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When you have a baby, you need to know about diapers. Babies are about the big D which stands for diapers. They are about astonishing love, cuddling, and caring.
All this pooping means the D onslaught needs to be tamed in order for life to run smoothly. Before your baby is toilet trained he will go through around 8000 changes, so it is prudent to pay some attention to the issue. Currently the choice seems to be cloth or disposable or a diaper service. Disposibles are the least eco-friendly, more expensive and convenient. A service is convenient and somewhat expensive and uses a lot of water. Cloth are somewhat inconvenient but they are probably the most earth friendly and ultimately cheaper in energy expenditure and water usage. Back in the day....in other words a long time ago...there were cloth outers with inserts that you could rinse in the toilet. Now there is a similar new "green" product. I have no commercial interest in this product but I have an environmental interest in this product. It's called gdiaper. The reviews that I've read are mixed. Everyone likes the biodegradable aspect. There is no plastic in them, the inserts are flushable and the whole thing biodegrades in a short period of time. The down side is that some peole with older toilet systems have some trouble with clogging up their system, and for families on a budget, they seem somewhat inhibitive price-wise. Your choice will be based on any number of conditions and may include the use of several options at various times. Disposals and a service are reasonably straight forward. Gdiapers are seemingly an option for families who are not on a budget and they are fairly straight forward to use. Since there's a bit of a trick to it, I will focus on using cloth diapers which you wash yourself. The initial outlay may seem pricey but spread over the whole experience it evens out. There are various options i.e. sort of pocket-like affairs where you use liners inside the pocket; there are washable plastic over-covers; pin closures, Velcro closures; snaps, etc. You will need a pail and you will need to decide if it is to be a wet or dry bucket. A wet bucket is when you soak the diapers. I would use a medium small sized bucket for this choice for simple ease of movement i.e.moving bucket from diapering area to laundry area...no pun intended. You want to avoid bacteria growth, so two days is enough soaking before machine washing. * * It is IMPORTANT to re-state how a child can drown in only a few inches of water, so install safety measures if you use a wet pail i.e. keep it covered with a SECURE clasp/lock and store out of reach, not only of baby but of any other toddlers that you might have running around.* * Wet bucket-- It is a more earth friendly action to not use bleach and it is good for the cloth if you do not, as bleach breaks down the cloth much more quickly. Fabric softener and most soaps cause a film to build up and eventually they are likely to leak! Also avoid perfumy stuff and chemicals which could most probably irritate the sensitive skin of your baby. For a dry bucket, sprinkle baking soda in the bottom and you can sprinkle more as needed. Layer diaper, baking soda, D, baking soda, D, baking soda. And if you rinse first, that will help keep the odor down. A couple of drops of Tea Tree Oil will help with the odor (if you like the smell of TTO). You can put it directly on the diaper or even on a rag that you throw in the bucket as a cover-up smell until they are washed. Bottom line is to use detergents which have no fabric softeners or phosphates in them. Additives to use in your washing routine for fine clean diapers are white vinegar and baking soda. Add the vinegar to the last rinse. You can also use Tea Tree Oil. It is a natural disinfectant and can help eliminate odors as long as you favor the odor of Tea Tree Oil it is a good option to add to your washing routine. Another good bleach replacement is hydrogen peroxide. For wipes, disposable ones are convenieint when you are out or when traveling. For at home you can purchase a bag of 10-15 or so, soft (and I prefer thin) wash cloths. If you are squeamish, get all one color and reserve for baby bottom only. There is a "green" wipe that is called 7th generation wipes. Again, there are mixed reviews. Of course everyone likes that they are clorine and dye free. They are also hypoallergenic. The down side is that they are thin and for big jobs require the use of quite a few. ________________________________________________________________
Diaper Change Walk-though
You sense either by smell or feel or after 3-4 hours that a change is required. (A 3-4 hour period is as long as the urine should be next to your baby's skin.)
I think it goes without saying but people who haven’t been around babies might need a reminder that an interesting toy can keep a squirmy baby occupied long enough to facilitate a change (if you are quick!) If you are limber you can sit on the floor with your legs spread out and place baby in the V that your legs make. Your feet (without shoes) can keep a pretty good hold on baby while you do the deed. Or traditionally, use a change table or area. You will have arranged it with all your supplies in one place i.e.diapers, disposal pail, fasteners, a few toys, wipes, cream, powder made from corn starch only, not talc. Remove diaper. Say it is poopy. Use the diaper itself to wipe the major poo-goo. Even my mother whose tolerance for even the sight of a smashed green pea brought on the heaves, could stand to wipe the pooh goo off her babies bums with the corner of the cloth, so, even if you think you it is gross, things change when it's your own baby :-) Next you get the big chunks off by rinsing it out in the toilet, then deposit in your D.pail.
While you are doing the above, it is vital that you have made sure your baby is secure. A baby can roll over unexpectedly in the blink of an eye, so take precautions.
For the next step I take baby’s poopy bottom to the sink, position with bottom toward faucet, baby draped over one arm, and hand scrub the poopy bottom. No fuss, no muss. Easy as pie. Dry baby and put on new diaper. If you use pins, do not stick baby!
How to fold a rectangular shaped diaper:
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They are about sleeping, eating and they are also about the big P which stands for: pooping!
