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BumGenius cloth diapers are redeemed!

By on February 19, 2009 in bellies & babies, frugal & simple, natural & green

BEFORE

I have been a faithful fan of BumGenius one size pocket diapers for the duration of the 18 months of usage they have received at our home (read more about cloth diapering and my review here). It keeps my diapering simple, convenient and easy for everyone to use (even the grandparents)! My only complaint…the elastic around the legs of the diapers wore out relatively quickly, within the first year of use. Thankfully, Cotton Diapers (the manufacturer) offers a one year warranty on these diapers. They have amazing costumer service! I returned seven of my diapers within that one year warranty and received replacements in just two days. For more information on making returns/exchanges, visit here and check out the BumGenius FAQ page. Recently, the remainder of my stock was beginning to show wear in the elastic.

They remained in excellent shape beside the legs (velcro is working perfectly and fabric is still very soft), which was leading to more frequent leaking. I was not sure what to do, and was disappointed to think they were reaching the end of their life. Thanks to my friend, Chalon, my diapers have been redeemed! With the use of some new 1/4” elastic, small safety pins and a seam ripper (costing me a total of $2), I have been able to easily replace the elastic in my diapers and they now look brand new! Praise the Lord! You don’t know how excited I am! The Lord is providing all our basic needs…isn’t that awesome?

Find a step by step picture tutorial of the process of replacing the elastic here. The only requirement is very basic sewing skills, and then again, you can do it easily by hand as well!

AFTER

So if there is any other fellow BG diaper users out there, don’t give up too quickly! If you are considering cloth diapering, I give another vote to these diapers if you are willing to put a little effort into them (hanging them to dry is a good way to preserve their life as well). They are the second cheapest option for diapering beyond prefolds while remaining more convenient and softer on the babies bottom. I still have yet to see how well they fit on a newborn, as we started Karis on them at four months (thus the reason I have prefolds for our baby). They will fit your little one all the way through to potty training! Karis can wear one of diapers for at least 3 hours (often times up to 5 hours) without any leaking problems! I have tried a few other one size diapers (Happy Heiny’s, Haute Pockets), and BG diapers surpass them all!

Further Resources

Recommended Cloth Diaper Detergents
Bum Genius FAQ Page

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Developing a Bedtime Routine

By on February 11, 2009 in bellies & babies, building the family

Do you struggle getting your toddler or preschooler to lay down peacefully to sleep at time? If so, I encourage you to consider developing a bedtime routine. I have been blessed to find the resource, The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Gentle Ways to Stop Bedtime Battles and Improve Your Childs Sleep by Elizabeth Pantley recently. Karis has always been a good sleeper, but has never been peaceful at actually going to bed. I had been really praying that God would direct me as to how to make this process more peaceful, especially before the new baby arrived. He directed me to this resource. Since adopting a few simple ideas from this resource, we have been experiencing a real transformation.

We have gone from bedtime being a stressful time of the day, to being really peaceful and actually enjoyable. I feel like this time is ever more precious in investing in my daughter’s life. I have found it is never wise to rely too heavily on any one particular method, but there is a lot of wisdom available to be learned with some discernment and prayer as to how to apply it to your particular situation.

How are we making progress in this area?  Here are a few practical steps we have learned…

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Natural Diaper Rash Solutions

By on January 29, 2009 in bellies & babies, natural & green

Who likes to see their baby suffering with a diaper rash? We have been plagued with frequent diaper rashes on my little Karis’ bottom for a long time. I have been determined to find a natural solution to this issue. I have tried a lot of various natural cremes (Weleda, Burt’s Bees, etc) without too much success…

UPDATE: Why look for a natural alternative in the first place? Your traditional Desitin and other store brands (including dusting powders) contains methylparaben, talc and fragrance (which is a friendly alternative word for phthalates). Studies link these ingredients with bioaccumulation in humans and wildlife, cancer, endocrine disruption and hormone mimicry, allergies and skin toxicity, tissue irritation, and toxicity to various organs, to name a few. Talc especially is known for being commonly contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen.

Two keys I have found to avoiding and dealing with rashes is to change diapers frequently, and making sure the bottom is dry completely after changing. I recommend having a hair dryer near your changing table to speed up this process!

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Homemade Pregnancy Tea

By on January 28, 2009 in bellies & babies, recipes & kitchen tips

Red raspberry leaf tea has been used for centuries as a folk medicine to treat canker sores, cold sores, and gingivitis in persons of all ages and anemia, leg cramps, diarrhea, and morning sickness in pregnant women, and as a uterine relaxant. Brewed as a tea it is the best known, most widely used, and safest of all uterine/pregnancy tonics. It tones the muscles of the pelvic region. It also contains vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorus and potassium. It can increase fertility, prevent miscarriage and hemorrhage, ease morning sickness, reduce pain during and after birth, and also increase milk supply.

For a delightful and frugal homemade pregnancy tea, try this simple recipe:

Fill a quart size glass jar with boiling water and 1 ounce  (which is approx. 2 handfuls) of red raspberry leaf. Cover and allow to steep for 4 hours. Strain the leaves, sweeten as desired, and enjoy! Refrigerate the remaining tea for future use. Recommended dosage is usually 2-3 cups per day.

Another helpful herb that you can add to the above combination or to alternative with would be nettle leaves. It is known to have more chlorophyll than any other herb. The list of vitamins and minerals in this herb includes nearly every one known to be necessary for human health and growth. Nettle is beneficial in aiding the functionality of the kidneys,  nourishing mother and fetus, easing leg cramps and other muscles spasms, preventing hemorrhage after birth and reducing hemorrhoids, in addition to increasing the richness and amount of breast milk. According to the Wise Woman Herbal, “some pregnancy women alternate weeks of nettle and raspberry leaf brews; others drink Raspberry until the last month and then switch to Nettles to insure large amounts of vitamin K in the blood for the birth.” Nettle leaves can be brewed in the same manner as raspberry leaf described above or try a combination of 1 handful nettle and 1 handful raspberry leaf.

You can find quality organic red raspberry leaf and nettle leaf in bulk through Mountain Rose Herbs.

It works for me!

Thanks to my friend Mandy, and the excellent resource of Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed. This book has some wonderful ideas for all natural brews and remedies for pregnancy issues, before and after, and natural remedies for infant related problems.

Other Homemade Varieties:

Tammy’s Pregnancy Tea

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Entertaining Littles with a New Baby

By on January 23, 2009 in bellies & babies, building the family

Amber asked:

I am expecting a new baby girl in May and I also have a daughter that will be two years next month.  I am trying to think of some things that will keep my older daughter busy and not bored for those couple months after the new baby’s arrival when it will be hard for us to get out of the house and my attention can’t be on her 100%.  Any suggestions?

Sounds like you are in the same boat I am, Amber. For me, I am always seeking to give my daughter plenty of time to explore and learn how to entertain herself.  I think this is a place to start, removing ourselves from the mindset that we must provide them with entertainment. Karis has lately been entertained for quite some time with the large cardboard box that we received in the mail the other day. This may just very well be a new season to allow them to explore and develop their creative abilities.

 I am thinking it may be wise to have a good supply of books and crafty things (simple paper, crayons, playdough, etc) on hand that she can explore with without much supervision. I would imagine they will also just want to spend a lot of time with the new baby, so it may not be so necessary to find other entertainment. Knowing my Karis, she absolutely loves babies and I want her to have time to really nuture her sisterly and motherly instincts. I have no doubt she will want to be near me when we change diapers and take care of our baby. 

We would love to hear from our readers on this one! I would love to hear thoughts on how to remain on top of being consistent with discipline as well during this new baby season? 

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Prepatory Herbs for a Natural Delivery

By on January 8, 2009 in bellies & babies

Who wouldn’t be interested in a few recommendations that might just speed along a natural delivery? No guarantees, but it is definitely worth a try.

These vitamins are extremely helpful for preparing your body to go into labor, getting the cervix and uterus ready to go. I used these faithfully in preparation for my first delivery. I think there is no doubt that they were very helpful for me. I had a pretty smooth six hour labor, which is often unheard of for a first pregnancy. I can’t say for sure, but I am highly suspicious that these supplements were key to my early (Karis arrived at 39 weeks) and shorter delivery (considering my mom’s first delivery was 21 hours)!

Dr. Christopher’s Pre-Natal Formula - this is a 6 week formula to be taken in the last six weeks before your due date. You start by taking one a day the first week and increase to two the second week and so on, until you are taking six a day in the last week. It is formulated to aid in giving elasticity to the pelvic and vaginal area and strengthening the reproductive organs for easier delivery.  My mom swears by these vitamins as she took them with her last pregnancy and low and behold the twins arrived in 2 hours! This formula contains: Squawvine Herb, Blessed Thistle Herb, Black Cohosh Root, Pennyroyal Herb, False Unicorn Root, Red Raspberry Leaf & Lobelia Herb.

Evening Primrose Oil – Evening primrose oil is an excellent source of prostaglandins, which readies your cervix for labor. My midwife and doula recommended taking this from 38 weeks on at 6 tablets a day (500 mg each). Choice a cold pressed version.Nature Made Herbs Evening Primrose Oil is available through Amazon.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea /Pregnancy Tea -Traditional Medicinals Organic Pregnancy Tea is the highest quality option I have found for getting a good supply of raspberry leaf. It is a delicious tea!  They also sell a basic raspberry leaf tea as well.

Red raspberry leaf tea is a uterine tonic used first by Native Americans. It tones your uterus and helps it do more effective exercising while you are pregnant. It does not “cause” contractions and can be safely used throughout pregnancy, although most seem to recommend waiting till 36 weeks before consuming raspberry leaf. It helps to tone the uterus after delivery as well, shrinking it back to size more quickly and reducing bleeding. It can also help strengthen cesarean scars.

As the Dr. Christopher formula has Red Raspberry leaf, I usually just stick to the Prenatal Formula and Evening Primrose Oil in the final weeks before delivery. I have already ordered by stock for this second pregnancy and am ready to go here in a few weeks!

We are at the 10 week countdown!

As always, make sure to run these ideas by your doctor or health care practitioner before consumption.

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Affordable & Safe Feeder Bibs

By on January 5, 2009 in bellies & babies, frugal & simple, natural & green

I have been experiencing some major issues with Karis spilling food all over herself and thus staining her clothes with the previous baby feeder bibs I was using. But all that has passed once I started using these excellent bibs: IKEA’s Barnslig Rand Bibs. They provide complete and full coverage, are completely re-usable, and dry very quickly. Other varieties I have tried have been very susceptible to growing mold, but these bibs are thin enough that this has never been an issue. They are sold in packs of two for just $4! IKEA also has high standards and do not use any unsafe materials in their plastic products – this is free of BPA and PVC plastics! If you do not have an IKEA near you, it may just be worth asking a friend or family member to mail you a set. They are definitely worth it and they are very light in weight that shipping costs would be extremely minimal.

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Natural Insomnia Help

By on December 20, 2008 in bellies & babies, health & nutrition

Praise the Lord I have been able to sleep well the last two nights, thanks to some helpful tips from some of my readers and my midwife. These are helpful suggestions for those who deal with insomnia in or outside of pregnancy. The top two suggestions are what I have been doing primarily and seeing a vast improvement!

1. Calcium/Magnesium – regulate relaxation, especially with muscle tension and physical restlessness. Take approximately 2000 mg of calcium and 1000 mg of magnesium before going to bed (they are usually balanced properly in a cal/mag supplement). Best in a liquid combination form. If you take in tablets you will have to drink a large glass of water to swallow that many pills which results in an increased amount of times having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night (at least for the pregnant ladies).

Foods rich in magnesium include: legumes and seeds, dark leafy green vegetables, wheat bran, almonds, cashews, blackstrap molasses, brewer’s yeast, and whole grains. Food rich in calcium include: dairy products, canned fish with bones, nuts, fruits, vegetables, dried beans, rice beverages, molasses, and some leafy greens.

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Obsessed with Peanut Butter?

By on December 3, 2008 in bellies & babies

Okay, so I am a pretty normal pregnant woman…in both of my pregnancies I have only have one or two random strange cravings (chili cheese fries, anyone?). But there has been one item that I have been obsessed with during both of my pregnancies and only during my pregnancies…and that is peanut butter! I absolutely love it on a toasted piece of bread or English muffin drizzled with a little honey or in accompaniment with apple slices. I have to have it practically every day! Good thing Costco sells organic peanut butter for such a good price!

I guess it is just another good way to get my protein count.

I am 25 weeks along and counting! Baby is healthy and growing…I feel like there is a tornado taking place in my tummy most of the time due to the activeness of this little precious life.

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Q & A: Pre-natals & Supplements

By on October 30, 2008 in bellies & babies, health & nutrition

Lauren asked:

I was wondering what your view is on taking prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. I know that Sally Fallon and others like her do not recommend it.  But, I am still afraid of not getting all the nutrients needed. If you could let me know your thoughts, that would be great.

I have heard that the Nourishing Traditions diet does not recommend pre-natals due to the addition of synthetic vitamin A in many brands, which in overdose can led to birth defects (as described in brief here). I have chosen to take the advice of my midwife and she encourages the use of a quality pre-natal, especially for the folic acid and iron content which is so essential in early development. It is very difficult to get all the minerals and vitamins necessary for the proper development of a baby without a good supplement. She also mentioned that you will know if you have an overdose of Vitamin A – you will get sours in your mouth and around your lips and dry skin problems behind your ears!

Overall, make the decision that you feel most comfortable with and trust the Lord with the results. I highly recommend: Integrative Therapeutics Prenatal Forte. My midwife knows the Natropath that makes these vitamins and he has been doing it for some 30 years and is very knowledgeable. These prenatals can be taken throughout your child-bearing years in smaller quantities. My midwife recommended I take 4 a day while nursing and between pregnancies. She even takes them and recommends them for all women!

For an excellent article on the importance of prenatal vitamins and also addressing the vitamin A issue, visit here.

Lucy asked:

I am wondering what you have to say about taking daily supplements such as multivitamins and such. I would be grateful to know if you think supplements should be taken. THANKS!

I do think it is wise to take take a daily supplement if you can afford it, but I don’t believe it is the end of the world if you do not. I have not done a ton of research in this area, but I have been taking pre-natals for the last few years at my midwife’s recommendation as described above. This is pretty much all I personally take. My husband very rarely takes a daily multivitamin and I give a Children’s liquid multivitamin to my daughter from Fred Meyer nutrition.

Other more frugal means of adding further supplementation to our diet includes the addition of various seeds (flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds), cod liver oil, and apple cider vinegar to our diet. These are wonderful additions that increase overall health and boost your immune system! Overall, maintaining a balanced diet is key (quality whole grains, lots of fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors) to make sure you get the nutrients you need. I also believe that drinking a lot of fresh filtered water is one of the missing factors toward maintaining a healthy body.

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home wrote a thoughtful series on supplements here.

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