Day 7

Well, I made it. Seven days of flats and covers and handwashing. My clothesline is full of laundry and my arms are buffer. I will be using what I've learned in the future, and I hope it will also help others. If nothing else, I have been able to talk to many many people about cloth diapering. I really believe it is a cost effective, environmentally friendly option that everyone should consider. I want to thank Dirty Diaper Laundry for doing this challenge. It has been fun.

Day 6

Ah, Day 6.  Tomorrow is the last day of the challenge.  I went over to Dirty Diaper Laundry to find out what I was supposed to blog about today and found out it was "blog whatever you want" day.  I decided to basically blog about what she had.  Doing flats/covers while out and about.  Because I didn't just stay home. Of course not!  Life is busy!

 We of course were doing lots of this!  #1 (my husband for those of you visiting from DDL) coach Little Monkey Man's baseball team.  I'd change Sweet Pea right before we left for the field and if she had a fleece soaker she'd last till we got home.

 We also did some of this!  I'll put up more pictures next week, but we went strawberry picking.  Sweet Pea needed a change while we were at the farm, so I just changed her on the front seat of the van like I normally do.  Really not a big deal.  She's kinda squirmy, but it was doable.

We also had school pick ups and drop offs along with grocery shopping, church, and going to the mall.  Again, I just did what I always do.  Load up my diaper bag and go.  

The only difference was that when I left her in the church nursery I went in periodically and changed her pants.  Not that I couldn't have stuffed a pocket diaper with a flat diaper like many people did, but I'd rather just do it myself and I was able to talk to other people about the challenge!

Check out what other people are doing...

Day Five

 The point of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge is to determine whether it is possible to handwash and use inexpensive flats.  In real life would people supplement with disposables or go to a friends or laundromat too?  Probably.  We are pushing the extreme end to prove that the real life scenario can be done.

Today's blog topic is "What Have I Learned So Far?"

 I have ditched the origami fold for the diaper bag fold.  It just seems to fit Sweet Pea better.  The first couple of times I used my Boingos I didn't really like them.  I switched to the Snappis.  But I went back, and as they got used, they got stretchier and worked better.  Also, they work better on the diaper bag fold than the origami.

 My milk supply took a dive today.  Not sure why.  I only had one cover and three flats to wash along with my overnight with inserts.  Very discouraging.  Not enough wet diapers for sure.  Back to pumping after every feed. (I already take 6 Fenugreek and drink 3 cups of Mother's Milk tea every day.)

 Today I left my cushy life of using my bathtub and readily hot water.  I gave up hanging my diapers indoors in my air conditioning.  I washed outside with my hose in the muggy weather.  This should give a better picture of how it would be to cloth diaper in a third world country (I even used all the water on my plants when I was done with it) or how it will be for me at camp this summer. Yup, going to be doing this for 2 weeks this summer at camp.

 I had some helpers tonight too.  We plunged and plunged and plunged...

 ...but those diapers were not coming clean.  Hmmm.

I finally used a stockpot to boil water and added it to my soapy-ness and they seemed to get a little cleaner. Still badly stained tonight.  I really think hot water is key in keeping them clean.  If you didn't have access to hot water like I do in my bathtub handwashing would get much much harder.  Snug took this totally attractive picture of me washing out on the deck tonight.  I had just gotten splashed when I plunged too vigorously.  This wouldn't have happened if I was using my bucket lid, but I find I can agitate MUCH more effectively without it.

The diapers are now out on the line "drying".  I did use a towel to help dry out my covers.  I rolled them up in the towel and then wrung them out.  This has definitely aided in the drying of my covers indoors, so I am going to HAVE to use it for outdoors.  I doubt they will be dry in the morning as it is seriously humid out there.  Having used so very few diapers today I will be fine for tomorrow, but not everyone is fortunate enough to have that many.

 I have learned so much this week.

Day 4

Today is the fourth day of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  As a reminder, this is a 7 day Challenge where participants can only use flat cloth diapers and have to ditch their washer and dryer in favor of good ol’ fashioned handwashing.  We are close to 500 participants this year and many are blogging their journey.  You can find their posts linked at the end.

Today's blog topic is "Whatcha Think About Handwashing?"

Well.  It hasn't been that bad.  I would NEVER EVER EVER EVER want to do it with my AIO (all-in-ones) or pocket diapers.  But for my flats and covers, it hasn't been too bad.  I do wash a pocket and 2 inserts each evening, and they take the most of my time. 

I have it easy though.  I am doing the challenge with an EBF (exclusively breastfed) baby.  That means the BM is completely water soluble.  That means she isn't a huge kid with stinky urine.  I feel like I cheated a bit because two weeks ago I potty trained my toddler.  First and foremost I potty trained her because she was ready...but in the back of my mind getting her done before the challenge didn't seem like a bad idea either!

So I am only washing diapers for one.  I do wash the wipes (I use 90% cloth wipes, and this week we are 100%) that I use on her bottom after she uses the potty.  So I guess there is some "gross" ness to the handwashing.  I wash about 7 flats and two covers, the previous night's overnight diaper (KaWaii Baby Heavy Wetter Overnight), about 10 wipes, and probably 3 fleece inserts that I use when we are out and about for extra absorbency.  I also have 2 homemade wetbags in my rotation and have washed them each once in the three days I have washed.  

I wash in the evening.  Each night I have tried something new.  

Night #1 I bent over my bathtub and washed in my camp washer with the lid on all nice and perfect.  

Night #2 I kept dragging my camp washer OUT of the tub and into the entryway so I could watch TV with my husband.  I'd take it back to the bathtub to dump/refill during commercials.  I ditched the lid and just used the bucket and plunger.  Much better.  I also noticed my hands HURT.  

Night #3 I sat with my feet in the tub and washed in my camp washer.  No lugging of the bucket. No standing and bending over. That was killing my back.  Timed the entire thing and found it takes me about 40 minutes. I also wore gloves. 

I like the way night #3 went the best, and will probably continue to do it that way. It also gave me some quiet time to reflect on my day and think about the Bible study I am currently in.  I am doing "Experiencing God" and it talks about listening for the Lord and waiting upon His timing.  This is quite the opportunity to do that as handwashing is pretty mindless.

This is my wash routine:

Fill 1/2 bucket with hot water

Agitation.
Dump and squeeze out water.

Put back into bucket.

Fill 1/2 bucket with hot water

Agitation

Dump and squeeze out water.

Put 1/2 tsp of Rock In Green detergent in

Fill bucket 3/4 with hot water

Put diapers back into bucket

Agitation for 5 minutes

Dump, wring out

Rinse bucket, and then put diapers back in

Fill bucket 1/2 with warm water

Agitation

Dump, squeeze out

Rinse bucket, and then put diapers back in
Fill bucket ALL the way, and bring out each diaper individually, run under the faucet
WRING OUT

Hang on drying rack/clothesline/pants hangers (thanks to Christina for the idea)

I basically am following the same wash routine that I do when I stick my diapers in our washer.  I've tried MANY things, and this is what I do right now;  rinse & spin, rinse & spin, wash, rinse, extra rinse.  

Esther left a comment yesterday (thanks Ester, always nice to know someone is reading!) and asked what I do about the "muddy" diapers.  I think I answered this before when I said that she is EBF.  Basically I don't have to deal with that part!  However, a diaper sprayer is allowed in the challenge so I could be using it if I needed to.  

Below I copied the list of rules...in case you are wondering.   (Note, I did receive 2 free covers that I am using for this challenge but not because I am doing this challenge.  It was because I was being "paid" for blogging on their cloth blog-just about using cloth in general.  There is a difference!)

Materials Allowed

The following diapering items can be used:

• Any flat cloth diaper, store bought or handmade.  A flat should be only 1 layer of material for easier handwashing and faster drying.
• 1 night time diaper per night of your choice although you are asked to make flats work for you (this diaper must also be handwashed)
• Doublers (not inserts meant to be absorbent enough to stand alone) if you absolutely must.
• A diaper sprayer.
• Wet bags/diaper pails for storage.
• Handmade “washing machine” for diapers such as the camp style washer I made last year.
• Non Electronic Portable washing machines (must be powered by you and cost less than $100.
• Commercially available or handmade covers.
• Commercially available or handmade detergents.
• Snappi, Boingo, and Pins for closure.
• Pocket diapers STUFFED WITH FLATS. (note that the potential for repelling on the stay dry lining could make your challenge harder but you can see what happens)
• Homemade or store bought fleece liners.
• Iron (to use in order to expedite drying time or sterilize)

Materials Not Allowed

• Electronic washer/dryer.
• Pockets with inserts other than flats, AIO’s, Fitteds, Contours, Prefolds, AI2’s, etc.
• Flushable liners.

Rules for Everyone

• You cannot use your washer or dryer.
• If for some reason something arises and an exception is made you need to disclose in the Conclusions Survey or on your blog if you are a blogger.
• There is no limit on the number of flats or covers you can use.  Should you purchase 100 flats for $100 and go a whole week without washing?  No.  Use your common sense on this one.  As a tip the more diapers in your camp washer/ sink/ tub the harder the washing will be.  

Rules for Bloggers

• You cannot be sponsored by received free flats or covers to use.  Bloggers will see a link to the rules in the form of a .pdf after signing up within the sign up application.

Day Three

Today is the third full day of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge.  As a reminder, this is a 7 day Challenge where participants can only use flat cloth diapers and have to ditch their washer and dryer in favor of good ol’ fashioned handwashing.  We are close to 500 participants this year and many are blogging their journey.  You can find their posts linked at the end.

No leaks for me!  So far so good in that department.  That was one of my worst fears-that I'd have leaks like crazy.  I have had a blue bum a couple of times from the tie dyed flats, but now that they've been washed a couple of times that has disappeared.

The hand washing has been going pretty well too.  I wash in the evening.  I use my camp style washer and also my bathtub (that's how I get the water in the bucket).  The drying has been really quick and no problems with my flats and covers.  But my nighttime diapers?  Well...that is proving a little harder.  It is muggy here today and  my inserts and pocket for my KaWaii baby heavy wetter overnight are not dry yet...and baby goes to bed in less than 4 hours.  I tried outside drying on my clothesline, and inside on my drying rack.  They are now downstairs perched in front of our dehumidifier.  Here's hoping!

If they don't  dry I will try a diaper bag fold and see what happens.  And hope that I don't get a bath in the middle of the night from her leaking all over me.  She nurses at least 4 times between 7am and 7pm if not more.  So overnight can get messy  :o)

I really don't know how one would do anything but flats and covers if they didn't have dryer access in a tropical environment.

Today's blog topic is supposed to be "How Do You Use Your Flats?".  I was just folding them in triangles but then I noticed they were not staying put too well.  I looked on YouTube and found a video on how to do an oragami fold and that has worked great today.  That's all I have to say on the topic.  Very exciting stuff.

Day Two

Today is Day 2 of the Flats and Handwashing Challenge and our topic of discussion is “Supplies.”  What are we using for the challenge in terms of flats, covers, acessories, and washers.

 I'm using several items in the flats and handwashing challenge.  (The flats aren't such a challenge.  That's how I started cloth diapering back in 2008.)  I am using approximately 12 flat diapers. I tie dyed a few, and the rest are plain old white.  Many of them were mine when I was a baby, some I bought when LMM was a baby.  The tie dye kit cost $9.87

I am also using a Palm Tree one sized cover, four medium Thirsties covers, one Bummis Super Brite cover, and a pair of homemade wool shorties.  I had all of these already or got them in my free diaper mail.

For extra absorption I am using eight homemade fleece soakers.  They are made out of some extra fleece I had from a project and some more I made from an old pair of footie pajamas.

Overnight I am using two KaWaii Heavy Wetter Overnight diapers.  They take awhile to dry so I am using two.

 For washing I made a camp style bucket washer.  I used the directions from this link.

 We started using Charlie's Soap in 2008.  We bought this bucket in July of 2009-as you see the date on the bucket.  We finished the bucket two weeks ago.  (It isn't 128 washloads, it says 1,280).  We used Charlie's on all of our laundry until I had Rosebud, but she got ammonia burn as a reaction.  We switched to using Charlie's on all of our clothes and the Rock In Green on our diapers.  Problem solved.  We paid $125 including shipping for this bucket.  So we did our laundry for nearly three years for $125.  It is 1,280 if you use an entire tablespoon each time.  With our washer we often only need 1/2 TBS.

The bucket is now my "washing machine".

 Drilling holes in my plunger which I paid $3.00 for.  So far the challenge has cost me $12.87.

 The holes help the water swish around with less resistance.

 All finished!!!  Rosebud thinks it is pretty cool.

 I also bought Boingos!  I think they cost $3.  We're up to $15.87.  They are basically a "cool" Snappi.  I don't see any benefit of them over a Snappi.

I am also using a couple of Snappis that I already owned.

I probably shouldn't have spent the money on the tie dye, it totally wasn't a necessity.  I did want to try the Boingos as I hadn't before and I needed a clean plunger.  But part of my doing the challenge was that I would already have everything I needed to do the challenge.  I didn't want to spend unnecessary money on things I didn't need.

If all goes well, I plan on doing this while I am at camp this summer!

Day One

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For 7 days I will be using only flat cloth diapers and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants from all over the world!  

Bright and early this morning I put Sweet Pea into her newly tie dyed flat (which turned her bum blue, but whatever) and we started the challenge!  

Today I am supposed to post about WHY I am doing the flats challenge.  For those of you who normally read my blog posts I've explained it a little.  I am horrified that people would re use dirty disposable diapers.  I know that diapers, either cloth or disposable, cost money, but I firmly believe that using cloth diapers saves average families thousands of dollars.


I also want to do the flats challenge because I hope in the future to be able to share the information I learn with missionaries who have babies/young children.  Being on the mission field brings a whole new set of "interesting" to any parent's life.  Using flats is a cost effective option, even in humid conditions.  Drying them in humid conditions may prove hard, but I intend to recreate that environment at some point this week and see what I can do to get my flats and covers to dry.  

Sweet Pea Does A Post

First of all, I have to show off  my free fluff!  My mommy blogs for The Cloth Diaper Whisperer about what she learns about cloth diapers...and I got all of this!  Wa-HOOOOO!

Diapers clockwise from top:  Thirstie's Duo (pocket) "Alice Brights", Thirstie's Due AIO "hoot", Bummis Super Whisper Wrap (not sure print name), KaWaii Baby Overnight "Blue Dottie", Palm Tree Diapers cover (purple), KaWaii Baby Overnight "Lime Dottie".  

And I was wrong.  My mommy just told me she did have to pay fifty seven cents for these diapers.  So technically I guess they were not free.  Just mostly free  :o)

I've been hanging out on my mommy quite a bit lately.  I love love love my new sleepy wrap (now called a Boba Baby) that she got secondhand from a friend of ours who didn't need it anymore.  Mommy and I love it so much we may not keep our Moby wrap much longer.  But we haven't decided that for sure.  Don't want to do anything crazy!

I even spend time riding around on mommy's back while she coaches my brother's baseball games.
Today we went to a big open air market in our nearby big city.  I slept most of the time snugly against my mommy, right where I love to be.  There were lots of other cloth babies there.  Mommy met a CHRISTIAN natural mommy with a booth at the market.  This nice lady gave mommy some free samples of a different tea to help her milk supply.  It is a daily struggle for my mommy.

The nice lady and my mommy have a passion to see cloth diapers in the hands of underprivledged families who can't afford disposable diapers.  My mommy's new friend is even already working with our local women's center to get that ball rolling....something my mommy has been hoping to do by doing the "Flats Handwashing Challenge" (starts Monday!).  Isn't it great how God puts people together?

Let's see.  Oh, my shirt is new.  It is hard to see on my wriggly little body, but it says that I am a "breastfeeding, co-sleeping, cloth wearing, sling riding, loved little girl.  Yep, that about sums up my life.  Cafe Press had them on sale a couple of weeks ago.  Mommy bought me a 2T because normally shirts that are silk screened like this run REALLY small-I've almost grown out of my 12 month one my Uncle Nathan made me when I was in Florida.   Guess what.  This one is an exception to that rule.  I'll be wearing it for quite some time.

I'm almost back to my normal smiley self.  I got a vaccine on Wednesday and it really hit me hard this time.  Mommy and daddy don't agree with how the AAP wants me to get shots, so they spread them W A Y out and only make me have one at a time.  It still swelled up pretty badly and hurt me for a couple of days.  You can still see the mark on my thigh.  My doctor is happy with my growth as I am staying on my curve.  I now weigh 13 # 5 oz.  My doctor also is really encouraging my mommy to get more organic produce, and change the beef we eat.  We already eat organic free range chicken and it is not easy on the grocery bill.  That was part of the reason we went to the market today, to price out some things. If anyone has a good suggestion for us, we'd love to hear it.

Well, I'm getting a little cranky, so it is time for a nap.  Night Night!

Baseball 2012

 Both boys are playing baseball this spring.  Snug is in T-Ball.

 He has the same coaches as last year and a few of the same teammates.  One of the kids I used to babysit for is on his team too, so that is fun for him.

 He's a pretty cute little player.

 LMM is on a B-Ball (beginner ball) team.  #1 and I are his coaches.

 There is a lot of grass picking and playing in the dirt on our team.  But our players are ages 3-5 so that isn't terribly surprising.

He loves to bat more than he likes to be in the field.  

He's been running the bases at daddy's games since he could walk, but we're still working on it.

So far it has been fun to coach.  Tonight it wasn't, they were not paying attention, all playing in the dirt, and I believe #1 described it as "herding cats".  But overall, it has been fun.

Sisters

Ok I had a REALLY cute picture of the girls here.  Rosebud is potty training (and killing it.  So proud of her).  She was on the potty next to Sweet Pea in her BeBe Pod (my cousin Crystal gave it to us back when Snug was a baby and it is still the greatest invention ever).  

But.  I took the picture down.  Because poor Rosebud didn't have clothes on, and although covered...it wasn't one she'll want out there for all the world to see.  If I get another cute one where she hasn't stripped down to her birthday suit...I'll post it.  I might even attempt to recreate the moment.  

Mother's Day & Baby Dedication

This was another special Mother's Day because it was also Sweet Pea's baby dedication.  At our church our babies are not baptized. We do that when a person is old enough to profess their faith and affirm that they believe in Jesus Christ as their personal savior having died on the cross and risen again in our place.  

 However, we feel strongly that as parents we need to publicly state that we intend to raise our child in a faith based home, that we will direct them to obey and serve God, and that we will be ready to show them how to accept Jesus as their personal savior when the time comes.  We promise to pray with and for our child daily.  

 I wanted a picture of Sweet Pea with just mommy and daddy.  That doesn't happen for our kids very often!

 Sweet Pea wore the dress that I was dedicated in as an infant.  Rosebud also wore it.  I love that I  have it to pass on to them someday, and hope that I have granddaughters dedicated in it.

 I love her expression in this picture.

 I snapped a couple of pictures of the boys all dressed up.  I'm sorry but Little Monkey Man makes me laugh.  This is one of about six that were very...candid.

We tried for a family picture too.  Hmmmm.

Tie Dye Fun

I'm getting geared up for the Flats Handwashing Challenge I mentioned a few days ago.  Below are two items, training pants for Rosebud and a few flats.  I started cloth diapering using flats, snappi's and covers, so that part isn't going to be anything earth shattering (handwashing...probably will be).  

 But as I gazed at these items.  They seemed a little...well.. dull.  Several of Rosebud's training pants are pink or have little butterflies...but these are about as exciting as a woodchip on a playground.  I need her to be excited about the potty.  And I needed to be a little more excited about white flats.

 So...I bought a box of tie dye and got started.  I love tie dye.  I would probably tie dye everything I wear except I want to fit in a smidge...sometimes.

 This was the end result.  I was THRILLED!!!!

 I had the prettiest line in the neighborhood today.  Ok, I HAVE the prettiest one.  It is 11:00pm and I didn't go back out and get them yet.  Oops.  I also tie dyed a couple of old stained onesies with the leftover dye.

 These underpants are WAY more exciting, don't you think?

 These are Sweet Pea's 5 month pictures.  My friend Lindsley saw them on Facebook and offered to run them through photoshop.

I loved how they turned out, and it was so kind of her to make them look professional!

For all of our other children I got monthly pictures done at Wal-Mart (except Rosebud's 8 month ones, I did those).  For Sweet Pea I'm taking on the challenge of doing hers myself every other month.  Wish me luck!  I hope she doesn't get upset with me someday when she doesn't have the same ones everyone else does.

Five Months Old

 At five months old, Sweet Pea still sleeps swaddled, but likes her hands out.  Likes her paci, but only when she's tired (usually...give it a couple of days and it may change!).  Needs this blanket (or her pink and green one with the same texture) on her cheek to sleep.

Sweet Pea can roll both directions and scoots all over on her back.  Today I discovered that she can sit momentarily by herself.  She loves to be in a wrap or a sling.  She says "mama" all the time, but I don't think it means anything yet.  She weighs in at 13 lbs today, right on track for doubling her birth weight by six months.

Bravely Going Where I Have Not Gone Before

I haven't been posting much, but the weather is BEAUTIFUL and I've been outside soaking up every moment I can.  And working on some projects.  Project #1 being Operation Declutter.  Wow.  That is SO hard for little old packrat me.

This has involved  trips to Once Upon A Child, multiple donations, and a garage sale.  Tired much?  Sadly, it hardly has made a dent in our copious amount of stuff.  I get that having six people under one roof will require quite a few items, but really it is ridiculous.  I finally have the boys' clothes under control, but the girls have so much I can't close their drawers.  That is just sick.  

Not sure our family has reached its maximum, but no more babies in the immediate future.  We'd rather not store a bunch of stuff that we're not using when someone else could be.  Also, if we don't have any more children what a waste.  The chances of the items being damaged or getting dirty/broken/etc. is just high so we're downsizing and hoping others can benefit.  

It is NOT easy to get rid of baby things.  I keep thinking "oh!  I remember when....".  #1 says "you've taken pictures of everything they've ever worn, played with, sat in,"  Yeah.  I know.  But it is still hard.  My favorite is when someone I know needs something and I can give it to them.  That makes it easier knowing someone I love will get it.  

Project #2 is being the coach.  This is giving me exercise and is also fun.  I have a team of mostly 3 and 4 year olds, a couple of five year olds.  Interesting doesn't even begin to describe it.  I am not athletic.  I am not very knowledgeable about baseball in general (men's softball...I know much more about).  However, when your team is preschoolers you just have to know more than them.  That's not too hard  :o)

Project #3 our garden.  I have a love hate relationship with gardening.  I love the food.  I love to SEE my garden looking all nice.  I don't really love pulling weeds, watering, general garden care.  

Project #4 officially starts May 21st.  I will be using flats and covers (along with Snappis and Boingos) only for a week.  That's nothing super exciting as it is how I started cloth diapering way back when.  But this is different because I will be washing them all....by hand.  

What?  Am I crazy?  Yep.  

Dirty Diaper Laundry is doing a handwashing challenge.  There are no government programs right now that give any assistance with diapers.  Unless you have a local food bank that has diapers, you are on your own.  People are resorting to some drastic things like not changing their babies but once or twice a day or reusing disposable diapers.  That.  Is.  Disgusting.  We're doing this challenge to show another drastic alternative.  Use cloth diapers.  And we're taking out all of the excuses.

No washer?  No problem.  We will demonstrate and collect information (and share it) how to handwash diapers.  So many families in need don't have immediate access to washing machines.  

No Money?  Well, if you are buying disposables at all, then you can do this.  A dozen flat diapers typically cost between $15 and $20.  If you washed everyday, that is all you'd need.  Diaper covers that have snaps to fit a baby 8lbs-30 lbs can cost as little as $5.50 each.  You'd need 3-4.  Snappis usually come in 3 packs and cost typically $8/pack.  You can use one everyday for at least six months.  If you're keeping track, we're up to $50.  Technically you wouldn't need anything else.  You could technically diaper a baby from birth to potty training on $50.  I doubt most people diaper their kids for much less than $50 a month.  

Not interested?  Probably you won't want to read much more I post this month.  I'm declaring May my cloth diaper month.  I haven't really written much about them in awhile, and it is high time I do!  There will be a smattering of other things (Sweet Pea turns 5 months, boys' first baseball games, Sweet Pea's baby dedication) too but cloth diapers here I come!

After nearly four years of cloth diapering, I am bravely going where I have not gone before. Back to the dark ages.  Where they handwashed flats.