The New "Lock Your Doors"

People had to learn to lock their doors to increase the protection of their homes or cars.  This is just like that.  People need to learn what to do with any information that can identify who they are.  Let me talk to you about Personal Identity Information (PII).  PII is anything that can be used to identify you.  It includes name, address, phone number, email address, birthdate, zip code, log in usernames, passwords, fingerprints, DNA, and more.

Everything has gone digital: bank records, voting records, medical records, school records, social media, etc.  You are out there in the world, exposed more now than ever before.  Your information is literally at anyone's fingertips.  This is why it is so important to be more cautious about who you share that information with and how you share it.

Companies are always asking for more, but their policies do not protect you as a consumer.  So, when you are standing in person at the check out and they ask for your phone number or email address, they are trying to get more of your information to use to market or even SELL to other companies to use to try to target you as a consumer.  You do not need to give out this information.  Plus, you don't gain from doing it.  They tell you that it's to get coupons or special promotions in the mail, but you can find those if you are looking.  They don't need your information for you to get theirs.  So, just politely decline.  Or, set up a dummy email account that is used strictly for companies to target.  Just don't use that email for financial or personal interactions.

Don't be this person!

When on social media, be cautious.  Make your security settings private, and check in on them every few months (because things do change.)  On your own page, do not post things like your phone number, email address, physical address, even geolocation.  Wait to post your vacation pictures until you are back home.  I know it's neat to share, but if you are away from home, the last thing you want to do is tell people "Hey!  There's an empty house, and here's the address!"  You don't know who the "friends of your friends" are and who can see what you wrote when someone else "likes" it.  When you are on a public page, do not post your paypal address, zip code, phone numbers, or physical address.  You don't know who else is watching and who can gain that information.  If you need to get that information to one person/company for whatever reason, then send it in a Private Message (PM.)  That way, you have a record of who you gave that information to and why.

Try to keep a record of who you give information to.  When you are in person, write down what companies you used your credit card at, which ones asked for your phone number or email address, and who you gave a business card to.  When online, print screen, print screen, print screen.  Keep a picture file on your computer (and back it up somewhere else) and dump all the print screens there.  That way, if something goes wrong, you have a record of when and who has your information.

The only way to protect yourself is to protect your PII.  The internet has made many things faster and more convenient, but protecting your information is not one of those things.  The internet has made that harder and more tedious.

Is it worth it?

When I was looking for newborn cloth diaper choices, I had to ask myself what kind of cloth diaper I wanted to start with.  As I asked for advice, most people kept telling me to just use prefolds and covers because it was the cheapest way to go.  What about the easiest?  Isn't having sleepless nights and a brand new baby hard enough?  I kept hearing from people that they were worried about the cost of using AIO or Pocket newborn sized diapers.  So, is it really worth it?

Little Man at 4 weeks.

I would have to say yes.  The added cost of AIO and Pocket newborn sized diapers is worth it...as long as you get what you need.  The reason it is worth it is because they are so easy to use.  Those middle of the night diaper changes can be done practically in your sleep.  You don't have to worry about folding, tucking, pinning or remembering the cover.  You can get help from others without too much fuss.  Your husband, mother, nurses, or whoever else is around to help won't mind the simple put on and snap (or velcro) shut the diaper....one step, just like a disposable.  There is no intimidation like with prefolds and covers.

Little Man at 6 weeks.

The diapers that I loved the most from day one were the Gro-Via.  They fit perfectly, didn't leak and had a snap down feature in the front that protected the umbilical cord for the first week.  I just wish that they would have lasted longer!  My second favorites were the Bumcessories and Wizard Uno.  They worked from day one.  They were also the easiest to clean.  The diapers that lasted the longest for us were the Bumcessories, Little Smartis, Wizard Uno and FuzziBunz Perfect Size Small.

The diapers are only used for a short time.  Some go for 8 weeks, others can last 12 weeks.  Some you can't use until 2-4 weeks, some you can start right away.  But, because of this...the diapers are not usually worn out after they are done being used.  So, the reason why I think that AIO and Pocket newborn diapers are worth it is because you can pass them on!  You can sell your diapers for a reasonable price and I'd expect that if they were well cared for, you could get 65-80% of what you paid for them.  Or, if you had a friend or two that are expecting a few months before or after you, you could buy a stash together and split the cost!  You can also find some really great rental programs for newborn cloth diapers.  Some of them have just one type of diaper, others have multiple different brands and styles to use so that you can find the right diaper for you.  The rental programs are great because you use the diapers as long as you need them, then you send them back.  It's a fraction of the cost of having a full stash and you don't have to deal with the leftover diapers when you're done using them.

Now, I'm not saying that prefolds and covers are not a good choice.  You could always have half a stash of prefolds and half of AIOs.  You could also choose to just use prefolds and covers too.  Prefolds and covers are easier to wash for the most part and they are more economical.  They can also be intimidating to use because of the extra steps.  I have to admit that I haven't given prefolds and covers a good try, but I am hoping to get the opportunity to soon.

The other side of the coin is to go with one size diapers.  That is what we did with Little Man.  This is the most economical choice of all.  The biggest downsize is that they are so bulky on a little one.  You have to use a size larger clothing to accommodate all the extra fluff.  Plus, many of them are not easy to use on a baby before 6 weeks.  That is where newborn sized diapers come into play....to bridge the gap.

I'd love to hear about what choice you make!

Finding Newborn Cloth Diapers

Finding diapers can be a time consuming process.  For those of us who are addicted to cloth (yes, it really does happen), we don't mind spending our free time while the kids sleep searching the web for tips on new and exciting cloth diapers.  For those of you who are new to cloth, it can be overwhelming.  I wrote a post a while back explaining some of the details of cloth diapering.  Now I'm going to share some of my favorite tips to finding diapers, specifically for your newborn.

Online - You can spend hours, days, even months searching all of the thousands of online stores and bargain places to find cloth diapers.  Here were my favorite places to look when I was searching for newborn diapers for Peanut.

• Wee Little Changes - They have a great Newborn Diaper rental program.  The diapers are all pocket or AIO, so they are super easy to use and clean.  Everything is so easy to find in their online store.  They have great discounts and plenty of selections of great products.
• EcoBuns - They have a very interesting "Try before you buy" program.  You can try out 5 different types of diapers and some accessories for 2 weeks for $25.  This is really great if you are starting out and you are not quite sure if you want to cloth diaper or if you are unsure of what kind of diaper you want to use.
• Go Green Diapers - They are one of my favorites for economical diapers and wetbags.  They also have great products like 'adapt-a-snap' that can make your snap diapers into aplix diapers without having to alter them by sewing.
• Cloth Diapers Inc. - They make the most amazing wipe spray.  It has a great soft scent and witch hazel to help heal red little bottoms.  It cleans really well.
• Etsy - Is a great place to find WAHM (Work at Home Mom) made cloth diapers.  Support a Mom, support a family!
• Hyena Cart - Another great resource to find some amazing WAHM products.

In stores - If you would prefer to shop in person so you can look and feel diapers.

• Find a brand that you like and search for their 'Where To Buy' page.  You can usually look up a store near you there.  For example:  FuzziBunz Where To Buy
• There are chain stores that are starting to carry cloth diapers.  One of them is Walmart!  The brand is Mabu Baby.  You can find your local Walmart here.

eBay and Craigslist -

• You can always look for diapers on eBay.  I would be very cautious about working only with people that have plenty of positive feedback and only buy things that are new.
• If you are going to look for diapers on Craigslist, be very cautious.  Check the diapers over carefully for stains, worn fabric, snaps, velcro and elastic.  Ask how they've been washed.  Feel free to decline if you are unsure.  Always know that there can be a risk when you buy used diapers.  If you have a friend that is a seasoned cloth diaperer, take them along to see the diapers before you buy.

Enter giveaways -

• Cloth Diaper Giveaways - I love to use them to find new cloth diaper giveaway opportunities.  I also love that they also advertise cloth diaper accessories too.
• Cloth Diaper Contests and Giveaways - They also list giveaways, but they also do giveaways and reviews of their own too!

Make your own -

• If you are good with a sewing machine (or have the patience to learn), then making your own diapers can be fun and worth the savings!
• You can find patterns on Etsy.
• You can also find free patterns here and here.
• Just remember that diaper companies have patents on their designs, so if you get into the business of making diapers to sell, please do research on your design to make sure that it's not already patented.  Some companies will license you to be registered to recreate their designs.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Questions Answered

Hello I had a question for you. Will a baby naturally end up sleeping through the night? Like my 11 week old daughter is on a pretty normal 3 hour schedule. She eats around 5 and then I end up waking her up at about 8-9ish to eat one more time before I go to bed, and she ends up waking up around 3-4 to eat and again between 6-7. When will she eliminate the 3-4 feeding? I just mainly want to breastfeed and not do cereal or anything. She has only had breastmilk so far. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. By the way, I love your blog. :-) As a young 22 year old wife and mother I appreciate the wholesomeness that is here. Thanks again.

By MrsLucas

Ah, yes....the age long question implored by all of us sleep deprived parents.  I can assure you that sleep will come again and it gets better with age (and then worse as they get to be teenagers, but that's a whole different story!).    Every child is different, just like every family is different.  It just takes some time to figure out what works for you.

To answer Mrs.Lucas' questions specifically, I will say this.  It is amazing that your 11 week old little one has a pattern already!  That is a very good sign.  Have you ever tried just letting her sleep without waking her up at 8 or 9?  I only ask this because our second child would go to bed at 6:30pm and would sleep until about 2am or 3am.  The middle of the night feeding will eventually work itself out of the schedule and usually it's the first one to go.  As for timing, it is different with every child.  You will be able to see cycles soon though.  The middle of the night feeding will go away for a night or two and then come back.  It is perfectly normal for regression to occur just before a good change happens.  I would never worry about middle of the night needs until at least 6 months.  After that point, then you can start working towards establishing good sleep patterns.  I always refer to this website when I have questions.  I am also a very schedule oriented person (and my kids are too, luckily), so I love to refer to this website too.

On a side note:  Be wary of people that urge you to start cereals, especially when you don't want to.  It won't help your little one sleep through the night, that just happens to be a coincidence that when they are ready to start solids that they are also ready for longer night sleep periods.  Talk to your doctor about it at her next appointment.  (If the advice that you get just doesn't sit right with your instincts, then I urge you to get a second opinion from another doctor.)  Exclusively breastfeeding until 6 months (give or take) is a very healthy way to go and it's supported by the APA.  Our Little Man had to start on cereals at 4 months and it was a very difficult decision because I was determined that he wasn't going to have anything but breast milk until 6 months.  The reason we started was because he was ready for it.  He was reaching for my spoon, making mouthing motions with his mouth and more importantly his digestive system was ready for it.  He needed the additional nutrition.  (We have been blessed to have such an amazing Pediatrician work with our children!  He is full of amazing advice and is very conscience of nutrition and breastfeeding.  Plus, he loves our cloth diapers too!!!)   So, follow what you want for your child, trust your instincts, and get good advice from a doctor that will help guide you on your journey.

And we're back to sleep:  An important thing to do for starting good sleep habits is to get a good bedtime routine down.  This will help your little one learn the cues that bedtime is near.  We would do a little bath followed by a nice rub with lotion.  Then I would nurse my little one to sleep (and rock to sleep if they didn't fall asleep while eating). I would then gently tuck them into bed.  When nursing stops is when we start to introduce stories (mainly so I could still get some cuddle time in, but it's also good for them too).  We would start the routine at the same time every night.  I am an insomniac and the one thing that I've learned (which applies to babies too) is that a night time schedule is very important to stick to.  Even getting off by a half an hour can make a difference; maybe not that night, but definitely the next and it will affect nap time too.

As she gets older, then it will be time to decide what you and her need from your sleep routines.  I personally have the middle road belief of 'parenting to sleep'.  I rock and nurse my babies to sleep and then tuck them in, and we do this until they are a year or two old.  I don't like the Farber method of 'crying it out', but I also don't agree with co-sleeping either.  We learned that with our son, he has to cry himself to sleep.  Once we figured that out and kept our night time rituals the same, it was an easy and painless thing for all of us.  He puts himself to sleep very easily now, even when he wakes in the night.  That first week of figuring this out was agony, but just stick with your plan (whichever one you choose) and it will work.  The important thing is consistency and patience.  If you give in once, it is that much harder to get back on track.

Thank you so much for the very kind compliment.  I greatly appreciate that you felt comfortable enough to ask me these questions.  I will never claim to 'have it all figured out'....in fact, I really don't.  I just know what has taken us years (and a couple kids) to figure out and if some of my experiences can help someone else, then I love to share them.

I would love to start doing a question and answer post routinely.  If you ever have any questions or are curious about something that you think I might have some interesting information on, please feel free to email me at obsessionsottw at gmail.com.  I know that most of the time it will be a parenting, kid, or marriage question, but I will even try to help if it's something odd, like your car, pets or jewelry.....

Tommee Tippee Sippy Cup Review and Giveaway!!! - CLOSED

I have had the opportunity to work with an amazing company that makes amazing products.  When Little Man was starting to take a bottle at 6 months, I had a hard time finding one that he could use without affecting his latch on me.  I found the Tommee Tippee bottles and immediately fell in love.  The shape is amazing and they fit in small bags so well.  The nipple is perfect and has a pressure release valve on it so he can continuously eat without interruption, like when he would nurse.  He also never got gassy with them.

Tommee Tippee sent me two awesome Explora Li'l Sippee flip top straw cups to try out.  When we received them, I couldn't get the package open fast enough.  Then Little Man stood at my side while I boiled and washed each piece so he could start using them.  He was so excited.

I love the design of the sippy cup.  The flip top lid is easy to open, but it also stays shut too!  The straw portion is oval in shape and folds down into the flip top.  The shape is also great for those little people who are just getting used to using a straw.  The inside of the straw also has a leak valve in it.  When there is pressure on the straw, it opens up.  It closes when there is no pressure, allowing no spills to occur even when open!

The only complaints that I have about the sippy cups is that it is difficult to take apart and clean.  The straw is awkward to get into the top once it is taken out and the flip top lid is very difficult to take off and put on again (I couldn't even pull it off for the picture).  On the other hand, they are dishwasher and microwave safe!  So they could easily be sterilized.  The other complaint that I have is the same one that I have of all straw sippy cups that I have tried over the last 9 years.  The straw end falls off in the cup.  This is annoying because you have to open it up and fish it out to put it back on so that they can drink.  It is also easy to lose the straw when it falls off in the cupboards.  I've found that if I readjust the hard straw and really push it into the soft straw part that it stays unless it gets bumped, so it's not as bad as others I've used.

We choose to use ours for our daily water bottles.  It is great because Little Man and Sweet Pea both have great sippy cups to take when running errands and when playing around the house.  I never have to worry about spills or messes; plus I know that they are getting the extra water that they need on these hot summer days!

I think that the great design and the ease of use far exceeds the minor complaints that I have about it.  Tommee Tippee again receives this Trophy Wife's approval!  I don't think I've come across a Tommee Tippee product that I didn't love yet!

The last complaint I have has nothing to do with the cups, but I really wish that Tommee Tippee would release to more places than Babies R' Us.  I really don't like to shop at that store and none of my family members live close to one, so the only way to get anything is online.  On the other hand, if you don't have a Babies R' Us store near you, but you want to learn more about the Tommee Tippee products, they have a page full of links to informative reviews of their products here.


Tommee Tippee has graciously offered one lucky reader a chance to win their own set of Explora Li'l sippy straw cups!

To Buy:

Go to Babies R' Us.  They are the exclusive retailer for Tommee Tippee products right now.

To Win:

Leave a comment below for each entry.

Please leave your email address on every entry 

(or let me know if I can access your email on your GFC account).

Mandatory Entry:

Be a GFC public follower and tell me your GFC name.

Additional Entries (leave one comment for each entry):

1.  'Like' OTTW on Facebook and tell me your First initial and Last Name.

2.  'Like' Tommee Tippee North America on Facebook and tell me your First initial and Last Name.  (You don't have to, but it would be nice to thank them.)

3.  Follow OTTW on Twitter and leave your Twitter Name.

4.  Follow Tommee Tippee North America on Twitter and leave your Twitter Name.

5.  Grab my button, put it on your blog or website and leave the URL link.  (2 entries)

6.  Tell me about another Tommee Tippee product that you'd like to try.

7.  Click my Google +1 button at the bottom of the post.  (2 entries)

(This is what the Google +1 button looks like.)

This giveaway will end August 18th, 2011 at 9:00 pm CST.  

Winner will be drawn via random.org.  Winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond before new winners will be drawn.  Giveaway is open to citizens of the US and Canada who are 18 years or older.  Only entries that follow the rules will be entered.  One set of entries per household.  Every entry is checked!

* Tommee Tippee sippy cups were provided free of charge to me for the purpose of this review.  I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.  The opinions in this review are mine alone and were formed from my experience with this product.  My personal experience and opinions of this product may differ from your own.  Facebook is not affiliated with this Giveaway.  All information provided cannot be copied or reused without credit.  Use of photos without consent is strictly prohibited.

Summer Heat

Summer is the time for hot, humid days and trips in the car.  Heat and humidity can really do a number on your vehicle.  General maintenance will help you avoid most roadside breakdowns and you can read more about that here.  I'm going to talk to you a little about what to look at before you hit the road.

It's always important that you look your car over regularly, especially if you are going to be driving out of town.  Here are a few things to look at.  (Remember to refer to your owner's manual to find where your fluid reservoirs are if you are unsure.)

• Coolant:  Do this first because you always want to check your coolant when the engine is cool.  *Never touch your radiator or cooling system when your car is hot or even lukewarm.  It is safe to open the radiator cap or touch your cooling system once the engine is cool.*
• Look at your recovery tank.  Check to see that the fluid level is up to the 'min' or 'cold' mark on the side.
• Carefully open the radiator cap.  The fluid should be about 2 inches from the top.  Replace the radiator cap and make sure that it's tight.  If the levels are high in one area and low in the other, give your repair facility a call because there could be a clog in the overflow hose.  If levels are both OK, then you are good to go!  If levels are low, call your local repair facility to see if they can top you off before you hit the road.
• *Not all coolants are created equal!  Only add your own coolant (diluted with water 50/50) if you know for sure what type of coolant your car takes!  If you are unsure, call your local repair facility.  Serious damage can occur if you use the wrong type of coolant, especially in newer vehicles.  Also, different vehicles add coolant in different ways and sometimes the ratio of coolant to water needs to be adjusted.*

• Engine Oil:  Make sure your car is on level ground and if it has been running, let it sit for a few minutes so the oil goes back into the pan for a better reading.
• Locate your dipstick and pull it out.  Wipe it clean with a rag or a paper towel.  Look at your dipstick and locate the marks on it.  The one closest to the tip is 'low' (or empty) and the one furthest from the tip is the 'high' (or full).
• Put the clean dipstick back in and remove it again.  Look to see where the oil is.  It should be about 3/4 of the way to the top mark.
• Check the quality of your oil.  If it looks like dark olive oil (or light brown in color) then you have nice, clean oil.  If it is dark brown, then it is old and will need to be changed soon, call your repair facility and make an appointment.  If you see any color (like red), milky color, water spots, specks of dirt or metal flecks in your oil, call your repair facility.  That is a sign of a more serious problem and you do not want that vehicle on the road.
• If you need to add oil, make sure you have the same kind of oil that was put in at your last oil change (5/20, 5/30, 10/30, synthetic, etc.).  Add it to the engine through the oil cap (not through the dipstick).  Add a quart at a time and let it fill into the pan and check the level before adding more.  Do not overfill your oil pan (don't exceed 3/4 of the way to the top mark on your dipstick).  Clean up any oil that may have spilled and put the cap firmly back on.

• Brake Fluid:  Do this with your car off.
• Find the brake fluid cap.  Open it up and check the level.  It should be about 1/4 inch from the top of the reservoir.  Check the quality of the fluid by putting a finger in it.  If it's gritty feeling, you'll need to get it changed.
• If you need to add a little more, slowly pour brake fluid into the reservoir until it's 1/4 inch from the top of the reservoir.  Clean the inside of the cap and replace it tightly.  Throw out your unused brake fluid in the bottle.  It will absorb contaminants sitting around and won't work well if dirty.  If your fluid seems to get low often, call your repair facility to get it checked.

• Power Steering Fluid:  Can be checked at anytime.
• Remove the power steering reservoir cap and clean the dipstick on the bottom of the cap.  Look at the two marks.  The mark closest to the tip shows where the fluid should be when the car is cool.  The mark furthest from the tip shows where the fluid should be when the car is warm.
• Reinsert the clean dipstick, take it out and see where the fluid is.  Also examine the color.  It should be clear or yellow.  If it is a different color, call your repair facility to check it out.
• If you need to add a little, carefully add it to the appropriate mark on the dipstick.  You can keep an open bottle of power steering fluid to use later if it is capped.

• Transmission Fluid:  This is for automatic transmissions.  Make sure your car is on level ground and let the car idle.
• Open up the cap on the fluid reservoir and wipe the dipstick clean.  Find the two grooves on the dipstick (usually F for full and E for empty).  
• Reinsert dipstick and remove.  Check the fluid level.  Also look at the quality of the fluid.  It should be warm (not hot) and it should be red in color.  If it has bubbles, call your repair facility to have it checked out.  This can mean that it's time for your fluid to get changed.  If it smells burned, call your repair facility to have it checked.  This can mean that there is a possibility that something mechanical is going wrong with your transmission.
• Clutch Fluid:  This is for manual transmissions.  
• Clean off your clutch fluid master cylinder with a rag.  Open the cap and look inside.  The level should be about 1/4 inch from the lip of the reservoir.  
• If you need to add a little more fluid, you can use brake fluid.  Slowly pour it in until the level is 1/4 inch from the lip of the reservoir.  Dispose of remaining brake fluid as described above.

• Windshield Wipers:
• Check your wiper blades for any tears or cracks in the rubber.  Wipe them clean with a damp rag.  Check the windshield wiper fluid and add as needed.
• Replacing your own wiper blades is an easy task.  Just make sure that you measure the length of the wiper blades you have, or check in your car's manual for the correct size of blades to use.  Then follow directions in the manual on how to remove and replace your wiper blades.
• Belts and Hoses:
• It is important to look at your belts and hoses.  Check for cracks in the rubber.  Squeeze your hoses to feel for any soft spots.  Check your belts for any missing rubber pieces.  If you suspect that your belts and hoses are showing a lot of wear, call your local repair facility.

• Tire Pressure and Tread:
• Check your tire pressure and look at the wear of the tire.  Use a tire pressure gauge to check each tire.  To find the information of how much pressure there should be, you can look in your car's manual.  You can also look at the tag on the inside of the driver's side door.  It will tell you what size of tire you should have on your car and it will also tell you how much pressure in the front and back you need.  Do not over fill your tires.  To check the tread, use a penny.  Put the top of the penny into a groove of the tread.  It should be at or covering the top of Lincoln's head.  If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, then you need to call your repair facility and get some new tires.  Also look for wear on the sides of the tires.  If you see any bulges or funny looking soft spots on your tires, have them checked by your repair facility.
• Lights and Blinkers:  It's easiest if you have another person to help, or something that you can place behind and in front of your car so you can see the reflection of the lights.  If not, you can still do this by getting out of the car to look.
• Check your car's lights and blinkers by turning the key to the 'on' position.  Step on the brakes and see if all brake lights come on.  Turn on your headlights and look to see if they are both working on the regular setting and on high too.  Then check the blinkers.  Turn on one side and look at front and back, then do the other side checking the front and back.  If you have any lights not working, call your local repair facility.  If your blinkers are blinking very fast or not in a pattern, call your repair facility to have it checked out.

An important thing to remember is that if you suspect that anything is wrong, to have an ASE certified technician check it for you.  If you know you are going on a long trip, make an appointment for an oil change a week or two before you go.  This will give you time to be able to make any repairs that could keep you safe on the road before you leave.  Keep your tires well inflated, it will help your gas mileage!  If you find that you need to fill or 'top off' your fluid reservoirs often or you see spots accumulate on the ground under your car, take it in to see where your car has a leak and what is leaking.  This will help you avoid costly repairs.

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe summer!

Washing your cares away.

Now that we all know about the different variables that can affect your cloth diaper laundering, we can get more specific on how to wash and maintain your fluffy stash.  I'm going to start by talking about the types of pails to use to store your dirty diapers.  There are dry pails that consist of either a wet bag or an actual pail with a pail liner.  You simply toss your soiled diaper in the pail after flushing down any solids.  Then you take it to the washer on wash day and away you go!  This is recommended by most modern cloth diaperers.  Then there is the wet pail.  The wet pail is a pail that is filled with water to put your soiled diapers into.  Then you have to drain it out on wash day and fill again with fresh water.  The reason the wet pail was originally used was to help ward off the stinkies and stains that came when using the cotton prefolds/flats way back when.  This was because the washing machines or hand washing diapers was not as efficient or effective as machines and hand washing are now.  The wet pail is really not necessary now with the advances that we've had with diaper manufacturing and better machines, water quality and detergents.  The wet pail also poses some serious problems.  Having standing water can cause an increase in mold, mildew and foxing (foxing is the red, rusty colored stains that come from a build up of minerals from water with a combination of mold).  If you use a wet pail, it needs to be stored in a dry and cool area of the house.  The other problem with wet pails is that they are a potential drowning hazard.  Plus, the inconvenience of having to lug a heavy water-filled pail to the laundry room or having to take your diaper to the wet pail that's stored in the laundry room after every change (not recommended because of the heat and humidity in those rooms) seems like a big hassle to me.  Not to mention having to dispose of the water that is filled with human waste before laundering.  I would suggest that if you want to use a wet pail, to only do it with prefolds/flats.  Wet pails are very hard on modern cloth diapers that use PUL and other waterproof fabrics.  It is, however, your choice as to what type of pail works for you.


Every diaper style (and even each brand) will launder differently.  Prefolds, flats and fitteds can be laundered and dried at a higher temperature (as long as there are no snaps).  Plus you can use laundry aides that you can't use with PUL (like vinegar, borax, bleach, and other whiteners/brighteners).  I always suggest that if you do use these types of additives, that you fully wash and rinse afterward to make sure that there is no residue left that can irritate baby's bottom.  Personally, I stay away from these harsh chemicals except for vinegar.  Vinegar is my go-to cleaner for almost everything.  Pockets, AI2s, AIOs and Hybrids need to be laundered and more importantly dried at lower temperatures.  They require a little more finesse from your routine.


Laundry routines vary greatly for each person.  The number one thing that everyone needs to do (no matter what type of pail you use) is the first rinse.  This is very important.  It removes the bulk of soiled product from your diapers.  After that, the routines vary greatly.  Find what works best for you from warm or hot water used, water level in the washer, heavy or normal agitation, type and amount of detergent, and need for extra rinses.  Fell free to contact me if you want help finding that routine that works best for you (if I can't help, I know just the people who can!)


Diaper maintenance is a very important thing to do.  Some people believe that there isn't a need to strip diapers if you are washing perfectly every time, but the truth is that no one can wash perfectly every time.  Regular diaper maintenance will extend the life of your diapers and is a good thing to do to prevent problems from occurring.  Think of it like changing the oil in your car.  I try to 'maintain' my diapers once every 6 weeks unless needed sooner.  Your diapers don't have to smell or cause rashes to do a maintenance wash, but if they do cause rashes or smell bad then it is definitely time for it.  There are many different ways to strip diapers and, just like your wash routine, you need to find the one that works best for you.  I'm going to tell you about a few that I like to do.


The overnight soak:  This is very easy to do and great for those in between times when you don't have a problem with your diapers, but you want to maintain them.  The way that I do it is I do my first cold rinse.  Then I start my hot, heavy, full water wash cycle and I add twice as much detergent as I would with a normal wash.  Then I let the washer agitate for 1 or 2 minutes to get everything moved around and the detergent dispersed in the water.  I then leave the door open (or stop the cycle) and I let it sit overnight or about 8 hours.  I start the cycle again and let it run through.  After the first cycle is done, I start a second hot water cycle with no detergent in it.  To finish, I throw everything in the dryer or put everything in the sun to dry (depending on the weather and the time of year).  For those of you with an HE machine:  If you can't stop your wash cycle by the push of a button, you can always do an overnight soak in the bathtub.  To do that, fill your tub with hot water, your diapers and detergent.  Then swish it around to get the detergent distributed.  When your time is up, empty your tub and step on the diapers (with clean feet) to squish out excess water.  Take them to your washer and do a hot wash cycle.  If there are still bubbles or smells like detergent, then do an extra rinse or wash cycle.


The strip:  This is great to do when you have a problem or you sense that your diapers need a little more deep cleaning.  The way I do it is to start with my first cold rinse (I only skip this if I'm stripping diapers that are already cleaned and dry).  Then I start my hot, heavy, full water wash cycle and I add 1 teaspoon (yep, just a little tsp!) of Blue Dawn Dish soap to the washer.  *It is important to only use the blue colored Dawn; like what they use to clean off poor little ducks that get caught in oil spills.*  Then let your wash cycle go.  After the first cycle is done, you continue with a second hot wash cycle with no detergents.  Continue additional hot wash cycles until the rinse cycle runs clear with no bubbles.  For me, this usually takes 3-4 wash cycles.  Finish up by drying your diapers.  I like to do this every 4-6 months or so unless I have some problems because it is a little more labor intensive with all the extra wash cycles.  For HE users:  Add the dawn to your detergent area when the water is running through it just a few drops at a time and make sure that you don't exceed a tsp.


The boil:  Yes.  You can boil some things.  *DO NOT boil anything that has PUL or other waterproof materials, elastic, snaps or aplix.  You will melt your fabric and snaps if you boil them.*  What you can boil is your inserts with no snaps and prefolds/flats and other natural fabric diapers.  All you have to do is fill a large pot with water, put in your inserts/diapers in, and boil for 5 minutes (you can put a plate on top to weigh down the inserts so they can't float).  I always boil my hemp inserts.  It is the perfect way to prep hemp inserts and to maintain them because it gets the natural oils out that cause repelling and it thoroughly cleans them.


Maintaining your diapers will help ward off the dreaded 'stinkies' and it will keep them working like new.  I always love how soft and white my diapers come out as after a maintenance wash.  I also do a maintenance wash when I switch detergents or if I use a different washer (like when traveling).  Happy washing!!!

Let's talk laundry!

Every laundry routine is as unique as every family.  Even though it's great to hear from other people what works for them, it is still a trial and error that everyone needs to go through.  There are so many different things that can cause something to work for one person but not another.  So today I'm going to address some of these variables.

The first variable is your type of diapers.  Cotton and all natural fabrics will wash differently than man made fabrics like microfiber.  Prefolds, flats and fitteds will launder more easily than pockets, AI2s and AIOs.  This is because they are more often a natural fiber and they have no PUL fabric to content with.  Pockets, AI2s and AIOs are a little more finicky.  The typical microfiber, suede cloth or rayon made from bamboo tend to have more build up and stink problems than natural fibers.  Not only that, but they also have PUL or other kinds of waterproof fabric, elastic, and snaps or aplix that you have to be careful how hot they get and what types of chemicals they interact with.

Another thing that makes doing your cloth diaper laundry different is what type of washer you use.  The traditional top loader is favored among cloth diaper users.  This is because you can adjust the water levels easily.  You can also open it to look inside at the diapers and how they are getting cleaned.  The agitation is different compared to a front loader.  Front loader machines (or HE machines) are more efficient and use less electricity and water.  There are ways to 'trick' your front loader into adding more water.  You can add a soaking wet towel, which will add weight, to increase water and it will also give more texture for your diapers to agitate against.  You can also manually add water to the detergent fill area on some machines.  I haven't had much experience working with a front loading washer, so I can't really say if one is better than the other.  I just know that they are different.

One of the hardest things to figure out is the type of water.  Many things come into play when it comes to water.  The biggest one is hardness.  You can find out your water hardness level by contacting your local city offices or a local water treatment company.  There is also a map that you can check here.  Hard water will make it more difficult for your detergent to produce suds or to break down the oils and dirt on your diapers.  It can also cause mineral deposits from the hard water.  Another part of your water is the pH level and other additives.  Your city has guidelines as to what they add or how they process their water that has to be reported to the State.  You can contact your local city office for this information too.  You can rent or buy a water softener for your house.  This is a great choice because it will help you cut down on shampoos and soaps of all kinds and it will leave your skin and hair softer and less likely to have rashes or dry skin.  It will leave less build up on your appliances, counter tops, sinks, showers and tubs.  Your dishes and glasses will come out with no spots from your dishwasher.  If that is not an option, you can also buy cloth diaper detergents that are made specifically for hard water.

Now you have to decide what you want your washing routine to be like.  Every cloth diaper washing routine should include a rinse to start.  This helps wash out the excess ammonia build up and any solids that might be lingering.  Then you have to decide whether you want to do just one wash cycle or if you want to add an extra rinse at the end of that wash cycle.  Some detergents work better with an additional rinse; others don't need it.    This will also affect how often you need to do regular diaper maintenance too (meaning stripping or soaking your diapers.)  Regular diaper maintenance is a lot like maintaining your car.  You don't necessarily have to do it, but it will help avoid problems in the long run and it will keep your diapers newer, longer.

Another variable is how old your child is and what they eat.  This can make a big difference in how you do your cloth diaper laundry.  Exclusively breastfed babies have much easier diapers to take care of compared to formula fed babies.  There is little to no smell to breastfed baby waste, it doesn't stain, and it's a different, lighter consistency.  Once your child starts eating solids, your diaper routine will change again.  Solid food baby waste will vary as much as the food your child eats.  Some foods will make baby waste smell very acidic and heavy of ammonia.

The last variable is the weather and the phases of the moon.  OK, so I'm being a little tongue in cheek, but the weather can play part in how you wash your diapers.  Heat and humidity will make cloth diaper laundering difficult.  Smells will be more pungent and stains will seem to set faster.  Rainy days will also affect it too.  Sometimes random things will cause problems with your cloth diaper laundry and you just can't explain it, but it will solve itself before you can figure out what happened.

I look forward to sharing more about how to find a solution to your cloth diapering problems and different ways to strip different kinds of diapers later in the week!

Ruby Moon Detergent Review and Giveaway! - CLOSED

To round out this month celebration of my cloth diaper favorites is one of the most important things for cloth diapering parents besides the diapers.....Cloth Diaper Laundry Detergent!!!!

I stumbled upon Ruby Moon in my long search for different kinds of natural detergents.  I was drawn to Ruby Moon products because of her experience with mainstream detergents was like mine.  I also love to purchase WAHM detergents and lotions because I've found that they use high quality ingredients with allergies in mind.

We received our bag of Ruby Moon cloth diaper detergent in the scent of Sweet Clementine.  I loved how light, tangy and not too overpowering the scent was.  It is such a refreshing smell.  The powder is a nice fine powder and not sticky at all.

We are currently in an area that has moderate hard water but we have a water softener.  I tried out Ruby Moon and realized there was a big build up of minerals and other detergents from our extreme hard water at home.  It took two wash cycles with 2-3 tbsp of detergent each for the diapers to smell clean in the washer.  I was shocked to see them so white, but even better than that they were all so fluffy too!  I haven't found my normal routine with any of our detergents yet with the new water and washer, plus I think that the extreme heat and humidity doesn't help either.  I am so grateful to have the Ruby Moon though, because it has made stripping my diapers a breeze!  To strip with Ruby Moon I do my cold rinse, followed by two hot wash cycles with 2-3 tbsp of Ruby Moon in each.  They come out so clean, soft and smelling fresh.  It works so much better than any other way to strip that I've found, plus it takes less time and less washing and rinsing cycles!

Ruby Moon Natural Detergent has graciously offered one lucky reader a chance to win a bag of Ruby Moon detergent of their own!

To Buy:

Go to Ruby Moon Natural Detergent.

To Win:

Leave a comment below for each entry.

Please leave your email address on every entry 

(or let me know if I can access your email on your GFC account).

Mandatory Entry:

Be a GFC public follower and tell me your GFC name.

Additional Entries (leave one comment for each entry):

1.  'Like' OTTW on Facebook and tell me your First initial and Last Name.

2.  'Like' Ruby Moon on Facebook and tell me your First initial and Last Name.  (You don't have to, but it would be nice to thank them.)

3.  Follow OTTW on Twitter and leave your Twitter Name.

4.  Tell me the scent of Ruby Moon that you'd like to try.

5.  Grab my button, put it on your blog or website and leave the URL link.  (2 entries)

6.  Grab my Event Button for your blog or website and leave URL link.  (3 entries)

7.  Click my Google +1 button at the bottom of the post.  (2 entries)

(This is what the Google +1 button looks like.)

This giveaway will end August 1st, 2011 at 9:00 pm CST.  

Winner will be drawn via random.org.  Winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond before new winners will be drawn.  Giveaway is open to citizens of the US and Canada who are 18 years or older.  Only entries that follow the rules will be entered.  One set of entries per household.  Every entry is checked!

* Ruby Moon Natural Detergent was provided free of charge to me for the purpose of this review.  I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.  The opinions in this review are mine alone and were formed from my experience with this product.  My personal experience and opinions of this product may differ from your own.  Facebook is not affiliated with this Giveaway.  All information provided cannot be copied or reused without credit.  Use of photos without consent is strictly prohibited.

Boo-Hiney Butter Review and Giveaway! - CLOSED!

This week I'm taking some time to talk about diaper creams and rashes.  We've been very lucky that we haven't had to deal with diaper rashes and I attribute that greatly to the use of cloth diapers.  The two rashes that we have had to deal with were not your standard diaper rash.  One was an enzyme burn caused by my naivety at the start of our cloth diapering days by using a 'Free and Clear' detergent.  I soon learned better.  The second was an irritation rash caused by PUL rubbing directly on the skin.  It was cleared in two days with the help of a little hydro cortisone.   Outside of that, we do deal with an occasional pinkness on the bottom.

I started researching diaper creams that were safe for cloth diaper use after the irritation rash.  I have a big allergy to lanolin and aloe, so finding a cream that left those ingredients out was hard to do.  I was about to give up the search until I met the maker of Boo-Hiney Butter!  She was telling me about her search for the perfect cloth diaper cream was getting frustrating and that is what led her to start making her own.  She uses all natural oils and butters with essential oils to make her diaper cream.  She told me that her goal was to not only have a natural product that would heal baby's skin, but also one that wouldn't build up on cloth diapers even with daily uses.

She graciously sent me a jar to try out.  I am always skeptical of new products because of our varying skin sensitivities between myself and the kids.  I have to say that I was excited when I first opened that beautiful blue jar.  The cream on the inside is dense yet whipped.  It leaves a nice light and creamy feel on your skin.  It soaks in really well and doesn't leave the skin sticky.  The scent that I have is the Tea Tree and Lavender.  It is a very light scent and well balanced between the tea tree and lavender (which I find can both be very powerful scents).  She also has her cream in an Orange scent which I am excited to try out when I buy my next jar.

I love using this on Little Man.  It leaves a nice scent and it helps take away the redness.  It also has helped keep any irritation rashes at bay.  I was impressed after a few weeks of continual use that it really didn't build up or leave a mess on the cloth diapers!

I personally love to use it too.  With my growing belly, I get itchy red bumps near my existing stretch marks (or my badges of honor).  I love to take a little on my finger tip and rub it on my belly.  A little bit goes a long way.  Instantly, my itchy spots are no longer itchy and the redness fades.  After a few uses, they are gone.  Here are some pictures to show you.  I took the one on the top, then I applied the cream and immediately took the one on the bottom.  (I thought this would be more appropriate to show than a baby bottom.)

Boo-Hiney Butter has graciously offered one lucky reader a chance to win a 2 oz. jar of Boo-Hiney Butter.

To Buy:

Go to Boo-Hiney Butter.

To Win:

Leave a comment below for each entry.

Please leave your email address on every entry.

Mandatory Entry:

Be a GFC public follower.

AND answer this question:

What was the strangest name your significant other proposed for your child that you had to turn down?

Additional Entries (leave one comment for each entry):

1.  'Like' OTTW on Facebook and tell me your First initial and Last Name.

2.  'Like' Boo-Hiney Butter on Facebook and tell me your First initial and Last Name.  (You don't have to, but it would be nice to thank them.)

3.  Follow OTTW on Twitter and leave your Twitter Name.

4.  Tell me the scent of Boo-Hiney Butter that you'd like to try.

5.  Grab my button, put it on your blog or website and leave the URL link.  (2 entries)

6.  Grab my Event Button for your blog or website and leave URL link.  (3 entries)

7.  Click my Google +1 button at the bottom of the post.  (2 entries)

(This is what the Google +1 button looks like.)

This giveaway will end August 1st, 2011 at 9:00 pm CST.  

Winner will be drawn via random.org.  Winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond before new winners will be drawn.  Giveaway is open to citizens of the US and Canada who are 18 years or older.  Only entries that follow the rules will be entered.  One set of entries per household.  Every entry is checked!

* Boo-Hiney Butter diaper cream was provided free of charge to me for the purpose of this review.  I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.  The opinions in this review are mine alone and were formed from my experience with this product.  My personal experience and opinions of this product may differ from your own.  Facebook is not affiliated with this Giveaway.  All information provided cannot be copied or reused without credit.  All photos were taken by OTTW and are sole property of OTTW; use of photos without consent is strictly prohibited.

How we do wipes.

So, this week is wipe week.  We started our cloth diapering days by using those chemical filled disposable wipes.  It was such a hassle keeping a pail for the cloth diapers and then another bag or garbage bin for the wipes.  So we decided to figure out a better alternative after one week.

We thought about what we did with our daughter and I remembered that we used old baby washcloths with water on them because of all of her allergies.  So I found some cloth wipes online pretty cheap.  We went with just a standard flannel wipe with surged edges. We liked these.  We also splurged and bought a wipe warmer which became our changing table center piece!  Little Man loved having warm wet wipes on his bottom.  I can remember that he did the exact same thing his sister did when we would use the occasional cold wipe.....a loud high pitch gasp!

We used these flannel wipes in the warmer for a full year.  As our stash was increasing, we were finding ourselves running out of wipes.  I then got online again and found Charlie Banana Organic Cotton Wipes.  These are amazing!  I loved how well they worked with the warmer and how soft they were.  They also really did the job on big messes and felt like they thoroughly cleaned the diaper area.  I think that they would even make really great makeup remover cloths!  The only drawback was that they required a lot of prep.  It took at least 4 washes before they would absorb any water.  We use them with our flannel wipes, but are thinking about retiring the flannel and adding new wipes to our stash.

We have tried flannel and organic cotton wipes.  We like them both, but prefer the organic cotton because they are thicker and softer.  Next I think I want to try terry wipes.  The GroVia wipes are the ones that I think I'll go with next.  They are a great price and they have a nice feel to them.  There are many great wipes out there though.  I hear wonderful reviews of the Bummas wipes and assorted WAHM wipes.

Wipes are very easy to make yourself.  All it takes is a nice natural fabric cut into 8 inch squares.  You can then surge them.  You can make them double sided by putting two together inside out and sewing around the edges leaving a little opening.  Then you turn it right side out and hand stitch the opening.  You can get really fancy and sew around the edges to finish it off.

We swore by our cloth wipes being used with just warm water.  We would also use the occasional corn starch for redness.  That is, until we found Cloth Diaper Inc.'s Natural Wipe Spray!  I was surprised how it not only cleans the area really well, but it leaves it so soft and takes away any redness.  It is just so different from other wipe sprays because it has no alcohol or soap in it.  All it has is witch hazel and essential oils.  I think it's the perfect combination!

What is your favorite wipe?  Do you use something other than water?  I'd love to hear about your wipe routine!