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gDiaper Follow up

So, it's been a few weeks since I started using the gDiapers. I have a confession to make.
I dont use them as much as I want to. For me, its like working out;
I know it is a good thing to do, but actually doing it is a whole other story.
I have used them 20 or so times. I know this because I am 2 disposable inserts away
from being out. They are super easy and I have yet to have a clog. I am an expert at flushing
the nasties away and have even changed them while we were out in public.

The real reason I have not used them more is because my son HATES them. He freaks out
every time I put them on. There is something about the fit between the legs that he
doesnt like but I cannot figure out how to adjust them so he is ok with them.
I think that if he had worn them since day one, he would be fine. So that is the plan with baby #2, whenever that will be.
For now I will continue to use them with the flushable inserts. I plan on buying more gpants when I buy the refills and these(pictured) are the first on my list!

Have you tried gDiapers? If so, what do you think?

made.my.day

Last week I spent a couple of days anxiously awaiting the UPS guy's knock on the door. I was waiting for this:

My new Mia Moda Cielo Evolution to replace my old Cielo. This is the upgraded version of my old 'James Bond' stroller. I could not wait to compare the two!
New Features:
Arm rests-while it is not a full bumper bar, the arm rests are nice. Monkey Man thinks it is great to put them up and down over and over again and that keeps him occupied, so that is nice! Just remember to always fold them up before collapsing the stroller.
More padding- the padding seems thicker and the back pad seems wider
Easier recline method, also seems to go back further
Better Storage bag- with snaps instead of velcro, you don't have to worry about the bag falling off. It also has a neat zipper that gives you access to the bottom of the bag without pulling everything out.
Parent cup holder- while nice, I haven't used it yet because you have to take it off when you collapse the stroller. This is somewhat annoying since I haven't been able to get it to stay put in the storage bag while folded. So for now it hangs out in the car to be taken out the next time I go to the mall or county fair.
Matching strap pads- It seems silly but I was kind of annoyed when I had to go buy my own strap protectors when I got my stroller last time. Now it comes with them, which is nice since I am not sure I would easily find 'mint' strap protectors!!!
As always I love the super easy one hand steering and compact fold. So simple!


The only thing I would change about this stroller now is the sun shade. In sunny Florida it is not nearly big enough so I think I will be buying an extender soon.
In the end, I cannot recommend this stroller enough! Thanks Mia Moda, for another winner!!!

Co-Sleeper set up

No, Im not talking about Co-Bedding. I was never a fan of the 'family bed' scenario, I guess I was too nervous about rolling over Monkey Man, or just not a fan of giving up my bedtime activities. What we did decide to do was use a Co-Sleeper for the first 3 months of MM's life. I didn't put much thought into setting up our room, but I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful it all worked out. It all started with an over sized chair and ottoman from an old sofa set I begged my husband to let us put in our room. Then came the Co-Sleeper that my sister set up for me before I came home with MM.
Each night I would set up the bottles and diapering supplies needed, plus make sure my stock of backup sleepers and swaddle wrap were safely tucked away in the pocket of the co-sleeper. You never know when you will have a nighttime blowout.
I bet you are wondering why I didn't just feed MM while in bed. One, I had a hard enough of a time Breast Feeding MM while awake and upright, I wasn't sure I could tackle laying down, super sleepy while trying to get him to latch on. Plus I had to supplement with bottles so sitting up was better for him and kept me from dosing off. Two, I have a husband that needs sleep to function. He is a lawyer that handles some pretty important documents, I know his clients would appreciate his being awake to work on them.
When MM would start to stir, I would just plop down in my super comfy chair, put my feet up and change, re-swaddle and then feed him till he was asleep and then wedge him back into the sleep positioner. Wham, Bam, thank you mam, and it was all done in 20 minutes! I could handle that two times a night!
To this day, my husband tells every new dad friend that the co-sleeper was the best thing ever invented!
Here are the elements that made my room so sweet:
Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper. It is a bassinet that attaches to your bed so they are sleeping next to you but not in your bed. It was nice in the paranoid, new mom stage.
Boppy Pillow, Swaddle Wrap The pillow is pretty straight forward, it wraps around your mid section to give you support while you nurse or bottle feed. the swaddle wrap(which I cannot find the link for.... I hope they are still around!) was the only one Monkey Man could not get out of and was actually tight enough on him! The purpose of any swaddle wrap is to make them feel like they are still in the womb and to help them from waking themselves up with their Moro Reflex(the startle reflex that sometimes adults get.... when you startle yourself awake).
Sleep Positioner: Helps the little ones from rolling all about in the crib.

Nausea, Heartburn, Indegistion, Upset Stomach...

And we will stop there. On day 2 of my gDiaper experiment Monkey Man exploded. No other symptoms, just nastiness all around.
There was no way I was going to navigate a new diapering method while changing 4 diapers in one morning. I also did not have enough gDiapers lying around to keep up.
Here is what I learned(since he had gDiapers on in the beginning of our crappy day)
1.No poop-tastrophe is too big to clean up, trust me.
2.Showers are much better than baths when your Little One has diarrhea(learned this the hard way)
3.Showers are also a good place to clean out whatever poo is in the liner of the gDiapers
4.Those Liners hold EVERYTHING in and even though he has had 3 or more blow outs in the gDiapers(always 30 minutes after I decide it MUST be safe ), none of the cloth outers OR the liners are stained after going through the wash
5.Utility sinks are awesome.
6.Antibacterial soap is even better

Hopefully whatever is going on in his little tummy will be over soon because I am so eager to get back with these diapers. I really do think I will end up going all cloth, which is something I NEVER thought I would do unless it involved a full diaper service.

Day 1 w/ the gDiaper

This afternoon I got my diapers.com box with my gDiapers starter kit!
It includes 2 cloth outer diapers, 3 plastic liners and 10 flushable
inserts as well as a getting started kit.
Kayden was not too sure about the feel of the diapers and tugged on them
for a few minutes but soon forgot all about them.
Change #1 was pee only and made for a simple flush.
Change #2 was.... #2 and filled the plastic liner but did not spill over onto
the cloth. As soon as I finished the change I double flushed(wipes and filler first, outer material second). They include a swisher stick with a hook(for the side of the
toilet) that breaks up the material so it flushes easier.
Then came the washing of the plastic liner, which I just washed with anti-
bacterial soap and hung up in the shower. You can wash these in the
washer but since I only have 3, I didnt want to wait for a wash.
All of this took 1-2 minutes. Very simple.
Change #3 was poo as well and I followed the procedure
above again and it went even faster.

For overnight, at least until I get more used to how much these
babies can handle, he will be sleeping in our leftover disposables.
So far, I am enjoying the gDiapers. I love that I dont have to empty the trash every day
and that dont get a horrible whiff of poop every time I throw something away.

gDiaper Challenge

A few days ago, I ordered the
gDiaper flushable diaper starter kit
from diapers.com. I have had this idea tugging at my mind for
quite a while. I need to be more responsible with the waste
my family creates. I have been thinking about cloth
but have bad memories of being a nanny for a family
with cloth. They did unspeakable things
with those stinky, real diaper pin laden, plastic pant wearing
double folded cloth diapers.
This seems like a great alternative. Plus Kayden gets
diaper rash all the time and this should* solve that.
So I am going to try these out, which is the best of
both worlds.... until my kiddo can go on the
Big Boy Potty.
Each day I will chronicle my use of these fun little pants!