Okay, so how does one give advice to a parent that has a different parenting philosophy than you? I don't really label myself as any one parent philosophy but let's face facts, I'm more or less an Attachment Parent. I hate that label, makes it seem that I"m calling other parents de-ttached.
I want to share the lessons I've learned but I know that my life works for me. I don't live anyone else's life so how can my lessons really benefit them? I can talk in general but it is hard to give an example without making people feel singled out. If I talk about letting a baby "cry-it-out" and how I think it is horrible then someone will think I'm talking about them. Besides, how do you talk about something like that without passing judgement. Yes I think letting a baby cry themselves to sleep is horrible. How can you stand there and listen to your child cry? But then that is me. I can't do it. Maybe you can and may you raise the Supreme Court justice and I raise the serial killer. Who is really to say?
I think a classic example is babywearing. I babywear (shocking right?). I think there is a right way and a wrong way and there is definitely a deadly way. Yes, there is research to support my way but wrapping isn't for everyone (most days not even for me) or MeiTeis or SSC or ring slings. Maybe the Baby Bjorn is the best thing for that family. Anything else could result in dropping the baby or never wearing that baby. Which is worse? Never wear or wear in a Bjorn? I had a Bjorn! I thought it was great. Then I got my Moby and I hated my Bjorn. Then I did research and attended some babywearing meetings. I decided that for Audrey I would Bjorn no more. That doesn't make me a better parent. It made me a better parent for Audrey. Happy Mama = Happy Baby?
Even that statement, happy mama + happy baby makes me think twice. I would love to out drinking with my friends, getting my nails done and spending money on me. That would make me happy. I don't think that would make Audrey happy. I could shove formula in her face so I can get drunk but that would not make either of us happy (I'm not a big drinker). But there are mamas who are happier giving formula. Breastfeeding makes them feel trapped. Happy Mama = Happy Baby? I just don't know.
So to the point, I will not shut my pie-hole but please don't assume I'm talking about you. I will live my life and you will live yours. I don't feel guilty about my choices and neither should you. We are all doing the best we can and it is a crap shoot. My happily attached cloth-diapered breastfed Audrey could wind up a murder on death row and your happy Bjorn formula baby could cure cancer. I'm thinkin' it's a crap-shoot either way.
Showing posts with label cloth diapering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cloth diapering. Show all posts
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Cloth diapering on the cheap
I hear it all the time how can anyone afford to cloth diaper! Now that we've been cloth diapering for 8 months or so, I don't know how people afford not to! Of course, if you have to go to the laundramat cloth diapering might be too hard and expensive, once I got my own washer and dryer I started CDing.
Okay so yes CD can be expensive and starting the stash is the hard part. My stash is probably valued at around $500 or so but I have never bought a new diaper! That is the secret; buy used. Part of the power of CD is belief in the power of soap. I believe soap can clean poop therefore I can buy used and just wash the previous baby out!
Also start small. My stash started the three used CDs on which I spent $24 including shipping. No you won't be able to drop the disposibles right away but the point is to make the transition. I was able to make a good deal on three more CDs and then a friend gave me three more and that was the start is my CDs during the day and disposables at night. With such a small stash I has to wash everyday. But at that point I had spent $50 and I was CDing almost full-time. From there it was a matter of buying/lucking into a good deal on 6 more CDs and I kissed disposables good bye.
Yes it will take time and money but it can be done. I also used Tide Free and Clear to wash. I did finally break down and buy some Rocking Green detergent and I love it but again not necessary. You are going to buy detergent anyways just buy the Free and Clear stuff and dry in the sun.
Wet bags are another nice thing but I don't have one. I toss my dirty CDs in a box. Yep, just a plain cardboard box. I am cheap. Don't need the fancy bag. I also don't have a diaper sprayer. I just shake the diaper over the toilet and wash. If it is really bad I just scrape with some toilet paper. It's not glamourous; I'm cheap.
As to washing, with my current stash I can wash about twice a week. As your stash grows you can wash less. As your baby grows you use less. I still wash about every two days because my mom (who watches Audrey) prefers my GroBabies, which are the newest members of the stash and I only have four shells and six inserts. But I can handle it.
So in conclusion, I am cheap and even lazy and I cloth diaper. It won't happen overnight but you can do it. Diaperswapper.com and thebabywearer.com are excellent sites for find good used diapers on the cheap. Play with it, you will find that some diapers will work better than others. I have 7 different brands in my stash and use about two. Ask your friends that CD if you can borrow to see what fits your baby best. You are not alone and you can do this. It's just poop and you'll have to wipe it either way.
Okay so yes CD can be expensive and starting the stash is the hard part. My stash is probably valued at around $500 or so but I have never bought a new diaper! That is the secret; buy used. Part of the power of CD is belief in the power of soap. I believe soap can clean poop therefore I can buy used and just wash the previous baby out!
Also start small. My stash started the three used CDs on which I spent $24 including shipping. No you won't be able to drop the disposibles right away but the point is to make the transition. I was able to make a good deal on three more CDs and then a friend gave me three more and that was the start is my CDs during the day and disposables at night. With such a small stash I has to wash everyday. But at that point I had spent $50 and I was CDing almost full-time. From there it was a matter of buying/lucking into a good deal on 6 more CDs and I kissed disposables good bye.
Yes it will take time and money but it can be done. I also used Tide Free and Clear to wash. I did finally break down and buy some Rocking Green detergent and I love it but again not necessary. You are going to buy detergent anyways just buy the Free and Clear stuff and dry in the sun.
Wet bags are another nice thing but I don't have one. I toss my dirty CDs in a box. Yep, just a plain cardboard box. I am cheap. Don't need the fancy bag. I also don't have a diaper sprayer. I just shake the diaper over the toilet and wash. If it is really bad I just scrape with some toilet paper. It's not glamourous; I'm cheap.
As to washing, with my current stash I can wash about twice a week. As your stash grows you can wash less. As your baby grows you use less. I still wash about every two days because my mom (who watches Audrey) prefers my GroBabies, which are the newest members of the stash and I only have four shells and six inserts. But I can handle it.
So in conclusion, I am cheap and even lazy and I cloth diaper. It won't happen overnight but you can do it. Diaperswapper.com and thebabywearer.com are excellent sites for find good used diapers on the cheap. Play with it, you will find that some diapers will work better than others. I have 7 different brands in my stash and use about two. Ask your friends that CD if you can borrow to see what fits your baby best. You are not alone and you can do this. It's just poop and you'll have to wipe it either way.
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