Splendiferous Zeppelin Escapades

First of all, Thank you, Maura! You’re suggestion was just what I needed!!

My friend suggested Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers since she uses them, and I got a Fuzzi Bunz One-size diaper and it is my favorite!! I love it because I have complete control over the fit. I can adjust the waist to fit just right and the legs to fit perfectly. Since Spencer is tall and skinny he doesn’t fit into certain diapers well, because they are made for chubby babies.

I’ve only had it for a couple of days and have only used it a couple of times. But Spencer REALLY put it through it’s paces. He completely soaked it from the front to back and the diaper didn’t leak at all!! I’m so happy. We’ve had issues with leaks, and I’m so happy that it didn’t leak.

Even if I go and get enough of these to last for a couple of days, I’m still glad I have the covers and the cloth diapers I started with. They will be helpful if Spencer gets a rash since I’m not supposed to use rash ointment with my Fuzzi Bunz.

I’ll get a picture of Spencer in it to post soon. (I took them this morning, but smart me didn’t have the memory in the camera to actually get the pictures).

We are still doing the great cloth experiment.  We are still having leaking issues.  I’ve gone in and talked with the shop owner, she’s looked at my diapers and says their absorbency is fine.  She is thinking that the diapers just don’t fit the tall and skinny kid very well.

So, we are re-grouping.  The shop owner and I are both looking into other products that might fit Spencer a little bit better.  I’ve actually taken his measurements to see how big his thighs are, his waist and his “rise” (from belly button, between his legs, to his lower back).  Some times I wonder it is just because the diaper is moving around within the wrap and other times  I wonder if Spencer is a big wetter.  Either way, we’re still doing it.

On another note, we re-arranged Spencer’s toy room now that he had a table and chairs.  As I was cleaning up, look what I found him doing.  He did this himself, I had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Needless to say, this makes me SO happy. I love that he loves to read. I’d been a little said that he wasn’t reading as much lately, but I know that he still loves it. Have a great day!

Well, it has easier and harder all at the same time.

I’ve learned how to better fold the diapers that need folding, and have a nice little system of employing them.  However, there is something WRONG with my system.  Everyone I’ve talked with who does cloth diapers says they have no problems with leaks, but I’ve had some major issues leaking.  :(  This is not the normal way of diapering.

I’ve been so frustrated by it in the last day or two that I’ve wanted to give it all up and go back to what was working before.  I’m still going to stick with this and learn it.

A lot of people probably think I’m nuts for dealing with this, but I’m looking at it like I looked at nursing.  It’s good for him (and for me).  It’s hard, but if you ask the people who can help for help, you can be successful.  And above all else, stick with it.  Give yourself a chance to learn how to do it properly before giving it up for lost.

So, that’s what we’re doing.  Soldiering on.

Day 3:  Day Three was a good day.  I feel like we found a rhythm and a routine that works well for us.  We do cloth diapers all the time that Spencer is awake.  So, right before his nap we put a fresh disposable diaper on him, which was what we were doing before the cloth experiment (lest you think I would put him to bed in a nasty diaper).  He also gets an overnight disposable to sleep at night.  It seems that Spencer sleeps better when the wetness is wicked away from.  Am I surprised, not even a little bit.  I know I wouldn’t sleep very well if I was wet. 

As of now, the diaper washing hasn’t been a hassle at all.  I really don’t mind the small load I’ve been doing every night.  I actually have enough diapers that I could MAYBE do the laundry every two days, but I need to wash the covers every night.  I don’t have enough of those.

Day 4:  Day 4 was a different day than yesterday.  Today is one of those days that puts the whole thing into perspective for you.  This is why we do the experiments for multiple days.  He did great this morning at the park and through our errands.  I even did an “in-the-field” diaper change into another cloth diaper.  (I do keep several disposables in the car for emergencies).  When we got home, he was running around and wet ALL the way through his diaper.    One pair of pants down.

The rest of the day continued fairly normally.  I got Spencer up from his nap at 4:40 and put a new cloth diaper on him.  He was doing great.  I picked him up to go see Adam and he was dry.  The I passed him to Adam and he was ALL wet!  What the heck!!  Two pairs of pants down.   When we got the diaper off him, his poor little tushie was all red like I left it on him too long.  So sad.

So, we put on the Fab Fitted diapers with no cover and no pants to help his tushie since the allow air to get to him. (And they did).  But without the cover, he wizzed in Adam’s lab.  Adam didn’t get all wet or anything, but he noticed.  When he went through the other diaper, he was jumping into Adam’s arms and left wet marks on his shirt.  ***NOTE:  WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE DIDN’T PUT A COVER ON THE DIAPER.  IT IS NOT TYPICAL WHEN YOU USE THE COVERS***

So, I think I’m just a little discouraged today since I went through two pairs of pants and we got dirtier than I wanted too.  Tomorrow will be a better day. 

We learned an important lesson today… 6 diapers is not enough. I knew that in the back of my mind, but we had to start somewhere.

(cloth diaper in action)

I also learned that while the Fab Fitted diapers are really easy since they go on like a disposable, they add a TON of extra bulk. I’m pretty sure Spencer hated it. He whined every time I put those diapers on him.

So, after some research and math, I decided to tryThirsties Duo Diaper and their Stay Dry Duo Inserts to bring the bulk down.

So today, we went back to the Green Bambino (which is really close to your house, Amanda. If you want to look around, I’ll be happy to go with you. Although the shop owner is WAY better to talk to than I am). I left there today with 2 Duo Diapers, 1 extra Stay Dry Insert (since I can use them in the wraps I bought the first time too) and 5 pre-fold diapers.

I am up to 14 diapers now. I’m actually almost there to having all the diapers I would need (about 24), and I don’t have a TON of money invested either. We are going to stick with the 14 for the next couple of weeks and see what happens.

So far, I really do like it. Believe it or not, even though I am changing diapers more frequently, I actually enjoy it more. I guess there is something to be said about having a more active role in choosing colors and types of lining.

EDIT AFTER WASHING:  Spencer had a big messy poo today, and I tested the dump what you can and the rest will come out in the wash.  Well, most of the stuff came out, but there is still a stain (which doesn’t bother me).  I was impressed until, we smelled it and it still smelled like poo.  So, after scrubbing it a little bit, I am washing that one diaper again.  The rest are fine and ready for Day 3