Cloth Diapering 101

Cloth Diapering 101
Pockets: Usual fav, you stuff them with an insert, examples are BumGenius (BG), Blueberry(BB), Happy Heiny(HH)
Covers: go over a prefold either snappi'd or trifolded into the cover, PUL (polyurathane lined) usually, examples are Thirsties and Bummies(BSSW)
Prefolds/Flats: Prefolds come in many sizes and types, generally stick with DSQ (diaper service quality), there are chinese bleached (not as soft but last long) or indian unbleached (softer but unknown if they last as long) examples are Green Mountain Diapers (GMD)you can use diaper pins or snappi's/ Flats you have to fold yourself
Fitteds: like a prefold with elastic basically, it can have snaps/aplix/none to keep it on, usually requires a cover although there are a couple coveted brands that Mama's swear they dont need covers...
AIO (All in Ones) have the insert already sewn in, all you do is wash and wear, no stuffing involved. downside can be that you can adjust absorbancy like you can with pockets, although they make AIO2 (all in 2's)that have the insert sewn in and an optional insert pocket snap on
OS (one size) many pocket come with this option, you adjust the snaps to fit through the diaper wearing ages.
Aplix (velcro) tends to curl, lose its stickyness, can fray over time (although for most its over alot of time that any of those happen) but has max adjustability and easy to use on wiggly babies
Snaps options, there are FS(front snaps) SS (side snaps). Snaps can be more difficult for little fingers to get off, but also doesnt have the adjustability like the Aplix does.
Materials:
Bamboo: renewable source, Super Green, which equals more expensive, SUPER soft and absorbant
Cotton: not as green but absorbant and widely used
Microfiber: Do not put directly against babys skin, but Super absorbant and fairly inexpensive
Hemp: also Green and very absorbant, many mama's love this because it's so trim

Cuteness

Cloth Diaper 101

Cloth diapers are super easy in my opinion, and I'm Lazy . The only thing it's taken for me is an extra rinse cycle. There alot of extra steps some mamas take, like vinagar and soaks and tea tree oil and other stuff I havent figured out yet, but I havent found those necessary. I take her diaper off, poopy or wet, toss it in the bucket (a 15$ trash can with lid and foot pedal, but really anything would do) when the bucket fills up I toss em all in the washer and do a hot wash with no soap and then a hot or cold (depending on what I'm feelin at the moment I guess) wash with soap and then into the dryer they go (can't use fabric softener though, makes it unabsorbant). I do a load about every other day, I have 23 diapers but could definitly get by with half that. There are alot of different kinds of diapers, which for me was the hardest part I think. Pockets, they're a diaper where you need an insert (I like microfiber, but I've heard hemp is great too) they are my fav because you can adjust absorbancy, like 2 inserts for night time and 1 during the day, or 1 and a doubler (its like a half an insert so its less bulky) for heavy wetters. AIO or All in Ones, you don't have to stuff with an insert which is nice, you just pull it out of the dryer and use it, but I haven't found a OS (one size) AIO yet, which is a bummer. OS diapers can be adjusted so they'll fit your kid all the way through diaperhood then theres fitteds, which are like absorbing underwear, but they need a cover or PUL (poly urathane laminate, I think is what its called) and then theres prefolds which are the burp rags we all know and love, those arn't too bad but they need snappis and a cover too. I think that's about everything, sorry I totally wrote a book. I ended up getting pocket OS, which are great because they'll last her until she's done and then I can resell them for at LEAST half the value, so overall I'm only spending 150$ to diaper her her whole life. plus I think it's 3 cents per load of laundry, but if you pay for trash then i think trash is more...at least it was when i was back home.
Ohh also, just wanted to note, I have not had 1 single blowout or leak since i've switched to cloth diapering. totally cool.

My brother went home yesterday, it was totally tragic. And Joey has been a complete pill lately, especially with Joe now in my life, Joey keeps telling me he wants me back and how much he screwed up and wants us to be a family and all sorts stuff like that, then when I tell him to stop manipulating me he gets all depressed and talks about how he's got nothing going for him and everything he trys to do goes wrong and how I hate him and the only reason I have him around is for his daughter (true). I don't know, I'm just over it! I'm tired of his drama, I have moved on. Joe is freaking amazing, he treats me and Zoe so good, I'm just waiting to find some major flaw, he seems impossible ya know?

Ok here are some pics--

Easter

Hey Ladies,

I've been totally MIA lately, Joey (Zoes dad) came up last friday and my brother came up Monday, so I've been fairly preoccupied this past week. It went ok, the first couple days Zoe would start crying whenever Joey tried to hold her or basically even look at her lol. But they got along after that and now they're pals It was so cute, he'd read to her and sing to her and use different voices and stuff, he totally choked up and was crying when he left yesterday, he likely wont see her again until she's 1 year old. It was hard seeing him like that, he's really come a long way since she's been born. But we fought the WHOLE TIME he was up, it was really frustrating. I'm seeing that new guy, Joe 2, now, and hes so good to me, but Joey kept wanting to sleep in my bed with me (not do anything but sleep, but I still felt that wasn't right) and hug me for a long time and I had to block a couple kisses, Joe2 knows Joey was at my apartment and all this stuff and I think it was a good test cuz he didn't get all crazy on me, he just said he misses me but he wants Joey to be able to bond with Zoe.

Ok so Easter comes and Joe2 takes me out to dinner (I left joey at the apartment, he left me on christmas) and then he gives me and Zoe an Easter basket, mine has got sprite and nerds and a ton of stuff that I've mentioned in passing that I liked, and here's the best part, a bunch of plastic easter eggs, and inside each one was a coupon for say, a back massage or he'll cook dinner or he'll watch Zoe for an hour so I can nap or shower and all sorts of cute stuff like that! I was totally won over LOL. And Zoe's had a little stuffed monkey, and a set of regular binkys and a set of those goofy *Bling* binkys

Me and my brother and Zoe went up to Washington DC this weekend it was awesome. totally exhausted though...

bu

So, I've been hanging out with the latest guy in my life, I think I might keep him around he's such a sweetheart, totally takes care of me and Zoe, understands that Zoe comes first and doesn't mind me giving her all my attention when she's awake He's funny cuz he's the much loved spoiled only child, and he helps me around my apartment but he doesn't know how to do stuff like start the dishwasher and laundry settings...he's 25!! LOL. So I tease him about that. I went to the bathroom yesterday and had him watch her, when I came out he was talkin to her and she was cooing at him and smiling, totally melted my heart. And we went to the mall and got Zo's picture with the easter bunny, and they all called him dad and he just smiled and when I apolgized he was like nah its ok, and I gotta say that was awesome because most guys would be like um excuse me?

This is him last night when we went out to eat at Happy Buffet (chinese food).



the only bad thing is he's my 3rd joe LOL. I dated one for 2 1/2 years when I was 18, and Zoe's dad's name is Joey. Oye. Joey's been real sweet lately though, been texting alot and stuff, he's back in NC now (he was in Cali doing training) and he's coming up this weekend for 10 days before he goes back to base to leave for Iraq soon, so that will be interesting. Hopefully he can keep his head out of his bum for that long. My brother's flying in from cali to see me for 2 weeks too, I'm so excited!

Vaccine Case: An Exception Or A Precedent?

(CBS) It's a very controversial question that's been debated for some time: Is there a link between childhood vaccines and autism? For the first time, federal officials conceded that vaccines contributed to autism-like symptoms in one child. The case involved a 9-year-old girl whose family filed a legal claim against the government. And some believe that what happened to her could have major implications for other families, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.
Terry and Jon Poling spoke publicly for the first time Thursday about a case being watched by thousands of families with autistic children. "My daughter, who had been completely normal until getting nine vaccinations in one day, was suddenly no longer there," said Terry Poling, mother of 9-year-old Hannah. Hannah Poling appeared to be like many children. At 19 months, her pediatrician noted she was "alert and active" and "spoke well." At that same visit, she got five shots - nine doses of vaccines. She almost immediately developed fever, seizures and severe health problems. Eight years later, the government has quietly conceded that vaccines aggravated a cell disorder nobody knew Hannah had, leaving her with permanent brain damage and autistic-like symptoms. Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., is also a doctor. Weldon has long been pushing the government to aggressively work to develop ways to screen for children who might be the most susceptible to ill effects from vaccines. The government has been telling the public for more than a decade that there's absolutely no reason to be concerned about any link. "I wouldn't recommend they say something like that in light of the Poling case and the admission on the part of the government," Weldon said. But Thursday, the head of the Centers for Disease Control responded. "This is a complete mischaracterization of the findings of a very simple situation of one child with an unusual disorder, and it would be completely wrong to say that this has bearing to the vast majority of children with autism," Julie Gerberding said.
FYI: More information and resources on autism and vaccines. Couric & Co. Blog: Autism, Why The Debate Rages.
While the Poling case is the first of its kind to become public, a CBS News investigation uncovered at least nine other cases as far back as 1990, where records show the court ordered the government compensated families whose children developed autism or autistic-like symptoms in children including toddlers who had been called "very smart" and "impressed" doctors with their "intelligence and curiosity" … until their vaccinations. They were children just like Hannah Poling. What's still being debated is whether the Poling case is an exception ... or a precedent.
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http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/06/eveningnews/main3915703.shtml