A little update

Well it's been a busy past few weeks, and I haven't been doing a lot of work. This last trimester has been wearing me down and I'm trying to take it easy and rest. It's not working out to well, though, because I've been nesting! I've been organizing like crazy and I've also been taking what spare money I have and adding to the baby's diaper stash. I thought I was all set on covers and prefolds while he was a newborn but I changed my mind at the last minute. I love fitteds and decided I wanted some of those on hand, too, so I got them in the mail yesterday and am all set. I love fluffy mail! I just hope that he stays small for a while because these diapers are just too cute to only use for a week or two. :)

Just a reminder, Shalom Beginnings offers free shipping to anyone in Oregon (this isn't posted anywhere else, it's just a nice surprise at checkout) all the time and it's just $2.50 for everyone else. And don't forget, we don't just have diapers - we have some awesome herbs and teas available as well as the brand-new Shalom Mama Soothing Herbal Bath Tea. Try some out!

Shalom,

nina

Black Friday sale!

Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving!

Do you enjoy a good sale, but don't necessarily want to get up at 4 in the morning? From now until Monday, November 30th, we have some great sale prices available on our best-selling items!

Thirsties - Duo Diapers, Duo Wraps, Covers, Fitteds, Doublers and Wipes all on sale!

Sleepy Wrap baby wraps - 15% off our in stock Sleepy Wrap baby wraps. Get yours today for only $33.95!

*excludes boba organic carrier, sleepy bear and the organic sleepy wrap.

Tiny Tush Aplix One-Size Pocket Diaper only $16!

Take 15% off all boxed herbs and teas (just use the order form and I'll get you the total)!

Updates

We went out of town for a funeral last week and I got sick and now that I'm finally feeling better, I just wanted to give an update on a few things.

I had my home visit with my midwife and her assistants (great ladies!) the other day and I'm finally 36 weeks pregnant. I'm 2 cm down and 8 to go and I have a feeling that this birth will be another fast one. Hopefully I'll be blogging about our new baby boy (who still remains nameless) in the next few weeks.

Shalom Mama Soothing Herbal Bath Tea is now available on my website! I thought this up a few months ago, made up a test batch and loved it! I tweaked it a little and made a new batch and with the help of my parents at Juniper Butte Herb & Tea Co., it's all packed up and ready to go! It comes in 2 sizes - 1.6 oz and 3.1 oz. They're good for 3-4 baths and 6-7 baths, respectively. The bath tea contains calendula, chamomile, chickweed, lavender, oatmeal and plaintain. Calendula, chamomile, chickweed and plaintain are especially good for those of us with really sensitive skin because of their soothing and healing properties. Get yours today!

There are some great new products from Thirsties available now! Thirsties just announced that its brand-new Duo Diaper is in stock and ready to go! I am so excited about this - and it's not just an unhealthy obsession with cloth diapers! The Duo Diaper comes in 2 sizes, like their wonderful Duo Wrap, and has two pocket openings for stuffing so that you don't have to remove the insert when you wash - it agitates out in the washer. I love that! As soon as I saw the e-mail in my inbox this morning, I logged onto their site and ordered a size 2 orchid Duo Diaper to try on Ella. I can't wait 'til it gets here. When you check out the new Duo Diaper, you may notice that the pocket AIO is no longer available. Thirsties is discontinuing the AIO, but I think the Duo Diaper will more than make up for the loss.

Thirsties Pre-wash and Super wash are also available on my site now. They were both made in the USA by a chemist to work specifically with cloth diapers. Both are 100% biodegradable and were created to keep your diapers in top condition and to prevent diaper rash on your sweet baby. Both washes are 32. oz and they offer a great value pack that saves you $7 when you purchase them both together. Gotta love saving money.

That's it for now, but keep an eye out for some great Black Friday specials coming your way.

Shalom,

Nina

Ella's Birth Story

I became pregnant with Ella when Eva was only 3 months old. I went to see my same dr. and went back into the high-risk prenatal routine I was used to. At about 20 weeks I told him that I didn’t want to do the same tests that he had had me do with Eva. He told me that was too bad and that I had to do them because I was considered high risk. I had had no problems with Eva so I thought, “that’s what you think, man.” I had been doing research on becoming a midwife through apprenticeship and found one who lived right next to me, thanks to a friend’s referral.

Her approach was so much better. It was holistic care, focused on nutrition and letting my body do what it was designed to do. I elected for a water birth. At about 36 weeks I was dilated to three cm. And I just kept on dilating. I was dilated to 6 cm when my husband left for work at 8:30 on May 28th. I had felt nauseated that morning and was having the same old contractions I’d become accustomed to in the previous month. At 8:45 I had a really long one and it hurt! Then I had another one that felt really weird and I knew I was in labor. I called my midwife, Tiffany, who lives four houses down from me and let her know. Then I called my husband who had just gotten to work and asked him to come home. My brother came and got Isaac and my mom came and helped put Eva down for a nap. I was very blessed that my body had been getting ready for so long. I got into my birth tub after a while and the warm water helped so much. I tried to surrender completely to what was happening and went into a different consciousness where I would moan in a low tone during a contraction and relax as much as possible in between. I got to ten cm very quickly. I began pushing around 11:05. Ella was born at 11:10, right as Eva woke from her nap. It was the most amazing experience ever. I am so glad that I trusted my body and had her in the comfort of my own home, at my own pace. I now have three perfect children and am looking forward to having our 4th at home as well.

Eva's Birth Story

I was induced a week early with Eva. I believe my dr. had mentioned something about my blood pressure, but it had been fine so I figured he just wanted me to have her when he would be in the office. I got to the hospital early, belly full of breakfast. I remembered how hungry and tired I had been the last time and thought that it was stupid to go hungry to an event that required marathon-runner stamina. The IV was the worst part. Two nurses tried twice with no luck. My savior came in the form of Snook, a nurse from the ER who popped that thing in my arm with ease. I offered to buy her a drink. Once I was hooked up, the nurses started me on Cytotec (even though the manufacturer warns that this drug should not be used for this purpose) to soften my cervix. After a little while of that, they hooked me up to pitocin. I had been 3 cm dilated already so it started working pretty quickly. At 2 o’clock, my dr. came in and offered to break my water to move things along. My initial reaction was, “no way, I remember what happened after he broke my water last time.” But I caved in. I wanted her out. Ian asked if he should let my mom know to come over and they told him no rush, it would probably be a while.

So he broke my water. And I asked for IV drugs again. And when the nurse left to get them I told my husband I needed the epidural. Again. This time, I sat extra still during the procedure. I thought I was going to die, it hurt so badly, but I knew I would have sweet relief soon. When the anesthesiologist said, “uh-oh,” I knew it was bad. Sure enough, the tube had not gone into the correct space and he needed to start over. I started crying and held still some more. By the time he was putting in the second tube I had felt the need to push and was quietly pushing while sitting upright in bed. He had no sooner finished and started to put some drugs in that I let out a loud scream and told them that they baby was coming. I yelled at Ian to get ready to catch her, grabbed my legs and started pushing. I pushed as hard as I could for fifteen minutes and watched my husband catch my daughter. I had dilated from 4 to 10 centimeters and had her within an hour of them breaking my water. She, too, was perfect.

Isaac's Birth Story

As a self-proclaimed birth nut, I figured it was time to actually talk about it. With the birth of my 4th child fast-approaching, I've been thinking about the births of my other three children and thought I'd share their stories with you.

I was induced four weeks early with Isaac because of problems with my blood pressure. I arrived at the hospital early and waited for them to get me hooked up to everything. I had had a little to eat, at the instruction of my dr. and wasn’t sure how that tiny breakfast was supposed to last all day long and what energy I would be using to push the baby out. The Pitocin worked pretty slowly. At three my dr. recommended breaking my water to speed things along. I was dilated to 4 cm and I was feeling pretty good. If this is what labor felt like, I could totally handle it without drugs.

Within fifteen minutes of them breaking my water I was asking for some IV drugs. The nurse had barely left the room when I told my husband I needed the epidural. It hurt like hell. I held as still as I could for the epidural, a feat that I was sure would be impossible as the contractions took over my body. Once the anesthesiologist started the medicine I felt a lot better. Some friends visited and I was able to talk a little. At about six I started feeling pushy and the nurse checked me. Sure enough I was completely dilated. I started pushing. And pushing. And pushing. I got tired very quickly since I had no food to fuel me and the dr. offered to help with the vacuum. I gladly said yes, even though it was one of the interventions I had said that I absolutely did not want. So I pushed while the dr. pulled. I was yelling and yelling about how much it hurt (they had stopped the medicine) and finally, out came Isaac. They whisked him over to the newborn table to get him going. I had caught a glimpse of him beforehand, though. He was perfect.

Time For a Change

I've been reading a lot about business lately: using social media to gain business, the importance of customer service, how to build communities, finding your target audience and so much more. After learning so much, I've come to the conclusion that I should just be myself and do what I'm passionate about, otherwise it's just not enjoyable. I know, it's common sense, but some things take quite a while to absorb into my brain ;).

I started this blog to give people information about a "crunchier" lifestyle - based on the products I offer. The problem is, I'm not terribly happy with some of my posts. Sure they're informative, but you can find that information anywhere. There are a lot of cloth diapering sites that will tell you all about caring for your diapers, what to choose and why they're so great to use. Why try to reinvent the wheel?

I've also been very careful in my wording and overly general so that I can reach as many people as possible - without offending anyone. But you know what, I don't really want to reach everyone and I don't just want to talk about cloth diapers and I'm sure some of the things I believe in offend some people. I know that lots of people think I'm crazy for having babies at home and breastfeeding them until their toddlers and using cloth diapers and chemical-free products - they tell me all the time :). I'm just so passionate about pregnancy and birth and breastfeeding; about good nutrition and herbal remedies. I'm passionate about baby wearing and creating close bonds. I believe that babies (and everyone else) deserve to use products that are not filled with harmful chemicals. And yes, all of these opinions are coming at you from a conservative Christian woman.

So what does all the "me, me, me" have to do with you? I know there are women out there like me and I want to connect with them. I know that I run an online store, but I think there should be more to it than just exchanging money for goods - you can do that anywhere. Relationships are important. Supporting each other in our "alternative" viewpoints is important.

I've been trying to go about this business the same way as everyone else and it hasn't been working for me. And I realized it's because I'm different! I'm not the same as everyone else - I'm weird. I don't have a huge inventory because I refuse to use credit cards. I like giving discounts. I really want to help you save money and I want you to use this stuff more than I want a profit. (Maybe I shouldn't be in business, after all ;)

What does all this rambling mean? It means things will be different. I'll be changing the store a bit and hopefully will be able to start offering some personal services soon. And I'll blog about things I'm passionate about - without the "super-careful, want to be all things to all people" language. If that's not ok, I apologize. If that's cool with you, great - leave comments, tell me about yourself - I want to get to know you.

Shalom,

Nina

Advent Conspiracy

What does this post have to do with cloth diapers and baby carriers? Not much, really, but it fits into my mission to worship fully, put the needs of others before myself and to live simply. Now that it's November, it's a perfect time to be thinking about Christmas and maybe making the commitment to do things differently this year.

Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All. Sigh.
I love Advent Conspiracy (check it out here). Last year I started thinking about Christmases past and realized that there was just something missing. There had to be more to Christmas than spending money we didn't have to buy gifts that probably wouldn't get used. And so, it has become a new goal of mine to follow the principles of Advent Conspiracy - to worship fully, spend less, give more and love all so that I can do Christmas in a manner that is trully Christ-honoring. Here are some ideas that I've come up with to help people start thinking about doing Christmas differently:

Creating New Traditions
Everyone take turn giving presents. Instead of sitting around the tree with your pile of gifts around you, consider grabbing all the ones that you purchased instead and enjoy watching your loved ones open them. Make a point of giving gifts rather than receiving. This is great for little kids, too. Instead of asking them what they want for Christmas, ask them what they think Mom, Dad, Grandparents or siblings might like for Christmas. Help them make or buy something for everyone. This takes the focus off of what they want and teaches them to be mindful of what other people enjoy.

Set limits for presents. In the past, we've been guilty of just buying useless presents that our kids don't end up using just for the sake of them having more to open on Christmas morning. This year we're aiming at 3 gifts per child (since the three wise men each brought Jesus a present), though we may end up at 5. We're also trying to make the majority of those gifts home made. The best thing is that we know that what we've decided to give the kids will be used and appreciated.

Stay home the day after Thanksgiving (or go to work if you have to). Many people wishing to cut consumerism and keep Christ at the center of Christmas make a point of avoiding stores on Black Friday and the ensuing craziness.

Giving shouldn’t be reserved for one time of year. Choosing a family project or two to do throughout the year helps keep you focused on others, which is also a good practice to teach to children.
-Serving at community kitchens
-Collecting clothing or food to distribute to the homeless.
-Collecting maternity clothing and baby items to give to pregnancy resource centers.
-Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Buy local or handmade only
-Support local business owners whenever possible to support your community.
-Buying handmade or items locally made cuts support to companies that use child labor in foreign countries and those that only pay their workers pennies a day.

Good gifts don’t have to be new.
-Craigslist, thrift stores and yard sales are great places to find gifts for people that usually just need a little bit of TLC.

Gift Ideas

Make your own presents
-Anything goes. If you’re at a loss for things to make, books are available at the library full of homemade gift ideas or you can do an Internet search.

If you would want a few ideas, here's what I've done recently for my family:

- I-spy bags

- Big hooded towels

- Crayon rolls

- Crocheted hats and slippers

- Babysitting vouchers for siblings with kids

- Calender with pics of our family for the grandparents

- Creating story books

- Meals - Little cards with a selection of appetizers, entrees and desserts

Give to charity instead of buying presents
-Give to a person’s favorite charity, or if they don’t have one, find one that supports a cause dear to them. www.charitynavigator.org helps you find charities and also lets you know how much of your donation goes to administration costs and how much goes to the intended party. We love Gospel for Asia, Compassion International and Bethany Children's Services.

Buy things that people need and will use often. It doesn’t have to be a surprise. Finding out what someone needs reduces the chance that your gift will just end up in a yard sale.
-School supplies
-Gift cards to the college bookstore (or other store a person frequently shops at)
-Family games
-Supplies for a favorite hobby
-Have a list of items that you are looking for available to help others shopping for you - we have a family website with a Gift Ideas section.

Give your time/service
-Yard work
-Projects around the house
-Prepare a meal for a loved one and eat with them

Teach someone a skill that they want to learn that you’re good at
-Sewing
-Canning
-Knitting/ Crocheting
-Wood working
-Home repair

-How to change oil and a tire

Some families are cutting back on gifts this year because of the economy and explaining to their kids that Christmas won't be as big this year. What if you cut back on how much you spend, but make Christmas bigger than ever. Strengthen relationships this Advent season. Make lasting, meaningful memories. Give your presence.

Shalom,

Nina

A Nasty Truth

Whenever someone wants to sell something, they usually give all of the pros and none of the cons - or very sugary versions of the cons. Well, I believe in honesty and integrity and so I will let you in on my true feelings toward cloth diapers - what I don't like about them and why I still love to use them.

My problem with cloth diapers is cleaning the poopies. It's just gross. It's gross with a disposable diaper (which, did you know that you are supposed to dump the poop in the toilet before you throw those away?) but it's nastier with cloth because you've got to get your hands in there and get the poop off before you throw it in the wash. When we first started cloth diapering, I dunked the diaper in the toilet to get the poo off. That's what I read that your supposed to do. Yuck. Then we upgraded to our toilet sprayer. It has its advantages over the dunking for sure, but it doesn't change the fact that it's still poop! Sometimes I have flashbacks to when I worked in an assisted living center changing super-sized "briefs." Shudder.

Well, then, why do I use them even though I'm sometimes tempted to use our long-distance-travel disposable diaper stash? Ok, I confess, sometimes I do use them when I know there will be poo coming soon, but for the most part, it's all cloth at my house. Even though I sometimes get so disgusted about cleaning the poop that I contemplate just hiding it somewhere until my husband gets home, I can usually just put myself into diaper-cleanup-mode and be done with the task without even thinking about it.

And then there are the real perks:

- My daughters' reproductive organs aren't constantly being exposed to nasty chemicals

- They hold diarrhea like you would not believe. Honestly, the girls both had a nasty bug and we put disposables on them thinking that they would be better, but they leaked everywhere (ew) while the cloth diapers held everything in.

- I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that when I run out of diapers, I just have to go into the laundry room and put away that load of laundry that I've been putting off and, just like that, I have more diapers. Hurray for saving money!

- They're cute. I love showing them off.

- Cloth diapers are also wonderful for tall, skinny babies. My kids all have tiny waists and the pants that fit their waists are usually way too short. But since cloth diapers are thicker they keep pants on well and my girls' ankles stay covered.

The truth is there are days when I get into the mindset that disposables are more convenient, but then I remember that it's just what I was conditioned to believe. (Thank you advertising!) Because in the end, a poopy diaper is still a poopy diaper, no matter what kind of diaper it is.

The Unknown Rewards of the Red Raspberry Leaf

Here's a great article written by Joy Mary that outlines some of the benefits of drinking red raspberry leaf tea. Enjoy!

When most think of Raspberry, they think of only the berries themselves. Yet the nutrition found in the Red Raspberry Leaf at least equals its fruit! Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is a special source of benefit to women.

First, many feel that PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) is caused by hormonal imbalance. The rise and then sudden drop in estrogen levels through a woman's cycle can cause a variety of symptoms, including cramps. Red raspberry leaf is one of several herbs that has been used for many years to alleviate or eliminate this problem. Red Raspberry is also an aid during pregnancy and birth. It is rich in Vitamins C, E, A, and some B complex. "Increased Vitamin A intake in the form of the carotenoids of red raspberry leaf can aid the women's immune system as well as facilitate healthy skin and bone development for the baby." In addition, it is rich in minerals such as potassium and phosphorus. As a source of water-soluble calcium, Raspberry not only aids in bone development of the baby but also provides a needed source of calcium for young girls.

Red Raspberry leaf has for centuries been a valuable aid for women during and after child birth. It aids in the control of pain, the contraction of the uterus, and as a source of other vitamins and minerals- especially calcium- that help in the replacement of lost blood. During the weeks after birth Raspberry tea helps return the uterus to its normal size. Even post-menopausal women have found benefit from Raspberry tea both as an aid in improving uterine tone and as a natural source of calcium.

But Red Raspberry has health benefits beyond women's issues. The tannins in the leaf make it effective in soothing inflammation in the digestive tract and can alleviate diarrhea, especially in children. Red Raspberry may also be used orally to soothe throat or mouth irritations. Externally, its ability to constrict tissues has encouraged some to use the tea as a skin tightener or balm for irritated skin. "The leaf may also be combined with the powdered bark of slippery elm to make a poultice for application to the skin to treat wounds, burns, and scalds."

Preparation of Red Raspberry leaf tea is easy. Place one ounce of dried Raspberry leaves into a pint of boiling water (or half a pound per gallon) and simmer for ten minutes (though some recommend two to three hours to get maximum benefit from them). Drink the tea cold to soothe mouth or throat irritations.

To learn 5 more benefits of the red raspberry leaf, visit More Than Alive, a trusted source of family health information.

Thanks for reading today and I hope that you have your own supply of red raspberry leaf tea in your herbal medicine cabinet. If you haven't gotten any yet or your about to run out, be sure to check out our boxed herbs for some yummy red raspberry leaf tea and a great selection of other herbal remedies!

Shalom,

Nina

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joy_Mary http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Unknown-Rewards-Of-The-Red-Raspberry-Leaf&id=1079861

Getting Started, Part 2

By now you may have decided to do prefolds and covers, or fitteds and covers or AIOS or pockets or some combination of systems. Or you have no clue what I'm talking about and should check out my post, Getting Started, Part 1, that outlines the different types of diapers out there. Even if you haven't narrowed it down yet or you want to try out different systems before you decide what you love (that's what I did), here's some helpful information to get you on the right track.

You need enough diapers to get you through a washing without having to fashion a dish towel diaper wrapped with a plastic grocery bag

As a general rule, the smaller the baby, the more diapers you need. Newborns and babies up to about 9 months will need at least 12 diapers a day. With my last baby I had a dozen infant prefolds and 11 small Thirsties Fab Fitteds to start with (which are awesome, by the way, though I don't know why I didn't just buy 12???). This had me doing laundry every other day. If you plan on going the prefold, contour or fitted route, then plan on buying 4-8 waterproof covers per dozen diapers. If you're using prefolds or contours you'll probably need 6 -8 covers since there is no elastic to trap leaks. The wonderful thing about covers is that you can use them a few times (as long as there's no poop on them) before you need to wash them.

If you're starting out with a bigger baby, you'll need less diapers - about 8-10 diapers per day and 4-6 covers if you're using pfs, contours or fitteds.

If you're using AIOs or pockets, the same rules apply (minus the need for separate covers). One-size pocket diapers usually start fitting best when baby is over a month old and a separate newborn stash is a good thing to have on hand.

When you change your baby's diaper, the smell should not be so bad that it makes your eyes tear - well, for urine that is

A few months into cloth diapering I noticed that my daughter's diapers smelled - really, really, really bad. At one point we took her to the dr. to see if she had some kind of urinary tract infection because they were so stinky after she wet them. Nope, not it. I'd like to say that I immediately figured out the problem. Nope, I didn't. Instead I just tried to get the smell out using various tips I'd read about online. Some helped, but mostly they still had a faint odor after they were washed. Well, I finally grew a brain and realized that the culprit was buildup from soap residue and bacteria, which can happen with cloth diapers if too much detergent is used or it doesn't rinse out all the way. What to do when this happens? Strip 'em.

To keep anything performing in tip-top shape, it needs regular maintenance. Cloth diapers are no exception. They regularly need to be stripped of any detergent built up inside the absorbent layers. To do this, you can simply wash the diapers with hot water and no detergent added. If you see any soap bubbles or a filmy layer in the water, just repeat. Another tip I've read is from someone who adds "three turns around the washer" of Dawn dish soap (or Dawn ultra if that's all you can find) and then uses an extra rinse or two. Monthly stripping of cloth diapers is a good idea. Every time I wash my diapers I add 1/2 c baking soda to the wash and fill the fabric softener cup with vinegar for the rinse cycle. Both are helpful for neutralizing odors and stripping away build up.

Not all detergents are ideal for cloth diapers. Here's a great chart that lets you know what's good and what to avoid.

Keep the Butt Paste away from those diapers!

Not all diaper rash creams are good for your diapers. I learned this one the hard way. Of course, I also learned that those nasty rashes were a result from the build up, so theoretically, if you keep the build up out and change your baby frequently, you won't have to worry about rashes anymore. But just in case...

As I said before, Boudreaux's Butt Paste is not for cloth diapers. The smell stays in there and it stains them really bad. So what, poop stains, too, right? It can, but diaper rash creams that stain diapers can also cause them to repel - the whole moisture barrier thing that makes them so good for your baby's bum makes them not so good for your cloth diapers. If you absolutely must use Butt Paste, or A&D (this stuff leaves a bad smell), or Desitin, use a liner between baby and diaper to minimize damage. Fortunately, there are wonderful mamas out there who designed ointments for use with cloth diapers. Earth Mama Angel Baby created Angel Baby Bottom Balm to be used with cloth diapers. It smells wonderful and can also be used as a family first aid ointment. Punkin Butt Bottom Balm works well, too. Whenever possible, though, try to figure out the reason behind the rash for your baby's sake.

Some kind of easily-accessible receptacle should be in place to minimize poopy-diaper contact

Most people who cloth diaper they're babies have a diaper pail conveniently located next to the toilet so that they could just drop diapers in after cleaning them out. We tried this for a while, but the bathroom with the diaper sprayer was just too small for it. My solution - I use the washing machine. I don't like clutter and I'm trying to live with a lot less stuff, clothes included. With that effort and three small children, I need to do a load of laundry every day. In the morning I simply add my detergent, baking soda and vinegar to my washer, add a little water to dissolve the powder and then toss stuff in as the day goes by. Voila! No stinky diaper pail.

Now I realize that's not feasible for everyone. There are many diaper pail options available out there, however, as well as an array of super-cute diaper pail liners that you just throw in the wash with your diapers. A more cost-effective way to go would be a trash can with a lid (we had a convenient flip-top one) or a bucket with a lid available at any hardware store for a few bucks. Just be sure to decide what you're going to do before you find yourself with a dirty diaper that needs somewhere to go.

Cloth diapers don't need to stay at home when you leave the house

Some cloth diaper religiously no matter where they are, while others use disposable diapers for outings. If you think it'd be best to do the latter, just know that the former can easily be done, not to mention the fact that it's cheaper if you don't have to buy disposables and you don't have to worry about what chemicals are in them. For an outing you will need: 2-4 extra diapers (depending on baby's age and how long you'll be gone), a bag big enough to hold the dirty diapers and some wipes. I use cloth wipes and so I have a small bag that I keep wipes in. I would suggest putting some wet wipes in a Ziploc bag in case you need to do some heavy cleanup and can't find a sink, which only has to happen once for you to make it a regular habit. When you need to change a diaper, just do what you would at home, wrap up the diaper and stick it in your dirty diaper bag.

Any questions? Leave a comment and I'll be sure to get back to you. These were just a few bits of information that I wish I'd had when I was getting started with cloth.

Shalom

Nina

www.shalombeginnings.com

New from Thirsties!

In the last week I've received two e-mails from Thirsties announcing some exciting new products. Here are some features, straight from www.thirstiesbaby.com.

Thirsties Pre-wash
$19.00 each or $32.00 for Pre-Wash and Super Wash Value-Pack

32 fluid ounces (64 loads)

Completely non-toxic solution
100% biodegradable
Custom formulated by a chemist specifically for use in pre-washing diapers
Designed to help loosen and rinse away waste and eliminate bacteria
Antimicrobial ingredient naturally disinfects
Washes completely clean; will not leave residue
Highly concentrated to reduce costs and carbon output
HE Safe
Made in the USA

Thirsties Super Wash
$20.00 each or $32.00 for Pre-Wash and Super Wash Value-Pack

32 fluid ounces (64 loads)

Completely non-toxic solution
100% biodegradable
Odorless & colorless
Custom formulated by a chemist specifically for use in washing cloth diapers
Probiotic solution introduces good bacteria
Reduces odor
Helps prevent diaper rash
Effectively brightens and whitens without harmful additives
Washes completely clean; will not leave residue
Highly concentrated to reduce costs and carbon output
HE Safe
Made in the USA

Thirsties Duo Diaper
$18.50 each

Size One
6-18 lbs (3-8 kg) 0-9 months

Size Two
18-40 lbs (8-18 kg) 9-36+ months

A two-piece diapering system combining an absorbent insert and a waterproof sleeve diaper
An adjustable rise for extended use to suit your growing baby
Two sizes will fit from birth-to-potty
Leg gussets provide superior protection against leaks
Pliable and breathable in 8 fun colors!
Sleeve design for easy stuffing & easy cleaning
Microfiber terry & hemp combo insert for optimal absorption; 7 layers in all!
Use from birth-to-potty and save $1400 over disposables!


Excited! I sure am. The Pre-wash and Super wash should be available in the next week or two and the Duo Diaper is releasing in November, date yet to be announced. As soon as they're ready, I'll be adding them to the site and letting you know!

Shalom
Nina
www.shalombeginnings.com

Getting Started, Part 1

Congratulations! You've decided to venture into the world of Cloth Diapering... now what?

When I decided to begin cloth diapering to cut costs, I figured I'd go online, order some prefolds and covers and then be on my merry way. Right? Not so much. Once my husband reluctantly agreed, I got on the computer and Googled "cloth diaper stores." Wow. There were so many options that I just clicked on the first link. I figured it would take me to a store with some prefold diapers (the ones I had heard about) and a small selection of waterproof covers. Wrong again. Apparently, in the last decade or so, cloth diapering has been revolutionized. It was no longer just flats or prefolds with wool or plastic covers. No, now there were cloth diapers that were shaped like disposable diapers and they had Aplix (like Velcro) closures. Where did these come from? Why hadn't I heard about them? Cloth diapering was nothing like I was expecting.

In case you're not sure of all the CDing (short for cloth diaper - it's a whole subculture with it's own slang!) options available, here's a breakdown of the different types of diapers:

Flats: These are your Grandma's cloth diapers. Remember those big, one-layer pieces of cloth that needed to be folded like Origami and then pinned to stay on baby? Those would be flats. Some people still use them and manufacturers even make them Organic. If you choose flats, you'll need some kind of waterproof cover.

Prefolds: These are basically flats that have been folded for you, hence the name. They are usually folded in layers of 2x4x2 or 4x8x4, meaning that the most layers are in the middle to soak everything up. You can put them out flat, lay your baby on them, fold in the middle between the legs, bring everything up and together and pin or Snappi them closed. You would then put a waterproof cover on and go. Or you can trifold them and snugly fit them into a wrap-style diaper cover and put them on your baby that way. Each person has their preference. I did both ways, depending on how wiggly the baby was. Prefolds and covers are the cheapest way to go.

Contours: These diapers are cut out, or contoured, into a shape similar to that of a disposable diaper. Baby is then put on the diaper, everything is brought up and together and pinned or Snappi'd closed. They usually have an extra couple of layers in the middle, for extra absorbency. These and fitteds were my favorites when I only had one child in diapers. They usually have two sizes - stage 1 and stage 2. Contours also need waterproof covers.

Fitteds: I was so happy when I got my first fitteds. They are much like the contour, in regards to the shape, but they have elastic in the legs to prevent messy leaks and they have either Aplix or Snap closures. So fast and convenient. They can come in a size 1 and size 2 fitting, xs to xl or one-size fits all. Waterproof covers are needed with these as well.

Covers: You'll need covers if you decide to use any of the above-mentioned diapers. Why? Well, if you like holding your baby without getting wet, then you'll appreciate diaper covers. There are lots of different kinds of covers available today. Wrap-style covers go on like a disposable diaper and everything closes in the middle-front with Aplix or snaps. Pull-on covers go on just like a pair of underpants and can be very trim. They're just not the funnest to take off when you're baby has had a blow-out. Side-snapping covers snap closed on both sides and make it more difficult for babies to take them off. Covers come in a variety of sizes, like fitteds. The Thirsties Duo Wrap is a new wrap that comes in 2 stages - 0-9m and 9m plus - that helps you save money by not having to purchase 4 different sizes of cover.

All-in-Ones: Also known as AIOs. These diapers come with the absorbent and waterproof layers in one easy system. AIOs tend to be more expensive but are much more convenient and the most like a disposable diaper. One downside that I noticed when I used AIOs is that they take longer to dry.

Pockets: Pocket diapers are a lot like the AIO, only the absorbent layer is separate and you just stuff it inside the diaper's pocket. This cuts drying time down considerably. It also allows you to add more stuffing for night time or if you just have a heavy wetter. My favorite type of pocket is the one-size pocket. It has Aplix or snap closures and a number of snaps on the front of the diaper that allow you to adjust the size for your baby. These tend to be more expensive, but they are wonderful if you have more than one baby in diapers at once.

And of course, there are hybrids like the Thirsties Pocket AIO, that don't fit into one specific category but are designed to make cloth diapering easier for you.

Shalom,
Nina
http://www.shalombeginnings.com/

Cloth Diapering in a Nutshell

I stumbled into the world of cloth diapers completely unaware of what I'd find. My discoveries were amazing. There really is a whole cloth diaper subculture! Diapers can be cute! Rinsing poo off of a cloth diaper can be almost fun if you have a spray nozzle thingy!

So here are a few tips to beginners who might be as clueless as I was:

In case you're on the fence about whether you should try cloth diapering, you should know that these are not your mom's cloth diapers. Gone are the huge squares that require the folding skills of an origami master. They have been replaced by prefolds (very cheap), fitted diapers, pocket diapers and all-in-ones (not very cheap). There are even some hybrids out there! (No they will not save you money on gas). What's better is that you won't risk stabbing that wriggling toddler with a diaper pin. There are wonderful elastic, T-shaped things with little claws that keep the diaper together called Snappis. Or better than that, Velcro! Many of the cloth diapers made today have snap or Velcro closures that make diapering your baby a breeze. And once you have the diaper on, you just put on a pretty, waterproof diaper cover. Yes, I said pretty. Covers today come in all sorts of colors and patterns. You won't want to cover them up!

If you're in this to save a lot of money consider buying used diapers. Yes, used as in already been peed and pooped in. Don't worry, the baby won't care. While cloth diapers are much cheaper than disposables, you may be enticed by the beautiful designer diapers that cost a lot. If you're like me and you really want them but don't want to pay full price, you'll find that there are other ways to get your hands on them. Diaper Swappers has an online forum where moms (or dads) can post their used diapers and accessories. Be careful, you may become addicted. They offer good savings on diapers and they can also let you know how well they worked for their baby's shape. If only Target would buy back used disposable diapers...

Experiment. This is the best way to find out what will work best for your baby. As I said before, there are so many different kinds of diapers out there; it's hard to know what your favorite will be unless you try them all. A great way to do this is with a sample package. Many cloth diaper retailers offer a beginner's package that comes with a combination of prefolds and covers, fitteds and all-in-ones. If you have friends that cloth diaper you can ask if they would lend you some diapers for a couple of days so you can get a feel for them.

If you have good sewing skills (or even not so good sewing skills) you can make your own cloth diapers. There are many patterns and instructions online for making your own diapers. If you're good at it you could even sell them for some extra cash.

Lastly, and most importantly, get a spray nozzle thingy! "What the heck is she talking about," you may wonder. I am talking about a nozzle that attaches to your toilet that you use to spray the mess out of the cloth diaper. When I first began cloth diapering I would cringe when I saw my daughter grunt and turn various shades of red and purple. "Great," I thought, "I've got to stick my hand in the toilet and swish the diaper around and then move it to the sink because I won't be able to get it all off. Why did I get into cloth diapering, again?" I was very glad when I went to a friend's house and used the spray nozzle that was attached to her toilet. Not only does it allow you to get everything off of the diaper, but it's also fun for those of us who like instant gratification. (I am easily amused). You will have to wring out the diaper before you throw it in the diaper pail, but at least it's not poopy. Being a parent is messy business.

*Many Web sites carry a spray nozzle for around $35. If that's out of your price range (it was for me) go the hardware store and get a nozzle for the kitchen sink and you'll need a few connectors to attach it to your toilet. It's cheaper. Ask the employees at the hardware store for help if you have no idea what I'm talking about, they'll just need to know what size you need.

Shalom Beginnings

Shalom means peace, whole,  complete and perfect. What a beautiful way to begin life. To me, babies are peaceful, perfect little beings and I want to do what I can to make sure they are well taken care of. Babies need to be loved, held, nurtured, breastfed. Not only does it matter greatly what's going into their tummies, but also what's being put on their skin.

Today, many products aimed at families with young children contain harmful chemicals. In fact, some disposable diaper companies won't even disclose what chemicals they use, though it's known that Sodium polyacrylate, the chemical that makes them so absorbant, is linked to TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome). Not only do disposable diapers contain a whole host of unknown chemicals, but many baby soaps, creams and lotions have harmful ingredients as well. (To search leading products and what's in them, check out Skin Deep). Kinda scary.

Thankfully, there is an alternative. As more people become aware of the potential harm these products could have on their children, they set out to find a solution. Many mom-led companies have been started by those who felt the need to develop products for babies that were both safe and efficient and in the case of cloth diapers, much less expensive. Rumparooz diapers was created for the owner's second daughter, who was so sensitive to disposable diapers that she could only spend a few hours in them. Erin Kimmett, CEO of Thirsties diapers puts it this way, "We honestly believe we are in the best possible business. We believe this because you share in our values for happy and healthy baby beginnings, and by virtue of such you continue the fight for sound futures."

It's not just the mamas making cloth diapers who are concerned about the well-being of your babies. Earth Mama Angel Baby produces only organic ingredients and their products (which also smell absolutely wonderful) earn ratings of 0 toxicity by Skin Deep. They carry a large line of products for pregnancy through postpartum and breastfeeding that are designed to make sure that babies get only the best.

As a mama concerned about the quality and safety of the products that I use on my children, I feel priveleged to offer these products that have been produced by like-minded people. Everything I offer has been tried personally or has been highly recommended with a lot of positive feedback. If I wouldn't use it, I wouldn't expect you to, either. Please remember to visit Skin Deep's website, the link is above.

Shalom
Nina Nelson
http://www.shalombeginnings.com/