With summer here, I’ve been looking into some more breathable diapering options for Kelvin.  The last few summers, we’ve pretty much just hibernated all season long, but the kids are involved in more activities now so I don’t think that’s happening this year!  He hasn’t had any heat rash or anything, but I know that PUL isn’t breathable and I’d imagine it gets pretty hot in there.

I decided to try fleece first since it’s fairly cheap.  I tried a fleece soaker and wasn’t very impressed.  It worked fine (no leaks), but fleece isn’t much more breathable than PUL.

My next step was wool.  I posted on Diaper Swappers asking if anyone knew of a place to buy reasonably-priced wool.  A super-sweet mama Private-Messaged me and gave me an amazing deal on a pair of her wool shorties.  Honestly, I bet the price I paid was just the price of the wool yarn.  She also has two more pairs that she’ll sell me for the same price!

I got his shorties in the mail yesterday and they were lanolized and ready to go, so I put them on over a prefold right away.  We love them!  We didn’t have any problems with leaks or anything.  Aside from not wanting to model them (as you can tell from the picture), he was a happy camper!

The nice thing about wool is that it can be used over and over for several weeks before it needs to be washed.  It has antibacterial properties and the lanolin literally eats the urine.  So even though wool is pretty expensive, you don’t need a ton of it to get by.

I don’t foresee switching completely over to wool since it is so expensive (you could buy wedding invitations with the money some people invest in their wool) and I already have PUL diapers, but I think it will be really nice to have a few pieces of wool so his little bum can breathe better in the heat.  I’ll probably get a few pairs of longies for winter too….a lot of people are selling off their winter stuff right now so they can buy summer wool, so it’s a really good time to buy!

Have you tried wool?  What did you think?

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We did it!  Even though I brought a pack of disposable diapers for backup, we didn’t even use one disposable diaper during our entire trip!

All the nervousness on my part turned out to be for nothing.  Everything went exactly according to plan….no stink issues, no running out of clean diapers, and it wasn’t even a hassle.

I did end up bringing too many Flip disposable inserts.  I brought 2 packs, but we only used 1 pack (plus a couple extras I had from a previously opened pack).  I’d rather have too many than too few though!  I ended up starting to use the cloth inserts at the perfect time….when we got home, we had 2 left.  I also brought too many blankets for changing him on….I brought them to lay on the bed mattresses to keep from messing anything up, but ended up just using the changing pad from the diaper bag every time.

One thing that really helped was bringing all my wetbags and diaper pail liners.  I used the smallest wet bag in the diaper bag (I would air dry it between uses and pour a little baking soda in the bottom so it wouldn’t smell).  On the way home, though, I used the medium size one because we were using cloth inserts then which take up more room.

I brought two diaper pail liners and used one at each destination.  Then the diapers from the first few days could simply stay in the car instead of potentially stinking up our second destination.  They really didn’t stink though….I used baking soda in every bag and stuck in a wipe with a few drops of tea tree oil on it.  Between that and the essential oils in my wipes solution, everything stayed sweet-smelling.

I definitely plan to do this from now on.  Now that I know that it’s not only possible, but very easy, I don’t foresee ever going back to disposables on vacation!

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Call me crazy, but I’ve decided that I don’t want to use disposable diapers at all anymore….even while traveling.  I might change my mind after our trip this weekend, though!

Here’s my plan…

Flip diapers are my favorites for a variety of reasons:

1. They’re hybrid diapers, meaning they have a disposable insert option (which is completely dye-free and chemical-free).
2. They take up very little room, which is a big concern this trip since we are bringing my car and not our van.
3. I love the fit.

So the plan is to bring all our Flip covers (10), 2 packs of disposable inserts, fleece liners to go on top of them (they’re not stay-dry), and all our wipes and wipes solution.  I’m also bringing accessories like diaper rash cream and changing pads (luckily no hemorrhoid treatment). I don’t plan to be able to wash diapers while we’re up there, so this will all be for the first 2 days of the our trip.

For the last two days, I brought 21 stay-dry cloth inserts (half are Flip, half are me-made) and some doublers for night time.

I’m also bringing all our wet bags, some baking soda to sprinkle in them to control odor and some tea tree oil.  If the smell become uncontrollable for some reason, I can banish a wet bag to the car and have a different one for inside.

Hopefully I’ve thought of everything and will go really smoothly!  I’ll be sure to update when we get home!

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When it comes to fastening cloth diapers, everyone has their own preferences.  Some people like aplix, some like snaps.

When I first began cloth diapering, I liked aplix far better than snaps.  I was able to get the fit perfect instead of getting it as good as the closest snap.

But when my aplix began wearing out after about a year of use, I started second-guessing myself.  I actually sent all of my bumGenius diapers in to have them converted to snaps.  Then I sold most of our remaining aplix diapers and bought snap-fastened ones instead.  It didn’t take something as complex as energy auditor training to realize what worked for us and what didn’t!

Want to hear a funny example of another reason I love snaps?  Maybe you just had to be there, but I thought it was hilarious….

This week, my grandparents were visiting and my grandma had sewn each of the kids cute little knee-length aprons.  They wore them quite a bit this week….even to the library!

Anyway, one night we were finishing dinner and Kelvin was wandering around the dining room in his apron and eventually climbed up on my grandpa’s lap.  All of a sudden, I happened to look down and saw his aplix-fastened diaper sitting by my feet!

It didn’t even click at first….I looked at the diaper, over at Kelvin, back at the diaper and then back at Kelvin again.

Me: What’s he wearing???
Chad: His apron.
Me: No, on his butt!
Chad: (checking) Nothing!!!
Grandpa: I hope you cleaned his butt good after that poopy diaper change!

Since his apron went down to his knees, no one noticed he was walking around with no diaper on!

So there you have it.  In my opinion, aplix is good for newborns with brand new diapers, but once the diapers get some wear and tear and the baby starts removing his own diaper, snaps rule!

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I have a new favorite website….Diapers.com!  When I first heard about it, I thought, “Well, I rarely use disposable diapers, so that site won’t do me much good.”  (See my Cloth Diapering 101 series, which I really am going to finish someday!)  I’m glad I went and checked it out, though, because they carry so much more than disposable diapers!

Of course, they do carry disposables at pretty much the same price you would pay in the store.  But they also carry cloth diapers, including cloth swim diapers and training pants.  Yippee!  They have all the major brands….Fuzzi Bunz, flip, bumGenius, Bumkins, Happy Heiny’s, and the list goes on.

But that isn’t all!  They have toys (I ordered a lot of Ava’s birthday presents here), books, clothes, maternity supplies, baby food, formula, strollers, car seats, and more.  Even though it’s called diapers.com, you can find almost everything you need for Baby here!  And all their prices are very similar to what you would pay elsewhere….no gouging you like some life insurance companies do (if you want to see current life insurance rates go here).

You’re probably wondering why you’d want to order diapers online when you can go to the store and not pay shipping.  Because they have FREE shipping on orders over $49!  And it’s fast….I placed my orders late at night and they were shipped UPS the next day and arrived the day after that.

Wait…it gets even better!  Use this code to get $10 off your first order of diapers: LXRA6649 .  You’re not going to find better deals than this, folks!  This is an awesome way to try out cloth diapers on the cheap, if you’re not completely sold on them.

Happy shopping!

Disclaimer: All opinions in this post are 100% mine and I was not compensated for this post by Diapers.com.  However, I will receive a referral bonus for each person who uses the code for $10 off their order.

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This is the new Peanut Shell that I bought last week!! I love it and it makes me smile every time I see it. My other one is just a plain chocolate brown, so this bright pattern is a welcome change!

You might be wondering why someone whose youngest child is almost 16 months old would even be buying a new baby carrier, right? (And no, I am not pregnant) Kelvin has always been a super-clingy, high-maintenance baby. Even though he’s getting older, that really hasn’t changed much…so instead of fighting it, I just roll with it and he spends quite a bit of each day happily tucked in a sling, Moby Wrap or mei tai.

He’s almost 25 pounds and holding him in my arms that much makes my muscles cramp up, so I’m glad I have the option of using a baby carrier. All my carriers hold up to 35 pounds, so he’s got some time to develop a little bit of independence before he outgrows them! Fortunately for me, all my carriers are very comfortable so I don’t feel like an old person with psoriatic arthritis treatment after I get him out!

By the way, I was not paid to write about the Peanut Shell, but if you want to buy your own, I would recommend looking on ebay. I got both of mine brand new for only $15 plus shipping (which was around $7). That’s significantly cheaper than buying straight from the Peanut Shell site!

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If you’re wondering why I have dark circles around eyes so often lately, it’s from keeping up with two active toddlers!  That’s right…Kelvin is walking a lot now!  He probably walks about 50% of the time at this point.  He does fall every 5-10 steps, but picks himself up almost every time and keeps walking.  He’s getting so big!!

However, I’m not getting all weepy about him being a toddler quite yet.  This little guy is still a baby in many ways.  He’s a really needy baby, so he insists on being held (or worn in one of my baby carriers) quite a bit.  And he still wakes up 2-5 times a night (on a good night).  Until I’m sleeping through the night on a regular basis, I still have a baby, as far as I’m concerned! 

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Road trips with kids can be pretty stressful.  Most kids don’t like being strapped into a car seat and they’re even less fond of staying there for hours!  Combine that with their parents’ exhaustion and you have a recipe for a pretty unpleasant drive!

But this last week, we had our least-stressful road trip ever!  Ava’s usually pretty easy-going in the car but it can be a nightmare to travel with Kelvin.  Here’s what helped us on this trip:

1. We used a DVD player…with a screen for each child!  Chad and I both agree that our portable DVD player is one of the best investments we ever made for our mental health.  And it’s even better now that Kelvin is a little bit interested in watching TV, even though it’s just for short periods of time right now.  If your kids are old enough to be entertained by TV, get a portable DVD player with a couple of screens, a few mounts, and you’ll be set!
2. We turned Kelvin’s car seat around.  Even though he was a couple days shy of one year old, he was definitely over the weight requirement and it made the trip so much more pleasant for everyone.  He didn’t even need to be entertained every second of the trip like he normally does, because he was so thrilled to be able to see everything that was going on.
3. We made several fairly long stops.  Two of the stops were to eat and one was at an Old Navy outlet.  At each stop, we made sure to let the kids move around and stretch their legs, which made it much easier to get them back into their car seats later!
4. We had a few new toys for each of the kids.  It’s amazing how long something new can keep their attention!  Plus, the new toys keep them entertained at the hotel, too!
5. We brought along blankets, pillows, and teddy bears to make it easier for them to sleep.  Napping in the car isn’t always easy, even for little ones, so this tip always helps!
6. And as always, we packed lots of snacks!

What tricks do you have up your sleeve for having stress-free (or at least low-stress) road trips?

Visit What I Learned This Week for more new insights and inspirations!

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Did you know that this week is International Babywearing Week?  Anyone who knows me very well knows that I’m a huge believer in babywearing.  I’ve used it with both of my kids and loved every minute of it.

Now that Kelvin’s crawling and getting close to walking, I don’t wear him as much at home, but as soon as he starts getting fussy or clingy, I pop him in a carrier or wrap and he’s instantly happy.  And I always wear him when we go out, whether it’s to an event or just running errands.

I even still wear Ava on occasion!  The other day I took just her to Office Depot with me and she insisted on being worn in the Mei Tai while we were there.

What Is Babywearing?

Babywearing is the practice of holding your baby using a baby carrier.  Babies thrive from being touched and their parents love to hold them.  Babywearing makes it possible for parents to have the best of both worlds…they can hold and cuddle their babies while still accomplishing the tasks of everyday life!  It’s also a very effective way to calm a fussy baby and even get them to sleep.

Why Babywear?

Babywearing has so many benefits, both for the baby and the parent.

1. Babywearing results in a happier baby (which results in happier parents, too!).  Babies who are held or worn most of the day tend to cry and fuss far less than babies who are not held as frequently.  There is also evidence that babies who cry less have better brain development because their brains don’t have to deal with stress hormones as often.
2. Babywearing makes everyday life easier. Not only can you use both hands to get things done around the house, it makes errands and outings so much easier!  No more lugging around a carseat or trying to push a stroller through a crowd!
3. Babywearing makes babies feel secure. It also helps keep them from getting over-stimulated since they can burrow into Mom or Dad when the outside world becomes a little too much.
4. Babywearing promotes physical development. Your baby picks up on your body’s rhythms (your heartbeat, breathing and movements) which helps her regulate her own.  And for newborns whose circulation isn’t quite up to par yet, it’s a great way to keep them warm…who needs an electric blanket when they have Mom or Dad to snuggle with?
5. Babywearing is a fantastic way to bond. What better way to bond than cuddling close to each other all day?  In addition, it helps you to learn about your baby and read his cues, which will also result in less crying!  And it’s a great way for dads, grandparents and other caregivers to “catch up” on the bonding process.
6. Babywearing allows you to share your personal space with your baby, which keeps strangers and their germs at a distance.
7. Babywearing is a lot of fun. Even if babywearing didn’t have all these great benefits, I would still do it because I love it.  It’s a great way to interact with my kids and it gets them up at eye-level so they can interact easier with other adults, too.

Watch for more posts about babywearing all week long!  I’m looking forward to sharing about the carriers and wraps I use and love!

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I have had my share of dealing with a fussy baby.  In fact, I’ve had several people’s share of dealing with a fussy baby!!  Ava wasn’t so bad….she barely ever fussed.  And then along came Kelvin and I had no idea a baby could fuss so much!!  He had acid reflux and has been teething non-stop since he was about two months old…so it makes sense that I have a few tricks up my sleeve!  Luckily, he seems to have outgrown his acid reflux in the last month or so and I think (hope!) he’s taking a break from teething for awhile…and so I pass my ideas on to you!

1. Make sure all of your baby’s needs are satisfied.  Is he hungry?  Does he need a diaper change?  Does he need to be burped?  If all that fails, you could try changing his clothes in case there’s a tag or something that’s making him uncomfortable.
2. Find a sound that’s calming to your baby.  For Ava, it was white noise.  She even slept with white noise until she was almost 2!  For Kelvin, it’s usually a soft lullabye CD.
3. Swaddle your baby, if she likes it.  Ava loved being swaddled.  That’s the only way I could get her to sleep until she was over 6 months old.  Kelvin hated being swaddled so I didn’t do it more than a couple of times for him.  It all depends on your baby, but for many babies it’s very calming, so it’s definitely something to try!
4. Wear your baby in a sling or carrier.  Babies love being snuggled up to their parents and it makes them feel secure.  Both of my kids have loved being worn and I still wear Kelvin when we go out on errands or to places like the zoo.  It’s especially helpful when you’re out and about because it can help avoid an overstimulated, screaming baby!
5. Pace with your baby.  I can’t even begin to tell you how many countless hours I spent pacing around the house with a fussy baby!  Something about the movement and having different things to look at seems to quiet babies down!  If your arms get tired, see #4!
6. Get a change of scenery!  Go out in the yard, take a drive in the car, go for a walk (and work off some of that belly fat leftover from pregnancy in the process!!)…anything to get your baby’s mind on something besides what’s bothering them (whether it’s boredom, discomfort that you can’t ease, etc.)!
7. Put your baby in the swing.  Babies love the motion of swings and if they’re overtired, it will usually lull them right to sleep!

For more great tips, visit Works For Me Wednesday!

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