So I have had pretty strong opinions about diapers since I was three months pregnant with my daughter. My mother used cloth diapers on me when I was a baby and I always thought I would be a cloth diapering mummy, too, just for that reason. Then I went online. Oh, the wonder of the World Wide Web! Oh, the wonder of mondern cloth diapers! Have you seen the colours? Have you seen the prints? Have you seen the soft, cuddly bamboo fleece, the silky minky, the superb organic cotton? I was thrilled. No, I was enraptured with the endless variety and customizability of what cloth diapers had become in 27 years.
Sadly, our particular living situation was not cloth diaper friendly, so my husband and I decided that we would use disposables for the time being. Enter frustration. The "eco-friendly" disposables that we used in the beginning were a big pain in my behind... and my daughter's. I found them scratchy, stiff, and very square. We switched to Pampers, mainly because I had about a hundred coupons from the hospital care packages we received. Those worked okay, until Pampers changed their diapers to the "drymax" ultra thin style. Diaper rash. Sagging. Leaking. We switched to Huggies. One size was too short, the next size was too big in the waist. Wing droop. Sagging. Frustration. We tried Fisher Price. Have you ever seen a baby with a diaper wedgie? Terrible.
Our daughter is 17 months now, and with another one on the way and our living situation changed, I have been as determined as ever to switch to that wonderful fluffiness I drool over in my mind. Is it really the answer, or is the grass always greener? My husband was worried that it would be too much work, especially when baby 2.0 comes along. He was hesitant to spend that big chunk of change all at once. I began to wonder if he was right.
Enter a wonderful friend and dear sister in law. She used cloth diapers on most of her children, but no longer needed them. She gave her stash to me last night to try out for a while. Herein lies the challenge: prove to myslef and my husband that I truly am a cloth diapering mummy. I like versatility. I like simplicity. I like AIOs and hybrids and one size diapers... I am trying out prefolds and Bummis Super Brite covers. If I can handle this, I can handle any cloth diaper, right?
Day one: Elysia seems happy in the cloth diapers. She certainly looks cute in the pretty pink Super Brite cover. I like that I actually feel better somehow, even though it has been less than a day, just knowing that she is in cloth. I like that it's fairly easy: put on cloth diaper, secure cover over diaper, let child play... change cloth diaper, wipe cover clean, resecure over new cloth diaper, toss used diaper in pail.
Okay, so I'll be honest. Already I have noticed a couple things that need work. First, since my daughter does have a very narrow waist, the prefolds are a bit big and I have to overlap them in the front. My daughter also has small thighs, so it's a bit hard to get the cover to fit snugly enough at the legs without creating a little wing droop. I am sure we will find a solution to those problems.
My goal: if I can cloth diaper with this system for the next five months, but still set aside the 60 or so dollars I normally spend on disposables each month, I'll have enough money saved to purchase whatever fluffy system I choose! Cheer me on. Ask me questions. Give me tips. I will continue with updates. And in case you all were wondering, yes, I am back!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Morning Musings
How many times have I warmed up this cup of coffee? I'm sitting here on a very cold Ontario morning, trying to finish my dark roast before I have to throw it in the microwave once again. My daughter just finished her breakfast and is now playfully eating some puffs while talking to herself in her little sing-song voice. I love listening to her babbles. I imagine what she might be saying.
There is a stack of fabric on top of one of my sewing bins sitting on the floor in front of me still waiting to be made into a fabulous dress for my daughter's upcoming birthday. I look at it with longing. And loathing. Mostly longing. Longing to be superwoman, supermom, superhousewife, super...something. Longing to feel productive. It's not that I'm laz; it's not that I don't do anything during the day, it's just that the things I do don't stay done. Let me elaborate: I did dishes yesterday. Times three. What do you think my kitchen looks like this morning after breakfast? I cleaned up all the random toys littering the living room last night. Guess what? You got it, they're all out again. I'll have to sweep the floor twice today, even though I swept yesterday, and I'll have to sweep it again tomorrow. Yet even amidst the endless, repetative string of mommy chores which leave me feeling slightly annoyed, moderately unproductive and very tired, my little girl looks at me with big blue eyes full of wonder and throws her arms around my neck. Suddenly I am reminded that it is all worth it. More than worth it. My husband brings me coffee at the end of his shift. Even though I'll have to warm it up five more times, I remember why it is I do what I do: the same things I learned to appreciate when I was child myself. Love. Family. Hans Christian Andersen was right. Life is the most wonderful fairytale of all.
There is a stack of fabric on top of one of my sewing bins sitting on the floor in front of me still waiting to be made into a fabulous dress for my daughter's upcoming birthday. I look at it with longing. And loathing. Mostly longing. Longing to be superwoman, supermom, superhousewife, super...something. Longing to feel productive. It's not that I'm laz; it's not that I don't do anything during the day, it's just that the things I do don't stay done. Let me elaborate: I did dishes yesterday. Times three. What do you think my kitchen looks like this morning after breakfast? I cleaned up all the random toys littering the living room last night. Guess what? You got it, they're all out again. I'll have to sweep the floor twice today, even though I swept yesterday, and I'll have to sweep it again tomorrow. Yet even amidst the endless, repetative string of mommy chores which leave me feeling slightly annoyed, moderately unproductive and very tired, my little girl looks at me with big blue eyes full of wonder and throws her arms around my neck. Suddenly I am reminded that it is all worth it. More than worth it. My husband brings me coffee at the end of his shift. Even though I'll have to warm it up five more times, I remember why it is I do what I do: the same things I learned to appreciate when I was child myself. Love. Family. Hans Christian Andersen was right. Life is the most wonderful fairytale of all.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
The Diaper Dillema
How many of you have woken up in the morning to the happy cooing of your little baby and tiptoed into the nursery to peer over the edge of their crib... and as you scoop up that little bundle of joy and hold it tight, you discover that it is soaking wet?! That Diaper leaked AGAIN!
How many of you have bought size 3 diapers because size 2 is too short, only to go back to the store for more size 2 diapers the next day because size 3 is too wide?
How many of you find that one brand of diaper leaks out the sides, while another brand leaks out the top, and the last brand pops open and leaks EVERYWHERE?!
Am I the only mom singing the diaper blues? Is my baby so different that no diaper company has addressed these issues? Am I putting the crazy thing on wrong? And here's my last question.... do cloth diapers have these problems?
I had planned on using cloth diapers on my darling from the beginning, but for certain reasons we had to go the disposable route. Now, of course, when my daughter is too long for one size, and too skinny for another size, and every other time I have a diaper frustration, that voice in the back of my head says "betcha Bummis are better" or something to that effect. Is the grass simply greener on the other side of the fence, or is there something to this?
I'd love to hear from you all, whether you use cloth or disposable.... what are your experiences? What are your opinions? What are your suggestions?
How many of you have bought size 3 diapers because size 2 is too short, only to go back to the store for more size 2 diapers the next day because size 3 is too wide?
How many of you find that one brand of diaper leaks out the sides, while another brand leaks out the top, and the last brand pops open and leaks EVERYWHERE?!
Am I the only mom singing the diaper blues? Is my baby so different that no diaper company has addressed these issues? Am I putting the crazy thing on wrong? And here's my last question.... do cloth diapers have these problems?
I had planned on using cloth diapers on my darling from the beginning, but for certain reasons we had to go the disposable route. Now, of course, when my daughter is too long for one size, and too skinny for another size, and every other time I have a diaper frustration, that voice in the back of my head says "betcha Bummis are better" or something to that effect. Is the grass simply greener on the other side of the fence, or is there something to this?
I'd love to hear from you all, whether you use cloth or disposable.... what are your experiences? What are your opinions? What are your suggestions?
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Summing Up Suppers
Christmas has come and passed with much busyness, joy, and unfortunately, sickness. Thankfully though, the latter only affected me and not my husband or daughter. Sadly, it has been more than a week since my last post, and sadly, I am not able to post exactly what I wanted to at the close of this baby food month. What I am able to post is a basic summary of how fast and easy it can be to make your own baby food, equipment you might need and methods you may want to use.
I know making your own baby food can sound intimidating. My mother made baby food for me and my siblings and I was still unsure of what to do or where to start. But it doesn't have to be a big deal. Here are some quick tips for getting started:
1. begin with green vegetables, then orange vegetables, then fruits
2. only introduce one new food at a time so that you can watch for any allergic reactions and how your baby handles the new food (pay attention to gas, constipation, fussiness, etc.)
3. keep in mind the texture of foods. Even when blended, certain foods are grainy, slimy, etc. Textures won't harm you baby of course, but generally it is best to use the smoothest foods first.
Have fun in the produce aisle. Experiment with lots of colour and variety. If you find your baby has a reaction to a certain food that's okay. Just eliminate it, talk with you doctor and perhaps you can reintroduce it later.
Now, here's the part that I was hoping to be able to do a little differently. Equipment. I have found you don't need much, and it doesn't have to be hi-tech. I use a normal blender, a soup pot with a steaming basket, and a few large ice cube trays. There is a lot of baby food making equipment on the market, and while most of it looks great, and sounds fun, if you're worried about cost, I'm living proof that you can manage without it. I myself was taken with Scandinavian Child's line of baby food gear (sold by William Sonoma) and was close to purchasing some of it, but after having questions about the materials used to make their products and contacting the company about it, and receiving a promise from one of their representatives to answer my questions, I have yet to hear back from them. Because of this, I don't feel comfortable recommending their products, and can state here that I certainly won't be. I didn't think it would take a month to find out what kind of plastic is used to make a certain product (even though their website states two different things on two different pages).
As for methods, there are several to choose from. First, there is the single food method, in which you cook or steam one type of food at a time and freeze it separately. When you want to make a supper, you simply grab the individual foods needed and mix them together ie: one cube each of chicken, peas, carrots and two cubes of rice would make a "chicken casserole".
There is also the meal method, in which you cook and blend all the ingredients for a meal together, and then when you want to prepare a meal, you just have to grab however many cubes of that meal ie: blending together and freezing ground beef, tomato, spinach and whole wheat pasta creates "cheeseless lasagna".
The third method is the fresh method, and the name speaks for itself. You prepare meals as needed, keeping them in the fridge for up to three days, or simply blend a small portion of whatever you are having for supper.
There is no right or wrong way to go about making baby food. Any of these methods may work for you. I myself use a combination of the meal and the fresh methods. The meal method works well for me because I can stockpile a fair bit of baby food on the freezer (it keeps for 5-8 months in a deep freezer) and use it as needed, and when I'm in a hurry. The fresh method also works well for me now partly because freezer space has become precious, and also because my daughter is now eating a lot of finger foods and is more tolerant of seasonings (although I still try to be extremely careful of sodium content).
Lastly, there is the issue of cost. I don't have time to go into great detail, but I will give you a basic break down. I know costs vary from place to place, but a large jar of baby food around here costs between $0.70 - $0.80 each. My daughter eats one large jar of baby food per meal, plus a small amount of some type of finger food of filler. After making a variety of food cubes using the meal method, I found that a meal for my 10 month old costs between $0.40 - $0.55, depending on what I make.
All in all, I have learned that the benefits of making my daughter's baby food far outweigh any extra effort on my part to make it possible, and I have even found it to be fun and certainly rewarding as I see my daughter enjoying such a wide variety of foods and getting excited about meal time.... even learning to say "yumyum", although it comes out as "mummum"
I know making your own baby food can sound intimidating. My mother made baby food for me and my siblings and I was still unsure of what to do or where to start. But it doesn't have to be a big deal. Here are some quick tips for getting started:
1. begin with green vegetables, then orange vegetables, then fruits
2. only introduce one new food at a time so that you can watch for any allergic reactions and how your baby handles the new food (pay attention to gas, constipation, fussiness, etc.)
3. keep in mind the texture of foods. Even when blended, certain foods are grainy, slimy, etc. Textures won't harm you baby of course, but generally it is best to use the smoothest foods first.
Have fun in the produce aisle. Experiment with lots of colour and variety. If you find your baby has a reaction to a certain food that's okay. Just eliminate it, talk with you doctor and perhaps you can reintroduce it later.
Now, here's the part that I was hoping to be able to do a little differently. Equipment. I have found you don't need much, and it doesn't have to be hi-tech. I use a normal blender, a soup pot with a steaming basket, and a few large ice cube trays. There is a lot of baby food making equipment on the market, and while most of it looks great, and sounds fun, if you're worried about cost, I'm living proof that you can manage without it. I myself was taken with Scandinavian Child's line of baby food gear (sold by William Sonoma) and was close to purchasing some of it, but after having questions about the materials used to make their products and contacting the company about it, and receiving a promise from one of their representatives to answer my questions, I have yet to hear back from them. Because of this, I don't feel comfortable recommending their products, and can state here that I certainly won't be. I didn't think it would take a month to find out what kind of plastic is used to make a certain product (even though their website states two different things on two different pages).
As for methods, there are several to choose from. First, there is the single food method, in which you cook or steam one type of food at a time and freeze it separately. When you want to make a supper, you simply grab the individual foods needed and mix them together ie: one cube each of chicken, peas, carrots and two cubes of rice would make a "chicken casserole".
There is also the meal method, in which you cook and blend all the ingredients for a meal together, and then when you want to prepare a meal, you just have to grab however many cubes of that meal ie: blending together and freezing ground beef, tomato, spinach and whole wheat pasta creates "cheeseless lasagna".
The third method is the fresh method, and the name speaks for itself. You prepare meals as needed, keeping them in the fridge for up to three days, or simply blend a small portion of whatever you are having for supper.
There is no right or wrong way to go about making baby food. Any of these methods may work for you. I myself use a combination of the meal and the fresh methods. The meal method works well for me because I can stockpile a fair bit of baby food on the freezer (it keeps for 5-8 months in a deep freezer) and use it as needed, and when I'm in a hurry. The fresh method also works well for me now partly because freezer space has become precious, and also because my daughter is now eating a lot of finger foods and is more tolerant of seasonings (although I still try to be extremely careful of sodium content).
Lastly, there is the issue of cost. I don't have time to go into great detail, but I will give you a basic break down. I know costs vary from place to place, but a large jar of baby food around here costs between $0.70 - $0.80 each. My daughter eats one large jar of baby food per meal, plus a small amount of some type of finger food of filler. After making a variety of food cubes using the meal method, I found that a meal for my 10 month old costs between $0.40 - $0.55, depending on what I make.
All in all, I have learned that the benefits of making my daughter's baby food far outweigh any extra effort on my part to make it possible, and I have even found it to be fun and certainly rewarding as I see my daughter enjoying such a wide variety of foods and getting excited about meal time.... even learning to say "yumyum", although it comes out as "mummum"
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Favourite Finger Foods
If you're want to give your baby finger foods, but don't know what to use or try, here's a little list of things my daughter seems to find incredibly appetizing. Finger foods are great for developing your baby's fine motor and self feeding skills... just be sure to have a good bib on hand :)
Elysia's Favourites
Scrambled eggs
Peeled seedless grapes, cut in quarters
Cooked peas
Cooked black beans
Cooked whole wheat elbow noodles
Meijer brand little puffs
Banana slices
Home canned pears
Graham crackers (for a special treat)
Steamed carrots
I try to use finger foods at least once or twice a day as an "appetizer" before a meal, or a quick snack between. I try not to use Cheerios, crackers, and other snack foods because of their high sodium and sugar content. Have fun, and experiment with new things. I hope that by giving my daughter a large variety of tastes and textures, I am establishing healthy and adventurous eating habits. What are your baby's favourite foods?
Elysia's Favourites
Scrambled eggs
Peeled seedless grapes, cut in quarters
Cooked peas
Cooked black beans
Cooked whole wheat elbow noodles
Meijer brand little puffs
Banana slices
Home canned pears
Graham crackers (for a special treat)
Steamed carrots
I try to use finger foods at least once or twice a day as an "appetizer" before a meal, or a quick snack between. I try not to use Cheerios, crackers, and other snack foods because of their high sodium and sugar content. Have fun, and experiment with new things. I hope that by giving my daughter a large variety of tastes and textures, I am establishing healthy and adventurous eating habits. What are your baby's favourite foods?
Monday, December 13, 2010
Very Merry Breakfast
Christmas is almost here and the hustle and bustle is reaching a crescendo. Getting ready for Christmas this year is far more challenging, but far more fun as well. We finally put up our tree this weekend, and enjoyed watching our daughter, who is now nine months old, explore this strange new thing in our living room. Lights, ornaments and fake pine needles all have one thing in common. They are all removeable with varying degrees of effort, and my daughter has decided that shiny, jingling balls and bright colourful lights are worth the effort. She spends a great deal of time poking, pulling, rolling, throwing, and yes, trying to eat out holiday decorations, so I decided to give her a more ballanced and appetizing taste of Christmas.
APPLE SPICE PORRIDGE
3 Tablespoons rice or wheat cereal
2 Tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
2 Tablespoons organic plain yogurt
2 Tablespoons hot water
pinch cinnamon
Mix together cereal and hot water, add aplesauce and yogut, then stir in cinnamon and serve.
You could also use oatmeal cereal, but it gives a different texture, and my daughter tends to favour the smoother cereals, which is why I used rice and wheat. Also, homemade applesauce (which is what I used) tends to be a bit more watery, so if you're using store bought, you may have to add more water.
My daughter's feet went wild when I gave her this treat, which usually indicates a 10 on the love-o-meter, and it smelled like a heavenly slice of hot cinnamon toast.
APPLE SPICE PORRIDGE
3 Tablespoons rice or wheat cereal
2 Tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
2 Tablespoons organic plain yogurt
2 Tablespoons hot water
pinch cinnamon
Mix together cereal and hot water, add aplesauce and yogut, then stir in cinnamon and serve.
You could also use oatmeal cereal, but it gives a different texture, and my daughter tends to favour the smoother cereals, which is why I used rice and wheat. Also, homemade applesauce (which is what I used) tends to be a bit more watery, so if you're using store bought, you may have to add more water.
My daughter's feet went wild when I gave her this treat, which usually indicates a 10 on the love-o-meter, and it smelled like a heavenly slice of hot cinnamon toast.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
A Tropical Tango
Today, as I am pressed for time this morning, but determined to share, I am giving you my recipe for my daughter's favourite homemade babyfood treat. This has been a great "dessert" that still boasts a TON of nutritional value. Best of all, it is incredibly simple to make, and versatile to serve.
MAUI MASH
1 ripe banana
1/2 avocado
1/2 cantaloupe, cubed
1/2 mango
Simply place everything in a blender with a little water, and puree! This recipe filled two ice cube trays for me. Because of the nature of the fruits in this recipe, you will need to allow a good day or so for freezing before transferring to a sealable container.
I give this to my daughter as is after supper, mix it into her cereal in the morning, or add a little organic plain yogurt for a snack. Possibilities galore!
MAUI MASH
1 ripe banana
1/2 avocado
1/2 cantaloupe, cubed
1/2 mango
Simply place everything in a blender with a little water, and puree! This recipe filled two ice cube trays for me. Because of the nature of the fruits in this recipe, you will need to allow a good day or so for freezing before transferring to a sealable container.
I give this to my daughter as is after supper, mix it into her cereal in the morning, or add a little organic plain yogurt for a snack. Possibilities galore!
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