Active girl
Here is the video I mentioned. I laugh every time I watch it.
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It has started: the diaper stash itch. We’ve been doing prefolds and Thirsties covers, and I do love the Thirsties. However, it’s not perfect. The prefolds are getting pilly and less soft, and I’m not so happy about how they’re feeling. It’s a little bit clunky when I’m out, she’s screaming in a restaurant and kicking on the changing table and I’m trying to wrestle the prefold on her, folded the way I like it. The biggest problem, however, is that she’s a tiny bit rashy. She doesn’t seem to react to it that I can tell, but her diaper area is a little reddish and sometimes has tiny bumps (which I ignored for a long while, because she gets something similar on her arms and chest sometimes). Kel mentioned that it looked rashy to her. I ended up using a double-stuffed FuzziBunz pocket on her overnight and in the morning there was NO redness at all. That was my “ah-ha” moment. Obviously her skin doesn’t like being wet at all. The microfleece on the FuzziBunz keeps the moisture away from her skin, so even after a full night with no changes she has no rash.
Well now I want more FuzziBunz. That wasn’t in my plans, they’re not cheap. My idea right now is to buy a few more for nights and while we’re out (I only have 2), and then buy or make some microfleece liners to use with the prefolds at home.
I am so tempted to get out my sewing machine. I also want to make her a playmat with an arch to hang toys on (I refuse to pay $60 on one, I mean SERIOUSLY). But then I think, man, when do I have time to SEW? (And does my sewing machine even work anymore?)
I also fully admit that I am going to be buying the full Baby Einstein DVD set. One desperate afternoon when Kate was done playing with her toys but not yet ready for a nap, she was fussing and whining and I was at a loss so I went on YouTube and found some Baby Einstein video clips. She sat on my lap for over 10 full minutes, quiet and interested. So I bought one. I played it on the TV and set her up in her bouncer in front of it. And it worked!!! That gives me 10-15 minutes to eat, pee, clean up the kitchen or throw on a load of laundry. That’s her limit and it seems to work only once a day, but that could be my saving grace. If I could put her down as a matter of course I wouldn’t have bothered, but when she will only play on the floor if I’m entertaining her and still naps on me 99% of the time I need something to give me a break. And as a plus side, I really like classical music so it’s totally not irritating to me!
i dont know if you are against second hand diapers but craigslist usually has some good deals.
another brand you might like (i LURV fuzzibunz) is bumgenius.
My friend got 20-30 bumgeniuses off craigslist barely worn.
I have a friend who can get (new) FB for cheaper. I could. uh. say that I’m getting a present for you or something. Just saying. >.> Not that they’re *cheap* mind you, but cheapER.
I love love love that video! And how her arms go with her legs! :D It’s fabulous! Though I’ll warn you that with my sole sampling of, oh, one, crazy movement and kicking like that leads to early movement altogether. ;-)
My baby hates wetness too. PF worked for about 6 weeks for us until he started protesting. I have a love/hate relationship with my FBs…. They good diapers and they are SO cute, but they haven’t been as leak proof as some of my other diapers (I’m a Thirsties Duo Pocket fan). But also, my baby’s butt tends to get redder with FB than my duos. But beware the diaper addiction… I’m not sure that their is any such thing as the perfect stash and you’ll go broke trying to come up with one (I’m guilty of way over spending on diapers).
I’ve really enjoyed the couple of things that I have had the time to sew for my baby. I wish I had time to sew diapers… that would be so much fun, but there is a decent size investment getting all the materials for that too.
On the playmat, more power to you if you can sew one, but if you decide to spend the $60, I cannot say enough nice things about the Lamaze mat. It’s durable and fun.
OMG, she is so adorable!! I loved her kicking and throwing her arms about, made me laugh!!
I loved my Fuzzibinz too, but my son has super skinny legs, and they started leaking around 5-6 months. We then switched to Bumgenius 3.0, and I bought a ton of them very cheap at Cottonbabies seconds sale. Basically, there would be a smudge or tag put in the wrong position, but we paid half price.
http://www.diaperswappers.com — sign up for an account and search the For Sale Forums. Always great deals on this site!
I know all too well about the diaper stash itch. It’s a terrible, nagging addiction ;) And somehow, I know it will never be satisfied! LOL
I love Diaper Rite prefolds + one size covers (Blueberry coverall, econobum, and thirsties though they’re not one-size). I also LOVE LOVE LOVE Bum Genius 3.0 – for nighttime and to help w/ redness or rashes. You could stuff the pockets w/ prefolds in addition to the inserts provided, and not have to buy any “extra” inserts. BG also help for more than 1 in diapers, and work well on my skinny babe w/ no leaks.
Baby aerobics – so cute!
before you buy the Baby Einsteins – let me go through our stash – I have some I can send you. =)
Oh and try a resale shop for babies/kids. You can find SO much stuff there – and for much cheaper!
She’s too adorable!
I’m keeping an eye on this discussion – it might be beneficial.
Someone may have mentioned this, but you can buy a yard of fleece on sale at the fabric store and cut it into strips and lay them (you don’t even need to serge the edges) into the prefold. They keep wetness away from the skin. Cheap fix for wet prefolds without having to spring for FB’s. The drawback to any pocket diapers made from synthetics is they get detergent build-up over time and need stripping or they stink or repel which causes leaks(unless you are lucky and find the right detergent with your water/machine). With the fleece inserts you cut yourself, if they start repelling or stinking you can just make new ones without having to strip the entire diaper (as you would with fuzzibuns). That said, if you want, you can check out diaperswappers.com and buy some used fuzzibuns or whatever you like. It’s a great place to try all different kinds for not a lot of cost.
Also, after going around and around with diaper rash early in our cloth diaper experience, I finally tried burt’s bees diaper cream and have never had rash since. Using the fleece inserts will keep diaper cream off the prefolds so it won’t cause repelling our build-up.
You also mention that your prefolds are not feeling as soft..do you have hard water? You can use calgon to strip them if you do. Or you can add vinegar in the rinse cycle to soften them up. Although if you search diaperswapper threads you’ll find great confusion on whether vinegar in the rinse is a good idea. It definitely makes my prefolds soft and fluffy.
i LOVE the video- so cute!!
On the fleece liners…I found some somewhere for around $1 each, I don’t remember where. I just looked but couldn’t re-find them. I had tried to make my own but they didn’t really work. Maybe I didn’t use the right kind of fleece? Anyway, they did work to help keep him dry for when I was using prefolds. Honestly next time I may spring for the money to get pocket diapers, I just don’t like having to worry if the liner was on there just right and he had so many sleep/reflux issues that I didn’t want to have to worry about *one more thing* (whether the wetness was bothering him).
Wow!
She is getting so big….so cute how she kicks and winds up her arms at the same time. Looks like she is preparing for a Marathon….GO Katie!!! She is adorable.
I used disposables so really do not have any cloth diaper advice except that my friend loved bum genius. Heard that G diapers are ok too. There is some info on cloth on the blog familystylelove-Good luck.
I recently discovered Kawaii (http://www.theluvyourbaby.com/8-36lbsHeavyDuty621.htm) cloth diapers….they are pocket diapers similar to FB…but half the price and work GREAT!!!!! We use the snazzy minkies but I am going to get some of the bamboo ones soon as they are more organic. I do agree with Fiddle1 that microfibre (anything non 100% cotton) can get the stinkies…but I have found that BioKleen detergent works great and a 30 minute presoak with some BacOut takes care of that just fine…I have a Front loader too…so that is pretty impressive. Also…drying out in the Sun is a natural bacteria killing and bleaching process….we have literally eliminated the stinkies from doing that. They get a little stiff…but then I just throw them in the dryer for 5-10 minutes and they fluff right up.
And..you may also want to try FLIPS…they are made by BumGenius and we love them. You can use your prefolds in them or buy the stay dry inserts. They are one size and will grow with your baby.
kd
I love Fuzzi Bunz!! I’d beg, borrow or steal only about three Baby Einstein and a used playmat and buy more diapers. I swear for all the Baby Einstein my kids had, only 2-3 of them really got used. I also like Blueberry diapers (but very $$) and the Bum Genius Flip. I bought a Flip day pack on Diaper Swappers that was brand new and I love them. Plus you could use your prefolds with them. Also someone else gave me the tip to buy a fleece baby blanket at Dollarama to use for liners. Worked great for $1.
she is sooo lovely!
I got my playmat at a children’s resale store…for like $4.00 – and it is in perfect condition. I washed the mat part just for my own peace of mind, but really it was spotless.
You’ve gotten lots of good tips about diapers so I won’t repeat, but for the playmat… let’s just say my son never liked his and I wish we had that $60 back. Ikea has a good, cheap one (about $25), but also check craigslist and/or ebay. Ours is entirely washable and trust me, we’ve washed it many many times and it still looks good as new.