Last Thursday, I took the advice of calling a lactation consultant to see what their recommendation was for chunking Kieran up.
The lactation consultant asked a few questions and ultimately suggested that we supplement with formula since starting solid food can "mess with his gut" (I'm assuming she meant the bacteria?) She also suggested that I get him to feed at least every 2 hours to increase my supply (which he already is.) I've started using Fenugreek again and am looking into Mother's Milk Tea (anyone use this?)
Over the weekend, we started supplementing with formula. We were sent samples of both Similac and Enfamil formulas while I was pregnant, so we started using the Similac formula since that is what he was on when he was a newborn in the hospital to regulate his blood sugar. We'll probably go through the Enfamil formula as well before deciding which one to buy. He doesn't seem to mind the formula, in fact, he gets really excited when he sees the bottle coming towards him. I have noticed that he is spitting up a lot more than normal (before starting formula, he had only spit up once in his life.) I'm not sure if his stomach isn't used to the volume of liquid, or if it's messing with him in some way, so I make sure to stop and burp him often to get any air out.
I'm still trying to process the emotions I have about giving him formula. I know, logically, that this is what he needs. The lactation consultant reminded me that this ultimately, this isn't about making him fatter, but insuring he's getting the nutrients he needs to grow, especially his brain. But, I'm still dealing with the guilt of my body not producing enough for him. If I'm honest with myself, I'm also scared about feeding him formula out in public. I'm afraid someone is going to come up to me and scold me for not doing what is best for my son since "breast is best."
There are some positives to formula feeding. Keegan is able to feed him and I love seeing them interact while Kieran is eating. Grandparents and family, as well as friends, are able to feed him now as well, and I know they'll enjoy that. If last night is any indication, his sleeping is also improving. For almost a month, Kieran has been waking up every 45 minutes to hour and a half during the night, wanting to eat every time. I'm exhausted, he's tired, and Keegan wasn't much better. It was getting so bad that Keegan was going to sleep in our guest bedroom last night, when we decided to try Kieran in the crib one last time. We put him to bed around 8, he woke up at 11:30, and 3, and then slept until 8:20 when I had to wake him up. I think he would have slept longer if I let him! I wanted to keep him in our room until he was a bit older, but if the crib is what he needs, then that's where he'll sleep. I'm nervous about putting him back in the pack n' play for our upcoming trip home, but we'll see what happens. Of course, his good night sleep could be a coincidence, but I'm hoping giving him formula is keeping him fuller, longer.
Our supplementing schedule currently looks like this:
- Wake up between 7 and 8, breastfeed
- Drive to work, breastfeed between 9 and 10
- Bottle of formula between 10 and noon, Kieran takes his first nap
- Wakes up from nap, breastfeeds
- Bottle of formula between 1 and 3
- Kieran naps between 3 and 5
- Breastfeed around 4:45 before leaving from work
- Kieran will normally fall asleep in the car on the drive home
- Breastfeed when we get home
- Get ready for bed, breastfeed, and bottle
- Bed between 7 and 8.
- He will get a bottle or two of formula overnight, but I try and breastfeed him as often as possible
We have a weight check up on the 30th, so we'll see if the formula helps. If so, I have a feeling he'll be on it until he's weaned.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Chunky Monkey to Chicken Wings
Kieran was 9 pounds, 1 ounce when he was born. At his one month appointment, he was 9 pounds, 13 ounces. 10 pounds 8 ounces at his 2 month appointment and when I had to take him in to get an eye infection checked out at around 3.5 months, he was 10 pounds, 14 ounces.
Over 3.5 months, he dropped from the 92 percentile for weight, down to the .7 percentile (according to this website.) We joked that he went from our chunky monkey newborn to having chicken wings for arms.
At the appointment for his eye. I brought up my worry about his weight, and the doctor agreed that he was small for his age. He suggested we start solids right away, and also brought up the idea that Kieran's infected eye may be caused by a milk allergy which could also cause him not to gain weight.
Since we didn't see his normal doctor, I wanted to wait until his 4 month appointment to get a second opinion before making any drastic changes like wiping dairy completely out of my system (Mama likes her cheese!) We did play around with a few solids (sweet potatoes and a smashed banana,) but we weren't doing it religiously.
Over a 15 day period, Kieran gained another 13 ounces (from 10 pounds 14 ounces, to 11 pounds, 11 ounces.) At his four month appointment, we unfortunately weren't able to see his regular doctor (again...) so when I brought up his slow weight gain, the new doctor brushed it off saying that he's doing fine since he is gaining weight. I asked her to look up his percentile and that's when we found out that he had only increased to the 2nd. She then became concerned about his weight and strongly started pushing formula. I told her that since we had already dipped our toes into starting solids, I'd rather continue on that route, and she agreed. She suggested putting cereal into his bottles, but I told her that I am not able to pump enough in a day to give him bottles all the time. She agreed that we could give Kieran cereal by the spoonful as long as he seems to be able to handle it fine, which he is.
The doctor concluded that she thinks that I do not have enough of a supply to sustain Kieran, and what I am able to produce does not have enough calories for him. The plan is to feed him solids of some sort every feeding, and go back in two weeks to check his weight gain.
I've been going back and forth between guilt, disappointment, anger. Guilty that he's been hungry this entire time and it's the reason he's been sleeping in 1.5 hour increments which disrupts my husband's sleep. Disappointment that I'm not able to exclusively breastfeed him until 6 months and start baby led weaning when we wanted to. Anger that once again, my body can't seem to do anything right.
But, I'm also thankful that I was able to exclusively breastfeed him for 4 months. I know that any breast milk is better than none at all, and I'm still planning to nurse him as well as give him solids. I'm also thankful that throughout all of this, Kieran has been a happy, healthy baby who hasn't been all that fussy, even though he's always hungry.
So, that's where we are now. Hopefully adding in solids will chunk him up and he'll start sleeping again. Mama and baby both need some rest.
Over 3.5 months, he dropped from the 92 percentile for weight, down to the .7 percentile (according to this website.) We joked that he went from our chunky monkey newborn to having chicken wings for arms.
At the appointment for his eye. I brought up my worry about his weight, and the doctor agreed that he was small for his age. He suggested we start solids right away, and also brought up the idea that Kieran's infected eye may be caused by a milk allergy which could also cause him not to gain weight.
Since we didn't see his normal doctor, I wanted to wait until his 4 month appointment to get a second opinion before making any drastic changes like wiping dairy completely out of my system (Mama likes her cheese!) We did play around with a few solids (sweet potatoes and a smashed banana,) but we weren't doing it religiously.
Over a 15 day period, Kieran gained another 13 ounces (from 10 pounds 14 ounces, to 11 pounds, 11 ounces.) At his four month appointment, we unfortunately weren't able to see his regular doctor (again...) so when I brought up his slow weight gain, the new doctor brushed it off saying that he's doing fine since he is gaining weight. I asked her to look up his percentile and that's when we found out that he had only increased to the 2nd. She then became concerned about his weight and strongly started pushing formula. I told her that since we had already dipped our toes into starting solids, I'd rather continue on that route, and she agreed. She suggested putting cereal into his bottles, but I told her that I am not able to pump enough in a day to give him bottles all the time. She agreed that we could give Kieran cereal by the spoonful as long as he seems to be able to handle it fine, which he is.
The doctor concluded that she thinks that I do not have enough of a supply to sustain Kieran, and what I am able to produce does not have enough calories for him. The plan is to feed him solids of some sort every feeding, and go back in two weeks to check his weight gain.
I've been going back and forth between guilt, disappointment, anger. Guilty that he's been hungry this entire time and it's the reason he's been sleeping in 1.5 hour increments which disrupts my husband's sleep. Disappointment that I'm not able to exclusively breastfeed him until 6 months and start baby led weaning when we wanted to. Anger that once again, my body can't seem to do anything right.
But, I'm also thankful that I was able to exclusively breastfeed him for 4 months. I know that any breast milk is better than none at all, and I'm still planning to nurse him as well as give him solids. I'm also thankful that throughout all of this, Kieran has been a happy, healthy baby who hasn't been all that fussy, even though he's always hungry.
So, that's where we are now. Hopefully adding in solids will chunk him up and he'll start sleeping again. Mama and baby both need some rest.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Microblog Mondays - One Year Later
Read about Microblog Mondays here
On November 30, 2013, I took a pregnancy test in the downstairs bathroom of my parent's house. I placed the test back into the wrapper, snuggled up to Keegan in bed, and handed him the test. After waiting the suggested three minutes, I told him to look at it. He said that there was a second line, but it wasn't as strong as the first line, so it must be negative (he thought pregnancy tests worked like ovulation tests.) I ripped the test out of his hands, and stared at the faint second line.
A few months later, our son was born on August 14, 2014. Words cannot describe how thankful I am for my sweet, smiley, amazing, wonderful son.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Our Cloth Diaper Stash - Covers, Prefolds and Fitteds
This is the second post in a three part series. Read about our all in one and pocket diapers in part one, and our cloth diapering accessories in part three.
The second half of our stash is made up of covers, prefolds and fitted diapers.
Covers
A cover is a waterproof layer that goes over a prefold, fitted, or flat. Many of them are rinse and wipe covers which means they can be reused as long as they are not soiled by poop. There are also covers made from wool. They can be one sized or sized, and have snaps or Velcro as closures.
Flips
Purchased at Kelly's Closet
$14.95 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: Flips are made by the same company as the BumGenius, and they are our favorite covers. They're durable, well made and have a great fit. They've fit him since birth and I can see them fitting him throughout potty training.
Cons; With all of the covers, you have to double check to make sure the prefold or fitted diaper is tucked into the cover to stop leaks, which isn't a con exactly, just an extra step.
Buy Again? Oh yes!
Thirsties Duo Wrap Diaper Cover (Size 1)
Purchased at Kelly's Closet
$12.75 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: These rank only slightly below the Flips for favorite covers. The Velcro closure is strong and great for a fast diaper change, especially at night. The double gussets keep everything in and I can see the size 1 fitting him for a long time. The colors are nice and vibrant and there are some cute prints as well.
Cons: We have a white one, and Kieran's poop has stained the gussets along the legs. I've tried to sun bleach the stains out, but it hasn't worked. Again, just making sure to tuck in the prefold or fitted diaper to stop leaks.
Buy Again? Yep! When he grows out of the size 1s, I'll probably buy a couple of size 2s.
Bumkins
Received in Cotton Booty Box
$10.95 at Bumkins.com
Pros: Double gussets, strong snaps, fits well.
Cons: There are a lot of snaps. While this ensures a great fit, it's takes a while and I can see it being difficult to use with a wriggly toddler.
Buy Again?: I'm glad we have it, but I don't know if I would go out of my way to buy one since we like our Flips and Thirsties so much.
SoftBums Echo Shell
Received in Cotton Booty box
$21.95 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: Eh....not a huge fan of this diaper.
Cons: This is a strange diaper. It has an insert that snaps onto the shell and you're supposed to be able to take out that insert and place in another like a cover, but I've never been able to do that because the shell always gets dirty. We've also had leaks almost every time we've used it.
Buy Again?: This was a Cotton Booty diaper so I didn't choose it, and as of right now, I wouldn't buy it again.
Sweet Pea One Size Diaper Cover
Received in Fluff Fairy purchase
$11.99 at Kelly's Closet
Fitteds
Fitted diapers, commonly referred to as Fitteds, are diapers that resemble the size and shape of a disposable diaper. They are very absorbent and made up of many fabrics like cotton. They do require a cover, but can be worn by itself to try to let baby's bum breathe to clear up a diaper rash.
Kissaluvs Fitted Cloth Diapers - Newborn
Received as a present
$13.95 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: I never looked into fitted diapers, so I'm glad that we received this as a gift. It's great at soaking up liquids, and I've heard they're great at for overnights, but I've never tried since we love our BumGenius so much. It also has a snap down for the umbilical cord, so it's great for newborns.
Cons: Only con I can think of is the size. He's going to grow out of it soon and I wish we could have gotten more use out of it.
Buy Again? Maybe. I'm still deciding if I'm going to buy the next size up once he grows out of it, only because we have other diapers that we enjoy using.
Prefolds
Prefolds are rectangles of (usually) cotton that are wrapped around baby, pinned on the sides (think old school diapers,) and then covered with a waterproof cover. They can also be used as burp cloths and rags around the house once baby is out of diapers.
We ordered our prefolds from Green Mountain Diapers and originally ordered 12 of the newborn, and 12 of the small. Since we like our newborn prefolds so much, we ended up purchasing another 12 for a total of 24. The newborn fit him well at birth, and still fit him at 3 months old. I don't see them fitting all the way up until 6 months, however.
Pros: They are easy to use. They can simply be tri-folded and laid into a cover, or there are a bunch of more complex ways to fold them (we're currently using the angel wing fold.) They're also cheap and can be used as inserts in pocket diapers. Keegan has told me that he enjoys using prefolds (as much as you can enjoy diapers,) which surprised me.
Cons: They're a bit more "labor" intensive than AIO or pocket diapers if you're using a fold and not just laying the prefold inside a cover. We started using the angel wing fold because Kieran's poops were starting to leak over the side of a tri-folded prefold and got the covers dirty.
Buy again? Yep! We already have 12 of the next size up, but I'm going to wait to see if we still love prefolds as much as we do now before buying the size after that.
I wasn't expecting to like our prefolds as much as I do. Our regular rotation is BumGenius for bedtime, Rumparooz for daytime, and prefolds after we run out of the Rumparooz. Many times I reach for a prefold over a Rumparooz because they're a lot trimmer than a pocket diaper, so his pants fit better.
Next, I'll talk about our cloth diapering accessories!
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The second half of our stash is made up of covers, prefolds and fitted diapers.
Covers
A cover is a waterproof layer that goes over a prefold, fitted, or flat. Many of them are rinse and wipe covers which means they can be reused as long as they are not soiled by poop. There are also covers made from wool. They can be one sized or sized, and have snaps or Velcro as closures.
Flips
Purchased at Kelly's Closet
$14.95 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: Flips are made by the same company as the BumGenius, and they are our favorite covers. They're durable, well made and have a great fit. They've fit him since birth and I can see them fitting him throughout potty training.
Cons; With all of the covers, you have to double check to make sure the prefold or fitted diaper is tucked into the cover to stop leaks, which isn't a con exactly, just an extra step.
Buy Again? Oh yes!
Thirsties Duo Wrap Diaper Cover (Size 1)
Purchased at Kelly's Closet
$12.75 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: These rank only slightly below the Flips for favorite covers. The Velcro closure is strong and great for a fast diaper change, especially at night. The double gussets keep everything in and I can see the size 1 fitting him for a long time. The colors are nice and vibrant and there are some cute prints as well.
Cons: We have a white one, and Kieran's poop has stained the gussets along the legs. I've tried to sun bleach the stains out, but it hasn't worked. Again, just making sure to tuck in the prefold or fitted diaper to stop leaks.
Buy Again? Yep! When he grows out of the size 1s, I'll probably buy a couple of size 2s.
Bumkins
Received in Cotton Booty Box
$10.95 at Bumkins.com
Pros: Double gussets, strong snaps, fits well.
Cons: There are a lot of snaps. While this ensures a great fit, it's takes a while and I can see it being difficult to use with a wriggly toddler.
Buy Again?: I'm glad we have it, but I don't know if I would go out of my way to buy one since we like our Flips and Thirsties so much.
SoftBums Echo Shell
Received in Cotton Booty box
$21.95 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: Eh....not a huge fan of this diaper.
Cons: This is a strange diaper. It has an insert that snaps onto the shell and you're supposed to be able to take out that insert and place in another like a cover, but I've never been able to do that because the shell always gets dirty. We've also had leaks almost every time we've used it.
Buy Again?: This was a Cotton Booty diaper so I didn't choose it, and as of right now, I wouldn't buy it again.
Sweet Pea One Size Diaper Cover
Received in Fluff Fairy purchase
$11.99 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: Fits fairly well, has many snaps which ensures a good fit and has double gussets
Cons: Having many snaps ensures a good fit, but I can see it being difficult with a wiggly toddler.
Buy Again? Meh. Again, I don't think I'd go out of my way to buy it since we like our Flips and Thirsties so much, but I'm glad we have it in our stash.
Fitteds
Fitted diapers, commonly referred to as Fitteds, are diapers that resemble the size and shape of a disposable diaper. They are very absorbent and made up of many fabrics like cotton. They do require a cover, but can be worn by itself to try to let baby's bum breathe to clear up a diaper rash.
Kissaluvs Fitted Cloth Diapers - Newborn
Received as a present
$13.95 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: I never looked into fitted diapers, so I'm glad that we received this as a gift. It's great at soaking up liquids, and I've heard they're great at for overnights, but I've never tried since we love our BumGenius so much. It also has a snap down for the umbilical cord, so it's great for newborns.
Cons: Only con I can think of is the size. He's going to grow out of it soon and I wish we could have gotten more use out of it.
Buy Again? Maybe. I'm still deciding if I'm going to buy the next size up once he grows out of it, only because we have other diapers that we enjoy using.
Prefolds
Prefolds are rectangles of (usually) cotton that are wrapped around baby, pinned on the sides (think old school diapers,) and then covered with a waterproof cover. They can also be used as burp cloths and rags around the house once baby is out of diapers.
We ordered our prefolds from Green Mountain Diapers and originally ordered 12 of the newborn, and 12 of the small. Since we like our newborn prefolds so much, we ended up purchasing another 12 for a total of 24. The newborn fit him well at birth, and still fit him at 3 months old. I don't see them fitting all the way up until 6 months, however.
Pros: They are easy to use. They can simply be tri-folded and laid into a cover, or there are a bunch of more complex ways to fold them (we're currently using the angel wing fold.) They're also cheap and can be used as inserts in pocket diapers. Keegan has told me that he enjoys using prefolds (as much as you can enjoy diapers,) which surprised me.
Cons: They're a bit more "labor" intensive than AIO or pocket diapers if you're using a fold and not just laying the prefold inside a cover. We started using the angel wing fold because Kieran's poops were starting to leak over the side of a tri-folded prefold and got the covers dirty.
Buy again? Yep! We already have 12 of the next size up, but I'm going to wait to see if we still love prefolds as much as we do now before buying the size after that.
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I wasn't expecting to like our prefolds as much as I do. Our regular rotation is BumGenius for bedtime, Rumparooz for daytime, and prefolds after we run out of the Rumparooz. Many times I reach for a prefold over a Rumparooz because they're a lot trimmer than a pocket diaper, so his pants fit better.
Next, I'll talk about our cloth diapering accessories!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Our Cloth Diaper Stash - All In Ones and Pockets
When I was researching cloth diapering, I couldn't find a lot of information from people on what diapers fit their kids at what ages. Because of this, I've decided to do updates about what diapers fit Kieran at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and a year (or around those times.) I will let you know what diapers are in our stash, which ones we like the most, and what accessories we're using.
I purchased all of the diapers myself (except for the 2 Applecheeks that I won in a giveaway,) and all reviews are my own. I do have an affiliate link at Kelly's Closet that you can use if you click on the banner on the right side of my blog.
I will split our stash into two posts: all in ones / pocket diapers in one post, and covers, prefolds and fitted diapers into a second. Accessories will be in a third.
Here we go!
When we decided to cloth diaper, we decided to try out a bunch of different types and brands to see which ones work best for our family.
I went about getting my diapers in 4 different ways:
1. Cotton Booty subscription box. - This is a monthly subscription box for $24.99/month. You receive a name brand diaper, sample(s) and a fun item. In past boxes, we received Kwaaii diapers, a Happy Heineys diaper, samples of Rockin' Green detergent, a wet bag, a teething bracelet, and more. I have now stopped my subscription because we've learned which diapers we like/don't like, but I really enjoyed the service while I was subscribed. It allowed us to try many different brands of diapers as well as getting small samples of cloth diapering accessories.
2. Fluff Fairy packages from Kelly's Closet - Inside each Fluff Fairy package is one diaper (or cover/insert combination,) and 1-3 samples or accessories. When the Fluff Fairy is announced, Kelly's Closet gives hints about what is inside the package so that you buy a package that works with your baby's age (don't want to buy a newborn package for a potty training baby, etc.) The price varies with what is inside, but I've never paid over $30 for one, and the contents are always worth the price. In the past we've gotten Rumparooz diapers, Snappis, and samples of Rockin' Green and CJ's Butter.
3. Ordering From Kelly's Closet - After a few Cotton Booty boxes, Fluff Fairy purchases, and a lot of research, I decided what diapers I wanted to order. There are many cloth diapering websites that you can order from, but Kelly's Closet was the first one I stumbled upon and decided to stick with. They always have comparable prices, free shipping over $49 (which is pretty easy to get to,) and great coupons that give you free diapers. The free diaper coupons is another way that I learned about diapers that I wouldn't have ordered myself.
4. Giveaways. There are many bloggers out there who do cloth diaper giveaways. This isn't the most effective way to build your stash (I'd say I entered 100 giveaways before winning a diaper,) but it is the cheapest!
Below I'll list the type of diapers we have and pros/cons about each. I'll also tell you how I received them.
Kieran was 9 pounds, 1 ounce at birth, and weighed 10 pounds 8 ounces at his 2 month check up. I'd say he's around 11 pounds at 3 months.
All In Ones
An all in one diaper (AIO) is the most like a disposable diaper. They can either have a snap or Velcro closure and are the easiest diaper to use since they don't require any stuffing of inserts or covers. Many newborn diapers are AIOs and have snaps to make room for the umbilical cord. Many families send these diapers to daycare because they are the least complicated of the options.
Rumparooz Lil' Joeys Newborn Diapers
Purchased from Kelly's Closet
$29.97 for two from Kelly's Closet
Pros: This was a great diaper for our first cloth diaper, and since it has a snap down for the umbilical cord, we could use it as soon as we got home from the hospital. It fit well, it kept all of the newborn poop and pee in, and made for a great overnight diaper. The diaper also snaps down super small, so it would be great for a preemie all the way to a "normal" sized newborn.
Cons: This diaper only lasted about a month for us due to Kieran being born at 9 pounds, 1 ounce. Not the diaper's fault, but we didn't get as much use out of it as I hoped we would.
Buy again?: Maybe? I'm glad we had them, but since he was so big at birth, many of our one sized diapers fit, so we didn't need the newborn diapers. If he was a smaller baby, I doubt many of our other diapers would have fit him, so we would have gotten more use out of them.
Pocket Diapers
A pocket diaper has a pocket opening between the waterproof fabric and layer of fabric that touches baby's skin which you place the insert into. They can be one size or sized and are available in both snaps and Velcro.
BumGenius 4.0 One Size Pocket Diaper
Received two in Cotton Booty boxes, and one as a free diaper with coupon.
$17.97 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: These are our favorite overnight diapers. He can go 12+ hours without needing a diaper change (as long as he only pees, I do change him if he poos,) and we've never had a leak with these. We only have three of these, so we try and save them for nighttime. They're extremely well made and one of our favorite diapers.
Cons: Keegan says he has trouble stuffing the inserts into the BumGenius, but he has gorilla hands, (his words!) so he has difficult stuffing all of our diapers.
Buy Again? Yep! I'm hoping Kieran gets a few more for Christmas
Rumparooz One Size Pocket Diaper
Received two in Cotton Booty boxes, one in a Fluff Fairy purchase, purchased one
$23.95 from Kelly's Closet
Pros: These are our favorite day time diapers. They hold a lot of liquid and fit him really well. The double gussets make leaks very infrequent, and any leaks have been because of user error. I'll reach for a Rumparooz over any of my other diapers for daytime. They also have a huge range of prints and colors.
Cons: Cost. They are our most expensive diaper, but I feel that they're worth it. Also, since Kieran is on the smallest size right now, we fold the insert almost in half and put the folded part in the front (since boys pee more in the front.) This creates a bit of a gap around his stomach.
Buy again? Heck ya! I'm considering selling a few of the diapers I'm not the biggest fan of and buying another Rumparooz.
Applecheeks Sized 1 (categorized as an envelope cover at Kelly's Closet)
Won 2 in a giveaway, purchased one at Kelly's Closet
$19.00 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: These were the diapers besides the Lil Joeys that fit him pretty much from birth. I love the colors and also like that they're made in Canada.
Cons: I want to love them, but once Kieran's poops became larger and more liquid, we've had a lot of leaks with the Applecheeks. They always leak out of the leg holes, even though they seem to fit around his legs. He still fits in them, but I only use them if everything else is dirty. I'm hoping these will fit him better once his legs chunk up.
Buy Again? I really want to say yes, but we've had a lot of problems with them lately that makes me reach for them last. We ended up buying a third because we liked them at the start, but once Kieran's poops became larger, these diaper didn't hold it as well. I'm hoping something changes soon so that he's able to wear them again.
Happy Heinys Pocket Diaper
Received in a Cotton Booty box
$18.95 on Happy Heiny website
Pros: Has a large opening to stuff the insert into.
Cons: We've had a few leaks in this diaper, but I'm not sure if that's due to user error or the diaper.
Buy Again? Meh. Don't hate it, don't love it. If I hadn't gotten it in a Cotton Booty box, I probably wouldn't have purchased it for myself.
BabyKicks Pocket Diaper
Received in Cotton Booty Box
$15.99 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: ....it has interesting velcro?
Cons: Not really a fan of this diaper. The fabric that sits against baby's skin is really strange and it's very small through the crotch, so even I have difficulty stuffing it. We've also had leaks almost every time Kieran has worn this diaper. The Applecheeks rank over this one.
Buy Again: Nope. Just not a fan of this diaper.
That's our current all in one / pocket diaper stash. We keep our BumGenius for bedtime and I'll pick a Rumparooz over anything else in my stash. If anyone has had luck with Applecheeks, Happy Heinys, or BabyKicks and wants to purchase my diaper, let me know!
Questions? Leave them below and I'll try to answer them!
Next I'll share what our stash of covers, prefolds and fitted diapers looks like.
I purchased all of the diapers myself (except for the 2 Applecheeks that I won in a giveaway,) and all reviews are my own. I do have an affiliate link at Kelly's Closet that you can use if you click on the banner on the right side of my blog.
I will split our stash into two posts: all in ones / pocket diapers in one post, and covers, prefolds and fitted diapers into a second. Accessories will be in a third.
Here we go!
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When we decided to cloth diaper, we decided to try out a bunch of different types and brands to see which ones work best for our family.
I went about getting my diapers in 4 different ways:
1. Cotton Booty subscription box. - This is a monthly subscription box for $24.99/month. You receive a name brand diaper, sample(s) and a fun item. In past boxes, we received Kwaaii diapers, a Happy Heineys diaper, samples of Rockin' Green detergent, a wet bag, a teething bracelet, and more. I have now stopped my subscription because we've learned which diapers we like/don't like, but I really enjoyed the service while I was subscribed. It allowed us to try many different brands of diapers as well as getting small samples of cloth diapering accessories.
2. Fluff Fairy packages from Kelly's Closet - Inside each Fluff Fairy package is one diaper (or cover/insert combination,) and 1-3 samples or accessories. When the Fluff Fairy is announced, Kelly's Closet gives hints about what is inside the package so that you buy a package that works with your baby's age (don't want to buy a newborn package for a potty training baby, etc.) The price varies with what is inside, but I've never paid over $30 for one, and the contents are always worth the price. In the past we've gotten Rumparooz diapers, Snappis, and samples of Rockin' Green and CJ's Butter.
3. Ordering From Kelly's Closet - After a few Cotton Booty boxes, Fluff Fairy purchases, and a lot of research, I decided what diapers I wanted to order. There are many cloth diapering websites that you can order from, but Kelly's Closet was the first one I stumbled upon and decided to stick with. They always have comparable prices, free shipping over $49 (which is pretty easy to get to,) and great coupons that give you free diapers. The free diaper coupons is another way that I learned about diapers that I wouldn't have ordered myself.
4. Giveaways. There are many bloggers out there who do cloth diaper giveaways. This isn't the most effective way to build your stash (I'd say I entered 100 giveaways before winning a diaper,) but it is the cheapest!
Below I'll list the type of diapers we have and pros/cons about each. I'll also tell you how I received them.
Kieran was 9 pounds, 1 ounce at birth, and weighed 10 pounds 8 ounces at his 2 month check up. I'd say he's around 11 pounds at 3 months.
All In Ones
An all in one diaper (AIO) is the most like a disposable diaper. They can either have a snap or Velcro closure and are the easiest diaper to use since they don't require any stuffing of inserts or covers. Many newborn diapers are AIOs and have snaps to make room for the umbilical cord. Many families send these diapers to daycare because they are the least complicated of the options.
Rumparooz Lil' Joeys Newborn Diapers
Purchased from Kelly's Closet
$29.97 for two from Kelly's Closet
Pros: This was a great diaper for our first cloth diaper, and since it has a snap down for the umbilical cord, we could use it as soon as we got home from the hospital. It fit well, it kept all of the newborn poop and pee in, and made for a great overnight diaper. The diaper also snaps down super small, so it would be great for a preemie all the way to a "normal" sized newborn.
Cons: This diaper only lasted about a month for us due to Kieran being born at 9 pounds, 1 ounce. Not the diaper's fault, but we didn't get as much use out of it as I hoped we would.
Buy again?: Maybe? I'm glad we had them, but since he was so big at birth, many of our one sized diapers fit, so we didn't need the newborn diapers. If he was a smaller baby, I doubt many of our other diapers would have fit him, so we would have gotten more use out of them.
Pocket Diapers
A pocket diaper has a pocket opening between the waterproof fabric and layer of fabric that touches baby's skin which you place the insert into. They can be one size or sized and are available in both snaps and Velcro.
BumGenius 4.0 One Size Pocket Diaper
Received two in Cotton Booty boxes, and one as a free diaper with coupon.
$17.97 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: These are our favorite overnight diapers. He can go 12+ hours without needing a diaper change (as long as he only pees, I do change him if he poos,) and we've never had a leak with these. We only have three of these, so we try and save them for nighttime. They're extremely well made and one of our favorite diapers.
Cons: Keegan says he has trouble stuffing the inserts into the BumGenius, but he has gorilla hands, (his words!) so he has difficult stuffing all of our diapers.
Buy Again? Yep! I'm hoping Kieran gets a few more for Christmas
Rumparooz One Size Pocket Diaper
Received two in Cotton Booty boxes, one in a Fluff Fairy purchase, purchased one
$23.95 from Kelly's Closet
Pros: These are our favorite day time diapers. They hold a lot of liquid and fit him really well. The double gussets make leaks very infrequent, and any leaks have been because of user error. I'll reach for a Rumparooz over any of my other diapers for daytime. They also have a huge range of prints and colors.
Cons: Cost. They are our most expensive diaper, but I feel that they're worth it. Also, since Kieran is on the smallest size right now, we fold the insert almost in half and put the folded part in the front (since boys pee more in the front.) This creates a bit of a gap around his stomach.
Buy again? Heck ya! I'm considering selling a few of the diapers I'm not the biggest fan of and buying another Rumparooz.
Applecheeks Sized 1 (categorized as an envelope cover at Kelly's Closet)
Won 2 in a giveaway, purchased one at Kelly's Closet
$19.00 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: These were the diapers besides the Lil Joeys that fit him pretty much from birth. I love the colors and also like that they're made in Canada.
Cons: I want to love them, but once Kieran's poops became larger and more liquid, we've had a lot of leaks with the Applecheeks. They always leak out of the leg holes, even though they seem to fit around his legs. He still fits in them, but I only use them if everything else is dirty. I'm hoping these will fit him better once his legs chunk up.
Buy Again? I really want to say yes, but we've had a lot of problems with them lately that makes me reach for them last. We ended up buying a third because we liked them at the start, but once Kieran's poops became larger, these diaper didn't hold it as well. I'm hoping something changes soon so that he's able to wear them again.
Happy Heinys Pocket Diaper
Received in a Cotton Booty box
$18.95 on Happy Heiny website
Pros: Has a large opening to stuff the insert into.
Cons: We've had a few leaks in this diaper, but I'm not sure if that's due to user error or the diaper.
Buy Again? Meh. Don't hate it, don't love it. If I hadn't gotten it in a Cotton Booty box, I probably wouldn't have purchased it for myself.
BabyKicks Pocket Diaper
Received in Cotton Booty Box
$15.99 at Kelly's Closet
Pros: ....it has interesting velcro?
Cons: Not really a fan of this diaper. The fabric that sits against baby's skin is really strange and it's very small through the crotch, so even I have difficulty stuffing it. We've also had leaks almost every time Kieran has worn this diaper. The Applecheeks rank over this one.
Buy Again: Nope. Just not a fan of this diaper.
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That's our current all in one / pocket diaper stash. We keep our BumGenius for bedtime and I'll pick a Rumparooz over anything else in my stash. If anyone has had luck with Applecheeks, Happy Heinys, or BabyKicks and wants to purchase my diaper, let me know!
Questions? Leave them below and I'll try to answer them!
Next I'll share what our stash of covers, prefolds and fitted diapers looks like.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Kieran 3 Months
If you want to see this post that include pictures of Kieran, go to our family blog. If you need the password, let me know below!
Height: Approximately 23.5 inches
Weight: unknown
Head circumference: unknown
Clothing: He can wear anything from 0-3, 3 month, or 3-6 month clothing depending on the brand. The majority of the clothes are too big in his shoulders and stomach area, but he's still long with the added fluff in the booty from his diapers, so he needs the length of the larger sizes. Carter's brand fits him best, but it's also the most expensive, so I try to grab pieces when they're on sale.
We're still cloth diapering and started using cloth wipes this month as well after the brand of wipes we use was recalled due to a bacteria issue.
Nicknames: Chubby Cheekers, Bubba, Mister Man, Grumpy Gills when he's super fussy.
Food: Still exclusively breastfed. We've been playing games with trying to fill up his tummy before bedtime to try and get a larger chunk of sleep, but nothing we've done has really helped. We tried feeding him from one side for 30 minutes so that he gets the fattier hindmilk, feeding from both sides for 15 minutes, and feeding him a 5 ounce bottle. There wasn't a big improvement with any method, so we flip between feeding on one side and feeding on both, depending on when his last feed was.
Sleep: Sleep has been so-so this month. Right after he turned 2 months old, he regressed to newborn sleep - getting up every 1-3 hours. Mama was tired! It has gotten better lately with him sleeping from 9-4 and 9-1 the past couple of nights. We were putting him to bed around 7 or 8, but if he only does a 5 hour chunk of sleep, that means he's waking up at 1 or 2, just a few hours after we go to bed. If we keep him up until 9, he seems to sleep until at least 2, which gives me a good four hour chunk of sleep.
Naps: Naps are still hit or miss. We've finally gotten a loose schedule for naps - he'll fall asleep on the drive to work, 2-3 hours after waking up for the day (usually between 9 and 10 am,) then again around noon or 1, and then one more nap in the afternoon anywhere between 3 and 5 pm. Naps will last between 20 minutes and 3 hours. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the length, so it's hard for me to try and get things done because I never know how long I have.
At work, he sleeps best in the Ergo, but there have been a few times when he's fallen asleep in my lap after nursing.
Milestones & Tidbits:
- Nana and Grandpa Wright came to visit! This was Ann's second time meeting Kieran, and Kenton's first.
- We had a medical scare that required Kieran to have an MRA under sedation, but everything came back clear!
- We've noticed that Kieran holds his thumb in between his second and third fingers
- He has also found his hands and has started holding them together. Sometime we can pry them apart and place a toy in his hands and he'll hold it for a few minutes
- He started doing this at 2 months, but we're still getting smiles. He smiles when we talk or tickle him, as well as recognition smiles. He lights up when Keegan comes home from work which makes my heart so happy!
- Still a drooling machine and still loves to suck on his hands or arms. He's started trying to fit both fists in his mouth at the same time, but that doesn't go well. Both Keegan and I have become a teether when we've held him and he's decided our hands are tasty.
- He found his voice this month. His soft coos have turned into loud talking and babbling. He hasn't started the screeching phase yet, thankfully.
- He's still batting at toys, especially the ones on his play mat, but he also started reaching for toys that I am holding. He's not the best at holding onto them, but it's a start!
- We got our first giggles! I was giving Kieran raspberries on his tummy at work one day and he giggled all of a sudden. He wouldn't do it for Keegan for another couple of days, but I eventually got him to giggle again with lots of kisses. Lately, only Keegan can get him to giggle by tickling him under his chin.
- He rolled over from back to front for the first time. I put him on his play mat on his back, and Keegan noticed a few minutes later that he was on his side. We were both in the kitchen when he started crying and when we looked over at him, he was on his tummy! He hasn't done it again since, but he will roll to his side often on the play mat or when we're changing his diaper.
- He still gets hiccups, but thankfully not everyday like it used to be. He's able to handle them better and only gets frustrated if they last longer than 5ish minutes. One day, he got 4 bouts of hiccups in one day! The only thing that'll make them go away is nursing.
- We celebrated Kieran's first Halloween! We didn't do anything, but he did wear his "costume"
- My work had an event at which there was a fire. Kieran was extremely interested in the flickering lights
- We sat him in his bumbo for the first time
Likes: Snuggles, eating, sleeping, bath time, his Kick and Play Piano playmat, Daddy, going for walks, looking around at all of the new sights and sounds.
Dislikes: Getting his clothes changed (he doesn’t like things going over his head,) getting his diaper changed, being cold, being in the car seat when the car isn't moving.
Baby + Work Update: Having him at work with me has gotten more difficult since he's not as content to just lay there, he wants to be played with and entertained. Since my coworker has left, I'm going to bring in his play mat so that he'll have some toys to play with. We have gotten into a good routine and I'm able to be mommy and work. It helps that my coworkers absolutely love him and are willing to take him for a few minutes when I need to get something done.
Kieran gets more fun as he gets older. His smiles warm my heart, and seeing him get so excited to see Keegan is the best part of my day. I love his laugh and wish I could get him to do it more often!
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
16 Minute Club Subscription Box Review
When I was pregnant, I heard about the 16 Minute Club subscription box, but promptly forgot about it after Kieran was born. I re-found it last week and decided to order a box. Your first box comes with a small binder that contains information about breastfeeding. In each box, you will get another chapter to add to your binder that has to do with your baby's milestones during that month. If you'd like to see a review of the first box, you can watch this video.
A description of the box from the website: "Breastfeeding is natural yet not always easy. The 16 Minute club breastfeeding program will provide support and resources delivered directly to your door to get you through any obstacles you may face as your baby advances and develops...Each box contains a chapter of our breastfeeding handbook and a collection of products designed to support the changing developmental milestones as a baby grows."
Because I ordered the box when Kieran was about 2.5 months, I received the 4th box of the series. The box cost $35.00 (but I had a coupon for 10% off which made it $31.50,) and here's what I received:
- Buggy Hook in red, $8.99
A description of the box from the website: "Breastfeeding is natural yet not always easy. The 16 Minute club breastfeeding program will provide support and resources delivered directly to your door to get you through any obstacles you may face as your baby advances and develops...Each box contains a chapter of our breastfeeding handbook and a collection of products designed to support the changing developmental milestones as a baby grows."
Because I ordered the box when Kieran was about 2.5 months, I received the 4th box of the series. The box cost $35.00 (but I had a coupon for 10% off which made it $31.50,) and here's what I received:
- Buggy Hook in red, $8.99
Use / Not Use: Probably use. I can see this being handy when I'm trying to carry 20 grocery bags because I hate making multiple trips!
Use / Not Use: Use! Having a library for Kieran is really important to me and the fact this this book is rip proof will come in handy when he's older.
- Sugar Booger Diaper Organizer bags (clean and dirty bags only) - Approximately $13 (the set below is $20 on Amazon, but we only received the two dirty and clean bags)
Use / Not Use: Probably use. I wish they were more like my wet bags I use for the cloth diapers (these bags have mesh on the back,) but I'll keep one in the diaper bag just in case.
- Compressed Wipes by Green Sprouts - $5.77
Use / Not Use: Use! These will be great to keep in the diaper bag for when I forget our wipes....which I've done before. Thank goodness for public bathroom paper towels!
- Infinity Teether Rattle by Green Sprouts - $8.13
Use / Not Use: Use! We used this the night I received it and Kieran likes it. He's still too young to actually grab it, but he seemed to like looking at the bright colors and listening to the rattle.
- Cranberry Almond Oatmeal Milkin' Cookie - Approximately $1.50
Use / Not Use: Definitely used this one. It was in my mouth 2 seconds after I opened the box. It was delicious and I need to find a recipe to make my own!
- Cossettie Changing Table Cover - $7.99
Use / Not Use: Will probably use. I'll put it in my diaper bag just in case I ever forget our regular changing pad. I do like how this one covers the entire table unlike the one that came with our diaper bag which Kieran is quickly outgrowing.
- Purity Breast Milk Storage Bags (4) - approximately $1.20
Use / Not Use: Use. You can never have too many freezer bags.
- Boleo "Hold Your Water" - $2.50
Use / Not Use: Probably not use. Both my diaper bag and stroller have an area for water bottles so I don't think I'll have a need for this.
- Breast milk storage guidelines magnet from Milkin' Cookies
Use / Not Use: already on the fridge
- $5 towards your next purchase from Bamboobies as well as a sample of their organic nipple balm
Use / Not Use: I already have some Bamboobies and they're ok. I have another set of breast pads that I like more, so I may use this coupon to buy some for a friend.
- 20% off next purchase from The Dairy Fairy
Use / Not Use: I'm not sure if I'll use this. I have a very large bra size and while they claim they have a size that'll fit me, I don't know if I want to take the risk. If anyone wants the coupon code, let me know!
Total box worth: approximately $55.03 (without adding in coupons)
Total of what I'll actually use: approximately $52.53
I'm really happy with this box. It is more than worth what I paid for it, and it introduced me to brands I've never heard of before. I know I'm going to order at least one more, and if I still like it, I'm going to ask for the rest of the boxes for Christmas.
Do you receive any subscription boxes? If so, let me know! I think I've been bitten by the subscription box bug.
I paid for this box with my own money and decided to review it so that other ladies could learn about the service. All opinions are my own. Links are affiliate links.
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