Flats Challenge: Day 2 Experiments

The overnight diaper was a success-I had my doubts but there were no leaks and the poopie stayed in place. We’ll give that a “go” again tonight.

Experiment #1: Hand Washing-totally dreaded it!

According to the Rules, no machine washing! I originally planned to do all washing at night every two days and hang dry over night. Apparently I forgot how huge these flats are and we would have diapers hanging from every door, curtain rod and ceiling fan blade. I washed this morning. I tried to stay as close to my normal routine for washing diapers as possible so the process actually started last night. After two rinses, I loaded our bathroom sink with a lil baking soda, a single drop of Dawn, and hot water and let them soak overnight. This morning (with a little help form Little Man) they were transferred to the tub for an all out washing. Rinsed x2 and then back in the sink with cold water and a splash of vinegar. I let them sit like this until it was Little Man’s breakfast and Diego time. They then got rung out and hung on the line to dry outside.

I didn’t really enjoy this part of the Challenge-I’m scared I’ve not gotten them super clean and sanitized. Honestly, I was so tempted to cheat. Really, who would know? BUT I didn’t! I want the full experience here!

Experiment #2: T-shirt as a diaper

I was pretty excited about doing this one. I had it all planned out in my head during our morning errands (of which was an experiment in itself to see just how much a towel flat would hold-no leaks!). I first folded it all out in his bed and was very happy with how neat it looked. Not neat like ‘cool’ neat like clean, trim.

Once on him, I loved it and wanted a good picture of the rearview since I folded precisely to show off the t-shirt (gotta look good at nap too ;). After I got him out of his bed and grabbed the camera, I turned around to hear him say, “uh-oh” and my very neatly folded I ♥ HK shirt was down around his ankles.

Originally, I was concerned that the back would spread out a bit and be pretty loose. So I pulled the arms all the way out and folded them in again so they wouldn’t be too long. This then made it too wide in the rear so I had to roll a bit in once I got it on him.

the top picture is supposed to say SLEEVES not SLEVES

Experiment #3: Flannel Flat

Little Man honestly doesn’t go through many diapers a day, so I’ll be doing good to test a flannel blanket and one made out of a t-shirt. We’ll see how it goes!

Flats Challenge: Day 1 The non-Challenge

Today wasn’t too much of a challenge in the Flats Challenge. We mostly folded the flats pad style and used them like an insert into the covers. I was initially concerned with too much bulk, but this provided a trim enough look for me.  Right outta the shoot this morning during breakfast, Little Man dumps his bowl of cereal all in his lap while trying to slurp out the milk-the first attempt was successful but Diego distracted him too much for the second slurp and it all landed in his lap. My first thought was, “Well, there goes one of my allowed covers!” But it wasn’t as huge a loss as I had thought. I changed the cover and flat immediately and flat was dry and cover was only a little damp. I got after the cover with a wipe and allowed it to dry.

I tried doing a new fold for nap time (the boy fold) but had too hard of a time getting it folded to fit him so I used my flat like a prefold by folding it in thirds and fanning out the back to catch any poop (he usually poopies at nap). I added a pad folded Wal-Mart towel and then Snappied it all under the wool cover. He slept almost 4 hours and no leaks (or poopie) but was pretty wet and he obviously tried pulling it all off – it was basically hanging to his knees.

Overall, the day went well and I was happy with absorption and lack of leaks. I’m not happy with our bedtime “recipe” though-pretty bulky up front. The Challenge encourages us to use flats somehow at night and since we could use our normal night recipe I chose to combine flats with our usual. So he’s got a flat and Wal-Mart towel pad folded into a bamboo fitted under the wool cover. Again, I do not like the bulk for night-it has taken him forever to go to sleep tonight so I’m taking that as he’s not a fan either. I have a feeling that the poopie will happen before morning so that bulk is going to be replaced with our much loved bamboo pockets at some point tonight…I’ll probably add a pad folded flat though.

I’d like to make tomorrow a little more challenging. I may use the no cut/no sew t-shirt idea for absorption, but that may be too much for this 35 week pregnant mama…...we’ll see….

Flats Challenge: Day 1

Morning starts the Flats Challenge by Dirty Diaper Laundry. I’m ashamed to say I’ve been anticipating this day for quite a while. It’s honestly a bit sad that I have become obsessed with cloth diapering. The past couple of days Little Man has been in disposables due to a diaper rash and I have missed his fluffy booty.

The rules are detailed but here are the basic supplies we can have: 5 covers and flats (birdseye, kitchen towels, old t-shirts). NO machine washing or drying-only hand wash and line dry. This is our stash for the week:

2 GroVia AI2 shells (in Airplanes snaps & Mandarin aplix)

2 Flip AI2 shells (in Moonbeam & Ribbit)

1 Kissaluv wool cover-medium

12 OsoCozy Unbleached Flats

9 Walmart Flour Sack Towels

An occasional old T-shirt and flannel receiving blanket thrown in for testing fun

We are trying out the pad fold for the majority of the day and an origami fold to contain messes for nap and night.

Here’s my Little Man telling me the colors of his goldfish. (By the way, I chose diaper covers based on colors that he knows: green, blue, and orange.) Think he’s as excited as I am for this challenge?!

I just found this site with tons of other folds-will investigate and maybe throw in one for nap.

Mess Makers

I got on a cleaning streak today. I'm not quite sure what causes these other than pregnancy, but I do wish they came more frequently but with much less "get it ALL done" attitude. On these days, I tend to overwhelm myself with all that needs to be done and want it all done before nap time. Other more common days, I underwhelm my slef and do nothing....I live a life of balance. :)

So while M ate breakfast and between my breakfast bites, I managed to straighten the living and dining areas. My trips to the kitchen for a quick bite often distracted my living room task and I'd start trying to do the dishes as well. I can get so side tracked while cleaning, especially if I'm cleaning out a closet or a box of old items I that recall the "good ole' days."

With the living and dining rooms done and M's breakfast all done too (can you see him signing "all done"?), I trapped us both in his room, opened the window, and drug all the toys from the closet.

M loved this! He loves for Mommy and/or Daddy to get in the floor and play-whether he plays with us or not, he loves the company. So needless to say with me crawling all over the floor and toys everywhere, he was in heaven. He also found a paci in the old box we pulled out. It was a teething paci, so no bulb to really suck on-just flat. He sure hung on to it but didn't ask about it again after I had very sly-like slid  it under my leg while we read a book.

Two hours later, during M's lunch, I finished up the room. I swapped out old toys for "new, old " toys and packed away several of the toys that he's just kind of tired of. With the weather warming up and longer nights ahead of us (daylight savings this weekend!), I packed up more than I normally do because we'll be outside more. I also made a box of things he's outgrown playwise for baby bro N. I also made a book nook. It's really a diaper changing area in disguise. He's gotten to be quite the squirmer while having his diaper changed so books, toys, and most loved balls are handy (we have over 17 balls by the way ;)

Over all, I think it was a great success. As I write this at midnight tonight, I notice a few balls have wandered off the tower in the bedroom and into the hall and living room.  Now how does that happen?!