Diapers

When we were thinking about how we'd care for our baby, we knew we really wanted to go the hippie route and cloth diaper. All I could think about were disposable diaper chemicals touching precious baby bottom skin, and that was enough to turn me off to paper diapers. And my husband couldn't get over the environmental effects of solely disposable diapering. 

So we were in agreement: We would cloth diaper.

But what I wouldn't admit is that I secretly wanted to use disposable diapers. I felt like a bad mom saying so, so I didn't. Still, my mind was consumed with nasty visions of scooping poop and rinsing diaper blowouts off in the toilet, the countless hours of laundry I'd likely be doing, and the hassle of managing a diaper-cleaning schedule in the midst of all the other schedule changes I'd be encountering.

I talked to my mom about my concerns.

She suggested I look into a diaper service.

"Mom," I said, "This isn't 1952. People don't send out their laundry." Regardless, I mentioned it to my husband and he did a little research. Turns out there are tons of cloth diaper cleaning services just in the Denver-metro area, and others scattered all over the country.

We ended up going with a local service that costs just $20 a week. For that fee I get the full benefits of cloth diapering without the mess. Each week, a delivery man brings me 50 clean cloth diapers — Iris has 100 to her name, and they just cycle 50 from the same pile to me every week so that we're always using her diapers. They supply a pail, plastic bags, and odor eaters too. At the end of the week, I just plop a blue bag of dirty diapers on my front porch, and a few hours later, clean ones magically appear! It's sensational!

(For all sorts of reasons for cloth diapering, see my friend Betty's great post.)

Anyone else out there use a diapering service? What are your thoughts?

Image Source: Sarah Ann Noel

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

We're excited to share this post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we will be bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Stacie Lewis about her decision to use disposable diapers.

I use disposables. I believe they are easier, more convenient, faster and more hygienic than cloth. I like using them – at least, I like them as much as a parent can like a diaper. I have never considering changing. I have never tried cloth. Why would I?

Related: Sexist Gymboree onesies: Are they really so bad?

My husband and I had one conversation about cloth vs disposable, three years ago before our daughter was born. It went as follows:

Me: (opening discussion by using the universal family signal: pressing mute on the TV remote) Honey, have you ever thought about cloth diapers?

Him: What?!? What are you talking about?

Me: You know, diapers that you wash after each use instead of throw out.

Him: (look of total confusion on his face) You wash them? Like in the washing machine? All that poo, in the washing machine?

Me: (nodding without enthusiasm) Yeah.

Him: Why would we do that?

Me: (puzzled) Um, I’m not sure.

Him: Well, there you have it. (grabs remote and unpresses mute)

A splinter of doubt needled me after I wrote my last post. In the post, I explained how it is possible to pull onesies down after poo explosions. Besides many parents declaring it a "life-changing" idea — and think of that what you will — quite a few others used the opportunity to praise cloth diapers:

Keep reading to see what cloth diaper advocates had to say.

Santa baby will take on a whole new meaning this year! A year after giving the traditional nappy a much-needed update, Huggies is at it again with a holiday-themed diaper that will take toddlers right through the holiday season. Like the jean and camouflage versions before them, Huggies Little Movers Santa Diapers ($12.30 for 29) feature Jolly Old St. Nicholas's red pants and black belt printed on the diaper company's traditional design. Better turn up the heat before slipping these on your lil one though — unlike the denim design that unveiled in the middle of the Summer, these nappies are hitting stores just in time for the coldest months of the year, so tots might not be strutting around in them as readily as the others.

What do you think of the new design? Will it be part of your lil one's holiday outfits?

Moms certainly talk about poop a lot, but apparently there are limits to our fascination with fecal matter.

As the Huffington Post reports, a funny but cringe-worthy commercial for Luvs Diapers has received the most votes in Consumerist’s Worst Ad in America poll.

Titled Poop, There It Is!, the ad features three cartoon tots in a talent show, competing to fill their diapers. What do you think, funny or not?

Read the whole story (Consumerist)

Image Source: Via Huffington Post

Check the language on any package of disposable diapers and you're sure to see some boast about the nappy's absorbency. All diaper manufacturers love to discuss how much their products can hold, and it seems that moms are tuning in to their claims.

Every time my own mother or MIL come to visit, the first thing they want to do is change my tot's diaper. They love to tell me how they are amazed by the efficiency of today's disposable diapers compared to the versions they used. So I found a recent report in Consumer Reports about a decline in diaper sales rather interesting.

They linked the decline in nappy sales and a rise in diaper cream sales to the fact that mamas are changing their lil ones' soiled nappies less frequently than before, ultimately leading to more diaper rashes. There's no telling if it is the bad economy that is pushing moms to hold off on the changes or if it is the better absorbency of the diapers, but it is an interesting correlation. What do you think?

Lots of moms like to think out loud and CelebBabyFashion is one of them. She put Huggies newest diapers to the test. Here's an except from her review.

My baby girl Katie is always on the move. At 22-months-old, she's hard to catch to change a diaper these days. While she's getting close to the potty training age, Katie refuses to use the potty. Alas, we love the new Huggies Slip-On Diapers for this very reason.

After we were done going through an entire pack of the Huggies Slip-Ons, I can tell you that they're pretty neat! It's so much easier now to diaper my little squirmer. Plus I absolutely love the fact that I can easily open the diaper at the sides if I need to.

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Could the days of squirmy diaper changes be a thing of the past? Moms have tried virtually everything – from straightjacket-like contraptions to virtual gymnastics – to keep mobile tots in place when changing a soiled nappy. Now Huggies is coming to the rescue. The company plans to introduce Little Movers Slip-On Diapers next month, a new line of disposable diapers that slide on like a Pull-Up, but are removed like a traditional diaper thanks to stretch sides with special finger tabs.

Calling it a "catch, slip on, and release" experience, the new diapers will facilitate changes both standing up and laying down, which as any mom of a mobile tot knows varies from day-to-day. Will you be buying the diapers?

A month or two before a new baby arrives, it's often protocol for parents to stock up on diapers. The problem is, if you buy a lot of one particular size and your newborn baby is larger (or smaller) than you predicted, you have to go back to the store to get the right size.

Quite commonly, hospitals will provide you with newborn diapers to get you through your first day or two. If this is the case, you can send your partner on a diaper run after the lil one is born for the right fit. For mothers who are on their second, third, or fourth child, note that every baby can differ tremendously. Just because baby Alex was born weighing 7.5 pounds doesn't mean his brother Jack will weigh the same. Most mother's find that the newborn-size stage is gone before they know it, so only buy enough for a week or two. Here are a few more tips and tricks for getting just the right diaper fit:

• "Too big" is never an issue: It's always better to go larger rather than smaller, because your baby is going to grow like a weed! Even if you are stuck with big diapers, rest assured your baby will grow into them.

For more tips just read more!

When a baby's bowel movements become irregular or painful, constipation is often the problem. If you're looking for ways to get your infant's system running smoothly again, here are seven mom-approved remedies from Circle of Moms members to consider.

1. Fiber-Rich Foods

Constipation often occurs when babies begin eating solid foods, especially if their new diet includes a lot of low-fiber foods like rice cereal, bananas, cheese, and cooked carrots. As Cathralynn C. advises, try adding in some foods that are richer in fiber: “If you are feeding rice cereal, move on to another grain or stop altogether. Rice flour is constipating.”

2. Switch Formula

Sensitivity to a formula ingredient can also cause baby constipation, so switching formula brands is often a simple solution. Dana D. shares: “We...changed the formula we were using to a 'sensitive tummy' kind and he hasn't had any problems at all since then.”

3. Prune Juice

Prunes are a natural laxative that can can help relieve constipation. “Prune juice works well for my little one,” shares Brenda F., though she wisely cautions to give only a small amount: “No more than an ounce in a day or she gets gassy.”  Pears, apricots and peaches can have a similar laxative effect, as Samantha L. shares: “Pear juice works wonders! I used it for my firstborn, she was a preemie, and it cleared her out every time.”

4. More Water

Dehydration is another common cause of constipation. As a result, giving water to a formula-fed baby may provide relief. Lisa W. explains: “A good way to prevent it from happening a lot is to give her water often.”

5. Leg Bicycles and Baby Massage

"Bicycling" your baby’s legs in a pedaling motion and gently massaging her tummy can also help get things moving. Connie G. recalls: “I'd lay her on the floor and do leg crunches, just to get things moving, and a belly massage right along the GI tract.”

6. Rectal Stimulation

As Jennifer M. advises, rectal stimulation can also relieve constipation: “Call your pediatrician. They may recommend you taking Vaseline and putting a little on the end of a thermometer and wiggling (it) in her bum. When they told me that... I was like what! Are you serious.. but it worked."

7. Suppositories, Laxatives and Stool Softeners

While suppositories, stool softeners and laxatives also relieve baby constipation, they should be used only on recommendation from your pediatrician. As Tanisha H. cautioned, these options can be habit-forming: “If you start to use laxatives and suppositories early if they have a problem with going to the bathroom they can become dependent on them.” 

In addition to the serious strategies above, we can't help but share Kristen D.’s best tip: "Dress her (in) white! Every time I dress my daughter in white she does a huge explosive poo!!!”

Image Source: OliBac via Flickr/Creative Commons