Monthly Archives: March 2009

Trying to Get Cloth Diapering Started

As I posted after she was born, Selene is a very small baby. Or perhaps I should say was. Little rascal has quite the appetite, and she’s not so tiny anymore.

She might even fit into the bumGenius diapers we have for her at last.

That’s what I’m trying out today. First time I put one on her, even as tight as I could get it, she just swam in it. Tiny, tiny baby girl! We

My mother is rather surprised that we’re doing cloth diapers, but she understands the bit about saving money. She was worried about the water use, though. A good point, but I got a great tip from a reader that I’ll be trying to save on water when I wash the diapers. She suggests soaking the diapers in the wash for a half hour, rather than doing multiple cycles. I sure hope it works for me! Thanks, Deoxy!

The diapers are fitting a bit better now. I don’t have a scale to say what she weighs now, but I would have to guess at least 7 pounds.

One challenge we’re facing is that our little miss is a queen of futile diaper changes. Yes, she’s one of those who manages to save up for just after you change her. Or during. Those are… umm… fun too, really….

Obviously that can be a bit of a hardship with cloth diapers. We’ve gotten better at catching when she’s really ready for a change, rather than just getting started, and I hope this will keep the number of quick changes down.

I know we’ll still end up using some disposable diapers. There’s pretty much no way my mother-in-law will put up with cloth. Since she is a highly willing babysitter once baby can take a bottle, there’s only so much complaint I can have about that. Doubly so since she usually buys her own diapering supplies.

I have to say, Selene looks awfully cute in a cloth diaper. It makes getting her dressed a bit more interesting, fitting her clothes over the diaper, but I can deal with that. I just like being able to cut down so much on waste.

Working My Postpartum Wardrobe

Can it be? Am I really more than 5 weeks postpartum? It can’t have been that long.

But it is. Baby Selene is growing so fast. Now if I could just fit into my old clothes.

I know, I know, it will be a while. I’m just really looking forward to having a wider selection to choose from. I really do not want to spend money on clothes that I’m planning on shrinking out of soon.

No, I’m not particularly stressed about my weight or figure as such. I’m mostly interested in not shopping.

I’ve been working hard on not buying anything for now. I’m not wearing any of my maternity pants anymore because they were all the low rise variety, and ride right along my C-section scar. Does not feel good!

I know I could head on out to the thrift store and find some clothes that would get me through the transition without getting anything brand new. Much, much better than my mother-in-law’s suggestion that I head out to Walmart and get some cheap stuff there. I’ve been wearing skirts every day, including my Renaissance Faire skirt, and she just can’t stand it. After all, I HAVE to have shorts for summer, right? So she insists.

But in addition to trying to be green, we’re trying to save a lot of money right now. That means that if I can get by without it, I am. And with all the laundry a newborn baby can generate, plus two older kids, it’s not hard at all to keep my skirts clean and in rotation, even though I only have 3 that I can get into.

I know the urge to get away from maternity clothes all too well. It’s nice being able to dress somewhat normally, even if things aren’t fitting quite the way they ought to. But I think I will save my clothing budget for when I’m at a more stable size.