Cloth Diaper Update

We started using cloth diapers around 3 weeks of life. If I had it to do over again, I would have waited a little bit longer. We go through so many diapers every day when they are that young.

Supplies:
24 Bum Genius diapers
2 spray bottles
Cetaphil
2 wet bags
2 trash can liners
Charlies soap

Micah & I have spent very little money on this experiment. We bought all of our diapers from Buy Buy Baby using gift cards or were given the diapers at showers.

I wash the diapers every other day. When I wake up for the 5 AM feed I try and throw the diapers in the wash. I empty the trash can liner into the washer. I don't pull apart the diapers or anything, that happens on it's own during the wash. I have a top loader washer, and I run 3 cycles. I run an entire cycle on cold/cold. Then I run an entire cycle on hot/cold. Lastly I start the cycle at rinse/soak and let it go from there on hot/cold. Am I doing this right? I'm basing this off the information on the bum genius website. I don't know how ladies with HE machines get these done every other day. The HE machines take forever per load.  I've been hanging the diapers and liners to dry outside. I takes almost 2 cycles in the dryer for the liners to dry.

What I don't like:
The diapers smell like wet dog. Every time I walk past them as they are drying I smell my stinky dog Barley. Is this normal?! I think not. I need some help on how to get these diapers smelling better. Once they are dry they don't smell bad.

I've had problems with leaks. I'm not sure if his legs are too skinny, or what. I've taken to adding a little bit of Dawn every SINGLE load. Some days we have no leaks, and some days I have a leak at every diaper change. Any hints with leaks?

Future Problems:
I can see it being very difficult to get the diaper laundry done when I have a full time job. I'm planning on returning to work part-time in September. I could work the schedule where I do diaper laundry on my days off.

Next Steps:

• Make my own detergent and add an Essential Oil for fragrance
• Buy different liners
• Buy more diapers

Any other helpful hints, suggestions, comments, concerns? HELP!

2 Months

Jack is 2 months! Hooray we made it another month. I think that Jack is finally figuring out that sleep is glorious. His first month of life, he thought sleep was for the birds. He's getting with the program. FINALLY.

We went to the pediatrician on Friday and Jack is doing great. He weighs 11 lbs 3 oz and is 24 inches long. He was 20 inches when he was born. He's really growing in length. It's getting to be a bit tricky to find clothes that fit him because he's too long for the 0-3 month onesies. Some of the 3-6 month onesies fit him! He's growing fast! His head circumference is 10th percentile, which shocked me. All week I've been commenting on how big is head looks. I guess it's just my imagination!


He loves bath time, but hates getting out of the bath. He is improving in car rides. We took a trip to Jasper and he did really well in the car. We had to leave during the morning, because that is when he is most likely to take a nap. If we get on the highway he does much better than in town trips.

We are settling into a routine for the morning time, but each day is a surprise. I never know what the schedule will be like. This makes it difficult to make plans and appointments. It'll get better with time, and it already improves week to week.

Jack makes all kinds of silly faces. He likes to "talk". He raises his eyebrows as if he's really listening to what you have to say. He'll laugh at you when you tickle him sometimes. He makes big smiles when he's in a great mood. Before he's about to fall asleep he'll smile and sometimes laugh.
We love him, and I guess we'll keep him. We aren't going to put him on the curb just yet. My cousin Cooper looks at Belinda and says, "Mom, we'd pick up a baby if it was on the side of the road, right?" Cooper also informed me that if I didn't want Jack anymore he'd take him.

Who Does He Look Like?

By Natalie

Everyone thinks that Jack looks like Micah. What do you think?

Jack

Micah

  More Micah

Here's me and my brother. I'm in the top left and bottom. My brother is the baby in the top right. I think Jack resembles my brother quite a bit. Micah and my brother looked a lot alike when they were younger. Both blonde!