Bum Genius All-In-One Cloth Diaper

My husband and I decided that we were going to try cloth diapering with our 3rd child. I had read other parenting blogs and read reviews of the different types of systems out there. I was a bit intimidated at first as there were so many approaches to cloth diapering. We decided early on that we wanted a convenient system that would work for us as well as anyone who was watching her. We weren't all that interested in the more traditional diapers or ones that required a cover on top of the cloth diaper. After a few months of research, we decided on the Bum Genius All-In-One (AIO) cloth diaper system.

The biggest appeal for me was the fact that these go on pretty much the same as disposables. When dirty, you secure the laundry tabs and simply throw the diaper into the wash. We chose to purchase the flushable liners that catch most of the solid waste; it makes for an easier clean up. We also have the diaper sprayer that attaches to the toilet. Clean up is a breeze.

The AIO diapers have velcro that goes across the waist with stretchy tabs on the side for a snug fit. The insert is integrated into the diaper and the outside is waterproof. The back of the diaper has a gathered band that prevents the blowouts from traveling up the baby's back. This feature has saved us from many clothes changes. The legs are gathered as well to provide side leak protection.

When I purchased the cloth diapers, I had a concern about the laundry tabs that were inside the back of the diaper. It is a rectangular piece of velcro that lays flush against the baby's skin, just above the buttocks. I did not particularly like the way it felt a bit rough. I called Cotton Babies, the company that makes the cloth diaper, and asked what I could do to soften the tab. I was told that they soften over time and that they have never had any issues with them. This is the part where I should have trusted my gut and not used the diapers at all, but over $400 later, and no refund available, I really had no choice. After a few weeks of loving the diapers and using them non-stop, I was cleaning my daughter when I noticed that she had broken and very red skin where the laundry tab lays. It looked miserable and explained why she was being fussy that day when I would put a new diaper on. The skin must have gotten bad within that one day, because I give her daily baths and did not notice anything before then. Of course, you have that moment when you feel like you're a horrible Mom and you've allowed something to hurt your baby.

I called the company who informed me that we were using the old style AIO diaper and the newer ones did not have the laundry tab. There wasn't much to be done refund wise because the diapers were used but the local company that we bought them from offered us a discount on new ones. We solved the problem ourselves and cut the laundry tabs out. It took her skin about four days to heal up. We are now using the Bum Genius 3.0 deluxe diapers which have no laundry tab, and have an open back to add more inserts as baby gets bigger and wets more. One thing you do have to watch for is the velcro that is in front of the diaper for fastening. If it gets folded down, baby can get irritated skin. My suggestion is that they completely eliminate the rough velcro from all of their diapers and use a softer strip for the side tabs to attach to. My personal favorite is the Flip system, which I will review next. We're much happier with these diapers.

The Puj Tub

Newborns are slippery little suckers when you put them in the bathtub. Add some soap to that baby soft skin and you mind as well be handling a wet noodle. They can't hold themselves up which often times leads you to having one hand on the baby and one hand to do the washing. I never really cared for the tubs with the newborn slings as they never seemed to cover the baby with enough water. You're left with a freezing baby and a tub full of water that sits well below the sling. You're left rushing to get the baby out of there rather than the relaxing experience you want for your little one.

I received the Puj Tub as a gift for my newborn shortly before she was born. I am really glad I did because somehow I had forgotten to buy a tub for the new baby. Whoops. I was excited to try the new tub and once the umbilical stump fell off, it was time for the first real bath! The first thing that I noticed was how nice the material felt. It was somewhat firm but very soft and flexible.  I folded the Puj Tub quite easily, set it into our bathroom sink, and put the baby in. The great thing about the Puj Tub is the combination of the material and the angle at which it lays keeps baby from falling over to the side. The baby sits somewhat cradled and the material is slip resistant. You can actually use two hands to bathe! There are drains on both sides on the tub as well as the foot. It prevents overfill and is a safety feature. (Of course, you know never to leave any child unattended in the bath. That missed phone call can wait)! Clean up is a breeze. The tub is flat when unfolded so it hangs flush behind your bathroom door! No more bulky, hard plastic tubs! The tub is easily cleaned with warm water and is mildew resistant, which is a constant problem with the plastic tubs. The one thing I have seen with the tub is that it works best with your smaller sinks.

The Puj Tub is ideal for newborns and is recommended for babies up to 17 pounds. It will cost you $40.00 and is found at most baby stores and online. 

The Nap Nanny "Chill"

I have a colicky newborn. She loves to be held a certain way after nursing, usually at an angle, which prevents the acid being able to travel upwards as much. Her main symptoms are small spit up's after each nursing session or refluxing without spit up. We try to use other methods to make her comfortable rather than constantly rely on medication if the symptoms look to be on the milder side.She's also used to being held pretty much the whole day. The child has been put down very little since her arrival. This works great for having an excuse to catch up on your favorite show or take a cat nap, but anyone with more than one child knows, there's much more to do around the house, and other kids to show love to. It was getting to the point where I had the baby with me at constantly, whether in the baby wrap or cradled in my arm.  I felt the need to find a solution that freed me up a bit. The baby wasn't happy in the swing or the bassinet and I am not one who lets the baby cry it out.

 I received an email from my mother with a link to the 'Nap Nanny Chill'. She suggested I try it since nothing seemed to be working. I did a bit of research on the chair and decided that it was worth a try. it holds baby at a 30 degree angle; perfect for babies with reflux. I received the chair a few days later. It is very lightweight, has a soft waterproof liner, and the cover unzips easily for washing. I washed the cover and put my little one in there. It was like a chorus of angels sang "Hallelujah". She didn't cry when I put her down. I walked away fully expecting to hear that cute little shriek of hers indicating that she didn't feel a warm body next to her. Nothing. Perfectly content. We've had the Nap Nanny for a couple of weeks now and she loves it. I can place her in it and take a shower without having a screaming baby and my house doesn't look like it was raided by the police.

The Nap Nanny is on the pricey side as far as baby seats go. The basic chair is $129.99 and includes the cover. You can buy additional covers and a travel bag separately. There was a recall issued for the chair, but upon further investigation, it seemed to be because people were putting their children in the Nap Nanny and leaving them on the table or in the crib, which led to children getting hurt. Common sense should prevent you from ever having a problem with the Nap Nanny. I highly recommend this product!

Introduction

I enjoy reading parenting blogs. I visit them to get recommendations for good kid's products, ideas for creative ways to get your kids to learn, and enjoy reading about parents who are in the same boat as myself for any given situation. I have thought for a while that I would like to start a blog, but a pregnancy that seemed to last for 2 years, a sick husband, and a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old have kept me pretty busy. The baby was born in July of 2011, my hubby is slowly on the mend after a life-threatening case of spinal meningitis, and my two oldest are back in school, so I thought it's now or never.

This blog will offer reviews on baby products and random musings of a mother of three. I hope you enjoy it!