Blueberry Baby, Fairbanks, Alaska » lara

How much do cloth diapers actually cost?

lara — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:44:32 +0000

We’ve just made it easier to find out! We just put together some complete diapering packages over at the web store with everything we could think of to get you from birth to potty training, with a few extras thrown in. Complete packages (diapers, covers, wipes, liners, even the detergent & diaper cream!) range from $587 to $1245.

Laundry costs (water, electricity, wear & tear on the machinery) will depend on the efficiency of you washer/dryer and your personal laundry habits, but should range from $150-$300 per year. Cloth diapered babies potty train at 18-24 months, on average, as opposed to the 30-36 month average of children in disposable diapers, at an average cost (in Fairbanks) of $1200 a year.

Some children (like my first 2) average only 12 months.

Going by the national averages, best case scenario for cloth: $812 and potty trained at 18 months.

Best case scenario for disposables:$3000, potty trained at 30 months.

Multiply that by 4 kids (sure we’ve bought pricier diapers from time to time, but we’ve reused a bunch for more than one child too!) and our family has likely saved over $8,000! How many violin lessons and dance classes does that cover? Not as many as I’d like, but it’s a good start!

Bathtime Revolution

lara — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:07:30 +0000

(The TummyTubs are here!)

Every once in a while we come across a product that really blows us away. Baby slings, fitted diapers, reusable menstrual products– this ranks up there with items we wish we had known about a long time ago! The new Tummy Tub really is a bathtime revolution. No more traumatic bathtimes, trying to keep baby warm in an awkward tub, trying to keep baby from eating the water faucet in the sink, trying to keep baby from slipping around a plastic bin or bucket or dealing with a screaming child. The Tummy Tub is a molded plastic tub, designed to mimic the shape of the womb. It covers a baby up to its shoulders with warm, comforting water while offering real support to make bathtime a safe, relaxing experience for everyone involved!

I was among the skeptical when they first came in. As with many of our products, our clients & friends were clamoring for this product, but to me, it looked like a bucket. For a bucket, I must admit, it looked a little pricey! Then I tried it & I can honestly say there is NO comparison, not only with a simple bucket, but with any other bath tub or container I have ever used! With 2 month old baby Ava, it was our first non-screaming bath ever. Bathtime went from a chore and an ordeal to a truly delightful time of exploration, play and bonding, and at 7 months, Ava is now a confirmed water baby. We put her in the tub just to calm her down! Check it out & let us know what you think. We think you’ll be impressed.

Fairbanks Parenting Education & Support Resources

lara — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:48:57 +0000

There are great resources for parents available in Fairbanks. We’ve gathered some here.

If there is a resource you would like us to list, please send the name, service description and contact information.

Parent warm-line: 1-800-643-KIDS (5437)

Resource Center for Parents & Children (RCPC)
classes, support groups, workshops, assistance in finding local resources, WIC program, family services
456-2866, www.rcpcfairbanks.org

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Women’s Center
lactation consultants, new parent clinic for breastfeeding assistance
Diane Burgess, LPN, IBCLC 458-5210 option #3

Fairbanks Regional Public Health Center
Public Health Nurses, Lactation consultants, health information, assistance & referrals, community resources, overnight breast pump lending

Fairbanks La leche League

Breastfeeding support, led by Jessica Harper and others. lllusa.org/web/FairbanksAK.html

Military Breastfeeding Support Services
Ft. Wainwright, Bassett Army Hospital
lactation consultant and counselors, support & assistance
353-5158

RCPC WIC office
Lactation consultants, Registered Dieticians, video library, public assistance referral & support, short term breast pump loan for WIC clients
456-2990, www.rcpcfairbanks.org

CareNet Pregnancy Center of the Tanana Valley
pregnancy counseling, education & support, clothing closet, free pregnancy testing
907-455-8255, contact@fyndout.com

Family Doula Services
Angela Davis
Offers: birth & labor education, breastfeeding support, free car seat checks, infant massage, signing with your baby
contact: 458-7034, 322-8416, www.familydoulaservicesak.net

Fairbanks Parenting Classes

lara — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:47:58 +0000

We’ve collected a list of local parenting classes from babywearing and cloth diapering to financial planning and dance.

If you have a regularly scheduled class you would like us to add, please send it to us at service@blueberrybaby.org.

Wear Your Baby- Choosing & Using Baby Slings, Carriers & Wraps
presented by Blueberry Baby
4th Saturday of the month- January, April, July, October- at Blueberry Baby- starting time varies
contact: 347-2772, service@blueberrybaby.org
$10 per person, $15 per couple, children welcome

Successful Cloth Diapering
presented by Blueberry Baby
4th Saturday of the month- February, May, August, November- 3-5pm at Blueberry Baby
contact: 347-2772, service@blueberrybaby.org
$10 per person, $15 per couple, children welcome

Community Infant/child First Aid & CPR
Arctic Medical Supply
at Blueberry Baby- dates and starting time varies
contact: 347-2772, service@blueberrybaby.org
$10 per person, $15 per couple

Successful Breastfeeding
presented by Joanne Spears, RN, BSN, IBCLC, RLC
4th Tuesday of every month, 6-8pm at the Tanana Valley Clinic 3rd floor conference room
contact: 451-1629 (vm)
Free

Positive Parenting Series
Resource Center for Parents & Children (RCPC)
Thursdays 6-7:30pm at the RCPC offices, 726 26th Ave, ste 2
contact: 456-2866, rcpcfairbanks.org
$10 per person, $15 per couple, childcare is provided

Financial Literacy Parenting Series
RCPC
Tuesdays, 12-2pm at the Interior Alaska Center for Non Violent Living, 726 26th Ave
contact: 456-2866, rcpcfairbanks.org
Free, Registration required, childcare provided.

Cuddle Cure Classes
RCPC
Wednesdays 6-8pm, dates vary, at the RCPC offices, 726 26th Ave, ste 2
contact: 456-2866, rcpcfairbanks.org
$30 per family, scholarships available

Dancing Thru Pregnancy prenatal fitness
presented by Lara Lotze, Alaska Awalim
Every Tuesday & Thursday 5:30-6:30 pm at Dance Theater Fairbanks Old Firehouse Studio on 7th Avenue
contact: 590-3449, alaskadancer@alaska.net
$15 per class, punch card discounts available

AfterDance postpartum fitness
presented by Lara Lotze, Alaska Awalim
Every Wednesday, 4-5 pm at Dance Theater Fairbanks Old Firehouse Studio on 7th Avenue
contact: 590-3449, alaskadancer@alaska.net
$15 per class, punch card discounts available

Diaper Rash (and what to do about it)

lara — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:40:55 +0000

Diaper rash is the generic term for a skin irritation in the area generally covered by a diaper and can have several causes. A few culprits include heat rash, chemical sensitivity, bacterial infection, food allergies or other irritating substance.

Please be aware that eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions can look like diaper rash, but are treated differently and should be handled by a medical professional. If your child has persistent, chronic outbreaks, please see your health care provider for diagnosis.

Using cloth diapers is a great first step to avoiding diaper rash since they allow air to circulate, are free from unnecessary chemical irritants, and tend to get changed immediately rather than allowing urine to stay next to the skin for long periods of time. With disposables and pocket diapers, please remember that even if the moisture is wicked away and the diaper feels dry, the bacteria is still held against the skin, and there may be pH issues as well. Change early, change often, no matter what style of diaper you use!

With proper hygiene and diaper care, outbreaks should be rare and continual use of a barrier cream should not be necessary.

If you are having problems anyway, try these things first:

Eliminate unnecessary chemicals in wipes as well as diapers. Many disposable wipes contain harsh surfactants like sodium laurel sulfate. Instead, warm water on a washcloth works just fine until baby starts solid foods, and for some children after that as well. Wipes can be moistened at the time of use, or premoistened and kept in a plastic container for up to a week.

If you need more than water, consider using a gentle cleanser like aloe gel or make your own wipe solution with the following recipe:

1 Tbsp sweet almond or jojoba oil

1 Tbsp liquid castile soap (I recommend Dr Bronner’s almond soap)

1 cup warm water

Mix and either premoisten wipes, or keep it in a spray bottle to use as you go (this makes a great gentle cleanser for other things as well, from faces to applesauce covered windows)

Check your wash regimen:

Make sure you are using a gentle, low impact detergent that does not leave residue on diapers. Detergent should be free of fragrances, bleach and fabric softeners.

Many detergent labels tell you to use more detergent then necessary, and what you need will vary depending on individual laundry facilities and hardness of water. Experiment with reducing detergent to the least possible amount that still gets clothes clean. I use less than half the recommended amount in my machine.

Occasionally, hard water will cause mineral build up that traps detergent, ammonia and other irritants in the fabric. To strip diapers, soak them over night in a solution of one part vinegar, 4 parts water and then wash as usual.

Rinse your diaper pail regularly with a little soap or white vinegar to keep it clear of bacteria and yeast.

Allow your child a little diaper free time. You can give them recommended tummy time while lying on a waterproof pad or towel. As an added benefit, your child gains sensory input, learning what the cooler air or the texture of the blanket feels like on their skin- our kids invariably love ‘nunga punga’ time*.

Be aware of what your child is eating, especially when introducing new foods. Common foods that can cause irritation when introduced are acidic fruits (like strawberries), milk products and certain grains, especially if you have a family history of sensitivity to these foods.

Sometimes the skin just needs time to heal. Use a fleece or silk liner to wick moisture away from baby’s bottom. this, along with as much ‘nunga punga’ time as possible, will give the skin enough time to recover, and the natural seracin in silk can aid in the healing process.

If you do use a healing cream, look for one without mineral oil or zinc oxide. These can ruin cloth diapers and zinc oxide can aggravate certain skin conditions like eczema.

*according to my mother-in-law, nunga punga is the Housa term for naked little kid.

About these articles

lara — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:35:54 +0000

This section of our site is set up for important articles on cloth diapers, babywearing, community support and natural parenting issues. Is there a topic you want us to cover? Let us know! We are here for you.

*We are experienced mamas, but we don’t know everything- we welcome advice and opinions from others. We will do our best to keep you informed so you can make healthy decisions. We do not give medical advice, and no comments on this blog should be construed as such.