De-Stash! **UPDATED***

In preparation for our twins coming in April, we are moving.  Trouble is…it’s a small place, and no washer.  So we are devising a new diapering plan for our crew.

With shared machines at a laundry mat there is always detergent, bleach, and “gunk” in the dispensing cup.  Not wanting to risk contamination, we are going to use only prefolds and natural fibers.

I will not be able to go to the laundry mat alone with four kids ages 3 & under, and I don’t want my husband sitting there every night washing diapers.  Prefolds hold up better when they have to sit for long periods of time, and they are not picky about how they get washed.  They’re cotton!  They are also cheap, so if I ruin some, I won’t be heartbroken.

All that said – it means a pocket diaper de-stash for this cloth diapering mama.  I only have FuzziBunz and Rumparooz.  Most are used, but well cared for {per manufacturer instructions} and have lots of life left.  I also have some brand new items which I was saving for baby #3.  I didn’t know #4 was coming at the same time!

I use coconut oil for diaper rash.  This leaves a pale grey stain in the diaper.  It is not build up.  It is not affecting the function of the diaper.  If it bothers you, then these diapers are not for you.  Most have only minor, small stains.  Some have heavier stains.  All inserts are in great condition.  Some FuzziBunz diapers have replacement elastic, some do not.

Below are pictures and descriptions.  I am packing to move, so I won’t be taking extra pictures or answering tons of questions.  Most diapers have been in a rotation of about 40 pockets for 1.5-2 years.  I built my stash a little at a time, and I don’t remember which are the newest and which are oldest.

If you want a diaper, please email:
doablediapers @ gmail dot com. 
You need to tell me what you want, your full name & shipping address, and your Paypal email address. 

IF YOUR EMAIL IS MISSING THIS INFORMATION I WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT IN LINE!

I will give the first to respond the first opportunity to buy.  I will send a Paypal invoice.  If you do not pay the Paypal invoice within 24 hours I will offer it to the next person in line. 

All prices include shipping to the United States.  Sorry, I will not be able to ship anything internationally at this time.

Thanks for looking!  Click on any picture to enlarge

FUZZIBUNZ PERFECT SIZE DIAPERS
$6 EACH PPD

Small Baby Blue, Small Grape, Small Periwinkle, Medium Kumquat

Insides of diapers – blue, grape, periwinkle, kumquat
each includes 1 microfiber insert

FUZZIBUNZ ONE SIZE POCKET DIAPERS
TWO MICROFIBER INSERTS EACH
$6 EACH PPD

Buttecream, Mac N Cheese, Blueberry {retired color}, Choco Truffle

Insides: Buttercream {no elastic}, Mac N Cheese, Blueberry, Choco

Close up: Buttercream, Mac N Cheese

Close up: Blueberry, Choco Truffle

Spearmint, Apple Green, Crushed Berries, Cotton Candy

Insides: Spearmint, Apple Green, Crushed Berries, Cotton Candy
These diapers do not have replacement elastic.  The inserts with the Cotton Candy diaper are the same size – I am missing one large insert.

Close up: Spearmint, Apple Green

Close Up: Crushed Berries, Cotton Candy

FUZZIBUNZ ELITE ONE SIZE POCKET DIAPER
Includes two minky inserts and replacement elastic
$7 PPD

You can tell it’s the Elite because the buttons for the elastic are encased inside the diaper lining rather than being on the outside of the diaper.

RUMPAROOZ ONE SIZE POCKET DIAPERS
Each includes a 6R microfiber insert {1 newborn insert snaps together with 1 regular medium/large insert}
$8 EACH PPD

Whale Tale, Ladder 6, Gumball {Snap}
Robotronic, Gumball {Aplix}
These are all newer because they are boy prints and my son is the youngest

Inside: Whale Tale, Robotronic, Ladder 6

Inside: Gumball Aplix {no staining – I don’t like aplix so this was rarely used}, Gumball Snap.  Sorry this pic is a little blurry

NEW ITEMS:

NEW WITHOUT TAGS:
FUZZIBUNZ SMALL MAC N CHEESE
$10 PPD

It’s brand new – I just lost the belly band tag for it.  Never used, never washed.

RUMPAROOZ ONE SIZE POCKET DIAPERS
All are in original packaging, snap closures, microfiber inserts
$19.00 each PPD

1-  Spring {green}
1- Crimson
1 – Amethyst {purple}
1 – Kangarooz
2 1 – Gumball

PLANET WISE WET BAGS
A matching set of “Bumble Dot”
1 small, 1 medium, 1 large with handle
$28 PPD

BUMGENIUS NEWBORN DIAPERS
Aplix closure, AIO
$10 Each PPD

1 – Albert
1 – Blossom {baby pink}

If you want a diaper, please email:
doablediapers @ gmail dot com. 
You need to tell me what you want, your full name & shipping address, and your PayPal email address.

The Rash is Back

Well...we went to the dermatologist and were given a third prescription cream to treat Nolan's rash.  The newest diagnosis is that he had a fungal/yeast rash which became inflamed.  So...the first two creams treated the yeast.  The new cream is to treat the inflammation/infection caused by the initial rash.  After three days we finally saw improvement in the rash.  After over a month of painful blisters and red, irritated skin, Nolan was almost back to normal.

 

The dermatologist cleared me to return to cloth diapers.  As soon as I finished up the disposable diapers which I had been using, I started back with cloth.  All of my diapers have been disinfected multiple times with tea tree oil and grapefruit seed extract.  They have been dried in the sun.  They should be good to go...right?

 

Nope.  Well...that is...I'm not sure what the problem is.  But we have splotchy bright red skin, again.  This is definitely getting a little old.  We are visiting my in-laws right now, so my MIL went and purchased another package of disposables.  When we get home I will resort to using bleach and the method prescribed by Kanga Care to disinfect my diapers.  Just to be sure.  I would feel terrible if I have brought the rash back to Nolan's skin because I wouldn't use bleach before.

 

Other factors which may have contributed to the new rash {which is definitely NOT fungal/bumpy as it was previously}:

• We spent Friday at the Chelsea Waterside Park in Manhattan.  Nolan was in and out of sprinklers, wading pools, and sand pits for over 3 hours.  He was wearing a cloth diaper {which got wet} for that period of time.
• A day at the pool on Saturday.  Because Nolan was in and out of the water a lot, I let him wear a cloth diaper {since I don't have any swimmies}.  Perhaps the prolonged wetness irritated his just-now-healing skin.

So, we are not over the hump yet.  We already had a follow-up appointment with the dermatologist scheduled for next week.  Hopefully things will be better before then!

Weekend Reading

Some helpful posts that I read this week…

:: Will Bleach Ruin My Cloth Diapers? By Cotton Babies
Snippet: With the vibrant colors that you love in our bumGenius and Flip cloth diapers, it's no surprise you would be concerned about using bleach. As long as you stick to our recommended 1/4 cup of bleach once a month, it will not harm the beautiful colors on your cloth diapers. So the short answer is "Yes, in moderation, bleach is safe for your bumGenius, Flip and Econobum cloth diapers. Both covers and inserts."

:: Demystifying Diaper Rash, part 1 and part 2 by Cheeky Bums.  Great posts to help you identify the cause and treatment of your baby’s diaper rash.

:: Unglued Mama Mornings, by {in}courage.  Just a great little devotional thought for those of you who struggle to be a morning person {like me!}.

:: How to make Calendula Salve, by Frugal Granola.  The instructions are the preview page to the book Herbal Nurturing: A Family Healing & Learning Guide.  This makes a great diaper rash cream.  I used coconut oil, calendula flowers, and then added some lavender essential oil and vitamin E oil to nourish and disinfect the skin.

Hope you have a great weekend and a safe holiday!

The Doable Details: bumGenius Freetime Diaper {review}

I don’t really like to change things up very often.  When I find something that works, I just stick with it.  FuzziBunz and Rumparooz have worked good for us.  I was hesitant about the bumGenius Freetime diaper when it was first released.

One of my objections to the Freetime is that it is an AIO {all-in-one} diaper.  I don’t have a dryer, and it usually takes a long time for AIO’s to hang dry.  I prefer my pockets and prefolds for this reason.  Additionally, with an AIO if one part of the diaper wears out, you probably have to junk the whole diaper.  Whereas with a pocket diaper, if the cover delaminates, you can still use the insert in a different pocked.  Or if the insert wears out, just buy a new one and continue to use the pocket.

But the Freetime diapers were all the rage, I decided to give them  a spin.  Besides…I really wanted to get my hands on one in a Sassy color!

Fast forward 3-4 months, and this is my favorite diaper.  I’m not kidding!  Now, I don’t think it would matter as much to me if I were diapering a girl.  But this diaper is hands down, the best thing I have found for diapering a boy! 

The Freetime is not a traditional AIO with several absorbent layers sewn into the core.  There are two inserts, each attached at one end of the diaper.  The inserts are then “free-flowing” and can be folded or doubled however you want them. Two sewn seams make it easy to fold and size the inserts.  So…you can double or triple the absorbency right in the front where your little boy needs it fastest, or simply double the layers in the bottom for a girl.

Each insert is microfiber topped with stay-dry fleece, making this a great AIO diaper because it locks the wetness away from baby’s bum. 

I expected the stitching at the inserts to pull away, rip, or tear, as has happened to me with other AIO/attached insert diapers.  This has not been the case, and we use these diapers A LOT!  It is hands down the first diaper I reach for to put in the diaper bag.  It is incredibly absorbent and if I get stuck while out and about and can’t change the diaper, I don’t have to worry about leaks.  It is easy to put on because it is AIO.  It’s also easy to clean when I get home.  I don’t have to stick my hand into a stale pocket diaper that’s been in the wet bag for 4-6 hours and remove the insert.  Just dump the contents in the diaper pail and I’m done.

    

My one complaint is that it’s a bit tricky to use a diaper sprayer on this diaper because of how the inserts are sewn to the diaper.  I found this method on the Cotton Babies blog to be very helpful.  As in, aha!  Why didn’t I think of that? kind of helpful.  But…I still don’t like this particular diaper if Nolan poops. 

I prefer snap closures, and I have always liked the stretchy butterfly tabs on bumGenius diapers.  The Freetime is no exception – the snaps and closures provide a great fit every time.  And because it’s one size, it will grow with my baby and then be used with the next {if there is one}.

So go ahead…try the Freetime diaper.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Back to the Drawing Board

Well, yesterday we headed back to the pediatrician because Nolan’s rash isn’t much better.  He’s been on a prescription cream for a fungal/yeast rash for two weeks without any improvement.  He has some new blisters too, and the doctor said they aren’t fungal, but she’s not sure what they are.

We are now using an antibiotic cream, and then zinc oxide as a barrier cream.  I selected the Aveeno diaper rash ointment this time because it has some natural oat complexes in it to help sooth the skin.  We have also been referred to a dermatologist to find out more about the cause of the rash.

This is Nolan feeding the goats…and himself…at the Central Park Zoo last week!

I really like my kids’ doctor.  She is knowledgeable and didn’t immediately say, “You need to throw out your cloth diapers and use disposable until Nolan is potty trained.”  She did inquire to make sure that we had disinfected them.  Though she asked if we used bleach, she said that the tea tree oil was a perfectly acceptable substitute. {I was glad to learn that my research results were correct}.

So while it seems as if I have killed the yeast in my diapers, the doctor asked me to switch to disposables until we get the rash cleared up and determine the cause for sure.

He is definitely in more pain now, and he runs away when I mentioned changing his diaper.  He doesn’t like to be wiped, or to get in the bath right now because of the rash.  Here’s to hoping we get it cleared up soon!

Eliminating Yeast the Natural Way: Grapefruit Seed Extract

The next natural method that I used to strip yeast out of my cloth diapers was grapefruit seed extract {GSE}.  I ordered a small bottle of it on Amazon for around $8.  I did the tea tree oil strip while I waited for the GSE to arrive.

On another post at All About Cloth Diapers, I found information originally posted at Eco Nuts {which I carried in the Doable Diapers store} recommended GSE as the only method to get rid of yeast. Eco Nuts claims that bleach kills yeast, but not yeast spores.

“Grapefruit Seed Extract: synthesized from the seeds and pulp of the grapefruit, it’s a very broad spectrum microbicide, bactericide, fungicide, antiparasitic, and anti-viral.  Grapefruit Seed Extract is the only natural way to kill yeast spores. It also kills staph, strep, salmonella, and e.coli.  It also kills herpes and influenza!

“GSE has been tested and found to be anywhere from 10 to 100 times more effective against these offending microorganisms than chlorine bleach, tea tree oil, colloidal silver, and iodine.

“For light laundry disinfecting: use 10-15 drops per load.

For heavy disinfecting (when dealing with something nasty or resistant): ½ to 1 teaspoon of GSE to each load of laundry. Wash and dry normally.”

I used the recommended 1/2 tsp. for “something nasty or resistant”.  With the GSE, I added it along with my detergent to a hot wash.  I also did an extra rinse cycle at the end, and then line dried my diapers in the sun.

I am hoping that one of these methods has eliminated the yeast from my diapers.  I will only be able to tell by whether or not the yeast rash returns.  I will update this post in a couple of weeks to let you know how we fared! 

When I had originally contacted Kanga Care regarding the yeast rash, I also wanted to know about disinfecting my Eco Posh trainers which Elaine wears to bed.  They go into the same diaper pail, so I was concerned about cross-contamination.  I found it interesting that for these recycled, and non-color fast cloth items, Kanga Care recommended GSE!  So there must be something to it, if it is recommended for items that cannot be bleached!  Here is what Rose from Kanga Care said:

• We recommend regular chlorine bleach for both your pockets and inserts.  For your Eco Posh, regular chlorine bleach will discolor the fabric, so you can follow this method:
• Run a medium water level load on warm water/warm rinse.  No detergent.  Add 1 teaspoon of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) at beginning of wash. After washer has filled and begins to agitate, stop the washer for 10 minutes and allow shells to soak in GSE water.  After 10 minutes start wash again and continue cycle as usual. 
• After wash, lay in the sun to dry.
• ***Please note, this routine is not recommended for frequent use on shells as excessive soaking and baking in the hot sun can damage elastics and other materials.
• NEXT FEW WASHES…
• ½ to 1 teaspoon of GSE to each load of laundry (with your regular, recommended, detergent.) Wash and dry (in dryer on low) normally.

Eliminating Yeast the Natural Way: Tea Tree Oil

As I mentioned on Friday, we have been battling a yeast rash.  After deciding to put off the bleaching of my diapers, I decided to try two other “natural” options first.

The first method was recommended by several bloggers.  They said to use tea tree oil in a cold wash cycle.  I had some tea tree oil on hand, for using in herbal remedies.  All About Cloth Diapers recommends 3-4 drops for a front loader, and 4-6 drops for a top loader. 

I used about 8 drops with my top loader water setting on high. I started with my normal wash cycle, so that I would be beginning with clean diapers. 

I did a cold rinse, turned the water level down to do a hot rinse with 2 Tbsp. of Tide, and then a cold rinse.  Now that my diapers were clean I added about 8 drops of tea tree oil to a short cold wash.  I followed the rinse with an additional rinse. 

My kids seem to have somewhat sensitive bums…tea tree or lavender essential oils in the wipe solution makes them break out.  I wanted to be sure to rinse completely.

Then I hung my diapers to dry in the sun for about 6 hours.  Now – my diapers get nice and clean with the Tide detergent.  But I couldn’t believe how much more white they were after this process.  I normally hang them to dry outside unless it is raining, so I am assuming this was the tea tree oil.

And…if I only used 8 drops in a top loader completely full of water, I think that there is no way you need 3-4 drops of this stuff in your wipe solution!  That is powerful tea tree oil!  No wonder my little guys bum doesn’t like it in the wipes!

I used this method in two different loads to be sure I had disinfected all of my diapers.  I am considering adding a tea tree wash cycle to my diaper routine once a month, just to keep them fresh and white!

Getting Rid of the Yeast Rash

Right now Nolan has what my doctor called a “fungal-y rash” which is caused by yeast.  I can’t remember if Elaine ever had a yeast rash, but I know I didn’t strip her diapers because of it.

Nolan’s rash is going on 3 weeks.  I am contemplating taking him back in because it’s not getting too much better.  We are talking blisters that keep breaking open, and it-hurts-so-bad-he-won’t-sit-down-in-the-bath kind of rash.  The heat and humidity that keeps him warm and moist isn’t helping much either.

So I began researching methods to strip the yeast from my diapers, to ensure that I don’t re-contaminate him and cause the rash to come back.  What I found was a myriad of conflicting information!

Some mamas said only bleach kills yeast.  Others said bleach doesn’t work.  Diaper manufacturer’s don’t recommend bleach…unless there is yeast.  I also found lots of “laundry cocktails” with complicated systems of wash, rinse, rinse, wash, rinse, and other methods “guaranteed” to eliminate the yeast.  How do they know?

So I contacted Rumparooz since they make up much of my diaper stash.  I also know they have spent a lot of money on detergent research, etc. and I trust what they have concluded.  Well…sort of.  In the end I decided to try a more natural method first, before I resort to bleach.

Here is what Rose at Kanga Care told me to do:

“A yeast infection in cloth diapers can certainly become a problem!  Here is what we recommend:

• Fill a container (about shoe box size) with 2 inches of cold water 1/2 cup bleach.  {I did clarify that this is regular bleach – NOT oxygenated bleach}
• Submerge diaper for 1 minute. 
• Repeat with all affected diapers and inserts (make sure it squish inserts to get them fully saturated)
• Wash diaper in machine using cold wash/cold rinse - no detergent. Repeat 3 times.
• Wash diapers in machine using hot wash/cold rinse - with detergent.
• Do 3 rinse cycles. If you still smell bleach, run cold wash/cold rinse 3 more times.
• We hate recommending bleach, but it really is the one and only way to kill the yeast bacteria. 

She also emailed some tips to remember…

• Use cold water with bleach!
• Only submerge diapers for one minute!
• Wash diapers immediately following bleach!

The customer service lady at Cotton Babies also said that they only recommend bleach, and that the outer PUL portion of the pockets should be color safe.  They do not recommend bleach on a regular basis, and usually you should only use it on inserts…except in the case of yeast.

I have to confess… I hate bleach.  Being a natural klutz, I have ruined many a shirt with that stuff.  I don’t like to even have it in the house…I don’t buy cleaning products with bleach, and I don’t want the kids to accidentally get into it.  I did find a couple of other suggestions which I am trying first, before I resort to bleach.  Come back next week and explore some more options with me!

Have you ever had a yeast rash?  What method did you choose to disinfect your diapers?

Chamomile Wipe Solution

We are battling rashes here.  Both of my kids seem to get rashes when they are teething, but Nolan gets the bumpy blistery type.  They’re pretty nasty and hard to heal.  I assumed this rash was just from cutting molars, but recently I have read several articles about rashes that “came to stay” when the little boys turned 1.  I don’t know what that has to do with anything, but the timing lines up in Nolan’s case too.

Last week we went to the beach.  Three hours of salt water cleared Nolan’s rash right up.  His skin was brand new…no diaper rash cream or flushable liners needed.  But then he got some diarrhea and the rash returned with gusto.

I have just started delving into the world of herbal medicine, and I was elated to read an article on the Cheeky Bums Blog describing a chamomile wipe solution.  I thought it was brilliant!  Chamomile has soothing and healing properties.  So rather than use a water base for homemade baby wipe solution, start with chamomile tea to help heal the broken skin.  I decided to give it a try.

I started with chamomile, some calendula, mint, and eucalyptus leaves along with some lavender.

Here are some of the properties of the herbs that I added:

• Chamomile – calming, relaxing, soothing
• Calendula Flowers – Heals wounds by cell repair, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, keeps infections away
• Peppermint – calming, relaxing scent; cools & relieves pain
• Eucalyptus – kills bacteria and fungi
• Lavender – relaxing and calming, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic, used to treat yeast infections

After the solution steeped, I strained the herbs and added enough water to fill my wipe solution pitched {it’s 1/2 gallon}.  I also added 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil.  We use this at every diaper change to sooth and protect skin, but it hasn’t been enough recently.  I forgot to add some baby soap, but I plan to do so next time, along with some honey.  I eliminated the tea tree oil because it is too strong and my kids have sensitive skin.

I thought the chamomile and calendula were pretty in the water

I love the way this makes my wipes smell!  Nolan hasn’t been quite as fussy at diaper changes either.  We are still clearing up the rash, but I think this was a good step to take.

You could do the same thing by brewing a simple chamomile tea with tea bags {use 2-3 for a stronger infusion} and add some lavender essential oil and tea tree if your kids are not sensitive to the oils.

Here is the Cheeky Bums recipe:

• 2 c. chamomile tea, still warm but not boiling
• 1 Tb. raw honey
• 2 Tb. coconut oil (coconut oil is naturally anti-microbial which also helps fight diaper rash and aids in fast healing of any rash sores)
• 2 Tb. castile soap or baby soap
• 4 drops of tea tree oil

Baby Wearing Elaine

I am not an always-baby-wearing mommy.  And Nolan is not really into it either…he is over one now.  He is all boy. And he likes to move around.  But there are times when I don the Kozy Carrier and head out into the City. 

It usually involves a train ride.  Without my husband, I can’t get both kids and the double stroller down the subway steps alone.  There are often kind people who offer to help me, but I like to be prepared just in case.  In times like these, I wear one kiddo on my back, and carry the other down the train steps in the umbrella stroller.  It’s a win-win solution.

The last few expeditions have brought begging from Elaine to be the kiddo on my back.  Last time she fell asleep there on the train ride home.  And she also begged me for a “little tie” {the Kozy is a Mei Tei carrier, so it ties on} for her Betsy.

I didn’t have the money to buy a Kiddie Kozy, or the time to wait for it.  {Elaine is a little demanding sometimes…and every once in a while I give in}.  What’s a mommy to do?  Pull out the sewing machine, and get creative, of course!

I just laid out my Kozy Carrier and eyeballed a smaller scale version, testing the strap lengths on Elaine to make sure they were neither too short nor too long.  I used the fabric scraps from our matching dress/skirt which I made for Mother’s Day this year.

Here’s the finished product.  I made this last Tuesday.  She basically has only taken it off to eat, sleep, and bathe.  All other times find her wearing Betsy and her “little tie.”  If I’m not careful, she’ll be asking me to create a twins carrier, so Sally can ride in it too!  It was pretty quick and easy to do, considering I didn’t have a pattern and my serger was acting up.  I may even attempt one for a little girl’s birthday coming up…

Give It Another Spin

If you’ve been reading here long, then you know that I don’t have a dryer.  Washing machines in a rented apartment are something of a luxury here in Brooklyn.  When we were planning to move here, I asked God for a washing machine so I could wash my diapers at home.  He saw fit to grant my request, and our apartment has a full size, top-loading wash machine.  We just pay a little extra for the water it uses. 

Sometimes I get frustrated with how wet my diapers are when they finish the final rinse & spin cycle.  Often, a lot of water gets trapped in the wet bag, and soaks the inserts nearby as the machine finishes.  If I am in a pinch and need diapers fast, I don’t have time to let all of the extra water line-dry out of my inserts.

A while back I started re-setting my machine to do a second spin after the cycle had completed.  This second spin seems to release the water trapped in the wet bags, because I don’t have that problem any more. 

I also know for sure that even more water is spinning out of my diapers & inserts, thereby cutting the dry time.  How do I know this?  Because my washing machine is in my kitchen, and it drains into my kitchen sink.  Sometimes I stand and watch the second spin cycle, amazed at how much water had been left in my inserts.

So even if you have a dryer, cut the drying time by running an extra spin on your machine before you start the drying cycle.

Tide

I’m sure I’ve shared before about the benefits of using Tide detergent for your cloth diapers.  It is recommended by Rumparooz/Kanga Care for their products.  Julie Ekstrom, the creator of Rumparooz, told me once that people run into trouble when they start experimenting with laundry “cocktails” instead of just keeping it simple. 

Tide works!  They have put the resources and research into developing a superior laundry detergent which cleans deep down and gets everything out.  Just what you need for cloth diapers.

I use Tide Ultra, and the powder is better than the liquid because it won’t coat your diapers with a film.  I use 2 Tablespoons per load, for about 20 diapers or so.

Last August I joined Costco and my first purchase was this huge box of Tide Ultra for $25 {or so}.  Just today I emptied the remaining contents of the box into a gallon size Ziploc bag, after I filled my laundry jar on the shelf.  It will definitely last us until August or even longer. 

I keep homemade laundry detergent in the jar on the left, and Tide for our diapers in the jar on the right.

So for $25 I washed cloth diapers for a year.  I had 2 kids in diapers for 4 months of the year, and we were potty training with lots of accidents for 2-3 months of the year.  So for about 6 months I washed 3-4 loads per week, and now I wash 2 loads per week.  That’s what I call great value… Rockin’ Green never delivered such great clean at such a great price.

I only use the Tide for my diapers, because I can’t afford it for our regular lundry.  A couple of times I have cheated and used it for laundry when I was desperately out of detergent. 

Baby Comfy Nose

My kids were sick back in May.  I could hear the congestion in Nolan as he tried to nurse, and he had to stop every couple of sucks to get a breath.  My hospital nasal aspirator wasn’t getting anything out.  I remembered that I had read about the Nose Frida a while back.  But the thought of using my own mouth to suck snot out of my kids’ nose was a little revolting.  Yet in desperation I looked up nasal aspirators online.

I found the Nose Frida, along with an aspirator called the Baby Comfy Nose.  After reading a lot of reviews, I settled on the Baby Comfy Nose.  There is one store in my area that had it in stock, so I loaded my sick kids into the stroller, onto the bus, and then the train to go and purchase it.  I am so glad I did!

There are many reasons why I chose the BCN over the Nose Frida.  First, there are no filters to purchase and replace.  The BCN uses an ordinary facial tissue as the filter. This is more porous than the rubber filter of the Nose Frida, therefore it is more absorbent.  It is also cheap and easily replaced.

The Baby Comfy Nose also comes in a pouch that allows it to dry completely after washing, as opposed to the Nose Frida case which does not.  The BCN is also more economically priced.

Once you get past the thought that you are sucking snot out of your kids’ nose, you will greatly appreciate the Baby Comfy Nose.  It is easy to use, and you can see & hear how much mucous is leaving the nasal passages.  Human lungs generate 10x as much suction power as a battery operated aspirator, so the BCN is much more effective.

When you’re done, just discard the tissue and rinse the BCN clean.  Allow it to air dry.  It is so easy!

I used this on my 10 month old and my 2 1/2 year old.  Neither one enjoyed it, but they didn’t like the hospital bulb aspirator either.  My little girl actually came to me several times and asked me to suck out her nose.  I know it’s because she could tell the difference – she could actually breathe again after I used the BCN to clear out the snot!

I would highly recommend this product and I don’t think any parents of infants or toddlers should be without one.  I’ll probably be giving it as baby shower gifts from now on!

Disclosure – I was not paid or compensated in any way to write this post.  I purchased the product and all opinions are completely mine.

What We’ve Been Doing…

I haven’t blogged here since I closed the online retail part of Doable Diapers back in April.  I’ve been enjoying life as a wifey, homemaker, and stay-at-home-mom.  And I am pretty convinced that that is the way God designed it to be…

So here are a few snippets to let you see what we’ve been doing for the last two months. I have had several things rolling around in my mind that I want to share here, and now that I feel like life and schedules are back on track, I will probably bombard you with several posts.  So don’t go away…lots of fun coming right up!

Sunset walk under the Verrazano Bridge (connects Brooklyn to Staten Island)

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens with friends

Elaine got a “big girl bed”

 
Feeding the goats at the Bronx Zoo with Grandma & Grampa

Our family  - Me, Nolan, Elaine, & Ben

Testing the new bumGenius Freetime diaper – more on that to follow later.  Suffice it to say this is my new favorite diaper!

 
A lot of sewing – including an Easter dress for Elaine {in the midst of closing the store}, matching skirt/dress for Elaine & me, some play skirts, and even some dolly clothes!

Nolan’s first haircut!  {10 months old.  He also started walking just before this}

Mother’s Day in our matching dresses

Flight to visit “Ma” & “Pa” in Denver, Colorado

Swimming in Pa’s pool

Visit with my grandparents.  My kids are great-grandchildren # 7 & 8 or something like that…out of 11 great-grands

Fun at the park

First motorcycle ride {just Elaine…not Nolan} with my Dad

Memorial Day in Brooklyn – we went to tour the ships in dock for Fleet Week and the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Lots of fun in the sun

Some homemade strawberry jam, and lots of freezer cooking & baking.  It feels good to do that again!

That was a whirlwind trip, but it seems like a lot of pictures.  Come back this week for more cloth-diaper related posts!