapers: pre-folds and all-in-ones. The pre-folds are rectangular cloths that you fold together into a diaper shape and fasten with a pin or a “Snappi” (see below). The all-in-ones look similar to typical disposables, and how you put it on a baby is similar to using a disposable one. Obviously the all-in-ones are more convenient but they are also more expensive. I got the pre-folds because they are versatile: they can be used as a regular diaper, burp rag, or a towel. I didn't mind the extra step in folding it together. Once you're used to it, it's really not a big deal at all. I would definitely recommend the pre-folds as it's the most economical.

 

To purchase cloth diapers and supplies, you can search on diaperpin.com to look for the best internet company. Diaper Pin is a site that reviews cloth diapers, diapering supplies, and diapering companies. One site that has good prices is Cotton Babies. You may also purchase new diapers on eBay. Be sure the diapers you're buying are “diaper service quality” diapers, which means they are lot thicker than the ones you'd buy at Wal-Mart or Target. There are two different kinds of pre-folds: Chinese and European diapers. Chinese diapers are softer whereas European diapers are thicker. I have both and like them both. If you can't decide which one to get, just get both.

 

If you live in the south SF Bay Area, you can always check out Tiny Tots in Campbell. They run a diaper service but also sell supplies from their store location.

 

It is recommended to wash cloth diapers twice before use to get them nice & fluffy..

 

To learn how to fold a cloth diaper, visit http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/howto.htm or http://www.borntolove.com/folding.html.

 

2)   How many?

 

I recommend getting three dozen diapers to start. This provides enough diapers to use while you wash the dirty ones. You'll want to start by buying at least 6 diaper covers; beyond that, it's a matter of convenience.

 

3)   Diaper Covers

All cloth diapers need diaper covers so the urine doesn't leak through to the baby's clothing. There are many different ones to choose from. Some are made of wool (the most expensive kind), some are made of nylon, some are made of vinyl (I don't recommend this), and some are made of PUL (a water repellent fabric). The one I really like is Bummis Whisper Wrap which is made of PUL.

 

For our latest baby, we were given several ProRap diaper covers. These diaper covers have double gussets around the legs to prevent leaking. The newborn covers have a low cut front so it won't cover the umbilical cord, which is a very nice feature! The ProRaps are cheaper than the Bummis and since I like them both, it's more economical to purchase the ProRaps.

 

4)   Fasteners

When we first started, we used Dritz diaper pins. These are the old fashion big safety pins, and well known for being very sharp. Many people worry about poking themselves or the baby while using the pins. We never had this issue. To keep the pins sharp, we stick the unused ones in a candle or a bar of soap.

 

As soon as I saw the Snappi fastener, I instantly realized that it was an even better fastener. It looks like the letter T, and each corner has a claw that holds the diaper together. You can find out more information at snappibaby.com. It's very easy to use and you can fold a diaper together in an instant with the Snappi.

 

5)   Diaper liners

When your baby starts eating solids, the poop becomes harder and this is when I start using a liner. Instead of buying liners, I just go to a fabric store and buy some fleece fabric and cut them up in rectangular shapes. There's no sewing required. When you are putting a diaper together, do it as usual and then add the diaper liner underneath the baby's bottom. When the baby poops, the poop can be easily peeled off the fleece liner. Toss the poop in the toilet and the liner in the “soiled” diaper pail.

 

During the early months when the baby is on breast milk or formula only, the poop is mostly liquid like with a little mush. It actually looks like diarrhea but rest assured that it is not. It is normal! I don't try to dump the poop in the toilet. I simply put the soiled diaper in the “soiled” diaper pail because this mushy poop washes away quite easily in the washing machine. Diaper liners can also help with newborn stool, as it prevents staining of the cotton.

 

 

Washing Cloth Diapers

There are two different washing methods: dry vs. wet. The wet method requires soaking the diapers in a pail of water with detergent whereas the dry method simply means no liquid required. I opted for the dry method as it's easier. 

 

I have two 5 gallon buckets with lids (these can be purchased at Home Depot or hardware stores for cheap) and one is labeled “wet” and the other “soiled.” When the diaper is just wet with no poop, it goes in the “wet” pail and if it has poop, it goes in the “soiled” pail. When it's washing time— when the pail is full or you're running out of clean ones—I wash the diapers three times. I first soak the “soiled” diapers overnight in the washer with cold water & detergent. I turn on the wash first thing in the morning. When it's done, I add the “wet” diapers and wash it with warm water. When it is done, I wash it the 3rd time with hot water. With this washing method, my diapers are clean and smell fresh. At most you want to wash about 2 dozen diapers at a time to get effective cleaning.

 

Washing instructions update: With my latest baby I decided to do two washes instead of three and the result is the same. I skipped the first cold wash and simply washed the soiled diapers in warm and then add the wet diapers to wash in hot water. I also used fleece liners from the start and because of this I was able to skip both separate pails for soiled/wet diapers as well as the overnight soaking in the washer.

 

Note: please use caution with buckets; infants and young children can drown in as as little as 1/4” of water. Close them tight and train your children to steer clear. Of course, you'd think with the odor emanating from one of these buckets, they'd stay miles away...

 

Washing Diaper Covers

I normally reuse the diaper cover when the diaper is simply wet. When it smells a little, I either hand wash it or wash it in the washing machine. When the diaper cover gets soiled, I toss it in the washing machine. Once it is washed, I air dry it instead of drying it in the dryer though the Bummis diaper covers say they can be safely machine dried. It is best to air dry them to keep the waterproof layer more effective.

 

Diaper Pail Liner

You'll want to use a liner for the diaper pail as it makes washing time lot easier. Just simply remove the entire liner and empty the diapers and the liner into the wash. Alternatively, you don't have to use one but it is a little bit difficult to empty the diaper pail when washing. You can purchase the liners at any internet based diaper stores, or you can simply use a pillow case which is a much cheaper alternative.

 

Drying

Because these diapers are very thick, they require extra drying time. I normally hang-dry the diapers outdoors in the summer. There are several advantages: 1) it saves energy, 2) the sun bleaches naturally so it whitens the diapers, 3) diapers smell nicer. When you line-dry diapers, they tend to be stiff and hard once they're dried. To soften them, put them in the dryer for 10 minutes.

 

Storing Diapers

There is no need to fold or stack the diapers nicely. Toss all the clean diapers in a nice wicker basket. 

 

Deodorizing

I have found a very economical way to keep my diaper pails from stinking up the room. Attach a dryer sheet (only half sheet is needed) on to the diaper pail lid (you'll need to be creative to come up with a way to secure it). This keeps the odor under control. I normally change the sheet about once every one to two weeks. 

 

Whenever I wash my diapers, I spray the diaper pail with Lysol and leave it to air out for at least one hour.

 

With this method of deodorizing, I don't have odor problems. We keep the pails in the bathroom next to the toilet.

 

Making your own diapers and covers

If you are interested in making your own, www.diapersewing.com offers directions on making diapers and covers.

 

Baby Wipes

Did you know that you can make your own baby wipes using regular paper towels? I use Bounty paper towels. For baby wipes recipes, visit http://www.mainstreetmom.com/budg/wipes.htm.

 

For a cheaper alternative, use cloth baby wipes. You can purchase small all-purpose towels at Target or Wal-Mart. Keep a container of water and baby wash solution nearby, and whenever you need to use a wipe, moisten a towel and wipe. Place the used towels in the diaper pail. We were given a baby wipes warmer for free and it's ideal for keeping our cloth wipes warm and moist, ready to use.

 

Infant Potty Training

Potty training our first child was very difficult. After much frustration and stress, we decided to start potty training our second child at 3 months of age. Infant potty training isn't foreign to me because I was trained like that when I was a baby. My mom potty trained all three of us when we were in China and we were all completely trained by 1 year of age. It is simple to do but it does require a mother's willingness and persistence to carry it out. Mothers who work outside of the home will have a harder time to accomplish this unless the infant's caretaker is willing.

 

The baby will most likely go potty when he wakes up from a nap or after he nurses, so these are the best times to potty your baby. I just use the regular toilet instead of a small potty. When it's time to potty your baby, hold your baby away from you so that his legs sit on your forearm and he's leaning against your body. Hold your baby over the toilet and then start whistling. Tell him to go pee or poop. This sounds very strange but it works!!! My baby peed for me the very first time I did this. Every time I take him to the potty, I whistle which is a cue that it's time to pee. Eventually he got so good at it that I didn't need to whistle anymore. He eventually knows that sitting on the toilet means going pee pee or poop poop. When your baby is older and can sit up, you can use a potty insert on a regular toilet and have him sit on it. You still need to hold your baby so he doesn't fall.

 

Many will complain that this requires a lot of hard work, and yes, it does but it's definitely worth it for me. It means you have fewer diapers to wash and fewer diaper rashes to take care of.

 

For those who are still unclear or want more information, you may visit http://www.timl.com/ipt. There are also books available. If you want support, you can also join the forums which are listed on the same website. It is helpful because as you are training your baby, you may have questions or doubts that others may help, especially when it comes to potty pause. Potty pause is a stage where your baby refuses to go potty because he's going through a big developmental stage. This is normal and you should keep it up. The forums are also helpful when you have questions on how to hold your baby over the toilet or what works the best for each individual.

 

Making your own baby food

 

Making your own baby food is very easy, nutritious, and extremely cost effective. The following are the vegetables and fruits I have used in the past: carrots, apples, pears, butternut squash, green beans, sweet potatoes.

 

First, steam the food until tender. Transfer the food into a blender. Add enough water so the blended food has a mushy consistency. Pour the blended food into ice cub trays and freeze overnight. After they are frozen, pop them out and transfer them to a freezer bag to store.

 

To use, start with one cube of food and heat in the microwave. As your baby begins to eat more, add more cubes as needed. Sometimes I add rice cereal or oatmeal to thicken the food.

 

I learned how to make yogurt with child #3 because whole fat yogurt was not easy to find in grocery stores. Most people buy low-fat or non-fat yogurts but with little ones, whole fat was recommended. If you want to make your own yogurt, go to http://hillbillyhousewife.com/yogurt.htm. There are several incubation methods: oven, heating pad, and cooler. I experimented with the heating pad and the cooler methods. The heating pad method did not work well for me but the cooler method was excellent. What I like about the cooler method is that you don't have to worry about energy costs as with the oven method.

 

I added 1/2 cup of maple syrup to 1 quart of milk during the heating phase to make maple syrup flavored yogurt. You may also add pureed fruit or jam to make different flavors.

 

Child Carrier

The child carrier we find the most versatile is the Maya Wrap sling. You can go to www.mayawrap.com for more information. It is very versatile as it enables you to carry your baby in different positions (to the right is my husband “slinging” our first child at one month old). The Maya Wrap is also very portable. We put it in our diaper bag and bring it wherever we go. Our first baby was very colicky and the only thing that could settle him down was the sling. The sling also enables you to nurse your baby discreetly when you are out. It takes a little bit of practice to get a hang of it. When you first place your baby in the sling, he may cry because it's a new experience. However, press on: our children quickly got accustomed to the sling. The Maya Wrap site actually has very helpful online streaming videos with tips for carrying infants in various positions. Cotton Babies also has an article with tips on nursing in a sling.

 

If you want to make your own, visit http://www.mayawrap.com/n_sewsling.php. You can get rings at www.slingrings.com. Though the rings are plastic instead of metal in Maya Wraps, they are still very durable and useable. I made a sling myself and it is fairly easy to sew.

 

We also have a Baby Bjorn carrier and frankly we don't find it that useful. We rarely use it. The baby seems to outgrow it fast. While this has been our experience, others have found it extremely useful. The only downside is that it is very expensive.

 

Also see our rave reviews of the Ergo Baby Carrier and the “Roo” bib. We love 'em both.

 

A Closing Word

To close, in all your sleep deprivation and diaper changing, remember this word from Psalm 127:

 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.

Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

 

Last updated: June 5, 2007