Flats and Handwashing Challenge: The Conclusion

Well, I/we did it for a whole week... Matt asked "are we doing it again next year?"  Well, the jury is still out on that one.  It was a bit crazy because I had an "extracurricular" activity that week so the hand washing was rough that night.  Here are some of my final thoughts on the challenge:

Handwashing was definitely not as hard as I thought it would be, but I did get frustrated with trying to get poo off of diapers.  I had stains on ever poo diaper and that just worried me that I wasn't getting them clean enough.  I know that's silly because even my washing machine doesn't always get the poo stains off of diapers (or onesies from the days of Jack's newborn poo explosions).  I could do it if I had to... but I don't think it is right for my family.  We're lucky enough to have a washer and dryer and I will continue to use them for our diapers.  I did enjoy the one day (Saturday) I was able to wash diapers first thing in the morning and put them outside to dry.  The flats were dry in less than 2 hours and the covers and pockets were dry in less than 6 (but more than 2).

Using flats, I think I will absolutely use flats more often.  They were less bulky than any prefold I had tried using before and I was able to make sure they fit Christopher really well!  I was always impressed with how trim they were.  I used both pins and Snappis with the flats and using a pin through a flat was way easier than the other diapers with which I had tried to use pins.  I am currently debating on whether or not to use them while traveling in the future.  They dry so quickly and are trim enough to be packed.  Maybe I'll get (and use) newborn sized flats if and when we're ever blessed with another baby.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 4 - Musings on Handwashing

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For a week I will be using only flat cloth diapers (in covers or stuffed in pocket diapers) and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants internationally!  


Today's topic hosted by Kim at DDL is: Thoughts on Handwashing (so far)


Handwashing overall has not been too bad.  In fact, the routine takes less time than our usual wash routine but I attribute that to the fact that I'm doing smaller loads of diapers and apply the caveat that I'm not entirely sure how well I'm actually getting them rinsed.  At this point I am just feeling extremely grateful to have a washer and dryer to use the rest of the time.  My arms and back are getting a bit tired, but maybe that's the fact that I just finished a load of diapers that's making me say that.... Maybe this post should've been titled "Dear W/D, I miss you."


Matt helped me make a camp style washer to use, but in all reality I just use the plunger and the bucket.  The lid seemed to be more hassle then it was worth to me.

My 5 gallon bucket with diapers being washed... "Soap cycle"

Last night I had to do 2 loads of diapers because Christopher went through so many... tonight it was one small load.  I think what gave me more of a benefit on tonight's wash is that I got into a good routine of letting covers air dry and rotating throughout the day because I was home from work this afternoon and doing all of the diaper changes. 

Flats and Handwashing: Day 3 - Favorite Uses

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For a week I will be using only flat cloth diapers (in covers or stuffed in pocket diapers) and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants internationally!  


Today's topic hosted by Kim at DDL is: Favorite Way to Use Flats

If you would've asked me what my favorite use for flat cloth diapers a month ago, I would've immediately imagined the tiny things you can buy made by Gerber and would've answered "burp cloths."

At this point I know, I am not crazy about using them as pad folded in a cover or in a pocket so far.  They are REALLY bulky this way at least on Christopher (almost 7 months old and ~19 lbs.).  On a bigger baby or toddler maybe they wouldn't look so bulky.

So far, my favorite fold is the Happy Anteater.  It is very trim and easy to do... in fact I can actually use a pin to secure it, but in all reality I do not need to secure the flat I could just as easily put the cover on top.

The Happy Anteater, before it goes on baby's bum!

For those of you who have used flat cloth diapers, what is your favorite use?

Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 2 - Suppplies

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For a week I will be using only flat cloth diapers (in covers or stuffed in pocket diapers) and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants internationally!  


Today's topic hosted by Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry is: What Supplies I am Using

• Cloth-eez Square Birdseye Flat Cloth Diapers from Green Mountain Diapers unbleached in size large.  I had to purchase these because we didn't have flat cloth diapers and my cost plus shipping for 1 dozen was $33.75 (which is less than a jumbo box of name-brand disposable diapers from Babies R Us).
• A very basic camp style washer made for me by my husband out of a 5 gallon bucket and a plunger from Home Depot.  We basically used Kim's instructions found here.
• Existing covers and pockets; no cost to me at this point but I am using an assortment of Flip, Best Bottoms, Rumparooz, BumGenius, Happy Heiny's and Kawaii covers/pockets which you can find pretty much every online cloth diaper retailer.  I plan on sharing my favorite of these to use with flats at the end of the challenge.
• 2 night time diapers (only 1 per night) in rotation if needed.  My favorite nighttime diapers for Christopher are Sustainablebabyish snapless multi-fitteds.
• Snappis (and pins, though I doubt I will use these often I just have some from a baby shower).
• Rockin' Green Classic Rock
• Towel to press as much moisture out of the diapers as possible.
• Drying rack, clip pants hangers, and clothes pins if I have the chance to dry outside.
• Maybe an iron to sanitize and speed dry some flats

Mommy pinned a flat diaper on me... and didn't poke either one of us!

I use hangers to hang the covers & pockets!

Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 1 - Expectations

I am taking part in the Second Annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry.  For a week I will be using only flat cloth diapers (in covers or stuffed in pocket diapers) and handwashing them in an effort to prove that cloth diapering can be affordable and accessible to all.  You can learn more about the rules and why this challenge was started by visiting the announcement post.  This year there are over 450 participants internationally!  


Today's topic hosted by Kim at Dirty Diaper Laundry is: What do I Expect to Learn?

I hope to learn how to hand wash laundry using a camp style washer and a few flat cloth diaper folds... and honestly I am hoping to learn if I can hack it.  Let's be real, my life is busy enough with kids but add cloth diapers to the mix it got a little busier... add the fact that I'll be hand washing them this week and needless to say, I'm a bit intimidated.  It is for a good cause though.


Last night I started a little early so I could attempt a couple of flat diaper folds for "fun".  (Yes, this is what happens when you're a cloth diapering mom, diaper challenges and diaper folds are fun.)  I changed Christopher into a flat with a cover to try a fold called the "diaper bag fold".  I for his last diaper change before he was changed into a nighttime diaper was using the "happy anteater" fold.  I don't know who names diaper folds, but I personally enjoy just saying Christopher's wearing a "happy anteater" diaper.


Starting to use flats a little early also gave me the opportunity to stop using our pockets with multi-layer inserts (typically microfiber) & all-in-one diapers and get the last machine washed load finished before packing our usual diapers away for a week.  I also washed the two flat diapers and covers that were used Sunday... wow, I am going to have some toned arms considering that is going to be half of a typical load for this week.  Yikes!

These were easily dry this morning!

Challenge... Accepted!

(Anyone get my "How I Met Your Mother" reference?)  If being a mother of 2 that works full-time outside the home doesn't keep my evenings and weekends busy enough I did something a little crazy...

I signed up for the 2012 Flats and Handwashing Challenge that starts May 21st and goes through May 27th. You can read the rules (and sign up if you want to participate) here.  Basically it means no washer or dryer and nothing with more than 1 layer of absorbency.  A number of participants are making their own flats out of old t shirts or receiving blankets.

I think part of me is interested to see if I could hack it if the power ever went out or if we took our cloth diapers on the road/camping. I was probably also motivated by all of these historical novels set in the late 1800s I've been reading on my Nook as of late... I know I'm a nerd [for multiple reasons]!

Another wonderful part of this week is to raise awareness about cloth diapers that are a very real option for low-income families that may not be able to afford disposable diapers.  Central Ohio has a wonderful organization that provides cloth diapers to low-income families in our area.  Be sure to check them out on Facebook!

Now I have committed to doing the washing, but Matt said he'll help me make a camp style washer.  Also, since I work full-time outside of the home and my mom watches our boys during the day we will be using flats as inserts pockets most of the time.  I am interested in trying some of the different folds out there when I'm the one doing the diaper changes, but we'll see how much I actually end up doing.  It will definitely be a challenge!

I'll also be trying to post daily on different topics of hand washing, types of flat diaper folds, the economics of this challenge, etc.  Let me know if you have any suggestions on what you'd like me to write about this coming week!

Happy Half-birthday Christopher!

I can not believe my baby boy is halfway to his first birthday!  He is at a very fun age for me... he is sitting, cracking up at funny things (especially his big brother!), getting into toys a LOT, and getting to enjoy his first bits of solid food.  Here's my big boy:

Happy boy in his exersaucer!

No Mom, I want to be silly not take pictures!

Good lookin' boy!

With his bear on the blanket his Bapie made him.

Enjoying his cereal + breast milk... must have been bad timing because it looks like he doesn't like it but he is usually lunging for the spoon!

After his first serving of cereal... that is spilled  cereal on the high chair tray.  Somebody thinks it's fun to tip bowls over already!