Newsletter Archives

Diaper and Wipers Newsletter

April 10, 2007

In this issue:
I’VE BEEN WEANED!
WHY SO MANY DIAPER COVERS? AREN’T THEY ALL THE SAME?
RESPONSE TO THE INSIDE POOP!
CLOTH DIAPERING WORKSHOP IN CENTINNIAL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE INSIDE POOP!  ONE YEAR OLD THIS MONTH!
HAPPY (BELATED) EASTER!

To celebrate both, here’s a stargazer lily – one of my favorite flowers!

I’VE BEEN WEANED!
In August, my daughter made it official.  She became an independent toddler and was done with nursing.  My daughter was fully weaned.  It happened over a long period of time.  I work out of the home four nights a week so my husband has the responsibility of putting the children to bed on those nights.  He has put our daughter to bed more times than I have.  On nights when I was home she would sometimes ask for dad to hold her to sleep after she was done nursing.  Sometimes nursing wouldn’t settle her down and she would need to snuggle with her daddy listening to The Moody Blues.  “Tuesday” is still one of her favorite songs.  It will always be my favorite song. 

She started weaning when she started eating food.  Little by little her need and want to nurse became less and less.  The process was slow and easy and eventually she was done with my breast and received all her nourishment from food.  A few days would go by without nursing, then a week, and then a few weeks had passed.  She was done.  I was done. 

My friends asked how I was doing with the fact that she was weaned.  The answer… it was a natural progression for both of us.  We nursed as long as we both needed and moved on when we were ready. 

Six months later, she started asking for milk again.  “Mama, can you fill up your milk again?”  “Mama I want milk”.  The tug at my heartstrings was overwhelming at times.  I always want to give her the comfort she needs yet I don’t have milk anymore and I actually don’t want to nurse again.  I had moved on from nursing.  My body is my own again.  And there is a thrill to be wearing a non-nursing bra.

Yet there was my daughter asking to nurse again.  Well, part of it was she had a cold and was extremely tired.  She stopped napping just after she stopped nursing.  She will take the occasional cat nap in the car however she hadn’t taken a nap in many weeks.

Knowing that I have no milk and cannot physically fulfill that request I look elsewhere to fill her cup.  Nursing is really snuggling with liquid nourishment.  Children nurse for many reasons other than nourishment.  Take away the nourishment and we are left with snuggling. 

“I don’t have any milk left but I do have arms that can hold you tight.”  I said.

“OK mom.”  I picked her up.  Her little arms encircled my neck and held on so tight.  Holding her I swayed and danced to the music on the radio.  She rested her head on my shoulder.  When I thought she was done and I was ready to help my son with the project we had just started, I set her down and told her what we were going to do next.  She didn’t listen.  She wasn’t done with her snuggle time.  “Mama, pick me up and make me warm with your arms again.”  And I did. 

Yesterday she told me that she used to drink milk from me but doesn’t anymore.  She said it was yummy then asked to go play outside. 

My warm arms are ever at the ready to hold her.  My breasts are now mine but my arms will always be hers.

WHY SO MANY DIAPER COVERS? AREN’T THEY ALL THE SAME?
Well, no.  I carry different brands of diaper covers and I am often asked why there are so many covers and how is an overwhelmed and computer-screen-weary mom to figure out which is the best. 

Some moms get one of each and give them all a test run.  Even that thought can be overwhelming to the rest of us!  In that case, there are some key features that may make the decision easier.

BUMKINS - Bumkins covers are made of a plastic-like material and have a big Velcro closure.  The material makes cleaning a cover in a pinch a real chinch!  Just rinse the cover in water with a little soap then towel or air dry and your ready to go.  The large closure makes the cover difficult for toddlers to open.  The Bumkins features a tab of Velcro on the inside back of the diaper so the Velcro can be closed during washing while leaving the diaper open.  The weight range of each size is smaller than other brands giving a great fit in all sizes but you will need to purchase covers for each size range.  Available in white and prints. 

BUMMIS - I carry two covers by Bummis which differ only in their closure.  The Super Whisper Wrap features a Velcro closure and the Super Snap features plastic snaps for closure.  The covers are a waterproof laminate between polyester giving them a soft feel.  The Super Whisper also features the tab of Velcro on the inside back of the diaper so the Velcro can be closed during washing while leaving the diaper open.  The Super Whisper is available in white and prints.  The Super Snap is available only in white.

DIAPERAPS - The Diaperaps covers are made with cotton and one layer of interlock fiber that provides the waterproofing surface.  These covers close with Velcro as well.  Available in white and prints. 

ALL-IN-ONES - The Bummis All-in-One (AIO) diaper combines a diaper and over into one unit.  The outer cover is made of the same plastic-like waterproof material as the Bumkins cover.  The inside diaper part of the AIO is six layers of cotton along with a second cotton “flap” which lifts away for faster drying.  A doubler can be placed under the “flap” to increase absorbency and a liner can be place around the “flap” for easier clean up.  . 

There’s a run down of the covers I carry.  If you have questions about any of the products I carry just send me an email or give me a call and I will be happy to talk about all the great features and benefits of cloth diapering! 

RESPONSE TO THE INSIDE POOP!
The comments I receive from each issue of THE INSIDE POOP! have so amazed me that I am inspired to include them as a regular feature called RESPONSE TO THE INSIDE POOP!  The messages run the gamut from thanks for the laugh or thanks for the cry to please write a book (that was a real surprise!) to conversations continuing on the topic. 

The latest issue featuring “Master Parent?” was quite the hit and generated the most responses to date.  One comment really stood out.  It was so well thought out and contributed so positively to the article that I had to share it with you.  It happens to be from my husband however, biases aside, it’s a fabulous response.  (He receives THE INSIDE POOP! as a subscriber just like you!  Often he gets an advance copy to proof read for me but usually he gets the final draft hot off the press.) 

I think you nailed it when you say that it takes a lifetime to master but why master it? It should be enough to try and work hard at doing your best. The toughest part is to change modes when something is no longer working. It may have worked before but that does not mean it will work in the future.

But do we really want to be “master parents?” If we are perfect then will your children be able to think for them selves and live life after leaving the house? If we are perfect they may end up always needing us for every decision they need to make. I think it is ok to make mistakes and not always be right. To me if we are really doing our job as parents correctly our kids will recognize this and be able to come up with their own conclusions and thus grow in their critical thinking skills. Our job is only to lay down the frame work in which our children can use to create they’re own positive paths to follow.  If they can do this, and I know they can, then we have done our job.
Via email from David R., Centennial, CO (my husband!)

CLOTH DIAPERING WORKSHOP IN CENTINNIAL
I will be leading a cloth diapering workshop at the Smoky Hill Library in Centennial CO on Thursday, April 26 at 10am as part of a La Leche League Enrichment Meeting.  La Leche League is a non-profit organization which provides mother-to-mother encouragement, information and support to women who want to breastfeed their babies.  For more information about the event send me an email.  For more information about La Leche League check out their website at www.lalecheleague.orgI welcome your thoughts, your comments, and your ideas and I may just ask if you would like to share them in the next issue!

And that my friends, is THE INSIDE POOP!

 In the next edition of THE INSIDE POOP!...
HOW DO YOU DO IT?...or how I’ve learned to embrace procrastination as a means to maintain my sanity!
MY FAVORITE PREFOLD FOLD

Copyright 2007 Heather Ruch/Diapers and Wipers.

THE INSIDE POOP! is protected by Copyright, 2006 Heather Ruch/Diapers and Wipers. All rights reserved.  Reproduction of any portion of this newsletter is strictly prohibited without the express written consent of Heather Ruch/Diapers and Wipers.