GOODBYE TO DISPOSABLE BABY WIPES

I have another confession to make. I haven't been using disposable baby wipes for 7 months now.

The cost of disposable baby wipes is unbelievable. And if you're a working mom who has a trigger-happy yaya, one who thinks that the answer to every dirt is the baby wipes, then your budget is in even bigger trouble.

And I'm not even talking about the environmental impact of all those disposed wipes!

So instead of wasting money on disposable baby wipes (this is literally "sunk cost"), I decided giving cloth wipes a try. Since I'm already using cloth diapers for my baby, washing another dozen or so of small cloth wipes is not a problem.

Cloth Wipes

I initially bought a dozen cloth wipes made of flannel solid and measuring 8" x 8" from a local online store. Unfortunately, a dozen cloth wipes are not sufficient for everyday use. To further save on cost, I had a cousin buy pranela from Divisoria and had them cut and sewn by a mananahi in our village. For a minimal amount, I now have about 4 dozens of washable, reusable cloth wipes. (And the good thing about this is when these cloth wipes become worn out, they can be used as basahan.)

Wipe Solution

  

Making a wipe solution is very easy and inexpensive! For the common wipe solution recipes, I found this site really helpful.  

I did my own mix and match. Here's the wipe solution that I'm using on Basti:

3 ml of Human Heart Nature Chamomile Baby Wash

3 ml of all-natural, no mineral oil Giga Baby Oil 

3 drops of Giga Tea Tree Oil - this has antibacterial properties

2 drops of lavender oil

2 drops of  lemon oil - I really find this refreshing!

After putting all of these in a 500 ml spray bottle, I slowly pour filtered water and shake the bottle gently. I now have my own chemical-free wipe solution! I make sure not to put too much oil in order to avoid affecting the cloth diapers' absorbency. So far, I haven't had any problem using this solution on my baby.

Whenever I need a baby wipe, I just spray the solution on the cloth diaper. 

Now I'm ready to face my baby's bottom. :)

BEING GREEN: 7 MONTHS (AND GOING) OF EXCLUSIVE CLOTH DIAPERING

My journey to cloth diapering began when Basti was barely 2 months old. I decided to use cloth diapers because they are, compared to disposables, safer for my baby, cheaper (in the long run) for me and better for mother earth.

But I was so confused with the different options. Other moms took the time to post their reviews of the different kinds of cloth diapers and those helped me a lot. I remember going over a number of parents' sites, blogs and what-have-you to check the reviews.

And now, it is payback time. Here is MY review of one size pocket diapers that Basti has been using for the past 7 months. Hopefully, this will help the moms out there who are considering using cloth diapers.

Pocket diapers consist of 2 parts -- the cover and the absorbent insert. The cover, in turn, consists of the waterproof outer layer and the inner layer (the one that touches your baby's skin) which is usually made of either fleece or suede. The inner layer wicks moisture away from baby's skin, which differentiates this type of cloth diaper from the usual lampin. These two layers are sewn together leaving a small opening, or a pocket, where one inserts the absorbent stuffing. While I have around two dozen pre-folds and 6 diaper covers, most of Basti's cloth diapers are pocket diapers.

I chose one size pocket diapers because I did not want to keep on buying diapers as Basti grows. By adjusting the buttons on the front (as in the case of Bumgenius, Happy Heinys, Next 9 and Wahmies) or the elastics on the side (FuzziBunz and Rocky Mountain), these one size pocket diapers can fit babies from 8 pounds to 35 pounds.

BumGenius 

• Available in snaps and velcro
• Soft suede inner fabric
• Adjustable by snapping on/off the outer front buttons
• Local price: PhP1,100

With 2 liners

How does it look inside?

Pros

• Very effective - baby stays dry, no leaks
• Good for overnight use (with 2 liners)
• Good fit 
• Velcro type is easy to put on, definitely daddy-friendly 

Cons

• Limited colors to choose from
• No printed designs
• The "adjustment buttons" tend to unsnap when I put the diaper on a wriggling Basti
• A little bulky

FUZZIBUNZ

• Available only in snaps 
• Inner fabric is made of soft fleece
• Adjustable elastic on the side leg casings
• Local price: PhP1,100

Fuzzibunz is adjusted by pulling/releasing the elastics on the sides.

With 2 liners and an extra elastic

Pros

• Effective - baby stays dry, no leaks
• Good for overnight use (with 2 liners)
• No adjustment buttons that tend to unsnap when you're putting it on a wriggling baby
• 14 available colors to choose from; limited printed designs
• Dark colored outer cover does not run
• Sleek; good fit

Cons

• May take some practice to master the snaps (Putting it on is a little difficult when you're in a hurry or when the baby is fussy or at nighttime when you are barely awake. But snaps mean that the diaper cannot be easily removed by your baby/toddler's little hands!)
• May take you several adjustments of the elastic leg casings before you get a perfect fit. Too tight means red marks for your poor baby's legs!

Basti at 2 months

Wearing the same FB at 7 months

Happy Heinys

• Available in snaps and velcro
• Inner fabric is made of soft fleece
• Adjustable by snapping on/off the outer front buttons
• Local price: PhP950 (plain) to PhP1,100 (special prints like the Glow in the Dark and Ooga Booga)
• With 2 liners

Ok, I am not very happy with the fit of the old Happy Heinys one size diaper. :( 

Not so good fit

But the poor fit has been addressed by the new and improved HH, the ones that came out in 2011. This is the one that is the subject of my review.

2011 HH (Ooga Booga design, velcro)

Pros

• Effective - baby stays dry, no leaks
• Good for overnight use (with 2 liners)
• Good fit 
• Velcro type is easy to put on, definitely daddy-friendly  
• Lots of colors and cute, cute printed designs to choose from

Cons

• The "adjustment buttons" tend to unsnap when I put the diaper on a wriggling Basti
• Velcro type is easy to remove even by your baby. Imagine what he can do when he's already a toddler!

Basti at 9 months wearing the new HH

NEXT 9

• Made  in the Philippines
• Available in snaps 
• Inner fabric is made of soft fleece
• Adjustable by snapping on/off the outer front buttons
• Price: PhP350 per piece; 3 diapers for PhP1,000
• With 1 liner only

Blue retro design

Soft fleece inner layer

Pros

• The most affordable one size pocket diaper in the market
• Sleek, good fit
• The inner layer made of fleece is really, really soft
• Good enough-- baby stays semi-dry, no leaks, definitely better than the ordinary lampin
• Good for daytime use 
• Several colors  and two printed designs (pink and blue) to choose from 

Cons

• Soft fleece is noticeably mas manipis and less absorbent than the fleece used by the other imported brands. (But please note that this is not an apples to apples comparison because I'm comparing a PhP350 diaper with a PhP1,000++ one.)

ROCKY MOUNTAIN

• Available in snaps 
• Soft suede inner fabric
• Internal adjustment system--just pull and snap the garter around the thigh holes
• Local price: PhP1,100
• With 1 liner only

Simple - 1 row of snaps/buttons

2-toned diaper (brown / yellow

 Pros

• Effective - baby stays dry, no leaks
• Good for overnight use (with 2 liners)
• No adjustment buttons that tend to unsnap when you're putting it on a wriggling baby
• Sleek; good fit 
• Not as easy to put on as the velcro but less complicated than the two-row snaps of FuzziBunz and Happy Heinys. 
• Your baby/toddler cannot easily remove the diaper unlike the velcro type.

Cons

• Dark colored outer covers may run in the first few washes
• Limited colors and designs

WAHMIES

• Available in hooks and snaps
• Soft suede inner fabric
• Adjustable by snapping on/off the outer front buttons
• Local price: PhP1,100

The insert is like a face towel.

 

 Pros

• Of all the one size pocket diapers Basti has tried, this one has the best fit
• Very effective -- baby stays dry, no leaks
• Good for overnight use (with 2 liners)

Basti at 2 months

Cons

• The hooks--which make Wahmies the best fitting diaper--make putting on/removing the diaper really difficult. This one requires lots and lots of practice. (Up to now, my husband stays away from this diaper.)
• The insert (a facial wash :) face towel look-alike to me) makes stuffing time more tedious. You have to fold it and make sure that it does not bunch when you insert it. My solution--I don't use it! I took it out of the baby's cabinet. Why? Because all inserts/stuffings of one size pocket diapers SHOULD NEVER touch your baby's skin. A good insert is super absorbent. Now imagine what will happen if that piece of cloth, which absorbs away moisture, touches your baby's skin!

Overall, I'm quite happy with my one size pocket diapers. And I cannot explain how I feel whenever I pass by rows and rows of disposable diapers in the grocery knowing that I need not buy one.

Happy CLOTH diaper-hunting!

NOTE: I paid for all the products mentioned in this post. I do not know any of the sellers personally. It's cheaper to buy the imported cloth diapers abroad. For example, my Bumgenius diapers that were bought in the US cost only around US$18 each or less than PhP800. :)

*The two really nice-looking photos are courtesy of The Stork Studio.

 

NO TO DENGUE THE DEET-FREE WAY

I take dengue seriously.

Two years ago, we had to cut our Boracay trip short because both of my daughters were suffering from high grade fever. After getting a flight back to Manila on a 19-seater plane (an experience that I would not want to repeat), we went straight to the ER. My firstborn had to stay at the hospital for 10 days, 5 of which were spent in the ICU. The younger one, thank God, had a milder strain and was sent home after 3 days.  

So yes, I take dengue seriously.

For this rainy season, I've discovered the following all-natural citronella-based, DEET-free insect repellent products that really work! My children are using them when going outdoors and even inside the house.

Human Nature Citronella Bug Spray

Ingredients: virgin coconut oil, organic citronella oil, organic lemongrass, essential oil together with rosemary and lavender essential oils

Pros: 

• effective (I tried using it in a place where there were lots of mosquitoes and it really worked!)
• cheap (PhP84.75 for a 50 ml bottle)
• leaves the skin really soft and glowing
• a small amount goes a long, long way
• 100% of the profit from this product will fund the development of sustainable livelihood of poor Filipino farmers!

Cons: 

• it is oil-based so it is a little messy to apply 
• my 8 and 6 year old daughters find it hard to press the pump
• strong citronella smell (but you get used to it!)

Human Nature Bug Shield Lotion

Ingredients: citronella oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, lemongrass oil, lavender oil (and alcohol that is plant-derived)

Pros:

• effective
• cheap (PhP79.75 for a 50 ml bottle)
• leaves the skin really soft
• milder and fresher scent compared to the Bug Spray
• easy to apply, non-sticky
• 100% of the profit from this product will fund the development of sustainable livelihood of poor Filipino farmers! 

Cons:

• unlike the oil-based Bug Spray, the 50-ml bottle of Bug Shield lotion does not go a long, long way (or it may be because I'm using it too often, what with its clean, fresh scent!)

Since the oil-based Bug Spray is cheaper to use in the long run, my children use it more often than the Bug Shield. The latter is used as a back-up. I make sure that my children always bring a bottle of Bug Shield with them for purposes of re-application whenever needed.  

Indigo Baby Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me Lotion 

For my baby, I use this Indigo Baby Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me lotion.

Ingredients: Aloe Vera Gel, Witch Hazel, Triple Distilled Water, Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils (Rose, Lavender, Geranium, Citronella & Eucalyptus)

Pros:

• effective
• smells wonderful
• non-sticky
• leaves baby's skin soft
• I just love it! :)

Cons:

• a little expensive at PhP180 for a 60 ml bottle (but it's worth it!)

This rainy season, we will keep the mosquitoes away the natural way!


Note: I paid for all the products that I mentioned here. I do not know any of the sellers personally.

 

MAKING THE SWITCH

I admit. My family has made the big switch.

For almost a year now, we have been using locally-produced, affordable and 100% harmful chemical-free products that are from "renewable resource with no petroleum compounds" and "processed in a way which is not damaging to the environment". These products are produced by Gandang Kalikasan, Inc., a company that employs Gawad Kalinga residents, pays its employees more than the legally-mandated minimum wage, and trades fairly with the local farmers.

How can you beat that?

Our family's "love affair" with Human Heart Nature started with my search for a chemical-free baby wash that is gentle on my then 1-month old baby's skin. I stumbled upon HHN's Aloe Vera & Chamomile Baby Shampoo & Baby Wash in one of the online stores and decided to give it a try.

True to its promise, it is non-drying and gentle on my baby's skin, unlike the commercially available baby wash produced by multinational companies. I was so satisfied with it that I decided to buy more HHN products.

Almost a year after that initial purchase, everyone in our household is using HHN products!

Me:

Pearl Powder and Aloe Vera Strengthening Shampoo (I finally found the perfect shampoo for my limp and falling hair!)
Nourishing Mango Butter Conditioner (This conditions my hair without making it limp.)
Lemongrass Body Scrub (the scent reminds me of the citrus verbena line of L'occitane)
Goat's Milk and Cocoa Butter (unscented)
Balancing Facial Wash (Great for oily skin!)
Balancing Toner
Sunflower Seed Beauty Oil (Great for the undereye!)
Royal Jelly & Aloe Vera Night Moisturizer (Goodbye to expensive moisturizers!)
Love Minerals Pressed Powder
Love Minerals Blush Shade (Love the barely there look of Pink Quartz!)
Peppermint Lip Balm
Love Minerals Passion Fruit Lipstick (Love the sweet nectar shade!)
Anti-bacterial Hand Soap
Sugarcane and Aloe Vera Gel Hand Sanitizer (A must-have for a breastfeeding and pumping Mom!)
Eucalyptus Hand & Foot Salve (This one deserves a separate write-up.)
Citrus Burst Spray Sanitizer (Which I use to sanitize my office conference table, also known these days as my official pumping station.)

The Hubby:

Pearl Powder and Aloe Vera Strengthening Shampoo (Peppermint)
Eucalyptus Shaving Oil (He's really satisfied with this!)
Balancing Facial Wash
Balancing Toner (He says that this is as good as if not better than Burt Bee's tomato toner.)
Eucalyptus Hand & Foot Salve (This one deserves a separate write-up. Oh, did I say that already?)

The Two Girls:

Aloe Vera Kid's Shampoo and Body Wash in Watermelon (Goodbye to the fashion-something chemical-laden shampoo!)
Nourishing Mango Butter Conditioner in peppermint scent (Heaven-sent for girls with long hair.)
Citronella Bug Spray (A must-have especially during this dengue season.)
All Natural Hand Sanitizer for Kids in strawberry
Strawberry Lotion (Unfortunately, this is being phased out.)

The Baby:

Chamomile Baby Wash (The product that started our continuing love affair with HHN.)

And yes, we are happy that we made the switch!