I’ve got a little girl who Loves. To. Read.

She’s been asking me for several months now “what does this say?” and “what word did I make with these letters?” More recently, I’m hearing “when can I learn to read?” At that point I just knew that she was ready and willing to learn to read.

But let me back up.

Six months ago I was maybe 20% convinced that I could/would/wanted to homeschool my kids. In short, I was pretty sure it “just wasn’t for me.”  Then this whole issue of reading cropped up and I found myself asking:

“Why do I need to wait for my child to go to school and learn to read, if she is willing and ready right now?”

I then became my own worst peanut gallery:

Then in my quest for more answers on schooling (I was just sure that Waldorf Schooling was absolutely for me, but there was that whole money/tuition issue...), I approached a wonderful woman who I work with as a vendor for Stringbean. Audrey is the creator of Kaboogie baby shoes made out of reclaimed leather, suede and fleece. We LOVE her USA-made shoes & slippers in our store - and unlike those *ahem* other brands of soft-soled baby shoes, she's actually saving materials from going into the landfill instead of adding to the pile. She’s talented, smart, witty, and a business owner...but I digress. My point is, she is a practicing and successful homeschooling mom of 5 kids. When I was asking her about her general homeschooling philosophy, I mentioned to her that my daughter was showing signs of academic readiness at a young age and she said (very matter-of-factly):

Hmmm...don’t I need a bunch of books or expensive curriculum or a PhD or a bunch of rabbits to pull out of a hat to accomplish this?!?!  Wait! I wasn’t prepared for this! I just wanted to know about homeschooling in general...I can’t...I’m not...I don’t know...ahhh!

And you know what?

Presto! Just like that, 3 weeks later, she’s reading.

I’m not saying that every child will learn to read bing-bang-boom with this method. But I realize that all my worry and panic over what I was lead to believe would be an expensive and labor intensive endeavor, wasn’t that at all. Although I’m a former teacher (albeit high school), this is something anybody could do with their child (when their child is ready).

Just to make sure I didn’t miss anything (that’s the Peanut Gallery again) I got the book: The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading. We started going through each (short - very short) lesson daily, and I realized it was too slow for her because she’s already got the basic phonics concepts down. So we fast forwarded to the “short words” part, and she is loving the challenge of plowing through these very fast, easy mini-lessons. If you are a scaredy-cat but think your child is ready to read, I highly recommend this book. The title pretty much says it all.

When my daughter read her first book all by herself last week, I couldn’t even take a picture because I was so caught up in that fantastic moment and the look of accomplishment on her face - she just knew: she had finally cracked the code and there was no slowing this train now.

 Have you/are you currently taught/teaching your child to read? What methods or philosophy did/do you use?

I love this season of back to school! I loved it when I was a teacher, though there is a stress that only teachers can understand.  But along with the stress of preparing comes the anticipation of what the year will hold and the high hopes and expectations for a great year. Whether you go to private, public or home school, there is so much to get ready for and it can be a major adjustment - new sleep schedules, new schedules in general, more demands on parents and students. After a summer of lolly-gagging around (at least that's what we do!) it can be a big change!

We rarely do random giveaways at Stringbean anymore, since we changed our policy to simply giving away items to specific families that are in need during tough times. It's been a great change, but every once in a while we like to celebrate you, are loyal customers, so in honor of a very special time, Back to School, let's have a giveaway!

1 (one) lucky winner will receive a school-ready pack of Clementine Art Supplies:

Entering is EASY! Simply comment below ON THIS BLOG (not on Facebook, not on Twitter, but on this blog) about which item(s) from Stringbean are your favorites for back to school. We've got lots of choices, here are a couple:

Little Packrats Stegosaurus Backpack 

Laptop Lunches Lunchbox

(Quite possibly the smartest lunchbox design ever - oh, and it comes with a recipe book!)

Punch Buggy Lunch Tote

(Fits the Laptop Lunches Bento Box above - SO cute and very roomy. Did I mention functional?)

Thigh-High Socks from Pork Chop Kids

(think easy access tights for kids!)

Fractiles Magnetic Tiling Toy

(GREAT design/math concepts tool)

This contest ends one week from now at 12 midnight, Saturday September 4th. So don't forget to COMMENT ON THIS BLOG about your favorite back-to-school item for a chance to win the Clementine Art swag! Winner will be selected via Random.org random number selector.

 Give your kiddos big, wet kisses and lots of healthy snacks! 

Happy Back to School season!

Our education philosophy is an evolving one, as our kids are still too young to experience 'formal education'. However, I think we know the direction we are headed. Having been a public school teacher of art, social studies and study skills in the middle school and high school levels for over 5 years, I learned a lot about what I do and do not want for my own family. 

Here's what I know:

• Public School teachers are stretched way too thin - what is demanded of them is near impossible for any one person. Though many of us try and do darn well, if I do say so myself.
• The average student lacks a love of learning, but rather concentrates on the love (or disdain) for letter grades. This is unfortunate, but true.
• By the time they reach high school, many kids are already burnt out. Many of my students (15 - 18 yr. olds) were drinking coffee like 40 yr. olds just to 'get through the rat-race of the day.' And if they are feeling like this before college - could that then explain why it takes the average college student 5 1/2 years to graduate (instead of 4), and many (almost half) still do not graduate within 6 years? Yikes.
• It's almost impossible for a public school teacher to give a student regular, one-on-one attention. 
• Cheating is rampant. A Duke University study found that 75% of high school students admit to cheating.
• Our world ranking in education is sub par, at best. I have issue with the way this is measured (standardized testing) but clearly there is a problem with our schools.

That being said:

There are some amazing teachers doing incredible things for kids in many public schools around the country.  Most will never really be recognized for all that they do.   

So for our family, homeschooling makes the most sense.

Here's what I want:

• The opportunity for my kids to learn at their own pace - whether faster or slower than average.
• My kids to have the one-on-one attention they (and their education) deserve.
• To have the good part of my kids' day instead of the leftovers of a great/miserable school day. 
  
• To feed my kids truly healthy food.
• A close family unit. 
  
• Mobility (my 4 year old has lived in 6 different houses - we move A LOT!)
• The ability to travel & see the world without restraint.
• The option to allow my children to do more of what they are good at: sports, dance, music, art, entrepreneurship, baking, under water basket weaving, hairless cat breeding, etc...
  
• Service to be an integral part of our lives.
• To choose an educational philosophy and program that actually excites young people to learn.
• To live a God centered life, based on service, love and thankfulness.
  

It is not for everyone, that's for sure.  I am fully aware of what all the naysayers say (I'll address this in a later blog) and I know that there will be bumps along the way and days when I want to 'take a day off'. But I can see the bigger picture and for the immediate future, I look forward to laying the foundation of our family's education.

Those of you who read this blog regularly are probably saying "There she goes again! That crazy hippie nut of a mom!" And I guess, if the shoe fits...

I do it whenever I have the chance. Anywhere. With anybody. Anytime.

But get your mind out of the gutter, as my mother would say. Because I'm talking about my

Love of Baking.

It's therapeutic and fun and yummy and interesting and challenging all at once.  I probably caught this baking-bug from my mother who just yesterday spent her day off making her (almost) world famous Caramel Rolls. The sad part is I'M NOT THERE TO EAT THEM! 

Anyway, my 4 year old and I wanted to use up some *very* ripe bananas, so the obvious choice would be to turn them into banana bread. Hmmm....my taste buds were telling me that instead of scooping the Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil out of the jar and eating it with a spoon, I could bake with it. Now, if you've never tried Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil, you are seriously missing out. It's incredible eaten and also makes a wow moisturizer when applied to body or hair (I put it on my hair like a mask and put a hot, damp towel over it for 45 min. to deep condition). It smells divine (unlike refined coconut oil) and is a truly all natural product. I put it in my oatmeal, muffins, cakes, cookies, and even some Thai food dishes - pretty much anything I want to taste like coconut. It's not cheap, but you will know what I mean when I say...yowza - it's that good. 

You can sub Coconut Oil for butter in almost any recipe, so that's what I did. I took my basic whole grain banana bread recipe and several tweaks later (upon older tweaks), voila! 

My daughter is OB-sessed with unicorns lately - not sure where that came from, but I find myself either pretending to be a unicorn or acting as the owner of a beautiful pink and purple unicorn named "Magical" in every situation. Case in point: I'm folding clothes on the couch and my daughter says:

"Mom, will you be the sister unicorn of me?"

Me: "Sure, but this sister unicorn has to fold these clothes."

Daughter: "Uh, ok, but unicorns can't fold clothes with their hooves."

Me: "I'm surprisingly adaptable and well trained."

Daughter: "Well, ok, but can we go swing on the big swing right now?"

Me: "Unicorns can't swing, can they?"

Daughter: "We are well trained unicorns."

You got me there...

Anyway, she helped me create this recipe and dubbed (without even the slightest hesitation) this deliciously coco-nutty bread:

Unicorn Bread

Have all ingredients at room temperature.

Preheat oven to 350℉.

Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-in. loaf pan with butter.

Whisk together:

1 1/3 c. white whole wheat flour

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

Beat by hand or with a hand mixer (preferred) for 2-3 min:

6 tbsp. Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil (I like Spectrum Organics)

2/3 c. sucanant (a natural sweetener)

Beat flour mixture into wet mix and gradually beat in:

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Fold into the batter until just combined:

1 1/2 c. mashed very ripe bananas (about 3 medium sized)

1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

1/2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut

1/3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips OR (my personal fave) Cacao Nibs   (optional)

Scrape the batter into the pan and spread evenly. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean - about 55 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan.

Yeild: 1 loaf

It's good, it's healthy, it's fun to say. Eat your Unicorn Bread!

Are you wondering why I don't post pictures of my Unicorn Bread or of the baking process? I'll tell you why: I've lost the charger to my camera and no longer have a camera to use! Booo-hoooo! New camera coming soon (hopefully).

Stringbean Co. is so excited to welcome Bethany into our guest blogging family.  Join us every week for a new installment of The Cloth Diapering Diaries, where a cloth diapering virgin chronicles her journey.

Wow! Those few weeks where our family was dealing with some medical issues really threw me off track. I was all excited and then it was like the wind was removed from my sail. For some reason I was nervous to start again. But I decided to just push up my sleeves and go for it. I had received some new diapers that I decided to try out, right in the middle of my crisis, they were set aside to wait. So technically I was all ready to go just needed to get that wind back in my sail. I am happy to report besides a few nights and times when a babysitter has been here I have pretty much used the cloth diapers full time this last week.

First off, I have to say that the people that sell cloth diapers have to be some of the nicest people I have met or dealt with. Obviously Stringbean Company is great (to even come up with the idea of this diapering blog experiment for all us newbies), and Happy Heiny's has been so sweet and wonderful, they liked some of my photos so I am gonna be sending some in to them. I also had an order with Green Mountain Diapers for Kissaluvs Diaper lotion potion spray and some prefolds. I made a mistake that was totally my fault and when I contacted the company about charging my card for my mistake she was compassionate to my sick crazy household and told me not to worry about it. THAT NEVER HAPPENS THESE DAYS!!!! AMAZING CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!! I was floored. I actually cried cause I am emotional like that when people are kind especially when its during stressful times for me. So THANK YOU sweet diaper dealers!!! Your kindness, compassion, interest in those using your products and amazing customer service really puts Pampers to shame.

 So now on to my diaper stash! In addition to the Happy Heiny Diapers I tried out some Flip Diapers with their inserts and also with Green Mountain Prefolds stuffed inside. I also got a new Kissaluv diaper to try. And like you all saw on the last post I have a few Happy Heiny Training Pants for my daughter at nighttime. I know that I need to give the new diapers a little more time. It takes awhile to get use to how to get them on right and on quickly (yes again I feel like a first time mom instead of a fourth time mom....but challenge and change are good). I think the best way is to go through the diapers and let you all know my thoughts on them. Please keep in mind I am still learning the diapers, my thoughts might change as I become more experienced. These are my initial (only one week using two of the diapers) thoughts. Also keep in mind this is my opinion based on how they work with my little guy (and night time for my girl). The best advice I got from all the diapering gurus were to try different diapers and make sure your stash included variety. I was told diapers fit kids differently and at different stages I might prefer certain ones. Who knows too....If I decided to add another little blessing to my full house all these diapers might work on that little darling differently. So here goes. My diaper breakdowns with pics included. These are for you my fellow Cloth Diapering Virgins!!!!

HAPPY HEINY ONE SIZE POCKET DIAPER

These are the diapers I started with. And well, I am most comfortable with them due to familiarity. It is one size. The little snaps down the front adjust the rise to smaller or larger to accommodate your growing baby. Happy Heiny has three snap rows so they really can adjust pretty large. I still don't have Kade all the way undone and he is almost a year. There is a nice soft fleece inside and the microfiber insert or hemp insert or both get stuffed into that pocket. Because I am a mom with four kids and half a brain I forgot to photograph the other little microfiber insert that is smaller that also came with this diaper. It can be used for newborns or as an extra layer of protection.

What I love about this diaper

• Pre-stuffed it is almost as quick to put on as my old disposables. Which is great on a squirmy baby. Also great when I am out and don't want to feel like a clumsy nerd. Even my husband can do the Velcro ones easily. We are getting ready to train him on the snaps.
• I love this diaper at night. I can use a microfiber insert with a hemp one behind that. Sure Kade has a big butt, but no leaks and no rash. The fleece protects from wetness and the hemp does an amazing job at pulling a lot of that away from him.
• The fleece comes really clean. The stains I have are faint on the microfiber but not on the fleece...which is what most people see as you change the diaper (don't want those cloth diapering virgins to think you are dirty hee hee).
  

• You gotta dig those inserts out. Which sometimes on the poopies or really wet is yuck.
• They take a little longer to dry but can be put in the dryer so really its not bad.
• Sometimes I feel like they are warm on him.

HAPPY HEINY TRAINING PULL ON PANTS (My Adelee calls them her poofy pink panties) 

These work in a similar fashion to the pocket one size diapers. However they are not one size you need to order a size to fit based on your child's weight. My daughter was borderline between small and medium. She has skinnier legs so I went with the small and they are perfect. Poofy but perfect. She loves them. Prefers them over the Princess Pullups. They can be stuffed with the microfiber or hemp or both. Right now I just use the hemp. She doesn't always wet at night so that works for us. They are poofy enough that you can add extra stuffing for big wetters. I am done with the nightmare part of potty training but I would imagine that these work great for that time as they could feel more than a pullup and can be adjusted with absorbency for times out or times when you might want them not to hold much.

This is totally random but for those of you in the thick of potty training (and yes I will be there with you all again with Kade someday) you have to download the song Poopsmith by Over The Rhine. It made me laugh and cry to know that someone could sing about exactly what my little boys did with their poop while potty training. It was my theme song for the years I was potty training my older boys (yes that is how pathetic I am). I promise, you will all be singing Poop in the Potty Poop goes in the potty and thanking me. Download at itunes here.
Have a fun little listen here at last fm (they do a good preview). Enjoy! I figured you would never read my post this far if a song on poop would offend you.

Okay this is the only training pant I have tried but here are my thoughts

What I love

• That my daughter can easily pull them up and down
• They wick away to prevent rashes
• They work no leaks
• My daughter loves the HOT PINK
  

• They are poofy (that might be a problem in cute clothes but more the motivation to potty train). I understand to that they are poofy for a reason....stuffing adjustments.
• The leg holes are narrow. This is a plus for us no leaks but if you have a child with chubby legs you might want to size up.
  

 

The Flip Diaper is basically a diaper cover. It is also a one size fits all and has the little snaps to adjust the rise just like the Happy Heiny. You can stuff with a variety of things. They offer a stay dry insert, an organic insert (which is what I got) and a disposable insert. On the advice of my Cloth Diapering Guru Sister in Law, Sarah I decided to get a pack of the Green Mountain Diaper Organic Prefolds to stuff in (very economical). As long as the poop doesn't get on the cover or the baby doesn't leak through you can reuse the cover and pop in another insert. So technically you can have a couple covers and a lot of inserts. This was an appealing way for me to quickly build my stash so that I could go to cloth full time.

What I love about this diaper

• It is lightweight and is almost dry coming out of the washing machine. Its a great system to have when you are behind on diaper laundry.
• I like that I can, in an economical way use a variety of inserts to increase my diaper stash and not have to use diaper pins. I don't know yet if I would be at a level where I could do this cloth diaper deal full time without the Flip and Green Mountain Prefolds.
  
• I know this is silly but I notice visual details. I like that the snaps are the same color as the diaper.
• They don't seem as hot and bulky and I like the idea of organic cotton next to him when I have time for more diaper changes. Also seem a little cooler.
  

Couple drawbacks

• I know I am still adjusting to this diaper but is HARD to get on a squirmy baby. I actually have a harder time with the organic insert that came with the flip. I prefer the Green Mountain Prefold but even so they both sort of shift around and come outta the little folds to hold them. The first few times they even bunched up weird when I put him in them to where I had to take off and readjust. Also had a hard time adjusting the front snap area with the insert bulk. I know I need more time but I think they are a little more clumsy in general. And Hard is relative its not like hooking baby pins. HEE HEE.
  
• The liking cotton next to my baby comes with a drawback of needing to be monitored and changed more frequently. It really doesn't whisk away wetness so if your little one is rash prone might be a problem. I think that is why I like this diaper at home where it is easy to change often. Although he wore it out on a hike today and was perfectly fine no problems and I didn't change him until I got to the car.
  
• Because this diaper doesn't whisk away moisture I don't prefer to use it at night. I am sure you could add more bulk behind it or a liner but it would be more of a daytime diaper for me so far. But again I am new at this one and should night time test it.

KISSALUVS MARVELS ALL IN ONE DIAPER (AIO) 

 

This is the other new diaper in my stash. And first off since I am visual I just ADORE the yellow brown combo. How fun. This diaper is similar to the Happy Heiny Pocket diaper in that it has a pocket. The difference is that its insert is secured inside and like the photo shows above it works its way out in the wash so no need to dig it out, the wet/poopie one. Just plop out what you need to and drop it in the wash. I LOVE THIS!!! Cause you know it just seems a little more tidy. You can add extra stuffing if needed. I have not done that yet but it is possible. It too is a one size and has snaps that adjust the rise. This would be a great diaper for Dads and Babysitters its pretty easy to get on even with the snaps. It has the fleece liner that whisks away moisture.

What I love about this diaper

• Hello NO DIGGIN out soiled wet inserts! That is a grand thing really.
• Its pretty easy to tote around I can see this being a diaper bag favorite. No forgetting inserts just grab and go. Easy to get on too....no feeling like a nerd in public.
• Beautiful colors and the little details like matching snap colors. I know you are rolling your eyes at me.
  

Couple drawbacks

• Its a little on the small side rise wise. I don't see this diaper fitting Kade as long as the others. I am still working on getting the fit right on him but I think he might be needing to be at the all snaps out stage already.
• Seems a little hot
• Takes a little longer to dry

PHEW THIS WAS A LONG POST! I hope it was helpful to you newbies and Cloth Diapering Virgins like me. I was thinking what I would have loved to see and read in terms of the breakdowns of different diapers. I know I am no pro nor does this cover all the options out there, this is just my little newbie perspective on what I have tried, thanks for reading!

So my goals this next time are to get my sweet husband trying out the snaps and reporting his thoughts to you all, using cloth wipes more with the Kissaluvs spray or water, and I was trying to remain simple but I am having to flush my low-flow California toilet about 5 times to get the poop off so I think I am gonna have to cave and get the sprayer. So I leave you with my cutie patootie kiddo enjoying block time in his Kissaluvs and cool Stringbean Skidnees. 

 

 Yes, you read that right, 

Lactation Cookies!

Since I am finally back in California with my own kitchen full of whole, real, GOOD, healthy foods, I wanted to bake some cookies...and my four year old did, too! Since it's World Breastfeeding Week, and I am, in fact, full-time breastfeeding a 9 month old, I thought I'd whip up my trusty Lactation Cookies recipe. 

Some questions you may have:

Why would anybody want to make/eat a Lactation Cookie? 

Because they are SO yummy and if you are nursing, they help boost your milk supply.

Will I start lactating if I eat a Lactation Cookie?

Depends. If you just quit nursing say, 3 days ago, then yes, you may indeed start producing milk again :) If you are a man, a child, somebody who has never had a baby, a pregnant woman, a dinosaur or a hot air balloon, chances are you will not start leaking milk or taking breaks at work to pump. In other words, these cookies help if you are breastfeeding, but are healthy, yummy goodness for anybody who is not.

Do we have to call them "Lactation Cookies?"

No, in fact I've come up with a much better name.  From now on my personal lactation cookies recipe, which was handed down to me by a very wise and herbal-minded doula, then modified to meet my whole foods criteria, will henceforth be called:

Cookies with Milk

or if you want to get really fancy

Cookies with [insert baby's name] Milk

 

YUMMY! You know you want one...

But if you are too lazy to bake cookies, or have recently had a baby (coincidently, this is usually the time when you could really use a lactation cookie) and have no time to bake, or just have no time to bake for any reason at all, you can purchase lactation cookies from a variety of online vendors. I've found a few around the web, though I've never tried them because it's quite a bit cheaper to make my own.

Milkin' Cookies (This was the original name of MY lactation cookies recipe, but I had to change it when I found their site...grrr.) Cute company, though, and they have a variety of flavors. The Cranberry Almond Oatmeal Cookie sounds divine!

milkmakers This company is very popular and gets stellar reviews around the web for the taste of the cookies and their customer service. They also have a hillarious logo - you know you wanna look. Of all the ingredient lists I looked at, this company uses the most pure, natural and healthy ingredients. PS - I'm quite picky.

 I'm going to have to cut this post short, though, I've got to hit the pump.

I ate too many cookies.

This being World Breastfeeding Week I thought I would talk about, well, 

Being judgmental, actually.

I did/am breastfeed(ing) my three kids. I am adamant about it, I enjoy it and it's important to our family. When I was pregnant with my first and I started to read hundreds of articles and books on pregnancy and parenting, coupled with the fact that my mom was very pro-breastfeeding (at a time when that wasn't popular), I decided that breastfeeding would be the only way my kids were fed.

That being said, my breastfeeding experiences weren't without (ahem) difficulties. I have suffered through:

Nipple Pain

Engorgement

Over Supply

Under Supply

Thrush/Yeast (feels like broken glass in the nipple - awesome.)

Mastitis ( x 8)

Latching Difficulty

Dependency on Nipple Sheild

Lack of Weight Gain in Baby

Premature Birth (and associated breastfeeding difficulties)

Fussy Baby/Sleepless Baby (Mommy)

Exclusive Pumping

Food Allergy/Diet Restrictions

Seeing all that might make you think, "Sheesh! Can breastfeeding be worth all that trouble?!?" I would say most definitely, yes, it is.  Here's what I've gotten out of breastfeeding:

Bonding (yes, there are lots of ways to bond with your baby,  and this is a very special one)

Healthy Kids

Weight Loss [for mama] (nurse past 8 months with no solid foods, you'll see what I mean!)

Simplicity (no bottles, washing, formula cans, etc...)

$avings

Time (I never have to "make a bottle")

I do it in public with pizazz (although I do prefer a cover), and would never relegate myself to nursing in the bathroom. I breastfeed on demand - no Baby Wise here (but that's a whole other post, no?) I am also an extended breastfeeder - I have no problems going beyond 2 yrs. And now you know, I'm a fan of breastfeeding!

But just because I am, doesn't mean I expect every other woman out there to be, too.

I do think women today give up on breastfeeding too soon (statistics from the early 1900s show a 88% exclusive breastfeeding rate at 6 months, vs. >14.2% in 2003, via Kellymom.org.) But I also know they are not supported properly. Most are shanghai'd by their OB's after they have delivered their baby.  A measly 11% of women in 2006 reported that they were "able to get adequate breastfeeding support from their OB after 2 months post-partum." Some OBs are deemed "Breastfeeding Friendly" and others are not. And what about that middle-of-the-road OB that says you should try breastfeeding, but when it doesn't "work out", she encourages you to quit. Lot's of mixed messages there...

Lactation Consultants (BCLC) are a great resource, but women are not always guaranteed to a) find one in their area, b) have the consultation paid for by insurance or c) be able to pay for the consultation out of pocket. Many nursing moms who return to work, find that pumping is a time-consuming hassle - one that isn't exactly encouraged in corporate America. Women with any of the pain or problems I listed above have even more trouble finding somebody to support them while they really struggle. 

Many women quit breastfeeding due to "lack of supply" (71% of moms who quit nursing by 3 months gave this as their reason for quitting.) In reality, the chances of a woman actually having a lack of supply (which would inhibit the growth of their baby) is less than 10% of all women worldwide. (Side note: lack of supply can be caused by improper latch, which does not allow the breast to be stimulated properly. This is not taken into account in the given statistics.)

But, 

No one has the right to criticize a mother who decides to formula-feed, pump or partially feed their baby breastmilk.

 Mother's who feel strongly, as I do, about breastfeeding are always willing to go the extra distance to make it work if they possibly can. Many women experience sadness and regret over the loss of their breastfeeding relationship - I often hear them say things like "failure as a mother." They deserve all the support and encouragement we can give them as they find other ways to bond with their baby and get over their guilt.

Medical professionals, however, should never tell mothers who are experiencing problems that they might as well switch to formula. Mothers want support and solutions, not quick fixes. So many of my friends and acquaintances have talked about how they stopped breastfeeding because their healthcare provider did not refer them to the proper person/group to give them the support they really needed.  That is not supporting women!

If you are having problems breastfeeding, contact the local La Leche League chapter in your area. Many women who attend these meetings can offer support based on experience, and will also know who in your area are reliable experts in the field.

Did you breastfeed?  Was the experience enjoyable for you? What advice would you give new moms?

Stringbean Co. is so excited to welcome Bethany into our guest blogging family.  Join us every week for a new installment of The Cloth Diapering Diaries, where a cloth diapering virgin chronicles her journey.

 I wrote this post two weeks ago. My family had a minor medical issue that has pretty much slammed me for the last couple weeks. I didn't have time for much else besides caring for my little ones and keeping their environment as healthy as possible......so this post was right before my storm hit. Hoping to get back into the FULL swing of things by next week.

I'm back and its almost been a full month of cloth diapering for me!! I have also increased my stash and have some new and different types of cloth diapers on the way. I  picked up some night time cloth pullups for my potty trained daughter (who sometimes still has accidents at night....no I am not putting pink cloth on Kade). I was waiting on more diapers and a wet bag so that I could push this cloth diaper thing to the next level. Lets just say I think I got a good dose of reality these last few days.

So for starters lets talk about Laundry. I opened my big mouth too soon. As soon as that last post was published and my hampers empty....someone wet their bed, several little people had a good old time in the bathroom with lots of water and lots of towels, someone played in the mud, someone missed the toilet and hit the bathroom rug and well you get the picture I was behind on laundry again. Hee Hee. That is life. I'm still pluggin along. I'm sure with cloth diapers there are days when I am gonna be wanting my jeans clean but needing to clean diapers first....that is the reality. The more cloth I add and the more dependent I am on them I see that this is gonna have to take some commitment. I am not saying it is hard. For me it is one more load a day (I don't like the dirties sitting around). There are 6 people living in this house 4 of whom are boys so I always do a minimum of 2 loads a day anyhow. Really the diapers are easy to do. They are no where near as hard as the dreaded socks and underwear load. Can I just say how much I hate matching up a bunch of socks!!!! Especially the ones from the boys hamper that seem to make it into the hamper, wash and dryer in a wadded up ball that deposits all sorts of lovely things when I unball them. Cloth diaper loads are a breeze compared to those sock loads. Thank God for summer time flip flops and NO SOCK LOADS.

In addition to ending the honeymoon on laundry this last week Kade got his first rash since starting cloth. I am not completely using cloth full time yet. Close but not completely. Anyhow, he got a rash I had a hard time telling at first if it was heat, teething (the poor boy has one tooth and five more looking like they are gonna poke through any moment), a new food, or yeast. I am leaning toward it being a heat rash. That is really what it looked like the most. I talked with three cloth diaper gurus asking for advice and scoured the internet on my own too. Armed with all this new knowledge I started with making sure my front loading washing machine was clean. Which my particular brand calls for Whitest White Load with Dishwashing Detergent through it. I did that just to be sure. Although I have had mine for awhile and never noticed mold smell or issues I think because I use the Hot wash cycle on a regular basis for all our undies and towels and dishtowels at least three or more times a week. After reading I understand this helps keep those machines running right. I almost always leave the door open at night if it isn't running. So this was just an extra step. I let the diapers soak in a little baking soda water in a sink while I cleaned the machine. Then ran a load of diapers with detergent and hot water, using half a cup of vinegar in the first rinse cycle and a second rinse with nothing. (The vinegar is suppose to balance the ph of the diaper so not to cause rash. But don't put the vinegar in with the soap use it like you would softener. ) So in addition to making sure my diapers were extra clean but with no remaining detergent I also made sure to wipe down Kade's diaper rash with Grandma Els. I was so glad to already have this cream on hand as its one of the few that can be used with all cloth diapers. My kids are all allergic to traditional diaper rash creams and so I already had this one on hand. While the days are hot here I plan on keeping a little layer of this on Kade if it seems to help.

It seems there is rarely a situation that can't be summed up with a

Perfectly Pleasant Maya Angelou Quote.

She's so wise and she's always got those little snippets that really make you think...really think. 

Since I've been back in North Dakota the last two months to get fun things like classes, parties & clothing swaps going at Stringbean Co., I've felt like an incredible businesswoman, but I've also felt like such an absentee mom.  When back in LA, I usually spend all day with my kids and work during naps and bedtime. We go to the park, see friends, have beach days, cook and, of course, read books. Because, after all:

"Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him." — Maya Angelou

More than being a phenomenal business owner, educator, blogger or network-er, I just really want to be a fantastic mom to my kids.  I even have "Mom" as the title on my business card - that's my biggest job and the most important one. Not to mention the one of which I'm most proud. Ms. Angelou says it best here:

"The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise." — Maya Angelou

I want to be the constant in my kids' lives (and so does their daddy). I want my kids to feel like I am completely with them when I am with them.  I want them to feel heard, understood, wanted, important, good and interesting.

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -- Maya Angelou

I hope someday they see that when I wasn't perfect (and I most certainly am not, in case there was ever any ridiculous indication otherwise) that I worked hard to improve where I was/am lacking. 

"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better." — Maya Angelou

So as I pack up my sweet little family and head back to California this week, I'm excited to have our [relatively] uninterrupted time back.

"I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself." -- Maya Angelou

 I don’t believe in

Every family is different.  We have different morals, backgrounds, and ideals. Many of us differ on what’s most important in raising our children.

As a newbie parent (my oldest of three kids is just 4) I’ve begun to research extensively the various philosophies of parenting & discipline.  I know what we are: a natural - call it “crunchy” if you want - family with a Bible-based moral compass, a sense of structure and a desire to keep things simple & creative.

I am no where near having found “my parenting/discipline philosophy”, but it is evolving based on what my husband and I know to be true.  

Our Truths:

 1)  Kids need much more love than they do criticism and reprimand. I can’t imagine what I would feel like if I went about my day and was constantly told what to do and what not to do.  Questions & statements of (situational) evaluation take longer for me, but I see the end result of an open line of communication between myself and my kids as the pay off.  For example:

        Daughter (yelling to sister): That’s my toy and you can’t have it!
        Me: I see it’s tough for you to give up your favorite toy to your sister. Are you concerned about your toy?
        Daughter: Yes, she always breaks things and I don’t want her to take the shoes off.
        Me: I see. Can you think of a nice way to talk to your sister or help her find something she would like to play with?
        Daughter (in a soft voice to sister): Here, S, you can play with this different toy that has shoes, too and it’s ok if you take them off.

No, we are not perfect, but this is one example of a real conversation that we had in our house where my daughter mimicked my gentle, problem solving voice, instead of me yelling and her getting mad for not being heard and yelling at her sister as though this is the way problems get solved. This has taken A LOT of practice on my part, but Teach Through Love is an excellent way to get to know your kids (I learned from the above situation that my daughter was freaked out about losing the shoes from her toy, because her sister lost most of her shoes on a similar toy.) This caused her little brain to go into overdrive when the threat of losing those shoes was looming. I’m simply trying to teach her an appropriate and respectful reaction, as well as problem solving skills. And make no mistake, this takes a long time, but the older she gets and the more I learn to stay calm, the better we all get at these things!

I get a tremendous amount of inspiration from joining the Teach Through Love Facebook page where Lori, the founder, posts daily affirmations, tips and reminders. She also has a webinar series that is affordable and so interesting. It totally transformed my approach in the best way.  *BONUS* Lori has an “Ask Lori” feature on her FB page and will literally give you an extended, thoughtful answer on any of your parenting issues if she selects your question.  She is very involved in her page/community and will respond to nearly everyone’s comments - and everything but the webinar series is FREE. It is so obvious that Lori really cares about Teaching Through Love!

 2)  Maintaining our cool is of utmost importance. There is nothing more frightening, confusing and detrimental to a child’s development than an out of control adult. Even things like sarcasm, mocking and belittling create a sense of instability in little people.  But really, if you think about how well these things work on adults (other than making the other person really mad), it makes sense that they wouldn’t do any good for kids.  A great book that helps parents build this philosophy into their everyday lives, and teach their kids that no matter what, we (their adults) are stable and reliable, is Parenting With Love & Logic. It shows how to create an atmosphere in the home that fosters independent thinking, problem solving skills and a stable, loving environment.

3)  Being loving doesn’t mean giving in. We have standards in our house and some of them cannot be budged. But, I will always listen & ask questions / make statements of evaluation in order to understand where my kids are coming from.  Feeling empathy for my kids is key to building a relationship.  But just because I know what they want, does not mean they can have it.  A bunch of ice cream on a hot day, 30 minutes before dinner? I feel for my child because, wow, that would feel so good! Unfortunately, that’s going to have to wait until after dinner. But how about a cold glass of ice water in the meantime?

4) Saying “yes” is just as important as saying “no.” Do I want to play house? Yes! Can we paint right now? Sure! Will I snuggle with you? Absolutely! Can we go out and play in the rain? Heck-yes we can! Will I go outside VERY early in the morning on my day off and lay in the grass while you put crazy hats on me and crawl all over me? Why not! (My husband is very good at saying yes to my kids, as you can see from the photo below. I'm learning a lot from him!)

So what’s your philosophy on discipline and parenting? Where do you get the best and most support and/or information?

 It's like a garage sale...but better. It's full of GOOD QUALITY baby, children & mama clothing (assuming everybody follows the rules!) Unlike a garage sale, the more people you invite the better it is. And the best part *drum roll please!*...

It's Totally Free!

 It's true,

I measure my kids' growth in playground abilities.

And isn't it amazing what a playground can tell you about your kid?!? My 4 year old took for.ev.er. to work up the gumption to go down the slide. And she was well into her second year before she attempted the 'curly slide'!  My 2 year old, on the other hand, never once hesitated on the slide, and at a mere 13 months, was chasing her big sis down the curly slide...backwards. 

One day my daughter started climbing UP the fire[woman]'s pole, and I realized how strong she was! It was especially interesting when a boy 2 years older (and 4 inches shorter) couldn't do it...he was in awe of my supergirl. But she couldn't always do that...and it was just then that I realized how much she had grown in a few short weeks!

Their jumps get bigger, their hangs get braver and they experiment with 'unconventional playstructure moves' as they grow.  We spend a lot of time at playgrounds, and everytime we go I notice something new that provides more evidence that my kids will not stay babies, or even children, forever.  Unfortunate, I know.  *weepy sound*

I suppose that one of my growth markers will be when my kids no longer beg to go to "that park with the red swing", or any other park for that matter. They will grow out of playgrounds and into friends, *gasp* driving, and being cool. 

As my 8 month old baby wriggled away from me so that he, too, could climb up the stairs of the play equipment today, I realized it wouldn't be long until I was measuring his growth milestones in playground abilities, too.  How did that happen so fast?

So I'm not in any hurry to leave the park - I'm happy to enjoy what little time I have while my children are small. I love to watch them grow right before my eyes.  

I recently opined about starting solids with my babies. Did you happen to guess which food my kids start out with based on the mashings all over my daughters chubby cheeks?

Green jello? Boogers? Guacamole? Close....

Avocado is a great first food for baby!

It's a healthy, raw, whole food that requires little preparation and is full of Omega-3's and good fats that babies need for their rapid growth and brain development.  As a bonus, it doesn't cause constipation and has a mild flavor that won't upset those super-sensitive taste buds. It took a couple tries before my girls liked it, but now they eat avocado straight out of the peel with a spoon. (Makes an easy & filling travel food, by the way!) The first time I introduce it, I mix the avocado in equal parts with breastmilk.  Gradually, I reduce the breastmilk as they get used to the flavor.

Some other great first foods for babies (and no, you will not find boxed rice cereal on this list!)

Millet Cereal - Prepare by toasting 1 c. whole millet (preferably organic) in a dry skillet. Grind cooled grains in a coffee/spice grinder (that is free of coffee residue!) and mix 1 part ground millet with 3 parts water in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 min. or until desired thickness. Serve cooled alone or with breastmilk or water. 

Quinoa Cereal - Prepare same as for millet, but rinse the quinoa before toasting so as to remove the bitter coating that naturally occurs on this high protein, amino rich grain. 

Bananas - Easy to prepare & tasty; may (probably will) cause constipation.

The above list is just a few ideas for the very first food you give baby, keep watching for more tips on subsequent foods and time-saving tips on how to prep one or two items to be used in a dish for every stage in your family (baby, toddler, big kid, adult).

You've probably heard me say this before, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Cathe Olson's Simply Natural Baby Food cookbook. I use it for all ages of my kids, and I personally like the recipes out of there for myself, too.  It taught me how to really, truly cook a variety of healthy munchings for my kiddos.

What are your best recommendations for first foods for baby?

I've found myself wondering today

Why the rush for babies to start solids?

With my first child (4), our pediatrician at her 6-month check-up said:

"You can go ahead and start her on rice cereal now."

Me: "Oh, is she not gaining enough weight?"

Pedi: "No, it's just standard to introduce solids around this time."

Me: "Ok, but she seems happy with just breastmilk right now, is it important that I introduce solids?"

Pedi: "Well if you wait too long, she can have trouble eating solids later in life."

Me: "Huh, well why rice cereal?"

Pedi: "It's the most common first food because it's easy for baby to digest and has a bland taste."

Hmmm...I wasn't exactly convinced of, well, anything at all. I just didn't understand why it was important to introduce solids - I simply assumed that when my milk wasn't enough, then my baby would demand more and/or stop gaining weight. I felt very in tune with my baby's cues and felt confident that I would know the proper time to give my little punkin' solid foods. A standard time-stamp for every baby seemed a little silly. 

Furthermore, RICE CEREAL?!?! Reeeealy? When I look at data of American children, I see an obesity epidemic of stunning proportions.  One of the main contributors to this very sad crisis, is the over-consumption of highly processed and nutritionally-valueless foods.  Rice cereal out of a box is simply that: processed white carbs whose nutrition has been sapped out, and then added back in through manipulated chemicals in a process called "enriching".  America, and it's children, are addicted to these white carbs, and yet, parents are advised to give them to their babies, at a very young age, as a first food? 

Ok, I know what [some of] you are saying: "But my processed rice cereal out of a box is from X Natural Foods Store and is made out of brown rice!" Ok, good - that's at least one step ahead, but ask please ask yourself: is it normal for rice to be in the form of really thin flakes? It is normal if it's processed. And right there valuable nutrition has been lost. 

Next point - is rice cereal easy for baby to digest?  On a box of rice cereal I happened upon (for research purposes, of course) in the grocery store the other day, it clearly said on the back:

 XXX Infant Rice Cereal can cause constipation in infants.  Please see your health care provider if your baby has vomiting, bloody stools or constipation for more than three days.

Hmmm. Sounds like even the company ackowledges that rice cereal is not easy for infants to digest, being as that is the nature of constipation. If you've ever followed the BRAT guidelines for diarrhea (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast), it seems odd that rice cereal would be a first food for an underdeveloped infant digestive system.

Here is the ingredient list for a traditional box of Brown Rice Infant Cereal:

Rice Flour, Soy Oil Lecithin, Tri & Dicalcium Phosphate, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Electrolytic Iron, Zinc Sulfate, Niacinamide (A C Vitamin), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Thiamine (Vitamin B1), Folic Acid (Folate) (A B Vitamin), Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)

Doesn't look too bad at first glance, but that seems like a lot of mystery-source add-ins for a simple rice cereal. Rice is a grain so it should go bad, but this box has about a 3 year shelf-life.  Yowza. 

As for the bland taste my pediatrician talked about, she was spot on there.  Yuck.

Now you say: "OK! I GET IT! YOU DON'T LIKE RICE CEREAL IN A BOX!

My Pediatrician also stated that my baby could have "problems eating solids later in life." BZZZZZZ. False.  There is absolutely zero scientific data to back this up, and if that were in fact the case, then wouldn't the human race have died off through all those centuries when mother's nursed their babies exclusively for at least a year before introducing food? In many countries, moms still nurse exclusively for a year or more and in countries with severe malnurishment, the nursing babies are often the only ones thriving!

Case in point #2: I breastfed my first baby exclusively for 8 months before introducing solids. And if being able to polish off four corn cobs in one sitting is a sign of "problems eating solids later in life", then she's definitely got that.  

Case in point #3: My second child, a preemie, had only breastmilk (after the NICU we detoxed the supplemental formula they mixed in with my breastmilk) for the first 13 months of her life. She's got a record for eating 3 adult sized bowls of Zucchini Oatmeal (my special recipe!) and just today chowed her way through 1/4 of an entire watermelon. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have any eating problems.  

Case in point #4: My third baby has baby fat rolls on the middle of his thighs - not at the knee, not at the hip, but the middle of this thigh. I've also never really seen his neck.  He's got a virgin gut yet at 8 months and is certainly not suffering from lack of food.

If you are a parent who chose to introduce solids early to your baby, and/or used rice cereal, I would say you are among the majority of Americans that are simply trying to do the best thing they know for their kids. 

But as I've (gradually) learned....there are more choices for families than what my pediatrician told me. Stay tuned for more tips on alternative first foods for babies. Here's a clue about the first food we start with:

 There is so much information out there about toxins and chemicals in the environment and our homes. If you Google "Household Toxins" a response will yeild "About 5,990,000 results"....say what? That is one tough, mother-load of information to navigate! (Especially between carpools, sports & activities, diaper changes and laundry.) But, I believe that many families today are aware of the negative impact that toxins and chemicals (etc...) can have on our bodies, especially those of our kids, and want to make changes in their homes.  

So here are

Some simple steps to greening/detoxing your child's home.

• If it goes in the mouth, make it a natural (unadulterated or naturally occuring materials) substance whenever possible. Plastic Teether = not naturally occuring.  Wood Teether = very naturally occuring. Wood stain = chemically created compound. Jojoba oil=naturally occuring wood "stain".  You get the picture. Also consider silverware, toys, sippy cups, etc... 
• If a naturally occuring material cannot be found, look for BPA / Pthalates / Lead - free alternatives.  
• Eat Organic versions of the "Dirty Dozen" in produce more often than not, to avoid high exposure to pesticides. 
• Clean your house with natural ingredients and methods.
• Create a natural sleep environment. Get rid of anything containing chemically-produced flame retardants and synthetic fillers (many polyester Pajamas, mattresses, blankets, piddle pads, poly-fill pillows and stuffed animals are chock-full of chemicals). Kids sleep a lot (and if they don't you might wanna read this) and are breathing in these chems All. Night. Long.  A natural sleep surface has been proven to offer better quality sleep (no matter the age!) and may also decrease the risk of SIDS in babies. Wool, and [organic] cotton are good choices.
  
• Get rid of candles, air fresheners and fragrance sticks, which contribute to poor air quality and put VOC's into the home.
• Eat real food. Whole, intact foods that will spoil within a reasonable amount of time, are good choices.  Otherwise, you've probably got a lot of additives and preservatives to make the food a) look fresh and b) last longer. Ick. 
• Switch to cloth diapers.
• Use toxin & mystery-chemical-free lotions & potions for your tykes.  Little bodies absorb a much more concentrated amount of chems than adults, and since the skin is the largest absorbing organ in the body...it's a no-brainer.  On that note, a very wise midwife once told me that babies don't need soap at all because their underdeveloped skin (and the oils, etc... on it) protect baby. And seriously, water will usually do the trick with little ones.
  

Don't overwhelm yourself by feeling like you have to do everything all at once.  Making the switch whenever you have a chance (plastic sippy cup got lost at the park - time to get a new BPA-free one!) and being conscious about adding more toxins into your child's world (do I really need that apple cinnamon scented spray in the bathroom, or can I just open a window?) are great places to start. 

Be healthy!

 Check out the newest calendar events at Stringbean Co!  

Questions about classes? Need more info? Have a suggestion for a class, workshop or support group? Call the Stringbean Co. store at 701.483.8662 or email us at contact@stringbeanco.com

Stringbean Co. is so excited to welcome Bethany into our guest blogging family.  Join us every week for a new installment of The Cloth Diapering Diaries, where a cloth diapering virgin chronicles her journey.

Well, the diapering journey continues. I am still plugging along. As I sit here writing I have almost made it two weeks! WHOO HOO!!! I am handling Poo!


Soon after my last post I decided to try the diapers at night. For some reason a lot of the Cloth Diapering Veteran Moms that I have talked to don't use cloth at night. I am guessing that it is probably due to leaking or maybe rash issues. I suppose it is long to be in something if wet. I know with all my babies in the beginning even with disposables I have to change at least once a night. I am at the point with Kade where he can make it through the night on one disposable. So I decided to go ahead and try this cloth diapering through the night. I used a Happy Heiny with the micro fiber insert and underneath that the hemp insert. First night was a success!!! No leaks!! He even got up early with Daddy and waited for a change....yeah I am not a morning person. On a side note, Kade rarely leaked with pampers. I really don't remember it happening much (except for those first few days). Although with their redesign his poo starting coming up the back. With the Huggies he has been leaking and blowing out left and right. My poor husband has been targeted quite a few mornings. So since the Huggies were not working well through the night I have been putting Kade in the cloth every night that I have had a clean one available. So far NO LEAKS NO RASH!!! I have heard that cloth diapers are like disposables in that you have to find the diaper that fits your child right in order to prevent leaks especially at night. Guess Kade's Heiny likes Happy Heinys. I love it when something works the first time.

In addition to the night diapering I am feeling like I am finally getting into a rhythm with changes. The diaper changes are quicker now. When I was researching and looking into cloth diapers I saw that most companies offer both aplix or snaps. It seems when reading that the aplix on many diapers wears out vs. snaps and gets caught in the laundry. (Although I have read reviews on Happy Heinys and that is one of their strong points...good aplix). I was thinking that for longevity I would probably want all snaps but now after trying both I have mixed feelings. The aplix is sooooo easy to quickly diaper change a squirmy baby. It feels most like a disposable in terms of adjusting. I love how the diaper fits with it. The snaps are a bit more time consuming and sometimes I feel like I did it too tight or too lose and it is a pain to readjust, especially on Mr. Squirmy Britches! That said the snaps are a breeze to launder. No worries with snaps about remembering to fasten for wash like you have to do with the aplix (and I forgot a few times already). I only have one aplix diaper right now so I haven't had the much talked about "diaper train" but I have had it pick up a bunch of the inserts. I have gotten advice from so many Cloth Diapering Pros to try out different diapers and styles. I think that is SOOOO wise!!! Listen to these ladies. I am getting ready to try out some more brands and add some more Happy Heinys to my stash....I will be getting both Aplix and Snaps. I like the diversity. 

Another reason I think it might be great to have both Aplix and Snaps is so that I have diapers that will hold up for the long haul and save me money (snaps) and diapers that will probably hold up pretty well but be an easy diaper for people like my husband, babysitters and Grandma to change (aplix). Speaking of husbands.......I am setting up my husband for some diaper changes for the next post (he is a great Dad that way with disposables). So if my surfing, basketball playing, rock star, manly husband can handle a cloth diaper I am sure that you Moms on the fence can do it. I told him tonight of my plans and he said he was game. HEE HEE. Plus if I am gonna make this switch all the way I gotta have my backup on board. 

(look how talented I am swishing while holding a big honkin camera!) 

So besides getting the actual diapering rhythm down I also feel like I am getting the swing of the toilet swishing and laundry down. Right now I am laundering the diapers everyday in order to be able to use my three diapers a day (which was my initial challenge). The funny thing is that not only am I getting my diapers done daily but I am also keeping up better with my laundry in general! It sort of reminds me of when I was in college. The one semester that I didn't work and had all this time on my hands I always procrastinated, tooted around and my grades were lower. The year that I worked three jobs and took 18 credits I had my best grades....I kept moving and used my time wisely because I had to. I don't know why this has happened with my laundry now, I know that the thought of dirty diapers sitting there more than a day sorta sounds yuck so I have been adding that load daily. Plus I want it done to use again the next day. So maybe it is that reminder to pay attention to my machines instead of ignore them. But the loads are plowing through and the baskets are even getting folded and put away (thanks also to some organizing friends that helped me last weekend sort closets and dressers). Right now there is only one load remaining in a hamper....and THAT is a miracle around my house!!! 

(Bigger clothes have been fitting fine over diaper....but this one is too cute to cover up)

As you probably know by now, 

I believe in the power of buying American-made products.

I believe it is the only way we can shovel our way out of this mountain of debt that we owe, including the sizeable chunk we owe to other countries, like China.

I believe buying American-made products creates more jobs, at better wages. Wages which are put right back into the American economy, instead of a foreign economy.

I believe in the integrity and safety of American-made products over their foreign-made counterparts. (Not all American-made products/manufacturers are the epitome of safety, but I've found that American manufacturers are held to a much higher standard, and there is a higher incidence of "whistle blowing" in the US, which encourages better products.)

I believe that if we as a nation stop buying disposable, cheap junk, and instead buy quality, American-made products, we will have less "stuff", but more goods. 

I believe that our planet cannot sustain our wasteful habits. The more often we buy local, and the more local we buy, the better it is for our immediate environment.

When shopping for Independence Day items this week, consider the source. I'm always confused about the 4th of July T-Shirt that says "made in china" on the tag, or worse yet, the American flag that is manufactured anywhere but here.

Look at labels.

Be discerning.

Buy American.

Stringbean Co. makes it easy for you: Shop online through July 5th and take 15% off your entire order with code INDEPENDENCE.

 Five years ago today...

 And then we...

We were pleasantly surprised when we found out that...

And then 19 months later...

And again, 21 months after that we got so busy we couldn't even take a family photo (or one that wasn't blurry, for that matter)...

Now are hands are full, but so are our hearts.

To my best friend, my inspiration and the hottest guy I ever met...

Happy Anniversary.

We sell cloth diapers at Stringbean Co., and I use them myself, thus, I find myself answering a lot of questions about using cloth diapers.  One of the most commong things I hear is:

I use cloth diapers...(except at night)!

It seems to me that many parents think that a cloth diaper cannot possibly hold as much as a disposable  during those long (hopefully) hours of sleep that our little ones have.  And whoa, when it comes to sleep, most parents aren't willing to take any chances (I can relate to this).

But, I swear to you, as a mom of 3 who have used cloth at night, that it can be successfully done!

Cloth Diapers at Night: My Bulletproof System

1) Pre-folds were tough for me to use at night because anytime you've got a natural fiber right next to baby skin and they wet on that, it needs to be changed ASAP to avoid a diaper rash (plus, that just sounds really uncomfortable!) SO, if you are a pre-fold using CD'er, I highly recommend getting a couple (AIO) All In One Diapers for nighttime.  These Happy Heiny's espcially are sized well to allow for 'nighttime stuffing' to fit properly without overwhelming diaper and child.  

2)  Stuff said AIO with a double layer of Microfiber Terry insert (comes with the Happy Heiny Diaper) OVER THE TOP of a Hemp Stuffin Insert.  It is very important to layer properly because hemp is ultra absorbant and should be as far away from baby's body in the diaper as possible because that's where most of the liquid will sit. The microfiber wicks moisture away from the body and if there is a hemp or cotton layer below, the moisture will be drawn away from the microfiber and will soak up in the hemp or cotton. This simple system will work for most parents until their baby is out of diapers at night. The other option is to get a super-soaker pre-fold (again, I recommend Hemp because of it's stellar absorbancy rate), fold it to fit into the AIO diaper and cover with a very thin (the 'newborn insert' that comes with the Happy Heiny's AIO works well) Microfiber insert and stuff into the diaper. Some people find that older children 2+ need the extra protection of a heavy-duty pre-fold at night.

3) If you find that diaper rash is a problem with with cloth diapers, follow these steps:

           a) Treat existing diaper rash with a diaper rash cream APPROVED for use with cloth diapers.  If you use a conventional diaper rash cream that is not for use with CD's, you risk ruining your diapers completely. I have personally called the following vendors to find out about use with cloth diapers. California Baby Diaper Rash Cream is an excellent choice. Once the main rash is gone, you can follow up the healing with California Baby Calendula Cream, which has fast and effective healing properties.

            b) Prevent Diaper Rash all-together by using Grandma El's Diaper Rash Remedy & Prevention.  It creates a breathable barrier on baby's bum, so a urine soaked diaper doesn't 'soak' the skin.

 But why would anybody want to go through all that trouble?

I'm glad you asked!  There are issues with disposables and their contents (plastic/petroleum derivatives/sodium polyacrylate gel). A baby's skin is a very delicate and under-developed organ, which absorbs topicals at a much higher rate than developed adult skin. This study shows how harmful chemicals like pthalates, which affect the developing reproductive system, are more concentrated in urine after a recent bath with conventional, chemical laden baby bath products. My point is that when a baby sleeps in a disposable diaper, they are absorbing a high instance of chemicals into their system over a long period of time. 

So, I maintain that the better question to be asked is why wouldn't cloth diapers at night be the norm? If there was only one disposable diaper a day that was swapped with a cloth diaper, wouldn't it be the nighttime diaper?

I know there are a million other parented-tested and approved nighttime cloth diapering methods, so please share them here for everyone's benefit!  

What do you regarding cloth diapering at night that works for your family?