Well when I first got pregnant we started buying disposables. Not but like 1 box a month because the cost adds up quick. Please keep in mind we only did this two months then forgot. (It happens!) Well it wasn't until we moved into our current place and got internet that I by some miracle found myself looking cloth diapers. (please don't ask me how because I really don't know nor do I remember) At first I was like "No, not for me." but as the night (I remember coming across them at night and I don't sleep well at night) went by I started getting more and more curious. It had to have been like 2:30 am when I decided to call it a day. The next day I started looking more and more into it. YouTube and Google and blogs and cloth groups on Facebook. I tried to find out everything I could before I brought it up to my husband. He worked in a nursing home so I wasn't sure if it would intrigue him or disgust him, but I figured that I better know as much as possible before asking him about it. When he got home from work I felt I had a pretty good understanding about them. So I casually asked him what his thoughts on cloth diapers were. He said he wasn't too sure about them, he only knew about the pin kind. So I told him that I was looking into them and told him all the reasons why I felt it was a good thing to do. He used disposables on his son and saw the cost and decided he wouldn't mind giving it a shot. But a bigger question arrived. Buy them or make them. Here are the reason that we will cloth diaper.
Number 1: Cheaper!!!!!
I say they are cheaper because every site I went to had a break down on the prices. I'm going to be making my own diapers and my own detergent (I make my own laundry detergent for our clothes but it has sent crystals in it which isn't good for cloth diapers.) I worked it out and for one load of diapers the soap cost would be $0.04 a load. Which is great!
To calculate everything I went to this site http://www.groceryalerts.ca/cloth-vs-disposable-diaper-calculator/ I put in that we would use Huggies or Pampers at $0.25 a diaper and would buy a $30 Diaper Genie. I put in that she wouldn't potty train until 36 months (you never know with kids) which did make my cloth diaper price go up a little. Now I know that this is just an estimate because I could find coupons for the disposables and I will be hang drying the diapers. For cloth diapers it would cost me $703.00 and for disposables it would cost $1982.00. For the total cost of buying the cloth diapers I included what it would cost for the wipes too since I am doing cloth wipes but for disposables it didn't so I estimated that we would spend about $15 dollars a month so that brought the disposables cost up to about $2522.00. That gives us a saving (again roughly) $1819.00. MAN THAT SOUNDS GREAT!!!! That right there sealed the deal. HEHE!
Number 2: Chemicals!! YUCK!
Many of you know that disposables have little crystals/beads that soak up the pee. That's why when they go on the baby they are trim and when the baby pees they puff up. All the chemical in it can cause a CHEMICAL BURN! No thank you. I'm not sure if it would happen to my baby but if there is a chance I'd like to avoid it.
Number 3: Cloth is CUTE!
My personal opinion is a fluffy butt is very cute. I prefer it over a trim diaper tush. Especially when the baby is starting to walk and crawl. So ADORABLE!
Number 4: It is supposed to help with not getting diaper rash
Now I've never had a kid so I'm not sure how often they get a diaper rash. I'm not sure if they get them more with cloth or disposables. I've heard that many parents that switch from disposables to cloth have less rashes. This could be from many different reasons. In a disposable people tend to leave the child in it for too long in my opinion (if you leave your kid in a diaper for more than two hours I'm not telling you that I feel your a bad mom. I know we ALL parent different, what I feel may not be the same for you and what I do may not be right for you. And again I've never had a kid so I may decide to leave her in a diaper for 3 to 4 hours depending on the diaper and I may be a diaper changing freak I'm not sure yet and still have time to figure out what works best for MY child and our lifestyle.) and that can cause a rash. They may be allergic to something in the disposables. Their sensitive skin may not like the fabric of the disposables. It all depends on your child.
Number 5: I know what chemicals are going on my kids bum.
With cloth diapers you know that there isn't any chemicals in the diaper. And I'm making my own detergent so I know what is going to be washing the chemical free diapers that I'm putting on my kids butt. I've also made my own cloth diaper safe rash cream (because I know rash can happen) It just makes me and my husband feel better knowing what will be going on our daughters bum.
Thank you for reading and I hope this helped if you want to make the switch the cloth or just want to know a little bit more about it. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask me. I've done lots of research and still am, and I'd like to try to answer any questions you may have!
Mikaela
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
How I made my "Boppy Pillow"!
Boppy Pillows are expensive and aren't very sturdy in my opinion. I don't see the point in spending $30 on just a pillow. Then another $12 on the cover. (Might be less or more depending on where you live) So that's just crazy for a family just starting out. For my fabric I used a flat sheet because we don't use it and it cut the cost even more. I used a coupon on my stuffing so that was only $4 for all the stuffing I needed. And my zipper was on sale so it was $1. So all together I spent about $6 with the tax. For the cover I bought some pretty fabric got a yard (maybe a yard and a half. I cant remember) for $3 a yard and a zipper (not on sale sad) for $2. SO all together on the cover I spent about $6 also. So all together on my whole nursing pillow I spent about $12. That's a savings of $30.
ACTUAL PILLOW!
I downloaded the poppy pillow pattern. Taped it all together and added a little more to it.
here is the link to the pattern. http://www.madebymarzipan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Poppy-Pillow-Form.pdf
What you need:
I cant hand sew to save my life so I added a zipper to my pillow. That way I can add or remove stuffing. Put right sides together and pin. Leave an opening for the zipper. You can sew the zipper on before you sew around the pillow but I went around the pillow first because I'm not that great with zippers. Sew around the pillow leaving a 1/2 inch allowance. Notch and clip the curves, being careful not to snip your stitches. Turn right side out and press. Now stuff and zip.
COVER!!!
They also had a cover pattern.
here is the link to the pattern. http://www.madebymarzipan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/poppy-slipcover1.pdf
What you need:
Get your pattern all together and your fabric. Fold your fabric so that it will fit the pattern. Pin the pattern in place and cut around it. Repeat for the back of the fabric.
Put right sides together and pin. Leave an opening for the zipper. You can sew the zipper on before you sew around the pillow but I went around the pillow first because I'm not that great with zippers. Sew around the pillow leaving a 1/4 inch allowance. Notch and clip the curves, being careful not to snip your stitches. Turn right side out and press. Now shove your pillow into it.
ACTUAL PILLOW!
I downloaded the poppy pillow pattern. Taped it all together and added a little more to it.
here is the link to the pattern. http://www.madebymarzipan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Poppy-Pillow-Form.pdf
What you need:
- Poppy Pillow pattern
- 2/3 yd cotton for front
- 2/3 yd cotton for back
- Straight pins & Iron
- Sewing machine & thread
- Scissors
- Zipper (optional)
- Zipper foot
- Polyfill stuffing until the desired firmness
I cant hand sew to save my life so I added a zipper to my pillow. That way I can add or remove stuffing. Put right sides together and pin. Leave an opening for the zipper. You can sew the zipper on before you sew around the pillow but I went around the pillow first because I'm not that great with zippers. Sew around the pillow leaving a 1/2 inch allowance. Notch and clip the curves, being careful not to snip your stitches. Turn right side out and press. Now stuff and zip.
COVER!!!
They also had a cover pattern.
here is the link to the pattern. http://www.madebymarzipan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/poppy-slipcover1.pdf
What you need:
- Poppy Pillow Slip Cover
- Scissors & tape
- 2/3 yard fabric for front (at least 44 in. wide on bolt)
- 2/3 yard fabric for back (44 in. wide on bolt)
- 18 inch zipper
- Straight pins & iron
- Sewing machine & thread
- Zipper foot
Get your pattern all together and your fabric. Fold your fabric so that it will fit the pattern. Pin the pattern in place and cut around it. Repeat for the back of the fabric.
Put right sides together and pin. Leave an opening for the zipper. You can sew the zipper on before you sew around the pillow but I went around the pillow first because I'm not that great with zippers. Sew around the pillow leaving a 1/4 inch allowance. Notch and clip the curves, being careful not to snip your stitches. Turn right side out and press. Now shove your pillow into it.
Thank you for reading. If you have an questions please fell free to ask. I will attempt to help in anyway that I can.
Mikaela
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Homemade Breast Pads!
Breast pads can get expensive. Not to mention that some get stuck to your boobs making it uncomfortable to pull off. So I decided that I was going to make some that can be washed and reused. They are better for the environment and for the wallet.
I'm going to show you how I made my breast pads. They are nice and soft plus I only paid .50 for the receiving blanket and already had the thread. Yay! One tiny blanket made me 5 pairs of 3 layered pads. What you need:
I washed it first with no fabric softener. I used the detergent that I'm going to use for my cloth diapers, its homemade and doesn't suds up. Then I air dried it. After it was dry I tested it to make sure that it would absorb and it did! Yay.
I used an old DVD to get the size. My areolas aren't that big so I don't need them too large. You can make them bigger or smaller depending on how big yours are.
Then you just stack them. I used three. You could use more or less just depends on your needs.
I used a zig zag stitch and sewed around the circle letting it kinda go off so it closes the cloth. I went around it twice so that it was sturdy. Then I sewed an X in the middle.
I cut all the strings off and it was done.
Doesn't take too long. I don't think it has to look PERFECT considering the fact that it will be hidden. I will probably make a few more but I'm not sure yet.
Washing:
Try not to use too much soap because soap build up can cause it to not absorb your milk. And don't use liquid softener.
If you are going to dry them in a dryer don't use fabric softener. Air drying is what I like to do.
I hope this helped. If you have any questions please ask. I'd love to help.
Mikaela
I'm going to show you how I made my breast pads. They are nice and soft plus I only paid .50 for the receiving blanket and already had the thread. Yay! One tiny blanket made me 5 pairs of 3 layered pads. What you need:
- Receiving blanket (if you want cute ones use flannel from the store I didn't have any so I used my yard sale receiving blanket.)
- Thread (I started with purple but ran out then went to pink. Its 100% polyester)
- Non-toxic marker (I used mark be gone)
- Scissors
- Old CD or DVD
- Sewing machine (I'm sure you could hand stitch this but I hate doing it by hand. Takes way too long)
I washed it first with no fabric softener. I used the detergent that I'm going to use for my cloth diapers, its homemade and doesn't suds up. Then I air dried it. After it was dry I tested it to make sure that it would absorb and it did! Yay.
I used an old DVD to get the size. My areolas aren't that big so I don't need them too large. You can make them bigger or smaller depending on how big yours are.
Then you trace it with your non-toxic pen.
It will leave your circle then you just cut out the circle. You repeat this until you get your desired amount or you run out of blanket/fabric.
I cut all the strings off and it was done.
Doesn't take too long. I don't think it has to look PERFECT considering the fact that it will be hidden. I will probably make a few more but I'm not sure yet.
Washing:
Try not to use too much soap because soap build up can cause it to not absorb your milk. And don't use liquid softener.
If you are going to dry them in a dryer don't use fabric softener. Air drying is what I like to do.
I hope this helped. If you have any questions please ask. I'd love to help.
Mikaela
Saturday, June 22, 2013
A Little Bit About Me!
Hey there!
First off let me thank you for spending time out of your day to read me blabbering. :)
Now let me tell you about myself. I'm married to a wonderful man. We got married November 30th 2012. Then three weeks later we found out that we were expecting a little one. We were living in an apartment but when we found out that we were expecting our little one we really wanted to get out of our small one bedroom apartment. Well one of our family members said there was a trailer that was about to come up for rent. So we called the owner two or three times and left a note on their door. We knew about the trailer before anyone else, including them. lol. Due to that fact they gave us first pick. We came to look at it and loved it right away. It has land and two bed rooms and two bathrooms along with a place for a washer and dryer and here is the thing we love the most an icemaker! You never know what you miss until you no longer have it and an icemaker is on that list! Yay! So we took it. It is so much better than our old apartment. There is so much more room and it has made us feel happier as a family. We both know that it will take a while to get where we want to be but we are inching closer everyday!
Right after we moved in we had the BIG ultrasound where we find out if its a boy or a girl. Drum roll!!!!! ITS A GIRL!!!!!! Now at the beginning of my pregnancy we were stocking up on diapers (disposables) but one day I came across a study about the chemicals that were in disposables in order to keep the babies dry. It is linked to reproductive problems (not that I would mind that in her teen years lol but as she got older I would mind it) and it is linked to cancer. Neither of which I'd like near her little bum. My husband, luckily feels the same way. So we have decided to CLOTH DIAPER!!!!!!! We haven't actually had her yet she is due September 3rd 2013 but we plan to cloth diaper from the time we get home. It may not work for us but we are going to try our hardest to make it work. The benefits of cloth diapers are great! Save money, no chemicals, potty train faster and if we have anymore kids we can reuse them for the next baby. (or I can sell them) Since about 2 almost three months ago I taught myself to sew I'm going to make them. (I'm really excited to make them.)
Sewing!!!!! Being self taught is great. I love it. If I mess up I rip the seams out and I try a different way. I have made burp cloths. They are really cute. (I may put up a tutorial on how I made mine.)
First off let me thank you for spending time out of your day to read me blabbering. :)
Now let me tell you about myself. I'm married to a wonderful man. We got married November 30th 2012. Then three weeks later we found out that we were expecting a little one. We were living in an apartment but when we found out that we were expecting our little one we really wanted to get out of our small one bedroom apartment. Well one of our family members said there was a trailer that was about to come up for rent. So we called the owner two or three times and left a note on their door. We knew about the trailer before anyone else, including them. lol. Due to that fact they gave us first pick. We came to look at it and loved it right away. It has land and two bed rooms and two bathrooms along with a place for a washer and dryer and here is the thing we love the most an icemaker! You never know what you miss until you no longer have it and an icemaker is on that list! Yay! So we took it. It is so much better than our old apartment. There is so much more room and it has made us feel happier as a family. We both know that it will take a while to get where we want to be but we are inching closer everyday!
Right after we moved in we had the BIG ultrasound where we find out if its a boy or a girl. Drum roll!!!!! ITS A GIRL!!!!!! Now at the beginning of my pregnancy we were stocking up on diapers (disposables) but one day I came across a study about the chemicals that were in disposables in order to keep the babies dry. It is linked to reproductive problems (not that I would mind that in her teen years lol but as she got older I would mind it) and it is linked to cancer. Neither of which I'd like near her little bum. My husband, luckily feels the same way. So we have decided to CLOTH DIAPER!!!!!!! We haven't actually had her yet she is due September 3rd 2013 but we plan to cloth diaper from the time we get home. It may not work for us but we are going to try our hardest to make it work. The benefits of cloth diapers are great! Save money, no chemicals, potty train faster and if we have anymore kids we can reuse them for the next baby. (or I can sell them) Since about 2 almost three months ago I taught myself to sew I'm going to make them. (I'm really excited to make them.)
Sewing!!!!! Being self taught is great. I love it. If I mess up I rip the seams out and I try a different way. I have made burp cloths. They are really cute. (I may put up a tutorial on how I made mine.)
And I have made my own nursing pillow. I can also put up how I did that. And my own nursing pillow cover. I have a lot more I would like to sew before our daughter gets here. Sleeping Sack so she is nice and warm at night. Curtains for her windows, closet (we took the door off) and a curtain for her shower. I'm going to make me some breast pads. Some cloth wipes. Sheets for her crib mattress. I was going to recover her car seat. A nursing cover and many more things that I cant remember at the point in time! (Prego brain)
We are very eager to meet our little girl. We have chosen the name Lorelai Kristine. I will continue to post on things I have made and things I want to make and how I am doing. Thank you for reading! Have a great day!
Mikaela
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