The Poop on Cloth

I was just reading an article about cloth diapering that appeared in someone's local newspaper. Her grandmother actually clipped it and sent it to her in a very passive aggressive manner. The article in question actually suggests that cloth diapering is a confusing and complicated process, not to mention expensive! Well, it can be confusing. There are a lot of different diapers out on the internets. But there are also lots of resources out there to help you figure out what you should get. In that article, it states that a newborn diaper stash can cost you up to $700. Well, that's a lot of money. But cloth diapering certainly doesn't have to cost you a lot of money to get some really nice diapers.

There are lots of different types of diapers available. The most basic type of diaper is a flat. You know, those squares of fabric that are only one layer that you have to fold to get to a diaper shape. Well, flats are still available and many parents still use them on their babies. I briefly considered using flats when I was pregnant with Lacy, but I opted for a different diapering system as to not overwhelm and confuse myself and my husband with folding techniques. There are tons of websites with folding instructions, and even you tube videos! Flats are the most economical of all cloth diapers, costing around $1 per diaper, or a little more if you get larger flats. Plus, with flats, you don't have detergent buildup issues that you can get with other diapers, and if you line dry your diapers, they will be dry lickety split!

It seems that more commonly used are prefold diapers. They look like squares and have layers sewn in them, but you still have to fold them. Here's my baby boy in a prefold with pins when he was new still:

Isn't that cute? Please excuse the sideways view- I swear I changed that in my pictures, but it's not showing up here. Ri was about 6 weeks when I took this picture.

Prefolds are actually very easy to use, and quite economical. They run about $1.50-3/dozen for your run-of-the-mill prefold cloth diapers. The price gets higher for larger sizes of diapers and for organic cotton.

Contours and fitteds are other diapering choices that are available- they are shaped more like a baby already and may or may not have elastic in the legs and back (fitteds have the elastic) and you may or may not need to use pins or snappis to fasten them. Many come with velcro or snaps already applied. When I was pregnant with Lacy, I bought a bunch of flannel and sewed my own diapers using the Very Baby All In One pattern. These diapers are now getting quite thin and have a new life as doll diapers, but they served me well with my babies!

My diapers have snaps on them, which I prefer to velcro for many reasons. The snaps had not been applied yet in this picture- my friend had a snap press and put them on for me, and later I bought my own snap press. Normally, contours and fitteds cost quite a bit more than other types of diapers. Some of the more popular brands made from specialty fabrics such as bamboo can cost more than many all-in-one diapers!

With any of the flats, prefolds, contours or fitteds, you will need a cover, and possibly something to close them with. Covers usually are more form fittting than they were in the days of plastic pants. They usually fit on like a disposable diaper and have either velcro or snaps to close them with. For closure options, there are either pins or snappis, which are, in my experience, much easier to use than pins. But some people prefer the pins to the snappis. I personally like snappis because they are much faster than pins, making potty breaks for elimination communication much easier.

Then there are the easiest diapers of all to use- the all-in-ones and the pockets. The difference between the AIO's and pockets is that the all-in-ones are all ready to go, and the pockets have a little place in back where you stuff soakers to make them absorbent. They have a waterproof layer on the outside (usually polyurithane laminate, or PUL) and close with either snaps or velcro. The benefits of AIOs are they are very easy to use and are all one piece, but they do take a long time to dry. The benefits of pocket diapers are that they are much faster to dry and they always have a moisture-wicking layer next to the baby's skin, so the diaper feels less wet.

Here are several of my diapers. I've gotten a few more since this photo was taken.

Most of the diapers in this picture are one-size diapers, meaning they can fit on a baby anywhere from about 10 to 35 pounds. The Fuzzi Bunz one size (I have five of them in this picture- they have the white snaps) are set on the newborn setting and can fit smaller babies more easily. The Bum Genius organic All-in-ones (the top row light green and orange and the middle row blue) fit my baby very nicely now, but they didn't fit him until he was about 2 months old. And he's a chunk! Many cloth diapering experts recommend using prefold diapers for the first month or two before starting with a one-size system, because they don't fit newborns as nicely.

Cloth doesn't have to be expensive, nor does it have to be difficult! I much prefer using cloth diapers over disposable diapers for many reasons. They are cuter, are easier on my babies' bottoms, less expensive and much easier on the environment.

Ahem. Sorry about my lack of blogging.

Well. I've been a little busy with three kiddos. So with no further ado, I'll jump back in! No pictures- for some reason I'm having trouble uploading everything right now. Still working on that. So we'll get into today's feature...

Why parents love to embarrass their teenagers

Otherwise known as "Payback."

Oh yes, my kids can embarrass me. Big time. Rose is part monkey, and she will climb all over everything. And Lacy has no concept of personal space and thinks everyone is her BFF.

So why would today, my major errand running day, be any different?

Oh, we have the usual run off and have lengthy conversations with adults. Which other people (I think) find charming. Me? Well, it was charming the first 500 times it happened.

But perhaps today's embarrassment wasn't so much my children's fault, but rather a byproduct of having children with me. I totally brought it upon myself. But it was Their Fault.

Today was a busy day. Starting off early with a 7:30 wake-up time (why do they never wake up that early during the school year?) and immediately starting to fight. I serve breakfast and work on some morning chores, wash a load of diapers, get the baby down for a nap (I have to say, he is the least embarrassing of my children, despite the fact that he frequently burps and farts loudly in public)... you know, the usual mom stuff. The kids get to watch a television show while I fold socks. At 10 am, we load up in the car and go off to story time at the library. Thank heaven for story time on a beautifully rainy July morning! After story time was over, the real errands began. Bank, and stop by two establishments to give them all of the money I just deposited. Finally, a bite to eat and grocery shopping.

At the grocery store, Rose always insists upon riding in the car shopping cart. You know- the kind that look like this:

Oh yes. Great fun. Unfortunately, Rose is at the age where she no longer wishes to be restrained, and it's difficult for me to keep her restrained even if I wanted to (which is hard because I keep little Ri on my front in a woven wrap, making it difficult to bend and reach in to buckle her in in the first place). So she climbs on it the whole time we're shopping. Eventually she and Lacy start sitting on the edge of the seat with their bottoms in the car and their legs and bodies outside of it. It's already awkwardly shaped and gigantous. Now it's even wider.

Halfway through our shopping trip Rose announces, "I have to go potty!" Well, I kinda had to go too, so it must be time for a bathroom break. I hate hate hate taking bathroom breaks in the middle of a shopping trip. But even more so I hate having accidents in the middle of a shopping trip! So, I park the cart near the bathrooms and we go. After Lacy wastes a bunch of paper in the automatic paper towel dispensers, we finally get back into the cart.

Look back up at the picture of the cart. You'll notice the very front of the cart jets out several inches. And that's your cart's blind spot. I always think I have more clearance than I actually do because the cart is so long. Of course today I happen to park the cart right next to a sunscreen display. Which was soon displayed all over the floor of the store. Right as a bunch of people happened to walk by. I apologized profusely and walked away as quickly as I could, a little pink in the cheeks. We hurry and get the rest of our items and go to check out.

Lacy absolutely loves workers at our local grocery store. She in particular talks to a lady named Crystal and a lady named Rose who works in produce. Today she say Crystal and had to say hello. I told the cashier, laughing, "Yes, that's my girl- wants to work at Top Foods when she's bigger. My girl reaches for the stars, she does." Um, I was talking to an older lady who probably had been working at a grocery store for most of her adult career. Cheeks are slightly pink once again. I try to pry the foot from my mouth and backpedal a little because I'm afraid I was insulting, and quickly we rush out of there (after we look to see if Rose the produce lady is working yet).

And that's when it hit me. While the embarrassment was because of my own doing, it was all because I have children in the first place that I became embarrassed. IT'S ALL THEIR FAULT! And now I understand. I hereby vow to be as embarrassing to my children as humanly possible as soon as they become humiliated by their parents. It's only fair.

WARNING!!! Disturbing and/or Creepy Photos in the Following Blog Post!

There's a new doll in town. OK, maybe not in OUR town exactly, but it's available in Spain. It's a breastfeeding doll. You put the little halter top with flower "nipples" on the child, and put the baby up to the "breast" and it makes little nursing noises.

While I personally wouldn't buy a doll such as this for my child, I understand the appeal of it to parents wishing to encourage little children to think of breastfeeding as the normal way of feeding a child. That's not my beef. My beef is with other people's reactions to this doll.

Here's a quote from one article I read: "Although many health care providers promote the benefits of breast-feeding, parents around the world have criticized Berjuan, saying the idea of breast-feeding is too grown-up for young children -- and may even promote early pregnancy."

Um... no. Because we've been promoting bottle feeding of babies for years and years. If you were to use that argument, you'd have to use all types of care taking of baby dolls as promoting early pregnancy. Breastfeeding is just another way to FEED a BABY. That argument really just doesn't make any sense, unless you are promoting the idea of taking away all baby dolls completely. Then children would go back to using corncob dolls like Laura Ingalls and nursing those instead of baby dolls! I personally breastfed all of my baby dolls and I gave birth for the first time at age 26 after nearly 4 years of marriage. Perhaps in some cultuers that is an early pregnancy, but I was one of the later ones in my group of friends to begin having children, so I don't think so!

Another quote from the same article:

Dr. Manny Alvarez, managing health editor of FOXNews.com, said although he supports the idea of breast-feeding, he sees how his own daughter plays with dolls and wonders if Bebe Gloton might speed up maternal urges in the little girls who play it.

“Pregnancy has to entail maturity and understanding,” Alvarez said. “It’s like introducing sex education in first grade instead of seventh or eighth grade. Or, it could inadvertently lead little girls to become traumatized. You never know the effects this could have until she’s older.”

Seriously, I just want to knock some sense into this guy right about now. Honestly. Traumatized? By mimicking how a baby is fed? I really don't know how pregnancy comes to play in this argument. Many little girls pretend to be mothers, and are pretending to be their biological mothers. They'll stuff dolls down their shirts and "give birth" to them on their beds. So somehow, breastfeeding a doll will speed up maternal urges more than pretending to be a doll's biological mother? How, exactly, will it do that?

But seriously. Traumatized? By pretending to breastfeed their doll? Really?

“What’s next?” wrote Eric Ruhalter, a parenting columnist for New Jersey’s Star Ledger. “Bebe Sot — the doll who has a problem with a different kind of bottle, and loses his family, job and feelings of self-worth? Bebe Limp — the male doll who experiences erectile dysfunction? Bebe Cell Mate — a weak, unimposing doll that experiences all the indignation and humiliation of life in prison?

"Toy themes should be age appropriate. I think so anyway.”

Oh, for heaven's sake. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life. Little girls like baby dolls. What's wrong with having a nursing baby doll? I've often wished for a baby doll to come with a little pretend breastpump instead of a bottle so my girls could pretend to pump like mommy does sometimes. Because it is something that some little girls are interested in playing with, and would like to pretend to be a real mommy. How is a breastfeeding doll not age appropriate? Little girls see their mothers, aunts and other females in their lives breastfeeding their babies. They want to be just like them. Therefore, a doll company is filling a niche.

But the worst of all is comments from people who think that little girls breastfeeding their dolls are disturbing or inappropriate.

Comments from an online publication asking for opinions about this doll:

"This is sick!!! Why not go ahead and show young children how to use a condom. I have 4 children of my own, aren't we supposed to protect our children from knowing things like this? Wait until they are old enough, then let them in on things. This doll is taking it way too far!"

"...However, if my sweet, innocent daughter came to me and wanted this doll; I would be mortified. Why don't I just tell her about sex and how babies are created why I am @ it? There are just some things that need to be learned later in life. Breastfeeding is something she will learn about in Sex Ed."

"Yes this Breast Feeding doll is going to far, I can't believe someone would come up with this!!!!! Whoever thought up something sucking on little girls non grown boobs yet is sick and you need help."

Seriously, my head is going to explode any second now. And this is just scratching the surface of what I've heard about this doll. People calling the sight of seeing a little child pretending to breastfeed a doll "disturbing," or "creepy." Seriously, people! It's a CHILD mimicing a loving act between a mother and a baby! All children should know about breastfeeding, and how it is the NORMAL way for a child to eat, and doesn't need to be hidden from view. It is not a shameful act. Why are we treating it as such? If more people saw breastfeeding on a regular basis, it wouldn't be such a big deal, and we wouldn't freak out about a silly little doll that breastfeeds. And, we'd probably have higher breastfeeding rates, too. Which isn't a bad thing! In fact, breastfeeding rates are abysmally low in our country, so anything to help little girls start thinking of breastfeeding as the normal way to feed a baby will be beneficial in the long run.

With no further adieu, the disturbing and/or creepy photos I took of my daughter tandem nursing her "twin" babies the other day.

Isn't that disturbing? She's pretending to be a mommy! Of twins! That's just WROOOONG!

Kudos to you Moms

I am exhausted. I only have two kids, and I feel like I've been chasing 17 all around today. Rose is in that stage-- still-needs-a-nap-but-won't-go-to-bed-when-she-gets-one. That fun stage. She was grumpy pretty much from 3 o'clock onward. And I would have given her a nap today, but it was so crazy, and then she fell asleep in the car, and then I couldn't find my keys to open the door (but I was holding her) so I had to put her down, then it was all over.

Then Lacy. She thinks she's an adult. She really has no idea that she can't do everything that any grown up can do (but she still needs me to wipe her, and she even has a song about it that she made up-- she's so talented).

Thursday nights. Those are my hardest nights of the week. I'm in the Young Women's presidency. Dave's the Weebelos leader. And Dave worked today up north and got caught in bad traffic on the way home (he got off at 3 and we met at 7... one of those commutes), so we met at the church. I brought him dinner because I'm awesome like that. And because he can't eat anything but what I cook for fear of wheat (and, apparently, ham now, too). So, the girls have to come with us on Thursday nights. Lacy will not stay with me. And Rose has to follow her big sister. So usually Thursdays involve me leaving every 5 minutes to figure out where my girls have gone off to, which is mostly the stage or the nursery. Tonight Rose stayed put (I think due to exhaustion), but Lacy was all over the place. At one point, I couldn't find her. I circled the church twice. Looked in every room. Where did I find her? The Young Women's room where the hunt began (with a brownie she swiped from the Stake Choir rehearsal). She must have sneaked back in when I was running around like a mad woman, panicking because Lacy has no fear of strangers (there were two abductions of girls from LDS churches last year, so my fear is not unfounded). After a scolding, we tried to load the kids up and Lacy began to run off again. And then Rose freaked out when we wouldn't let her sit in Lacy's booster seat, only calming halfway through the drive.

Upon arriving home, Rose cried through prayer (she was ready for bed and wanted to go nurse *right now*) and Lacy did everything she could to stay awake longer. She had to make sure that her pillow was arranged correctly, and that I knew Reading Rainbow is having a contest. And to look for the stickers under the basket. And to get her new water. But not in that cup. You know, the usual tactics. But the good news is, she's sleeping in her big bed in her own room now! And she's been sleeping there all week! *sniff* my big girl is growing up.

I totally admire all of you moms out there with more children than I have. Maybe I have difficult children (I doubt it) or maybe other moms have better parenting skills than me (likely). I just can't imagine how it must feel to drop into your pillow after chasing more little ones around all day! It must be heaven (until it starts again at 4 in the morning when you have to change somebody's sheets, then you get elbowed in the eye because you have three extra visitors in your bed at 5...). Seriously, ladies, how do you that have more than two do it? Sometimes I wonder how I can do it with just these two. I told someone in my ward that I'm waiting 10 years to have more kids because than I'll have teenagers to help me out. You moms of many? You have my greatest admiration and my query: How do you do it???

Blog-In against CPSIA

I know you've seen my rants and raves about CPSIA on this blog before. And I urge you ALL to contact your representatives and senators! Or write! Or email! Whatever you can do.

Did you know of the huge impact the law will have on libraries? From the American Library Association:

Under the current opinion issued by the General Counsel of the CPSC, the law would apply to books for children under the age of 12; therefore, public, school, academic and museum libraries would be required to either remove all their children’s books or ban all children under 12 from visiting the facilities as of February 10.

This law can not go into effect. Too much is at stake with this poorly written law. CALL TODAY!

And check out BrightonWoman's blog with lots of links to other bloggers writing about this today.

Need Help figuring out what to do? Try the CPSIA action kit.

How Will the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act Affect You?

Please read this great article in the Seattle Times by Allison Brownrigg. If you haven't yet, please call your senators and representatives and tell them to stop the implementation of the CPSIA on February 10th. It will have a devastating effect on our economy! Big children's product manufacturers like Matel will be able to afford the testing on their products, but small to medium sized businesses may not be able to stay afloat with the types of testing that are required.

If you have a child, THIS WILL AFFECT YOU!!! If the law goes into effect as written,

• LIBRARY BOOKS and school supplies will all be suspect. There is no "grandfathering" in this law, so all products will have to be compliant.
  
• Sellers of used children's items will have to abide by this law. They won't be required to test products, but how will they be able to know if their products are safe without testing? Fines are up to $100,000 and jail time!
• Stay-at-home moms who make handmade items to sell online in order to support their families will be forced out of business. I know of one mom who is a single parent and has a disabled child that cannot attend daycare due to his complicated health issues. The testing will be more than she can sell her products for. What does this mean for us? Either she will have to get a job and put her child at risk, or she will have to seek public assistance and use already scarce tax dollars to support her family, which she does not wish to use!
  
• Importers of quality children's products will no longer import to the US because of the new regulations. It's easier to just leave the US out of it rather than to get expensive testing done.
• Medium sized businesses will have to cut their product line drasticly to stay afloat. They'll still be able to provide products to the public, but we won't have the selection we once had.

Implementation needs to be pushed back until all these issues, and more, are addressed. Call, write or email your senators. Call, write or email your representatives. Phone calls and snail mail letters are more effective than email. There is one person who can call a hearing to delay the implementation of this law, but so far he has not done so. In addition to calling your own representatives, call Rep. Harry Waxman. Here's his contact information. Do what you can! He needs to know this law is disasterous to the small businesses, schools and libraries of the United States! (You need to have a zip code in the California 30th district-Los Angeles- to send him an email message)

In Washington, D.C.
2204 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3976 (phone)
(202) 225-4099 (fax)
In Los Angeles
8436 West Third Street, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 651-1040 (phone)
(818) 878-7400 (phone)
(310) 652-3095 (phone)
(323) 655-0502 (fax)

Push Day

January 24th is "Pushday" in the campaign to help recognize Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, known as the Big Push for Midwives. Currently, only 24 states legally recognize CPMs as licensed medical providers. By recognizing CPMs as the legitimate, trained professionals that they are, this will improve maternity care for all women and allow many women who wish to birth at home or in a freestanding birth center the option.

Some women don't have choices in maternity care other than a highly managed obstritian's office. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but some women want a different kind of maternity care that is just as safe and effective as traditional OB care. Some of these women have the choice of going it alone (unassisted childbirth or UC) or using an OB. I support unassisted childbirth for women who choose it and educated in their decision, but I don't support it as the only alternative to overmanaged OB care. Women should have real chocies when it comes to birth.

In areas where the is no recognition of CPMs, women who choose midwives for their homebirths will have to use midwives that are unlicensed and uninsured, so it is more difficult for them to find out if there have been problems with their midwife in the past, and they can continue to practice even if they have a "bad record" since they don't have a license to suspend in the first place. And good midwives in these states can be prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license, even though in many cases they are more trained and experienced in normal childbirth (and sometimes even more complicated vaginal childbirth, such as breech, twin deliveries and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), which are increasingly not allowed in a hospital setting) than other birth professionals who are granted licenses. CPMs are required to go through schooling to get the certification, and also assist other midwives and attend a minimum number of births before being tested and granted the title of CPMs.

Women deserve real choices in birth! I chose a CPM for both of my births. Lacy was born at home, and while my sister, who was there, will claim that it was a scary experience (Lacy was a little blue but she pinked up right away and I passed out a couple times, which was no biggie for the midwife who handled it beautifully by administering a little oxygen which she carries with her in her birth supply kit), to me it was a wonderful birth experience, despite the minor hiccups we experienced. I was able to have a waterbirth, which wasn't available at the hospital at the time, which reduced my pain and the length of my labor. Rose was a more complicated birth, and my wise midwife knew when to transfer me to the hospital. Although she was confident with her abilities, she knew with the complications I was experiencing, it could quickly turn into a real emergency which would require a stat c-section, so we went to the hospital. Thankfully, Rose's heartrate when down when my water was broken at the hospital and I didn't experience cord prolapse like she feared would happen if my water was broken at home, so I didn't need surgery and ended up with a nice hospital birth with my midwife by my side. I want all women to be able to choose competent and caring midwives, so I support the Big Push for Midwives and encourage all of you to do so, too.

What you can do: Write to President Obama and ask him to include CPM's in federal healthcare reform. You can use either of these websites to send him a message:

http://change.gov/page/s/healthcare
or http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Just copy and paste this: Please be sure to include Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), who specialize in providing out-of-hospital maternity care, in federal healthcare reform.

Thank you, dear readers!

We're making a difference!

Check out this letter from members of Energy & Commerce to the Chairman, Henry Waxman, regarding Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. We're making a difference!!!

Call, Write and Email!

February 10th is not too far away, people. Soon the government will be taking over our right to sell and buy quality, unique, handmade items by requiring testing that is prohibitively expensive to small business owners. Testing for one kid's telescope is estimated to be $24,000, but the annual sales of this product are only $32,000! How is this going to help the economy? This will force thousands of businesses to cease doing business!

This could also affect your local library-- books will be subject to this law, too. The price of books will increase, and the books already in the kid's section will be suspect.

And even though there is an "exemption" for second-hand stores, they are still liable if they sell something that has toxins in it, even the tiniest amounts. Violations of the law can be met with federal prison time and fines of up to $100,000.

I know I'm just another "mommy blogger" that the CPSC (consumer product safety commission) hates so much. They said "mommy bloggers" are spreading misinformation and paranoia. Well, is Forbes Magazine on the same level as "mommy bloggers," CPSA?

Seriously, you guys, I am terrified at the detrimental affects this law will have on our economy, on our children, and on our future! Please call, write and email your senators and congressmen about this issue! This doesn't just affect small business owners, this affects our economy as a whole. This law is too restrictive and unfair! Call your senators and representatives!

Go out and vote!

Please take a couple minutes and vote to save handmade toys at Change.org. The top three will be presented to Obama.

Remember a couple years ago the lead scare in children's toys? Well, the US government decided to step in and help with the situation by making a new law that will require increased testing of all products for children under the age of 12. So far so good, right? Well, they are requiring tests that are prohibitively expensive on everything, even on natural products that have never been a threat. This will force thousands of small business to go out of business as testing can cost up to $4000 per item. Say a mom works from home in her spare time to provde an extra income for her family. This law will effectively shut out businesses like that. However, the large mega-corporations will be able to afford all the testing no problem. There is more information on the link. Please take a minute to vote!

Another benefit to being crunchy

With the snow, the garbageman hasn't been by in two weeks. Many people fill their cans every single week, and now they're running out of room for their garbage. We, on the other hand, only fill our can 1/3-1/2 of the way full every single week. So this means that we still have room, even though we have 2 weeks worth of garbage piling up.

Our recycling is filled to the brim, but that's only 'cause it's Christmastime. And I'm not too worried about leaving the recycling out by the can.

A big problem that we do have, though, is getting to our compost bin. It is covered in a foot of snow still! Hopefully it will melt off in a day or two and I can pile on the new stuff we've collected. I've actually thrown away some of our food waste lately because of a lack of room in the bin.

I really don't like Wal-Mart

Last night at Thanksgiving I was talking about my dislike of Wal-Mart. I dislike it for various reasons. I have blogged about those reasons before. I thought that perhaps it was just my local Wal-Mart that caused people to automatically lose 10 IQ points upon driving in to the parking lot (it's gone even before they come in the doors!). But I was wrong. It's not just my Wal-Mart.

In New York, a crazy crowd of anxious shoppers trampled a Wal-Mart employee, trying to be the first in line to snatch up some of their after-Thanksgiving deals. This poor employee was pronounced dead at the hospital at 6 am. The out-of-control crowd didn't allow for other Wal-Mart employees to get in there and help this poor man. At least four other people, including a pregnant woman, had to go to the hospital for treatment because of this incident. Then, once Wal-Mart informed shoppers they were closing because of the death, people refused to leave and kept shopping!

Seriously, what is wrong with people? And what is it about Wal-Mart that causes people to act like such savages?

I'm so, so glad I have options other than Wal-Mart in my city. Many of my family members don't have other options.

In honor of International Babywearing week...

which just ended on the 18th, I give you this article. Parents who use strollers where the child faces away from them interact less with their baby which can cause some delays. Sure, I use a stroller sometimes, but, like anything else, products like this shouldn't be overused. Rose is nearly 2 1/2 and I wear her still on occasion. Usually I use my mei tai, which is a traditional Asian-style carrier. I love it-- simple, easy, pretty.



This second photo is of Lacy and me when she was just over a year old in a wrap on my back. Even in this hold there will be more interaction than in a stroller, since the baby is playing with your hair, tapping on your shoulders, kicking your bottom, and doing all sorts of things to remind you she's behind you! You can't help but to interact more.

Wraps sometimes look intimidating to use, but in reality they're quite simple. They take a teensy bit of practice, but after one or two tries you have it down. Last night Rose was having a melt down and I couldn't find the mei tai so I put her in the wrap, and instantly her mood and demenaor changed. It was like a miracle. I don't use carriers as much after they're two (they usually want to walk anyway), but it's obvious Rose still needs to be carried a lot, so I think I'll start remembering to take it with me.

Please contact your Representatives and Senators!

Today I got this email from my midwife:

www.BetterBirthAmerica.com

PLEASE HELP BIRTH CENTERS

November 17, 2008


Please Help U.S. Birth Centers
Birth centers are in jeopardy of closing due to an impending change in Medicaid policy. Birth centers have been recognized by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as Medicaid providers since 1987. Recently, however CMS has directed its regional offices to stop federal payments to any state for birth center services. Recently, CMS has disallowed such payment by several state Medicaid Agencies, including Alaska, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington State, and other states WILL follow! This action puts pregnant women at risk of losing access to safe, high quality maternity care!


Please Act Now!

Each and every one of you CAN take action to put birth centers on the Congressional radar. The birth community must take the lead on this--Congress won't take any action for us unless it hears from its constituents. AABC's lobbyist Karen Fennell is busy making Congressional visits, but they are saying they have not heard from you--so it must not be important . . .

Right now, Rep. Susan Davis (CA) will sponsor the bill and Rep. Lois Capps (CA) will co-sponsors, but we need many more--including Republicans so it has bi-partisan support.

Call your Representatives and Senators!

To find out who they are use these links:

Find your Senators - http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_i ... rs_cfm.cfm
Find your Representatives - http://www.house.gov/ - use the tool in the upper left hand corner

The American College of Nurse-Midwives also has a tool on their website - http://capwiz.com/acnm/dbq/officials/?lvl=C

Tell them you are a (midwife, staff person or client, neighbor, or supporter of birth options) of a birth center that cares for Medicaid women, and you want to let them know that birth centers are a needed service, and deserve to receive reimbursement! Other birth centers have already closed due to lack of facility reimbursement.

On the House side, ask Democrats to co-sponsor our bill which would add Birth Centers to Medicaid covered services. (Our bill does not have a number yet). Ask House Republicans to be a sponsor or lead. On the Senate side, we need leads and sponsors in both parties.

Please notify Karen Fennell (karenfennell50@yahoo.com) of your calls. Provide her with the representative's name, the staff person's name, and any questions or information she should be aware of.



This is urgent if we want to sustain birth centers in the United States. Please call today. Remember, this is important to the survival of ALL birth centers we are working for--we need 50 calls this week! Please also pass this on to anyone you know who has had or would like to have a baby in a birth center! Thank you for your support!

I wrote the following response to my senators-- feel free to copy and modify as needed if you want! We need calls and letters ASAP (I'll try to get over my phone phobia and call all three offices as soon as possible). Calls are probably more effective than emails, but do what you can!

Dear Senator X:

Birth centers are in jeopardy of closing due to an impending change in Medicaid policy. Birth centers have been recognized by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as Medicaid providers since 1987. Recently, however CMS has directed its regional offices to stop federal payments to any state for birth center services. Recently, CMS has disallowed such payment by several state Medicaid Agencies, including Washington State, and other states are sure to follow. This action puts pregnant women at risk of losing access to safe, high quality maternity care.

As clients of a birth center that cares for Medicaid women, we care deeply that women have choices in where and how to give birth. Birth centers are a needed service, and deserve to receive reimbursement. Other birth centers have already closed due to lack of facility reimbursement. There is a newly introduced bill that will add Birth Centers to Medicaid covered services. This bill has not yet been assigned a number. In the house, Rep. Susan Davis (CA) will sponsor the bill and Rep. Lois Capps (CA) will co-sponsor. This bill needs support in both the house and the senate. Please lend your support to midwives and birth centers by supporting this bill as a sponsor or lead.

Sincerely,

David & Carolyn N.

I wrote almost the exact same letter to my Democratic representative, asking him to co-sponsor this bill. He's cosponsored a breastfeeding bill before after I asked him to (I'm so certain it was all because of me LOL), so I have high hopes!

Please help!

Studies that make me mad: Disposable vs. Cloth Diapers

There are a few studies out there that I've read about lately that frustrate me. Their conclusions are suspect and they go against much of what I stand for as a parent. I'll be checking back in with more of these as I find them, and we'll get to the bottom of it all!

Today's study is: Cloth Diapers are worse for the environment than Disposables

I have been a cloth diaper user since Lacy was a newborn. I have only used a few packages of disposable diapers because I felt like they were less convenient and worse for the environment. I've often heard critics of cloth say that the washing and drying of cloth diapers add up and make them worse for the earth than disposables. This study seems to validate the critics' conclusions.

Or does it?

Look closely at what they are saying, and you'll see that they leave out a lot of information that is important. Let's tear this apart, shall we?

In the article, it states:

To reduce the impact of cloth nappies on climate change parents would have to hang wet nappies out to dry all year round, keep them for years for use on younger children, and make sure the water in their washing machines does not exceed 60C.

First of all, one of the main reasons I chose cloth diapers was because I could reuse them from child to child. My water heater is set lower than 60C/140F (probably more like 50C/120F). While I don't hang my diapers to dry, I do wash my diapers with other items. That may sound gross, but most parents I know will wash clothing that gets pee, poop and sometimes vomit on them with other items. I also haven't changed a poopy diaper in well over a year, so that factor isn't even in the equation (thanks, EC!). I'm seriously not doing any more laundry than a disposable diaper using mother. So how would my environmental impact be greater than that of 'sposie users?

But I know I'm not typical. Most people will separate their diapers and wash them alone, often on hot, and dry them in the dryer. I think it is fairly typical to save diapers for the next child, or sell them if a family is only going to have one child.

Even with typical cloth diaper use, the environmental impact is still less than that of disposable diapers. Let's talk about the manufacture of both kinds of diapers for a minute, shall we? I found a great, unbiased article on the manufacture of disposable diapers. It talks about all the different chemicals used in disposable diapers, and how the absorbent polymers are actually waste materials from other products, so that's good. It also says, "In diaper production, however, considerable amounts of both non woven material and polymer particles are wasted." In fact, another study showed that disposable diaper's manufacture produced three times as much waste as the manufacture of a cloth diaper. Considering most people only need a couple dozen cloth diapers but babies using disposable diapers go through more than 5000 diaper changes during their diaper-wearing days, the difference is enormous. That same study also showed that disposable diapers produce seven times more solid waste than cloth diapers.

Also not mentioned was the issue of biological waste in our landfills. Most people will not dump the contents of their infants' diapers into the toilets, even though the package clearly instructs caregivers to do so. I don't blame them-- I wouldn't dump out a diaper if I didn't have to, either. But since I had to, I installed a little sprayer to the side of my toilet. This makes it so much easier and less messy than the way my mom had to do it. I remember her dunking my brother's diapers all the time. So gross. Good thing there are alternatives to that out there! The biological waste from my home goes into our septic tank, where it can be emptied and properly treated by waste management companies who are skilled in this type of thing.

Another factor not considered is the transportation issue. For a cloth diaper, raw materials are harvested or manufactured and shipped to companies who make them into fabrics. Those fabrics are sent to wholesale distributors who either sell them directly to diaper manufacturers or to fabric shops/fabric co-ops, who sell to smaller cloth diaper manufacturers. Some of the bigger guys may weave/knit their own fabrics and make them into diapers in the same plant. Those diapers are made and probably packaged in the same plant, and then either shipped to retailers or directly to customers, depending on the type of operation you're talking about (there are literally hundreds if not thousands of cloth diaper manufacturers, many of them moms working out of their homes).

For disposables, the raw materials are harvested or manufactured and transported to a manufacturing plant, where they are made, then packaged probably at the same plant, placed on a pallet and shrink wrapped. These are shipped off to a warehouse somewhere. Then they are loaded again and shipped to a retail store where customers buy them and drive them home in their cars. It doesn't sound like much of a difference, but when you multiply it by 100 packs of diapers, it adds up quickly. Cloth diapering parents only buy diapers a few times.

Personally, I made my own diapers for the most part. I also bought a few items used and a couple from WAHM's (Work At Home Moms). Maybe 5-10 trips to the store or deliveries to me at home for the diapers I have used for my kiddos. I also have the luxury of not having a trash can fill up too quickly, having very little garbage, and only running out of diapers when the power goes out (or mama forgets to start the load... but that never happens around here!).

If you have a baby bum in your house, and you're not already using an alternative to disposable diapers, I encourage you to try out cloth or take the elimination communication plunge. Here's a shop to get you going on the cloth, and no special equipment is really needed to start with EC!

This year, I'm voting 3rd party!

I don't have an option to vote 3rd party in the State of Washington general election because we now have a "top two" primary. Rarely are 3rd party candidates chosen to be in the general election. But the federal election has representatives from all the major 3rd parties and some independents. Let's take a look at who's on my ballot (after the two main parties):

Independent: Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzales
Socialism & Liberation: Gloria La Riva/Eugene Puryear
Socialist Workers: James E. Harris/Alyson Kennedy
Libertarian: Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root
Constitution: Chuck Baldwin/Darrell L. Castle
Green: Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clementine

I'm leaning toward either the Libertarian party or Constitution party, but I'm going to give a nice, long look at the Green party as well. I can't support either the Democrats or the Republicans in this election, and since the state will go blue anyway, it really doesn't matter for whom I vote. Therefore, I'm going with a candidate that is more in line with my own views rather than compromise for a major party candidate.

This makes me sick.

This really gets my blood boiling. There is a school district in Texas that is punishing a 5 year old boy with isolated in-school detention (for the last six weeks!!!) for practicing his religious and cultural belief of wearing his hair long. The rules of this district are that boys must have hair above collar length. Their "compromise" was to allow him to braid his hair and stuff it down the back of his shirt. I don't know if any of my dear readers have ever stuffed their hair down the backs of their shirts before, but I have, and I know it is a huge pain in the rear end. Very uncomfortable, scratchy, and just a big irritation all around. And I don't live in a hot, humid environment like Huston, and I have only ever kept it back there for a minute or two. I also most likely have much finer hair than this little boy, which would mean less bulk and irritation, I would imagine.

Why is it okay for little girls to have long hair, but not boys? Why is it okay to still religiously discriminate against people in 2008? Why is it okay to bully around and shame a 5 year old boy who has done absolutely nothing wrong? How is that going to help him? I am sickened at the actions of the Needville Independent School District for humiliating a young boy in this manner.

Here is a snippet of the article:

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Texas today filed a lawsuit against the Needville Independent School District (NISD) for punishing a five-year-old American Indian kindergarten student for practicing and expressing his family's religious beliefs and heritage by wearing his hair long in violation of school rules.

School officials have forced A.A. into isolated in-school suspension because he and his family refuse to abide by a district mandate that he stuff his long hair, part of his American Indian religious and cultural heritage, down the back of his shirt while at school - a requirement that would cause A.A. shame, embarrassment and physical discomfort.

Read the rest of the article here.

She Jinxed Me

Rose was potty trained at 19 months. By potty trained, I don't mean that I put her on the toilet and occasionally she would go. I mean, full-on toilet independent, including wiping and washing her hands. She would go in without even telling me and I would frequently find her sitting on the potty in the dark. We practiced elimination communication ("EC") with her from seven weeks old, and it really worked well.

Of course, being only one year old, she had accidents. She just couldn't make it there sometimes, and occasionally she would just be so wrapped up in what she was doing that she wouldn't realize she had to go until it was too late. Her biggest problem was just being in an unfamiliar place and not knowing where to go-- since she was non-verbal for a long time, it was a huge challenge for us, so I got in the habit of showing her where the bathroom was right away at new places we visited. I figured it was all worth it because I didn't have to deal with poop as much, and her skin would improve just based on the fact that there was less of an opportunity for wetness to give her a rash.

You see, I have a hand thing, and my kids have eczema, which, in the case of my children, first appears as a rash as infants, around 6 weeks of age. I hate getting my hands dirty. I have to wear gloves to carry in wood, and the thought of touching chalk sends shivers down my spine. It completely grosses me out to have diaper rash ointment on my hands, and after an application of said ointment I have to immediately scrub down my hands. I figured it was just easier to potty train earlier than have to deal with rash ointments for longer. For me, it works, and it is easier. They still have skin issues, but not nearly as bad as when the rashes are in full swing with wearing diapers. It helps now that we've seen a dermatologist about our needs, and many of the issues are no longer a problem, or are infrequent inconveniences. Mainly Rose gets rashes when she wets her diaper, which she still wears for sleeping, so it's been quite a blessing that it is rare for her to do that anymore.

My sister, Leslie, disagrees and maintains that it is far better to potty train around the three year mark. It is much easier to deal with the pee and the poop all contained in one "nice" little package, rather than have to deal with accidents all the time. Her children that potty train around age three almost never have accidents. Well, until they're 6 years old and can't be bothered to stop what they're doing and go inside to use the bathroom. To prove her point, she mentioned that Rose's bathroom independence is a hindrance at times, and that her frequent accidents aren't worth the trouble of having a potty trained 2 year old. I countered that she rarely has accidents so it's really a moot point. Well, her definition of accident is a bit different than mine: inefficient wiping which requires a later change of underwear is, in her book, an accident. For me, it's just a part of having a kid and I'll deal as I am dealt. I'm just happy not to have to clean up poop every day.

To prove that my toddler's infrequent accidents aren't a hindrance and aren't as frequent as Leslie maintains, I was going to be on "accident watch" on this blog. Put some sort of feature up in the corner saying X days since Rose's last accident, like they have at many work sites (but I think their definition of accident is quite different than the one I am referring to). But I have been jinxed. Since the original conversation, Rose has had several accidents. This is totally out of the ordinary for her. She usually has one maybe every couple weeks, but this week she has had four or five. Two were in one day... but to be fair, Rose was wearing a diaper as it was right before nap time for one of those accidents.

Thanks a lot, Leslie. I should make you do my laundry.

It's Nestle Free Week!

Today on our way home from my sister's house, Lacy said to us, "Do you know what kills babies?"

"What?" we asked.

"Nestle."

What an appropriate comment at the start of Nestle-free week.

I've been actively boycotting Nestle for probably about two years now, but have been boycotting by choosing other brands (but not necessarily doing the research to find out what brands they own) since Lacy was born over four years ago, when I first learned of the Nestle controversy.

Why Boycott Nestle?

The promotion of infant formula over breastfeeding has caused many needless deaths, mostly in 3rd world countries, but also in developed countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) is well aware of how infant formula marketing can sway mothers to use formula instead of nature's perfect food, milk from the child's own mother. Because of that, the WHO has come out with "The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes," sometimes called the WHO code. This code restricts the way formula companies can market their products. Most countries have adopted this code (unfortunately the US has not), yet many formula companies violate it anyway. The most frequent violator of the code is Nestle.

History of the Nestle Boycott

In 1973, a booklet called The Baby Killer was published, outlining Nestle's unethical marketing tactics. This lead Nestle to sue a publisher of one of the translations of the booklet. This was the German translation, whose title was translated to Nestle Kills Babies. After a two year legal battle, the judge found that Nestle couldn't be held criminally liable for the deaths of all the infants, but only won its case against the title of the translation. The judge commented that Nestle needed to fundamentally change its marketing tactics and only fined the publisher 300 Swiss Franks. TIME magazine said it was a "moral victory" for the publisher.

With all this information coming to light about Nestle, the boycott began. In 1981, the WHO code was issued. In 1984, boycott organizers met with Nestle, who agreed to abide by the terms of the code, and the boycott was officially suspended.

However, in 1988, IBFAN learned that Nestle had not kept their part of the bargain-- they were still providing massive amounts of free and low-cost infant formula and supplies to hospitals in third world countries. This lead to a relaunch of the original boycott, and is still going on today.

But Isn't Formula Healthy and Sometimes Necessary?

Yes and no. At times, formula is a life-saving substance and we should be grateful that we have access to this. Especially for infants with metabolic disorders who would otherwise not be able to survive, even with donor milk. These babies are quite rare, and some are able to have breast milk in limited amounts, and must have metabolic formula as their main food source.

In this day and age, many women are leery of having another mother nurse their infant, or even provide donated milk (which can be screened for diseases, and pasteurized, which sterilizes the milk but also kills the living cells and antibodies found in milk). Other women are just grossed out by the idea of using another woman's breast milk. Still others do not have an affordable and trustworthy source of milk for their infants, and are unable to provide a full supply of breast milk on their own. For these women, formula is the best answer for a limited supply (or non-supply) of breast milk.

For other women, using formula means playing roulette with different formulas to find the brand that works with their child. Some children are extremely sensitive and must have very expensive predigested formulas. Other children are more gassy or fussy with certain brands.

And of course there are the health issues related to using formula. That was my biggest motivation to provide breast milk at any cost to my children. Using formula increases the incidences of asthma, allergies, adult-onset diabetes, GI tract problems, ear infections, and a host of other problems, some of which don't show up until adulthood. Some of the findings are controversial, but most results have been repeated again and again in studies.

And the biggest risk is making the formula correctly. Here are the major issues with marketing to the poor or mothers in third world countries:

1. Initially the formula is given away free, long enough for the milk supply to dry up. Once the milk is gone, the mothers have no choice but to use formula. Sometimes poor mothers will use less formula powder than is advised because they cannot afford to give them full-strength formula. This often leads to malnutrition.

2. Some mothers don't have access to safe water supplies and must mix formula bottles with unsanitary water. Because infants are more vulnerable, they are more likely to get sick from contaminated water than an older child or adult. UNICEF estimates that infants living in areas where contaminated water and disease are prevalent are up to 25 times more likely to die from diarrhea and four times more likely to die from pneumonia than breastfed infants.

3. There are some nutrients found in breast milk that science has not been able to replicate. New components of breast milk are being found every day, so it's unclear how many new components remain to be found, if they ever can be found.

4. Many mothers in developing countries are not fully aware of how to clean their child's bottles. In some cases, mothers may be aware but may not have the means to properly sanitize the bottles.

Nestle has exploited these mothers by going in to developing countries and insisting that formula is not only just as good, but better than mother's milk. Because of that, innocent babies die every day. According to the WHO, 1.5 million babies die every year because they are not adequately breastfed.

Doesn't Restricting Marketing Restrict Capitalism? That's Against the American Way!

Well, sure. But when you are protecting the most innocent of the world's population, isn't it worth it? There are a handful of things in this world that I think there should be major restrictions on advertising, and formula is one of them, along with prescription drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and male enhancement products, which does include some non-prescription supplements (side note: how is it legal to advertise these things during the early evening? Sure, I'll explain the birds and the bees to my child someday, but I think age 4 is a little young).

I've never understood formula advertising. The vast majority of mothers know it is there for them if they need it. If they don't know about it, there are public health nurses, physicians, and others who can help the mother choose a formula if that is what is needed for her child. Advertising dollars (which include the free cans of formula handed out at hospitals, doctor's offices, or your doorstep, and the coupons they send to you every month, in addition to television and print advertising) increase the cost of formula for everyone, making formula more expensive for those who need it.

So, taking in to consideration that formula companies spend money on print and TV advertising, marketing directly to physicians and hospitals via drug reps, direct marketing to mothers via free samples and coupons in the mail, and WIC rebates (which amount to 95% of the cost of the formula-- The Formula Company will give WIC a $19 rebate on a $20 can of formula), really the ones footing the bill are the ones paying full price. Sure, it's the capitalistic society that we live in, but advertising formula only hurts families and especially infants, and should not be allowed.

I'd Like to Participate, but My Baby only tolerates Nestle Formula

Guess what? The Nestle boycott doesn't include Nestle formulas! Why? Because the organizers are aware that for some families, formula is unavoidable, and some babies are sensitive to many kinds of formula, and in some cases are only able to tolerate the Nestle brand. Or, the Nestle brand may be the only one available, or affordable, for some families. You can participate in the boycott without hurting your baby's health. Nestle is pretty sneaky-- many brands are owned by Nestle, and it can be a surprise as to what brands they own. Dave used to eat a lot of Hot Pockets. Then we got some bad ones, I called customer care, and the coupons I got to replace them came in a Nestle envelope. I never redeemed the coupons. Dave has found other junk food items that he loves that aren't Nestle brand to replace his beloved Hot Pockets. He hasn't complained about no Hot Pockets since I stopped buying them, which was almost four years ago. To help you out, here's a comprehensive list of Nestle products.

How Can I Get Involved?

By boycotting Nestle, you are sending them a message-- you will not support a company that hurts families. Be sure to sign the boycott petition, and then call them and let them know you are participating in the boycott, or you can send them a letter. Because of what they've done around the world to babies and their families, Nestle is one of the most boycotted brands in the world.

Please participate, at least for one week, in the Nestle boycott. Tell Nestle you won't tolerate them braking the International Code!

High Fructose Corn Syrup is GOOD for you!

See the commercial? It's good! Great, even. Of course, like anything else use it in moderation.

It says to get the facts. Yes, let's get the facts here, shall we?

• A 2004 study showed that people who eat foods or drink beverages, especially soda, containing HFCS are more likely to be obese.
• A 2007 study suggests that HFCS may cause liver damage.
• Two studies from 2006 showed no adverse affects (or affects differing from other sweeteners) from HFCS. However, these studies were funded by The American Beverage Institute and the Corn Refiners Association.
  
• Studies have linked HFCS with the rise in diabetes and insulin resistance.
• HFCS may affect your appetite-- its consumption may cause people to feel more hungry than usual.
  
• The corn industry claims HFCS is "all natural," but its manufacture involves a lot of chemistry to change the it from 100% glucose to different ratios of a fructose to glucose mixture (the ratio depends on how it will be used). One of the "natural" ingredients used to produce HFCS is a genetically modified enzyme. That, along with with amount of processing, means, at least in my mind, that HFCS isn't strictly a natural ingredient.
  

So, is it really an all-natural ingredient that is good for you? Are you really going to trust an association whose primary mission is to sell more corn products to be 100% honest in their marketing? Because, personally, if I had a product that did some good stuff but may also cause some harm in some people, I would totally downplay the negatives in order to sell my product. It's the American Way!