Sunshine is your friend!

The Sun is shining today (at least it is here in Philly)- take advantage!

The sun is a wonderful 'natural resource' that moms everywhere need to be reminded to take advantage of. It's great for a number of things:

- Getting over the winter blues. Lots of moms (and dads too) suffer from SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, and know how the winter blues can hit hard and drag on. But even those who don't suffer from this disorder can experience a refreshing and rejuvenating sense of living by just getting out in the sun a little bit. It certainly helps to tackle the rigors of parenthood to have a few moments of "ahhhh" whenever possible.

- Get that Bilirubin level down! Have a newborn who's a little jaundiced*? Lots of doctors reccommend that sunshie works wonders! Too cold? That's ok, snuggle up with baby in a sunny window. Don't forget to strip baby down- down to this cozy cloth diaper that is!

- Get those stains out! Have a few stains on your cloth diapers? (Well this is a cloth diaper blog afterall- we had to get this in somehow!) The sun is one of the most powerful natural bleaching agents around! Hang your cloth diapers on a line outside, or on a rack in front of a sunny window (if you window have UV protection, opening the window can help) and watch the stains disappear before your eyes! All the power of chlorine bleach with none of the damage to your diapers, or harsh effects on the environment or baby's skin.

- Let your kids play in the sun! It's not just adults who get a little, ahem,' cranky when cooped up all day. Has your little one been a litle MORE bonkers and a little LESS responsive (happens in my house plenty!)? Maybe it's time for a good run in the sun to get the wiggles out. Afterwards, sitting down and resting will be a welcomed option!

* This blog is a commentary based on a mother's experience. All medical decisions should be made in consult with your doctor.

Diaper Tip #3 Make your own Natural Wipe Solution Recipe

Lots of moms choose to make their own wipes and wipe solition at home. A friend recently contacted me and asked for my wipe solution recipe, this reminded me that I had been meaning to share it with you all:

Wipe solution is very simple to make; play around with the ingredients to find your own special recipe. Here's mine, (it is great for keeping yeast diaper rashes away):

3 Cups water (use boiled or distilled to make your solution last longer)

1/4 Cup Olive Oil (very good for skin health)

1-2 drops tea tree oil (anti-fungal, it does have a strong woody scent, but we like it)

3-4 drops lavendar oil (also has anti-fungal properties and smells great)

1 small squirt of aveeno baby wash (optional, for extra cleansing)

I make this in weekly batches for my diaper service clients. This wash can be used with cloth wipes, or home made cloth or disposable wipes.

Diaper Tip #2 How to Make Cloth Wipes

My home made wipes with ribbed cotton on one side and flannel on the otherThere really isn't much to say here except... get out your sewing maching and give it a try. Here are a few helpful tips:

- Try a soft flannel, or cotton terry (I like to have something like terry on one side and flannel on the other making once side really soft and other other side a little scrubbier)

- Fleece doesn't work very well in my opinion- too slippery when wet.

- If you are going for cute colors, be sure to check your fabric for color fastness- the last thing you want is a purple-dyed baby bottom!

- Pre-wash and shrink your fabric before sewing, unlike cloth diapers, which you want to quilt up, you want wipes to lay flat.

- 7x7 or 8x8 is a nice size for the average diaper change.

* You can also make disposable wipes by cutting paper towels (look for softer, thicker brands like Viva)  in half lengthwise and folding in half again. These work well for the diaper bag and outings.

SUPERSAVER TIP! Do you find yourself with dozens more receiving blankets than you need? These are the classic 'welcome baby' gift that everyone gives and every mom ends up wondering 'what am i going to do with all of these?' Cut them up and make them into baby wipes. They're soft, preshrunk, won't bleed ink and best of all- FREE!

Not a fanatic... but really? Disposable diapers lead to better developed children? Give me a Break!

Check out this article uncovering Pamper's attempt at convincing folks that disposables are healthier for baby's development!

Wash my own diapers... you've gotta be nuts!

Actually it's not that hard... here's how

We've been washing diapers at home for over 5 years now... the result? Healthy bottoms, faster potty training, more money in our wallets and less strain on the environment.... ditch the disposables!

Wondering how many diapers you'll need to buy to was at home?

Are You Ready for Some Cloth Diaper Math?

Diaper changes times laundry. More diapers, wash less often. Cloth baby diaper math is that simple.

(# of diaper changes per day)
x
(# of days between washing)
__________________________
(# of diapers you need)

More diapers, wash less often

If you change your newborn baby’s diaper 12 times a day, but you only wash twice a week, you need 3-4 dozen diapers. This may be more diapers than you need. If you schedule more washing into your busy life with a newborn, you will only need about 2 dozen cloth diapers.

age	changes / day	washing	# diapers you need
newborn baby	12	2 times / wk	36 - 48
newborn baby	12	every 2 days	24

Fewer diapers, wash more often

Once your baby is a bit older, you won’t be changing diapers quite as often. For a crawling baby, 8 changes a day may mean fewer washes for you.

age	changes / day	washing	# diapers you need
crawling baby	8	2 times / wk	24 - 32
crawling baby	8	every 2 days	16 + extras

Very few diapers, wash every day

You can just make cloth diaper washing part of your daily routine. When you wash every day, you need far fewer diapers.

age	changes / day	washing	# diapers you need
newborn baby	12	every day	12 + extras
first steps baby	6	every day	6 + extras

Toddlers need fewer changes

Once your baby is talking, you may hear, “Diaper! Diaper!” Your baby will let you know when it is time to change. A toddler may even tell you before it is time. It’s time for potty training! Even when your toddler tries to get to the toilet each time, you will likely continue to change diapers for a while.

age	changes / day	washing	# diapers you need
toddler	4	2 times / wk	12 - 16