Flats and Handwashing Challenge Days 6&7

I skipped Day# 6 blog post because I was just too tired...I'm rolling it into the final post....What I have learned from this challenge. 

I did learn that flats are a lighter more breathable option for summer, which was what I set out to determine. However I feel like I'm still unable to answer whether this would be a viable solution for those in need...ill explain why. 

Flats are clearly much cheaper than disposables and for this they are amazing. Handwashing on the other hand (besides the fact that it sucks), I don't know that it's manageable. I'm currently on maternity leave and I found it hard to hang in there for the week as Handwashing is really tough. You have to find the right routine, right amount or soap, rinses, time washing, etc. I felt as though I was giving up precious moments with my daughter while I was trying to stay afloat with the washing. I don't think I would have managed had I still had a newborn. I say all of these things because I know I have another option at my fingertips, maybe I would feel differently if I had no other choice.  Also if I was struggling to put food on the table, I would be working crazy hours and would not have the time or energy needed to wash once I got home. 

I am surprised to learn that flats are just as absorbent as microfibre when used in a pocket diaper. I found out my daughter pees frequently throughout the day but isn't necessarily a heavy wetter. Wetness causes problems super quick for my little girl, and I still love wool covers. I made a couple fleece covers that were super easy and work great too. 

All in all, I'm glad the challenge is over and I can use my machine again. I have to admit that I'm not cut out to hand wash full time. Thank-you for following my journey through this challenge, I'm pretty sure I won't be participating again, but I'm proud I completed it.  

Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day# 5

What is and isn't working

Ill start on a good note and explain what is working. I guess first and foremost the flats themselves are working for me, I love the absorbency and the options they give. My favorite flats are my receiving blankets, they seem to absorb a bit more and have more thickness. I also like that they are a touch bigger, that helps with folding. The biggest plus with the receiving blanket flats is that the teeth of the snappi (y-shaped closure with teeth to grip the fabric) don't go all the way through and scratch her skin. Love the snappi, never even touched my pins. Love, love, love the wool cover I made...I need to hurry up and finish the one I'm currently working on. My micro fleece liners have saved my sanity, Hadley started to get red from the wet (flats keep the wet against baby's bum) I was scared I would be battling diaper rash the entire week but the liners keep her dry. I have managed to work out a wash routine that works, which I explained in my last post. I wash once a day, too lazy to do more. The folds that have worked the best for us are the pad fold (used in a cover or as a doubler), origami fold, and gaynors fold. 

What isn't working

I'm not a fan of my store bought covers, the edges of the Velcro scratch little Hadley's legs and they just seem to rub her in different spots. TEETHING...I haven't changed this many poopy dipes since she was a newborn, this afternoon has been better. Lets hope her bathroom schedule is back to normal for the rest of the challenge and I'm back to cleaning pee diapers only. Ill be honest, I was close to giving up today when my dirty pail had 13 diapers in it and she was still going through them like crazy. But I figure in the spirit of the challenge, I must continue. We are trying to show that this is doable full time....if I gave up now I would be negating the fact. 

Almost there! I can hear my washing machine calling my name...I haven't done any laundry, I'm afraid to even look at my machine lol. Monday morning will be here soon. 

Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day #4

My Wash Routine
I've been trying to make my wash routine as simple as possible. I figure if we are doing this challenge to prove that it is a viable option for those less fortunate it has to be easy enough to do it full time. 

I keep my dirties in a pail without the wet bag. I remove the diapers, liners and wipe then fill the pail with hot water and two tablespoons of Laundry Tarts detergent. I rinse and unfold each diaper and throw them in the pail. I swish them around for a minute and then leave them to soak until the next nap. While I'm waiting every time I walk by I give the dipes some more swishes. Once Naptime comes I rinse each diaper in the sink. This is where I'm still unsure about whether I'm fully rinsing...my water doesn't seem to suds up. So I just rinse til I feel there is no more soap. Then I wring each one as much as possible and hang them on the line. 

This isn't easy, I would never want to do this full time. I cannot wait to be able to use my washer again!

Flats and Handwashing Challenge - Day #3

Today's Blog topic is bloggers choice....I will be writing about my plane ride with  flats and our partial EC (elimination communication). 

So yesterday we travelled back to Thunder Bay from Orangeville, 1:45min plane ride. The last time we traveled we used pocket diapers which are great at containing messes and smells. This time we were in flats and a homemade wool cover....bad idea. 

For the past two months Hadley has been going number two on the toilet, I have missed the cues a total of five times during this time (not including what happened on the plane lol). We have a potty seat that fits on the regular toilet at home. Hadley's schedule fell apart with all the travelling we have been doing the past two weeks, but we have managed to stick with the EC. 

Yesterday....I had to wake up at 5am I changed her before we left Orangeville around 6am and again before heading through security at 7:30am. We are about to take off, seatbelt sign is on and she starts grunting, I'm thinking everyone can tell what she's up to so I try to make some noises to detract from her noises. I can smell a dirty diaper and I'm praying that no one else can. As soon as we are cruising and the seatbelt sign goes off I bolt for the bathroom. The change goes surprisingly well for being on a plane and using flats. We get back to our seats and I can still smell the dirty diaper smell, I'm blaming that on the two kids behind us lol. The flight was super turbulent so the seatbelt sign was on for most of the trip. Just as we start to descend Hadley starts at it again this time I had to wait til we landed to change her. At home we made it to the potty two more times that day, which was unheard of for her. I ended up having to wash three loads of flats by hand between lunchtime yesterday and 2pm today. Hopefully our schedule will get back on track and the number of flats we use a day will drop. 

I'm using all 12 each day so far, with pockets it's usually 8. How many diapers do you go through in a day?

Flats and Handwashing Challenge-Day 2

The Supplies I'm Using and the Cost

12 Birdseye Cotton Flats and 1 snappi - $10 bought from a lovely women on our local cloth diaper Facebook page Thunder Bay's Cloth Diapering Mommas and Dads

6 Flannel receiving blankets - FREE from baby shower

1 Wool cover - $7 handmade by me

2 Kushies covers - $8 and $4 (one was bought at a yard sale still in package)

1 Bummis cover - $13

I am knitting two more covers hopefully I can finish them before the challenge is over - each ball of wool cost $7

I am going to try and sew a couple fleece covers tomorrow if I get a chance, out of some fleece that was gifted to me by a good friend

In total the cost of what I'm currently using is $42 and if I finish both of the wool covers on time it will be $56. But shhhh don't tell my husband because I have definitely spent to s more than this on my other diapers lol!

Flats and Handwashing Challenge-Day 1

I know I'm a day behind......I was visiting my family in southern Ontario the day the challenge started. I managed to survive, things can only get easier being at home right? 

Why I decided to participate?
First of all anyone who knows me knows that I ever shy away from a challenge. When I saw a challenge involving cloth diapers, I knew this was for me. There are definitely more than just one reason to take this challenge but if I'm honest with everyone my reasons were more selfish than most participants. For the past few months I've been researching ways to keep my baby's bum cool in the summer. PUL (the waterproof fabric on the outside of a pocket diaper) isn't very breathable and I have it in my mind that I needed something cooler for summer (if it ever comes to Thunder Bay). My research led me to flats with wool covers, which lead me to Dirty Diaper Laundry's Blog where I found out about the challenge. I figured what better way to test out how I liked using them by entering the challenge. 

After looking into the challenge an reading some articles, I feel that it is important to show people there are other options out there. Whether it be needing to save money, the environment, or your baby's bum. Cloth diapering isn't for everyone but there is certainly a cloth diapering option for every family no matter the situation. 

How did my day go?
Things were going great, diapers were going on well and Hadley was in high spirits. Then came Handwashing time......I managed to use all 12 diapers yesterday and figured I'd do them all in one load after she was sleeping. Bad idea, I managed but today I already started a load and its only 11am. 12 diapers is way too man to wash at one time. 

Flats and Handwashing Challenge!

I'm stupidly excited to participate in this challenge....my husband thinks I'm crazy, but he is happy to not change any diapers for a week lol! A flat is a single layer of fabric folded and either fastened on to the baby or just laid inside a waterproof cover. In other words, old school. The point of the challenge is to show that there are many ways to diaper a child inexpensively, and that no child should have to go without. The challenge is May 20-26th checkout dirty diaper laundry's website if you are interested in joining. I will be posting about my week!