Your Green Resource: Cloth Baby Butt- Wipes

I am a new cloth-diapering-momma.  I was given most of my cloth diaper supplies from family second-hand.  I really only mention this so you realize that I really didn't shop around and determine what sort of diapering system I wanted to use, I just went with what I was given.  I was given some truly great items.

Baby Xavier is 4 months old.  We learned the hard way that Xavier has very sensitive skin.  He had a diper rash and little red open spots on his bum after using the sensitive butt-wipes.    I had already purchased some cheap wash clothes to use as butt-wipes.  Using a plain wet washcloth helped his tender little skin to heal.  However, the wash clothes are NOT holding up to all of the washing.  They are the cheapest I could find - so I'm not shocked.  I was cynical thinking that a nice wash cloth wouldn't make a difference.

Within all of the fantastic diaper supplies my cousin gave me, she had included the cloth butt-wipes she had purchased.  They are handmade, velvet on one side, flannel on the other.  These have already made it through one baby and held up great.  The velvet is a great texture for cleaning baby's bum too.  I recommend these slightly more expensive wipes to the basic wash cloth.

I keep a plastic tub at the changing table filled with the cloth butt-wipes. I've heard of some people wetting them with a spray bottle of water.  I've just been adding water to the plastic tub and letting them sit wet.  Once Xav starts eating food and his poop is more solid I may need to change this process but right now it's working well.

A quick Etsy search for "cloth baby wipes" led me to over 3,000 items.  Below is an example from one shop.  Hope this info is helpful!

PS.  I also washed my hair with baking soda for the first time today and it feels no different than when I used regular shampoo.  See my other post on Tsh's 52 Bites projects.

Booking It 2012: 52 Bites - Where I've Begun Chewing

How I love a book  that tells me everything I need to do to clean, simplify, or organize.  It's kinda weird.  I want to just lock myself away and plow through every tip and project suggested.  Tsh's Book, One Bite At a Time, is like portion control to encourage moderation in my self-improvement habits.  Moderation: always a good thing.  I'm joining the "2012 Booking It" book club at lifeasmom.com.

I would like to chronicle working through this book throughout 2012.  I've read the whole thing, highlighted and made notes, printed off the list of 52 task from the Simple Mom website.  Now to dive into projects!

Habits I/we already have established:
#36.  Start a garden - done.  Love our square foot garden.  I wasn't physically able to work in it much last summer.  Between my pregnant belly, super hot weather, and my incredibly swollen legs, gardening wasn't a top priority.  Brandon's already started planning what he wants to plant where.  We were really unhappy with the plants we bought last year.  I want to plant more from seed and use seedlings from farmers markets.  I've had the best luck with those plants in the past vs the big box store plants.

#34. Drink More Water - done.  I already drink water frequently, especially now while I'm breastfeeding.  Water, coffee, and tea are my beverages of choice.  Of coarse milk too - lactose free.  A diet pop is ok too,  but nothing quenches my thirst like water.  Side note- my tap water is suddenly tasting like chlorine. Not good.  Is this another 'improvement' Indianapolis is starting because of the Superbowl?   Definitely need a new water filter.

Do you wonder if you're drinking enough fluid throughout the day?  Do you know the easiest way to tell?  Check out the color of your urine.  (Dietitians are so fun, aren't we?) Pee should be a very light straw color. If it's a bold yellow - you need more fluid.

#42. Make a Compost Bin - done.  I made compost bins out of garbage cans.  They work alright.  We don't get around to turning the compost enough and so it  hasn't been 'cooking' and breaking down quickly.  It has become a habit to set aside plant waste for the compost bin.  This works well with our veggie garden, we'll need to add compost and supplement with some manure this coming Spring.

#44. Find a hobby - done.  I've got lots of hobbies.  1) Book Club, 2) Newly formed Craft Club with my girlfriends, 3) Blogging, 4) Gardening, 5) Cookies (seriously).


Habits and tasks we're starting on:
#43.  Eat Locally and #14 Buy whole foods. - Re-joined the Green Bean Delivery service.  This will also help us get more veggies in our meals.  Plan to attend summer farmers markets, would also like to get to the Winter Farmers Market on a regular basis.  This past Fall we made it to a local Apple Orchard and that reminded me of apple picking when I was little... and pies.... and donuts and apple cider.

#5.  Start Menu Planning.  We've done this before and it works well.  We just fell out of the habit.  Meal planning will work into a couple of these other projects pertaining to budgeting and Brandon and I having a weekly discussion about our upcoming schedules.

#10.  Take a Vacation or Staycation.  We began discussing the possibility of a camping trip this summer or visiting family somewhere.  It depends a lot on my work schedule.  A long weekend trip here and there might be best.  We do need to solidify some plans.

#16. Schedule Regular Date Nights.  We've worked out a plan with friends to trade sitting services once a month so both couples can have dates.  Our first date will be this coming Saturday.  I have no clue what we'll do.  Maybe just sit and play a board game at a bar.  That sounds mindless and fun, just be together and not tending to littles.

#35. De-clutter Wardrobe.  This is a doozy of a project.  I have maternity clothes I am still wearing and things from before I was a mom in my closet.  The items from before 2008 need to just go.  I went through most things last weekend, sold some, gave some away, and put others in the attic for a Spring garage sale.  I think I've done about all I can for the time being.  As my body changes, and the maternity clothes start to become too big (sometime soon I hope), I will need to continue editing.


What I want to work on next:

• Start our weekly tete-a-tete meeting to review our schedule needs, weekly budget etc.
• Get the vacation on the calendar, even if it totally changes.
• Get the menu plan on the menu calendar in Google. 
• Put together the cycle of  1) Get more sleep, 2)go to bed earlier, 3)wake up earlier, 4) exercise right away in the AM