Green Mom - Happy Mom

This is quite possibly one of the most challenging aspects of parenting. If your child is not sleeping that means you are not sleeping, this is a very slippery slope that I have had some first hand experience with. My daughter is not a “sleeper”. The first few weeks were okay, she managed to get her days and nights organized quickly, but when she was around 8 weeks or so her sleep pattern (or lack there of) started to show itself.

I spoke with my pediatrician who basically said that there wasn’t a whole lot we could do except ride it out as this too shall pass. Boy, was he wrong. By the time she was 9 months old I was completely exhausted, on the verge of crying all the time, and she was just as tired. I should mention here that I was breastfeeding exclusivly (she had little or no interest in solid foods) and co sleeping. Neither of us were sleeping more than 1-2 hours at a time. A good night maybe had a 5 hour stretch, but those were few and far between.

I started digging on line for “infant sleep solutions”. I came across some “sleep training” e-books, but most of them were a take on letting a baby “cry it out” which I wanted no parts of. At the time I was part of forum from using Hypnobabies for my birth, so I posted a plea for advice on my situation as I knew most of these moms were like minded about infant sleep. 8 different moms told me to buy and read The No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. What wonderful advice!

Pantley gives you 3 basic principles to work with. One is to understand how infant sleep patterns develop and what that means for a realistic night sleep for you and your baby. Two is to incorporate a “lovey” or comfort item. Three is to develop positive sleep associations which in time will allow your baby to learn how to self sooth and fall back to sleep with out you.

It took about two weeks of applying the principles from The No Cry Sleep Solution before we started to see some results. During the process I tried putting her in her crib instead of in our bed and that made a difference almost immediately. I think she just wanted her own space and didn’t need me as much as I thought she did. By the time she was 10 months we were down to 2-3 night wakings, by 12-13 months we were down to 1 and by this past Thanksgiving she started sleeping through the night.

We still have the occasional bad night when she is cutting teeth or has had an overstimulated day with her Grandparents, but all in all lack of sleep is a thing of the past.

When I was pregnant with my daughter I did all sort of searching online for all types of products, from breast pumps and nursing bras to developmental toys and everything in between. I can’t remember how I discovered baby carriers but once I did I went a little crazy! I purchased one of every style I found. I now have 3 ring slings, a hip style Mei Tai, 2 pouch slings, 2 wraps and an Ergo Baby.

I didn’t find the Ergo Baby carrier until well after I had my baby which was unfortunate because it is the only one I use, especially now that she is 19 months old and 25 pounds. The slings were great when she was a newborn. They are lighter and cooler which was a nice feature as she was a June baby. But I have a bad back and the slings would get uncomfortable pretty fast, as did the Mei Tai and pouches. The wrap was nice too, great for around the house or if we were going for a long walk as it distributed the weight evenly over my shoulders and hips, but I couldn’t use it much until fall because we would both get too warm. But then I found the Ergo Baby carrier and I haven’t touched the other ones since.

It is really comfortable, super easy to use and my daughter seems happier in it as well. She has a little more “freedom” in the Ergo Baby then the other style carriers. I would definitely recommend it to any mom or dad looking for a baby carrier.
Purchase ERGO baby carriers here

So in the world of cloth diapers you have a few different “countries”…

• Pre Folds
• Fitted
• Contour
• Vinyl covers
• Wool and Fleece covers
• Pocket style
• All in Ones

Prefold cloth diapers are basically what our mother and/or grandmother used. If you are on a budget, prefolds are the most economical cloth diapering system available. They are comfortably soft and absorbent and they are also great for stuffing pocket diapers or as a stand alone cloth diaper with any wrap style diaper cover. Prefolds are available bleached and unbleached and are made from 100% heavyweight cotton twill, as well as super absorbent hemp fleece prefolds. Both styles stand up to vigorous washing and drying - these diapers will last you through more than one child.

Fitted cloth diapers do not require folding and generally fasten in the front or on the side with velcro or snap closures. They’re gathered or elasticized at the legs and waists and require an additional cloth diaper cover as they do not have a waterproof outer material to keep moisture from leaking through. Fitted cloth diapers have a more trim fit on your baby, are great for everyday use and fit under baby clothing easily. They are available in organic cotton, fleece knits and 100% custom milled cotton.

Contour style cloth diapers are hourglass in shape and do not require any folding. They’re not fitted at the legs or waist and need to be secured with diaper pins, snappi fasteners, or with a wrap styled diaper cover. They have a trimmer fit in the crotch compared to prefolds but still provide adequate absorbancy where you need it most. Contour diapers are simple in design allowing for adjustability in the rise and dry quickly. These are an economical alternative to fitted diapers and are fairly easy to use.

As mentioned above, all prefold, contour and fitted cloth diapers require a waterproof cover. The industry favorite is the Bummis Super Whisper Wrap due to its affordability and ability to hold up over time. Other options include Bummis and Imse Vimse. If you prefer a natural alternative, wool covers are fabulous. Wool diaper covers are not as trim as waterproof covers, but what they lose in trimness they make up for in absorbency and protection as untreated wool can absorb more than one third its weight in moisture before it even begins to feel wet. Yet another option in diaper covers is fleece. Fleece diaper covers are soft, durable and functional but like their wool counterparts, are not as trim in fit.

Pocket style cloth diapers have been coined to be the “modern cloth diaper”. They are extremely versatile and easy to use. They are a two part diaper system consisting of a diaper cover and an absorbent insert. There is an inner stay dry material that rests against baby’s skin that is sewn to a waterproof outer material. The two sides come together to make a pocket that runs the width and length of the diaper cover. The insert is tucked into the pocket to absorb moisture that passes through the pocket diaper’s inner material, keeping baby’s skin dry. A great choice for heavy wetters and night time as pocket diapers allow you to tailor the absorption needs of your baby by adding additional inserts. These are also great for when you are out and about as they function like a disposable.

All in one cloth diapers have the absorbent layer integrated into the waterproof outer layer. It goes on in one step. These cloth diapers are the easiest and most leak proof diapers to use. They fasten with snaps or velcro and work like the ease of a disposable. NO diaper cover required.

If you are still unsure of what style you would like to use, a lot of cloth diaper retailers will allow you to try one of each style they carry to have a “test run” before you make a large purchase. Some require you to purchase them where as other will allow you to return the cloth diapers you didn’t like and add them to their secondhand collection. I have another post dedicated to retailers, their products and services they have to offer. Happy shopping!