baby Archives - Page 6 of 15 - Bare Feet on the Dashboard

Category: baby

06
May
2013

Welcome to the World, Eleanor Pearl!

categories: baby, birth, family, pregnancy, recipes, trying for a vbac

Our family is delighted to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Eleanor Pearl Eby.

Our sweet baby girl arrived on Monday, April 22nd at 3:56 pm.

She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz at birth and was 20 inches long.

She is amazing and perfect and we are so in love.

These past two weeks have been filled with lots of snuggling,

mama milk, family, and learning to be a family of four.

My parents came to stay with us the first week, and we would

have been lost without them. The Bear asks for Dede and Poppy

every day at least twice a day.

We had a successful all natural VBAC birth, and Ellie Pearl and I are both healthy and happy. If you are a c-section mama considering VBAC, it is totally worth it in my opinion. You can read our Trying for a VBAC blog series here, and I’ll post more of our birth story soon.

Ellie and I are getting into the groove of nursing, but she had a severe tongue tie that made it difficult at first. We’ve had to have it clipped twice, because the first time didn’t go far enough. Hopefully this will enable us to have a long and healthy breastfeeding relationship and will prevent any speech difficulties as she gets older.

Her tiny hand in mine melts my heart like nothing else.

My youngest brother, Matt, drove 6 hours each way to come and meet his niece. The Bear asks for him daily as well since he went back home.

She loves skin to skin snuggles with Daddy.

Here we are ready to go home from the hospital.

We are so thankful to the Lord for the safe arrival of our sweet baby girl, Ellie Pearl.

01
May
2013

Baby Bloom Blog Event: Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Click Connect Review

categories: baby, pregnancy, review

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Graco. All opinions are my own and as always I only write about products I would personally recommend to a friend. Thanks so much to Graco for the opportunity to review this jogging stroller and car seat.

Graco‘s latest development in jogging strollers is the super easy to use FastAction Fold Jogger Click Connect. The name is more complicated than operating this stroller, I promise. True to its name, the jogger folds and unfolds in one step in one second. Amazing. If you’ve tried to manhandle your share of bulky strollers, you know this is a big deal.

The jogger is compatible with all Graco Click Connect car seats for those new babies who aren’t ready to use the 5 or 3 point harness in the seat. Once kiddos are bigger, the seat has multiple reclining positions to make sure your wee one is always comfortable. The Bear tried it out on a jog with Daddy, and the ride is super smooth.

The snack tray removes completely so you can clean it well. Y’all know those things get NASTY fast and are so hard to clean when you can’t remove them.

When you fold the jogger (in one step, in one second) it automatically locks and stands and stores upright. As you can see it is much less bulky than some competitors and is a great option for families with small cargo spaces or storage issues.

fastaction_foldjogger_mom_baby_folded_stroller_2

Favorite Features: the double cupholders, smart phone cradle, and reflectors for night time and early morning safety. What can I say, I’m a details kind of girl. Our previous jogging stroller did not have any of these features, and the cupholder and phone thing was an issue for me. If there is an emergency, I don’t want to have to dig through the basket under the stroller to find my phone.
Least Favorite Feature: the air filled tires. They provide a smoother ride than hard tires, but can also go flat requiring more maintenance.

This jogger is a winner for me because of the cost vs. value. The jogger retails for $179, and the complete travel system retails for $299. A quality jogging stroller for less than $200 is a frugal deal in my book. Competitive brands retail for at least double that.

This post is part of my Baby Bloom Blog Event series. Check out the other Baby Bloom posts here.

Graco’s NEW jogger is the ultimate crossover stroller, combining all the comfort and convenience features of a traditional stroller (FastAction Fold and Click Connect Technology) with performance and maneuverability of an all-terrain jogger.

As an added bonus, Graco’s innovative one-second, one-hand FastAction™ fold automatically locks & is self-standing.

This post is sponsored by the Graco.

**Thanks to Julie Harding Photography for the use of photos from the Dallas Graco Party.

17
Apr
2013

Packing the Hospital Bag(s) for Birth

categories: baby, birth, medical, pregnancy

Packing the hospital bag for baby’s birth can be a stressful undertaking, so I thought I’d share our checklist with y’all. This is our second go round, and we learned a few things last time. You can read some of my other pregnancy posts here. We are also at a different hospital this time so what they provide will be a bit different. The first thing any mama should do is get the list from your birthing center or hospital so you know what they will give you. Be forewarned though that nothing is free at the hospital and you will be billed for pretty much everything. My hospital does provide each mama with a birth ball for labor, which is handy since they are super awkward to tote around. I’ve found that the trickiest part of packing the hospital bag is that my wardrobe is pretty limited at this point, so there are things I can’t pack til the last minute. Our solution is to have a copy of our checklist on top of the suitcase so we can add those last minute items on our way out the door. I’m a chronic overpacker so I have to try hard to keep it under control for this situation.

For Mama:
Comfy Clothes – lounge pants, nursing tanks, soft cardigans
Nursing Bras
Giant Cotton Undies (in case they don’t have the giant stretchy ones)
Hair Dryer (didn’t use it last time, but I’m an eternal optimist)
Bathrobe (institutional towels – enough said)
Warm Fuzzy Socks (hospitals are cold)
Loose Fitting Shoes (last time my right foot looked like the Elephant Man)
Clothes to Wear Home (don’t overthink it – all eyes are on the baby)
Phone + Charger
iPad + Charger
Camera + Charger + Lenses
Makeup (see the hair dryer explanation)
Ponytail Holders
Headbands
Snacks (vending machines are expensive)
Boppy Nursing Pillow
Favorite Pillow (I’m a pillow snob.)
Cloth Nursing Pads (for chafing, not leaking)
Lanolin (see above)
Rice Socks (tube sock full of rice for heat/cold pack during labor & postpartum)
Tennis Ball Socks (tube sock with 2-3 tennis balls inside for massage during labor)

For Baby:
Going Home Outfit
Car Seat (installing it beforehand saves headaches)
Socks (are on our hospital’s check list)
Woombie Swaddler + Summer Infant SwaddlePod (so much easier than a hospital blanket)
Aden + Anais Muslin Swaddle Blanket (mostly for the drive home)
Headbands (purely for the cute factor)
Hats (again, hospitals are cold)

For Daddy:
Hooded Sweatshirt or Comfy Jacket (he froze last time)
Warm Socks (see above)
3 Changes of Comfy Clothes
Snacks (he gets hangry if not fed often, a combination of hungry/angry at the world)
Drinks (to avoid vending machines)

What was/is your must have item for the hospital bag? How far in advance did you pack?

Shopping for your hospital bag? Check out the prices on some of our favorite items on Amazon:

10
Apr
2013

Pregnancy 2.0 Update: 38 Weeks

categories: baby, birth, pregnancy

This is what happens when I forget to ask Jed to take a picture.

I can’t believe we are really almost there. From here on out I’ll do weekly updates until our sweet girl arrives. Because we are trying for a VBAC and lots of people have lots of questions about what that entails, we’ll be live tweeting as much as we can during the birth. You can follow along on Twitter or on the Bare Feet on the Dashboard Facebook page for those updates when labor begins. You can read my other pregnancy 2.0 updates here, and read all my pregnancy posts here. This sweet baby could come any day now, and we are so ready to meet her.

38 Weeks Update

Feeling: like a manatee – wishing I could float all day

Wearing: Muumuus, basically. And sandals. There is a reason that ladies used to go into “confinement” those last weeks of pregnancy. It ain’t pretty.

Weight Gain: not telling, but significantly less than last time

Pregnancy Side Effects: waking up 18 times each night to pee, lots of Braxton Hicks contractions

Progression: My cervix is 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced and in the mid position.

Craving: nothing really

Baby: Weighs about 7 pounds and is fattening up for birth. She has moved down into a -3 station.

Gender: Girl! (We sure hope that ultrasound was right or we’ll have a lot of pink stuff going to waste.)

Name: We still haven’t decided and are open to suggestions.

Nursery: I have a sweet little set up for her in our room with our bassinet, cloth diapers, clothes, and hair accessories, decorated with a banner made by a friend.

Preparations: The bag is packed. Our on call people for Bear are ready. I want to freeze a few more meals this week. I’m heading to the chiropractor for an adjustment to help baby girl get into a good position. We are trying for a VBAC.

To-Do List: freeze more meals, bounce on the birth ball, make more headbands and bows, practice relaxation techniques for labor

What’s on your to-do list?

30
Mar
2013

Pregnancy 2.0 Update: 36 Weeks

categories: baby, pregnancy

Woohoo, three pregnancy updates in a row! We are on a roll, people. You can read my other pregnancy 2.0 updates here, and read all my pregnancy posts here. We are now entering the home stretch, and are sooo ready to meet our daughter. Because we are trying for a VBAC and lots of people have lots of questions about what that entails, we’ll be live tweeting as much as we can during the birth. You can follow along on Twitter or on the Bare Feet on the Dashboard Facebook page for those updates when labor begins.

36 Weeks Update

Feeling: Great! I have lots of energy so far this week, which is a big change.

Wearing: Muumuus, basically. And sandals. There is a reason that ladies used to go into “confinement” those last weeks of pregnancy. It ain’t pretty.

Weight Gain: not telling, but significantly less than last time

Pregnancy Side Effects: waking up 18 times each night to pee, lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, hip pain, swollen feet and cankles

Belly Button: Still in. It never popped with Bear so I’m assuming that it won’t this time either.

Craving: raw carrots and Cadbury Eggs

Baby: She has officially moved down and is engaged in my pelvis. Her head is putting pressure on my cervix, so it is 1 cm dilated, 50% effaced, and at the mid position. She weighs about 6 pounds and is fattening up for birth, and is about the size of a bowling ball.

Gender: Girl! (We sure hope that ultrasound was right or we’ll have a lot of pink stuff to sell on Craigslist.)

Name: We still haven’t decided and are open to suggestions.

Nursery: We have the paint, but haven’t painted. Bear will continue to live in there until he is ready to move to a big boy room this summer. Mini Bear will room with us for the first few months for convenient night time breastfeeding and mommy’s paranoia.

Preparations: This week we are packing the bag and preparing the house for her arrival. Next week I plan to freeze some meals. Some friends are throwing me a little sprinkle this week, too. So fun. We are trying for a VBAC.

To-Do List: pack hospital bag, prep a changing station for our bedroom, work on decorations for the nursery, make headbands and bows, practice relaxation techniques for labor

What is one thing you wished you had packed/plan to pack in your hospital bag?

19
Mar
2013

Pregnancy 2.0 Update: 34 Weeks

categories: baby, birth, family, pregnancy, recipes

I’m really trying to update every two weeks from here on out, so I’ll have it for Mini Bear’s baby book and for the 7 of you who want to know how the pregnancy is going. You can read my other pregnancy 2.0 updates here, and read all my pregnancy posts here.

34 Weeks Update

Feeling: Sick – I’ve been fighting a cold/cough scenario for the whole week.

Wearing: anything that fits, lots of flowy skirts, wide shoes – even my super wide Keens are tight now
It might be time to bust out the old Birkenstocks from college, much to Jed’s horror.

Weight Gain: not telling, but significantly less than last time

Pregnancy Side Effects: I still have ankles, but my feet are super puffy. I’m having Braxton Hicks contractions all day long.

Belly Button: Still in. It never popped with Bear so I’m assuming that it won’t this time either.

Craving: Sweets and sushi. I eat vegetarian sushi while pregnant, but I’m longing for the real stuff.

Baby: She is head down and has moved down significantly. Yay, I can breathe again! She is now over 4 pounds and is about 18 inches long, the size of a small pumpkin, opening and closing her eyes and reacting to light.

Gender: Girl! (We sure hope that ultrasound was right or we’ll have a lot of pink stuff going to waste.)

Name: We still haven’t decided and are open to suggestions.

Preparations: We created our birth plan with our doula, and I’ll share it with y’all soon. We are trying for a VBAC. We pretty much have all the necessary items for our sweet girl, with a few more things to check off the list.

To-Do List: work on decorations for the nursery, make headbands and bows, practice relaxation techniques for labor

When did you start packing your hospital bag?

18
Mar
2013

Baby Bloom: Minted Review and Giveaway ~ Win a $50 Credit to Minted.com

categories: baby, giveaway, pregnancy

I am so thrilled to share with you a review and $50 giveaway to Minted that you can use for birth announcements, wedding invitations, party invitations, art prints, greeting cards or anything of their other products! Have you been to Minted.com yet? Minted has been around since 2007 and strives to bring the best in stationary design and paper goods to the world. From Minted.com:

“Minted is a global community of independent graphic designers and an online store that prints and sells the best of their designs in the form of paper goods.”

Minted’s independent designers come from 43 different countries, so the variety of designs is unparalleled. I found so many birth announcements I loved, then found myself looking at children’s and nursery prints, and birthday party invitations. There are thousands of fun options. Pricing is competitive, and if you subscribe to Minted’s email newsletter they often send out discounts and deals. One thing that really sets Minted apart is the quality of the paper. Maybe that sounds silly if you aren’t into paper goods, but my sister and I were discussing this and agreed that out of all the printing companies we’ve used, Minted has the highest quality products. She actually brought it up when I told her I was reviewing the company.

Baby Bloom – Bare Feet on the Dashboard board by Becca. See more birth announcements

I created 2 inspiration boards for you to check out a few of the options I’m considering for Mini Bear. These are five of my favorite birth announcements, and 3 of my favorite art prints. I can’t decide which I like the best.

Baby Bloom II ~ Bare Feet on the Dashboard by Becca, see more kids art prints

Baby Bloom II ~ Bare Feet on the Dashboard board by Becca. See more kids art prints

I ordered Christmas cards from Minted, and fell in love with their free addressing service. You enter your recipients’ addresses and choose the font, and your envelopes arrive addressed for you. Genius. I’m excited to check this off the list before Mini Bear arrives so that all I’ll have to do is add her photo and birth stats.

Head over to Minted and pick out your favorite products and enter to win a $50 credit on the Rafflecopter form below. You don’t need to have a blog or a Facebook profile to enter, just an email address.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is the first post in my Baby Bloom Blog Event series. Stay tuned for more reviews, giveaways, and baby themed good times here on Bare Feet on the Dashboard.

**I was not paid for this review and all opinions are my own. I did receive products in exchange for a review.

13
Mar
2013

Trying for a VBAC: Preparing

categories: baby, birth, medical, pregnancy, vbac

Our second baby is due at the end of April, and we are hoping and trying for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean section). This is one of a series of posts about Trying for a VBAC. There are many reasons why we are heading this direction and I hope to share them with y’all over the next few months. You can read the Bear’s full birth story here to see what our first child’s birth entailed. If you read that story you will get a little glimpse into why we are now on this journey to VBAC and a normal birth. This process has been all consuming for me and this blog is my space to express the way I feel about the whole situation. Many folks have strong opinions about VBAC vs. repeat cesarean, and I hope that whatever your opinion might be you will respect mine. VBAC is not the right decision for every c-mama, and it doesn’t always work out no matter how you prepare. Our hope and prayer is that we can have the best birth possible for our little girl. *UPDATE* We had a successful VBAC with our daughter and you can read her full birth story here.

This week I’m sharing what we’ve done to prepare so far for a VBAC. I’m not an expert by any means, but I’d love for others who are on this path to one example of how to prepare.

1) Do your research. Read, read, and read some more. Talk to your OB. Talk to another OB. Talk to the ladies in your local ICAN chapter or online. Talk to your partner and get on the same page. Watch The Business of Being Born together. If you come to the conclusion that you want to try for a VBAC, go for it! The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has come out recently in favor of most c-section moms having a trial of labor after cesarean. If your doctor says anything to the contrary they are going against their own governing body. That being said, there is a small percentage of women who do not qualify for VBAC. If you have found a doctor who is known for supporting trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) and she says you are not a candidate for a particular reason, that is important.

2) Find a supportive OB or Midwife. My former OB is awesome and I love her as a person, but she just doesn’t do VBACs. She told me that I was a good candidate but that she just didn’t do them. I started looking for a new doctor soon after that appointment, long before I was even pregnant again. My first choice was a midwife run birth center, but the one I like only does 2VBACs, not first time VBACs. They recommended my new OB, as did my ICAN chapter. The first time I met her I knew she was a great fit. She loves natural labor and backs up the birth center I researched. She read through my records and told me I should have at least an 80% chance of successful VBAC and she would be happy to support my birth choices. Such a relief. She doesn’t induce without medical reason, and won’t talk about induction for a VBAC mama until I hit almost 42 weeks. Yay! She even recommended I hire a doula, and gave me several cards of doulas she likes to work with. This is not normal for OBs, but is sure does rock.

3) Hire a Doula. A doula is a birth assistant. They don’t take the place of your partner or your OB/midwife, but they can help coach you through labor and achieve your birthing goals. Rates of VBAC drastically increase when a doula is part of a birth team. Doulas cost anywhere from $250-over $1000, depending on the experience of the doula and the rates in your area. I interviewed several doulas until I found the right one. She will meet with us to create our birth plan and also work with us to teach us natural child birth techniques.

4) Take a Natural Child Birth Class. We took the natural childbirth class offered by our former hospital, and it was a joke. This time I’ve taken some classes online, read several books, listened to Hypnobabies cds, and will have a private refresher course with our doula. There are Lamaze, Bradley, Hypnobabies and Hypnobirthing classes in most metro areas. If you live far outside a city, get yourself on Amazon and order some books.

5) Practice Relaxation Techniques and Positioning Exercises. If you want to use a certain technique for labor, practice it now. I’ve been working on my breathing, relaxing tense muscles, and repeating my positive birth affirmations (cheesy, I know, but people swear by them). Bear was in a poor birthing position, so I’ve been practicing the exercises from Spinning Babies and using my birth ball instead of slumping on the couch. I prepared a DIY heating pad using rice and a sock, and scented with lavender essential oil for calming and relaxation.

6) Create a Birth Plan and Share It with Your Team. I’ve worked on mine and have it narrowed down to what I want and don’t want for the most part. I’ll flesh it out with Jed and my doula next week, then discuss it with my OB. Last time I had a birth plan but I’m pretty sure none of the doctors or nurses ever looked at it. I was so wishy-washy about what I wanted that I ended up with none of it. This time around it may still go off course, but at least I will have made informed choices about my preferences. I think this step would be especially important if your mom or other family members will be in the room. They may get totally thrown off by delayed cord clamping or the squatting bar. You can read our complete birth plan here.

7) Make Sure Your Birth Location Lines Up with Your Plan. If you plan to birth at home, this one is a little easier. Most birthing centers and hospitals have policies in place that aren’t flexible. You need to know what those are before you are there in labor. Can you move around during labor? Will you have access to a shower or birth tub? Are birth balls provided? Can you eat or drink? Can you wear your own clothes? Can your baby stay with you for several hours after birth? Whatever it is that is important to you, make sure you have peace of mind about it long before labor starts. We were so relieved after our hospital tour because so many of the things we thought we might have to fight for are normal practice there. Yay!

8) Trust Your Body and Your Instincts. Your body was MADE by your Creator to do this. You were given all the instincts you need to birth without assistance. Technology is great, but it can also convince us that we are helpless without it. You are not helpless. You are an amazing woman who is carrying a life inside her and trying to do what is best for that baby and your own body. Trust that.

More on Resources for VBAC Preparation:

From Growing Slower

Hiring a Doula

Find a Doula in Your Area

Find a Lamaze Class

Birth Boot Camp Classes

Spinning Babies

Click here to read all of my Trying for a VBAC Series.

Looking for resources and information about VBAC and cesarean recovery? Try these:

International Cesarean Awareness Network

How did you prepare for birth (of any kind)?

27
Feb
2013

Pregnancy 2.0 Update: 32 Weeks

categories: baby, pregnancy

It is has been a shamefully long time since I’ve posted an update on pregnancy #2, and I have a myriad of excuses you don’t want to hear. The most common are: I didn’t fix my hair or put on make up so I can’t take a picture or Jed’s not home so I can’t take a picture. I apologize for the photo quality above, but I cannot procrastinate another day or this child will be here. Poor second child, already lacking the documentation of the oldest child. It stops today. I’m 32 weeks along and feeling great most of the time. Here’s the rundown:

32 Weeks Update

Feeling: great, alternating with tired, large

Wearing: anything that fits, lots of flowy skirts, wide shoes

Weight Gain: not telling, but significantly less than last time

Pregnancy Side Effects: feet swell when I walk too much, tons of Braxton Hicks contractions

Belly Button: Still in. It never popped with Bear so I’m assuming that it won’t this time either.

Craving: Sweets! But I gave them up for Lent… 🙁

Baby: weighs close to 4 pounds and is about 17 inches long,

moving around like a champ

Gender: Girl! (We sure hope that ultrasound was right or we’ll have a lot of pink stuff going to waste.)

Name: undecided – We have a few front runners, but haven’t decided on a final winner.

Preparations: We toured our new hospital Monday, and will meet with our doula in the next few weeks to prepare the birth plan and work on pain management techniques. We are trying for a VBAC. We’ve stocked up on cloth diapers and have a few more things to buy for our sweet girl.

To-Do List: work on decorations for the nursery, make headbands and bows, practice relaxation techniques for labor

What is one thing you did to prepare for the birth of your child?

25
Feb
2013

5 Things We’ve Learned From Cloth Diapering (Almost) 2 Years In

categories: baby, cloth diaper, toddlers

We are now almost 2 years into this little cloth diaper experiment. I’ve learned so much and am still picking up new info every week. I’ll probably get the whole thing totally mastered by the time Mini Bear potty trains. Today I’m sharing with you the top five things I’ve learned from our first 20+ months of using cloth.

1. Diapers We Love:
If you read our about Great Cloth Diaper Trials you know that we’ve tried and tested 11 different kinds of cloth diapers. We are now up to 14. Out of control. Not all of the brands we tried worked for us, but we do have a few that we absolutely love and we are always looking to try more. Our all time favorite brand is Softbums. We’re obsessed and they make up the bulk of our diaper stash. We also love the Bumgenius 4.0 and Freetime. We use our Bumgenius Elemental, but the drying time takes it from a love to a like. I love Apple Cheeks diapers, but Jed is not as big of a fan. I loved the 1 size two AC we had so hard the elastic is now busted. Anyone want to fix it for me? We love our Bummis swim diaper, and our Bunzuke bandana diaper is still in the rotation as well. That Bunzuke is so cute and hard to find I will never give it up. The rest we’ve sold. Which brings me to #2.

2. The Cloth Diaper World:
Did you know there is a whole underground world of cloth diaper people out there? We DO exist. There are Buy/Sell/Trade groups and fan pages on Facebook for every major brand. There are local cloth diaper swaps. There are forums where you can learn everything you every wanted to know about every diaper on the market. I’ve sold all of our used cloth diapers we didn’t love because they work really well for other people. I’ve bought used diapers from people who didn’t like our favorite brands. There are cloth diaper meet ups and mom groups in most major cities. The cloth diaper world is amazing, and I love being part of it. Before we started this experiment, I looked to blogs to learn everything I could. That’s why I now post about what I’ve learned to share with you.

3. The Laundry:
The cloth diaper laundry is no longer intimidating. You can read about our original simple cloth diaper laundry routine here. We just switched to Rockin Green detergent because of a hard water issue at the new house. Our new routine is one cold wash, one hot wash, extra rinse. We use 1 TBSP of Rockin Green in both cycles. That’s it. Then we hang the dipes up to dry and dry the pods and inserts on low. We now have the routine down pretty well and do a load every other day and never run out, even giving the diapers overnight to dry.

4. Over Night Cloth Solutions:
We struggled with this for a LONG time. Bear is a super heavy wetter and I thought we would never find the right fix. Bear would literally explode an over night disposable diaper, but we couldn’t find a cloth solution that worked either. Finally after begging for help from Twitter and Facebook friends as well as in cloth diaper forums, and visiting my two local shops, we have found a solution that works for our super heavy wetter. We use a waterproof cover (Rumparooz and Tiny Tush), two Grovia bamboo prefolds with one of them folded in half towards the front, two microfiber inserts (one in half towards the front and one flat on top of everything else), and two fleece liners covering the microfiber. It makes the fluffiest booty you’ve ever seen, but it works.

5. Cloth Diapering Really is Easy, Cheap, and Doable
It’s true. Maybe not for everyone, but it is true for me. I had many doubters when I first started talking about cloth, but thankfully I’m stubborn enough to prove them wrong. If you are interested in using cloth diapers, do your research and go for it. Don’t buy all one brand though, because that brand might not work for your babe. There are a few specific things that have made it easier on me as we have gone on. Our diaper sprayer is magnificent. We bought the Bumgenius diaper sprayer and have it attached to the toilet in one of our bathrooms. We keep our diaper pail beside it and after the dipes get sprayed they go straight into the potty. Totally easy. We use a simple Ikea pail with a lid. The other thing that makes it easier is having a bigger stash. We wash every other day and let them dry overnight, and still have enough to make it through. It just makes my life better if I’m not doing laundry every day, and is totally worth the investment. You can do this. If you want to. You will save around $2000 per kid and thousands of disposable diapers from the landfill (which don’t biodegrade for over 500 years!). I believe it’s worth it.

Do you use cloth diapers? If so, what’s one thing you’ve learned from cloth diapering?