Diapers Q&A

Any other non-mainstream products I should know about?

1) Baby Wraps - These things are awesome! They look beautiful and they're safe and comfortable. Why would I buy a high tech carrier when all I need is a strip of pretty fabric? 2) Cloth Diapers - I was convinced these were a thing of the past, but now that I look into it I'm shocked to see what is available! There are tons of types of diapers! I don't even have to learn how to fold them if I buy the contoured kind. There's even a diaper service in my area, and I didn't even know what a diaper service was! So anyway, as a soon to be new mommy I'm learning about most of the baby products I'll need by filling out registries at target.com and babiesrus.com. But those two things aren't available at mainstream stores like that! I couldn't even find a diaper pail that wasn't the high tech genie type, which is part of what led me to believe no one used cloth diapers anymore. So my question is, what other awesome products are they hiding from me? Wow you guys are awesome! I'm learning so much :) Babies über alles - Did you bathe your baby in the tub with you even as a newborn?

Public Comments

1. I love this website for organic baby items if that interests you at all www.thewhitepebble.com http://thewhitepebble.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_list&c=4
2. Mei tais. Some of them are quite lovely. Cloth WIPES. Stock up on cheap facecloths. 'Non-mainstream products' in a lot of cases = 'no products.' Things I have not bothered with: baby bathtub (baby just goes in tub with me) crib (why buy a cage when you can just throw your own mattress on the floor?) stroller (qv mei tais) bottles "baby food" Check out: http://ask.metafilter.com/67617/Alternatives-to-mainstream-baby-paraphernalia Google "baby lambskins" for a nice down-under nap option. http://novanatural.com/ has some nice toys, baby wool long underwear, interesting/better stuff like that. "baby products I'll need by filling out registries at target.com and babiesrus.com" Nuts to Babies R Us, that overpriced formula-n-plastic emporium... If you go to kaboodle.com, you can make a wish list of stuff from any site you please. 'Seventh Generation' makes the only disposable diapers with no advertising (sorry, "licensed characters")/daft cartoons on them. Their wipes are pretty nice, too. edit: "Did you bathe your baby in the tub with you even as a newborn?" -- yep. Gently... We got the cord wet a few times, but there is some (relatively) new evidence that says it does not actually matter if a cord stump gets wet. (And if cord stumps needed rubbing alcohol, babies would be born clutching little bottles of rubbing alcohol...) She also took a lot of showers with Daddy. It all worked so nicely that a bath or shower is now a total cry/fuss-stopper; now and then there's a "bad sad!" we can't find a cause for and can't cuddle out, and one of us gets in a bath or shower with her. Instant calm.
3. Organic nipple cream. I don't have any names but your local organic foods store or coop should have something. The mainstream product, lansinoh, is sticky and greasy. You can get a calendula based product that is still safe for the baby and doesn't make a mess.
4. I agree, the Moby Wrap is a life saver for me. SO much more comfortable than my carrier. My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow -- it's at Target, but only available online. Much better than the Boppy. Born Free bottles -- Available at Wholefoods and Babies R Us (online only). These bottles are BPA free, so are safer for the baby than standard bottles. Plus, they have a vent inside to reduce gas. http://www.newbornfree.com/ Lily Padz -- I had to buy these online. They are non-absorbant breast pads that use pressure to keep your breasts from leaking. you can't use them for long periods of time (not overnight), but they are great if you want to go out for a few hours and wear a tight shirt without breast pads showing through. http://www.lilypadz.com/index1.html Ultimate Crib Sheet -- this you can find online, but I have never seen it in stores. Especially if you have a heavy mattress, it makes sheet changing easier. http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Comfort-Ultimate-Crib-Sheet/dp/B00003XAKP G-diapers -- even if you want to use cloth, you might want to get these for going out (since it is a pain to carry around wet dirty diapers). They consist of a little cover with a plastic liner, and then they have disposable inserts that can be flushed, composted or tossed. I actually don't like them because the insert does not keep the baby dry enough, but the same is true of cloth diapers, so if you like the cloth you'll like G diapers too. http://www.gdiapers.com/ California Baby Products -- all natural and really nice. Available at Wholefoods. http://www.californiababy.com/ Amazon.com donations -- If you shop at Amazon, use this link http://www.babycorner.org/donations.html and Amazon will make a donation to a baby charity at no cost to you. Also, Planet dishwashing liquid and other natural cleaning products are great for baby stuff.
5. Cloth nursing pads :-) Cloth momma/post partum pads A wetbag for your diapers A regular ole plastic flip top trash can for a diaper pail Have you thought about laundering diapers yourself? Diaper services usually only deal with prefolds (which I do love but I like variety) and a lot of times they use bleach. Plus, you have to wash your own covers anyway Target has Hotslings HABA baby toys Check out hyenacart.com. There are TONS of non mainstream baby and mom products there Better Butter (if you can find it- everyone's been out of stock lately. If anyone knows where it's available now- PLEASE Email me) by northern essence is AWESOME and is OK to use on cloth diapers for rash
6. Cloth nursing pads -- SOOOO much nicer than the disposable ones, which make it feel like you're wearing maxi pads on your boobs! Diaper pail -- I just got a step garbage pail from walmart for less than $10. Why waste all that money on a "diaper disposal system" like a diaper genie? You're gonna want to take the diapers out every day or perhaps every other day anyways... Toys -- When friends wanted to buy my daughter Christmas presents, I asked for wooden toys, blocks, fabric books... what some people think of as "old fashioned" toys. Having a toy that you can only play with in one way (look at all the Fisher Price crud where you push a button and it makes a sound... how creative is that?) robs the creativity out of play and makes babies get bored easily. Baby seat bundlers -- those sleeping-bag like things that zip up over baby in the car seat? I've got so many baby blankets from generous relatives that I just rotate those. It's all about dressing your baby in layers in cold weather anyways (and I live in Canada where it's pretty darn cold right now) Saline drops (for when baby has a cold) -- don't bother going out and buying a bottle of these at the drug store for $8+ for 15 mL -- make them yourself! Dissolve 1/4 tsp. salt in 1 c. water. Voila! Baby diaper cream -- all I've ever used is petroleum jelly (unscented -- Vaseline) and I have yet to get a diaper rash. Pure Lanolin Cream -- great for chapped or sore nipples, plus good for dry skin on baby's hands or face. They're going to put their hands in their mouths anyways, and lanolin is 100% safe if ingested
7. Baby spats! These are a great investment if you are going to baby wear. The babies pant legs always ride-up and expose their ankles, so the spats snap on over their pant leg and covers it up. If I didn't explain it well, then see the picture on the Jamtots site. Great for winter or just windy days. They fit up to 3 years old. http://www.jamtots.com/Baby-Spats-Leg-Warmers-C181.aspx Baby Legs! These are adorable for newborns and older babies. Plus they are super functional. Babies can wear these with a onesie at home to help keep diaper changes quick. They can be worn under pants to keep legs warm. And they are great for keeping little knees soft when they start crawling. http://store.babylegs.net/s.nl;jsessionid=0a0014481f43737580a251ab4c1daa31a0b9e250868c.e3eTaxiNaN0Te34Pa38Ta38Qc3j0?sc=2&category=147 Cloth Diapers! Okay, I love stuff from Jamtots. I am going to plug them one more time. Their Berry Plush diapers and Baby Kanga diapers are fantastic. Check them out. http://www.jamtots.com/BerryPlush-All-in-Ones-C41.aspx http://www.jamtots.com/Baby-Kangas-One-Size-Pouch-Diaper-C502.aspx