*..Sunbaby Cloth Diaper..*

When I began cloth diapering... I only had three gDiaper brand cloth diapers and five Sweet Doll Baby brand cloth diapers (from Ebay) I received from a friend for my youngest son's baby shower. I fell in love with the Sweet Doll Baby diapers so I went online Ebay to find some more.

I noticed a brand that was very similar-- called Sunbaby. I found a great price at approximately $50 for 15 Sunbaby brand cloth diapers. I believe the ones I have are "Sunbaby 2.0". I noticed now on Ebay you can purchase the "4.0" type for around the same price. You really just have to look around if you want a cheaper price-- sometimes you can bid and wait or you can just settle with a price and "buy now" which is what I did.

The Sunbaby cloth diapers come in many different colors and designs and when you order you can choose which you want-- if you don't specify, they'll just give you a random assortment.

The Sunbaby diapers are a one-size pocket diaper. They have three rows of snaps in the front and two snaps on each strap. That way they can fit 7 lbs.-35 lbs. comfortably and is very easy to change the size by using the snaps. My oldest son wore them until he was potty trained-- and even used them as a 'pull up' while he was sure about not wetting the bed during the night. The one-size cloth diaper is nice because that way you don't have to purchase different sizes! These are extra small, small, medium, and large all in one!

There isn't a cover needed with Sunbaby-- they have a waterproof outer layer and the inner 'pocket' liner is made out of polyester.You can also adjust the absorbency with the separate liners by inserting them in the 'pocket'. The liners are three layers of absorbent microfiber and breath very well. Diaper rash is never a concern--the inside keeps the skin very dry. I put two liners in the inside of the pocket and I change every 2-3 hours or so-- that is the recommended time to change with these diapers with one liner but how much your baby or child urinates makes a difference of course. So having the ability to add more liners if you want is nice.

After each change-- shake off solid parts in the potty, remove liners and toss them in a pail. It is recommended on the website to use a dry pail or bag. Sometimes I use a small amount of vinegar water with tea tree oil in my pail to neutralize any odors that may occur.
The website also recommends to use a cold rinse or soak before washing in your washer then use a hot wash cycle with a cold rinse but I skip and use a hot wash cycle with a few shakes of baking soda and a cold rinse with about 1/4 C vinegar and about 6 drops each of tea tree and lavender essential oils. Doing that, my diapers and liners come out white and smelling fresh (no they do not come out smelling like vinegar).
It is highly recommended you don't wash with any fabric softeners (it isn't needed anyways-- mine come out soft) and not to use fabric sheets in the dryer (use tumble dry setting if drying in the dryer). Using those affect the absorbency-- I've never had a problem with stiffness or static with my diapers anyway. When you can-- hang dry them in the sun. The sun helps "bleach" the fabric even more from using the vinegar in your rinse cycle. Mine still look brand new doing this.

In my personal situation-- I don't recommend using Sunbaby as a night time diaper for infants. I haven't had leaks when my oldest son was an older toddler but otherwise... I have had leaks about 75% of the time. You can play around with the liners to see how many work for your baby. For a boy, I think night time is a little more challenging because the pee tends to channel to one side (causing leaks in the "love handle" and belly area). I use a different diaper during nights.
Sunbaby is a GREAT day time diaper though-- I would recommend them. Do a search on Ebay and see what you think. There are quite a few different sellers that sell them so check out the different prices and good luck! =] Thanks for stopping!

*I Love You Rituals*

I Love You Rituals by Becky A. Bailey is a great book. It has 204 pages of fun activities for parents and children to do together to build that true connection that many families (without realizing it) lack. They are not only fun for both parent and child (grandmother, aunts, uncles, teachers, anyone involved with the child) but they boost the child's brain potential, encourage cooperation, builds bonds of unconditional love-- and even increases attention spans and decreases those frustrating power struggles that may occur in our daily life.

Before getting into the positive nursery rhymes and fun games and finger plays-- the author talks about the four vital goals of I Love You Rituals and includes a few real life examples that really make sense. A couple of them actually brought me to tears because I Love You Rituals can make a HUGE difference-- not only for children...but for adults, too (just tweak them a little for an older child, teenager, or adult). The second chapter talks about discipline and how you can easily fit I Love You Rituals into that. A parent doesn't have to get frustrated or yell at a child-- there are I Love You Rituals that can fit into many situations that may happen or will happen.
There is also a short chapter on ensuring success and positive encouragement for the parent/guardian as well. I also want to add that I love the positive quotes that are listed in the beginning of each chapter. =]

The rest of the book is packed with wonderful songs and easy to learn games to have that special connection and really do boost the child's mood, increases understanding, and plain and simple-- gets the child to listen AND be happy/fulfilled at the same time.

Just last night my three-year-old son was so tired and exhausted from his morning and afternoon at school-- he was unable to vocally put his feelings into words. All he was able to do was collapse to the floor and cry and dangerously flail around because he was so mentally exhausted. It was impossible for me to talk to him in the frame he was in--he didn't even want me to hug him. I remembered an I Love You Ritual for just this situation. A special song. I grabbed his teddy bear quick (we call it his makwa--"bear" in Ojibwe)... and I scooped him in to my arms and sat on the couch with him and sang the "Snuggle Up" song to him. The song ends with, "...just cuddle yourself..And the bear with a hug." Instead of 'bear' though-- I sang 'makwa'. I don't think I sang for five minutes before he was totally relaxed...he was able to return the hug I was giving him...his breathing returned to normal...and he fell asleep. It was an amazing feeling to be the one in control. Because the reality is...when a child is acting that way-- they are in control. You have to step in and be in control-- to help that child with his/her feelings. That song helped me do just that.

There have been I Love You Rituals to help both of my sons feel better about waking up, going to school/child care, going to sleep...and my youngest can stay still while I'm changing his diaper now. There is an I Love You Ritual for many things-- any sort of change that may occur, sadness, owies, transitions, etc. I Love You Rituals may even help those children that are labeled as problematic-- and children with special needs. They can be used great in the process of a family member's death, a divorce, even the birth of a new sibling.

Here is an example positive nursery rhyme from I Love You Rituals... which one would you rather share with your child?

There was an old lady
who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children,
she didn't know what to do.
She fed them some broth
without any bread,
And whipped them all soundly
and sent them to bed.

If you ask me, that sounds very hurtful and would no way calm my child if I shared that with him. Here's the positive replacement that is from I Love You Rituals...

A wonderful woman
lived in a shoe.
She had so many children,
she knew exactly what to do.
She held them, she rocked them,
and tucked them in bed.
"I love you, I love you,"
is what she said.

I did the game that is in I Love You Rituals that includes that last song with my children and they really enjoyed the connection we had. The squeal of delight they get and the big loving smile I see....it is worth the extra time to do these activities. And it definitely makes happier children.

There is an "Other Works by Dr. Becky Bailey" page which include CDs and Cassettes, Videotapes, Books, Audiotapes, and Keynotes and Lectures. The book even comes with two CDs that have over 70 songs on them! It is a miracle in the car-- =] !

So, over-all, I highly recommend this book. I'm also interested in her other works. I will definitely check them out. Thanks for stopping!

Life Changes

I have decided to take on, in my eyes, something big. Not in the sense of it being too difficult but to do something I feel that may make a big difference. Always trying to make things better for people—I do love that. But I've also been making some changes in my life. I was trying to help two of my family members out by having them stay with me for awhile… but that was getting to be too much on my children. There was a lot on my part for the two members that joined my household..I had forgot how to do the things –I- had to do…like keep up on my homework…take care of myself better…think.. And my son's moods are affected from my mood so it was getting to be too much for everyone. I wasn't happy all the time with the situation…I had to make some changes because the things I was trying to do in my own life were being negatively affected. In two separate situations—that was the case. So I had to make some hard decisions and not help those people anymore.

I have to pick my GPA back up because that dropped significantly in the past month… I'm facing the fact that I will have to ease up next semester because I have very important tests I have to take to continue in the School of Education (because my gpa…) and I've also been thinking about going to a totally different university altogether. The one I had eyes on recently is approximately nine hours away from my current position. That would be toooo much in my current situation…mostly with the life of my children's father. I don't want to make that more complicated than what it should be.

Anyways, on a happier note. I've picked up a few things that make me happy and help me finish the things that I am required to do. I've been attending all of the parenting meetings with my son's Head Start…and I also represent the center by being on the Parenting Policy Committee and my vote is counted towards making many decisions involving my son's school setting (and the many schools in the surrounding area). I've also decided that I'm going to become a consultant with Everything Birth doing Diaper Parties. I absolutely love cloth diapers and I can't believe how many myths there are out there about them.
They aren't your grandmother's cloth diaper—I love that saying. There aren't any pins required and they are very easy to clean. Work entailed… dump the poo in the potty (not as bad as it sounds—very easy especially when you have a routine!) then toss the diaper (and liners if have them) into your diaper pail or diaper bag. When it is full… dump them in the washer…add soap… voila! Oh yeah, close the washer lid! I love adding Tea Tree and Lavender oils into the rinse cycle (along with some vinegar) because it makes them smell so fresh and clean. The baking soda I add in the wash cycle also whitens them. I don't use any fabric softeners or sheets in the dryer (when I cannot hang dry them outside)—but they are not needed! They are soft, white, clean, and smell great!
You couldn't even tell that my baby poops in them. =]

But you definitely get your own routine that works for you on your and your baby's schedule. And you get that farm fuzzy feeling that you're truly making a difference in the world, too! It's been in the news that cloth diapering is becoming more of a trend these days. Here are
six reasons to cloth diaper!

So, if you're interested in cloth diapers—ask me. If you have doubts or a reason why you can't cloth diaper…still talk to me because I will help you see that cloth diapering is the best option for you and your children.
Even if you only use one cloth diaper a day…It makes a HUGE difference. Using one cloth diaper a day can save you between $200-$300 and keep around 300 POUNDS of diaper waste out of the landfills.

I don't know about you but that makes me feel good inside. =]

So, help me help you.
I am happy to. =] Interested in cloth diapers? I am your girl. Interested in just about anything I can probably have a conversation with you. Lol

Thanks for the visit. ;]