Cloth Diapering (Again!)

We used cloth diapers with our first child, and are happy to return to a slightly modified version of our diapering routing with our newborn. While they’re a financial investment up-front, they end up saving money over time, in our experience.

It's estimated that disposable diapers make up over 2% of the garbage in American landfills each year-- that's millions of tons. One of the key criticisms of cloth diapers is that they require an increase in water to wash, but that amount of water is far less than the amounts required to manufacture new diapers and packaging— to say nothing of the toll of transport and disposal of single-use goods. Parts of cloth diapers must be washed after every use, but shells from hybrid styles can be used multiple times in a row, depending on the circumstance. If a cloth diaper is well maintained, it can be put to use for years and passed on to other families. 

Here is a simple run-down of our process and resources. 

Diapers
We use Grovia all-in-one cloth diapers. Since it’s not recommended to go more than 2-3 days between washing, we find that we need about 10. We have the newborn styles (which we’ll soon pass on to a friend and/or a Buy Nothing Group), and about 15 of the larger size, which get more use since they are adaptable and grow with the child.

Cloths
We’ve collected reusable cloths over the years, and have a stack of about 25 for diapering. Grovia cloths are super soft and gentle, and we also use some we sourced via Etsy.

Turning Cloths into Wipes 
For a gentle alternative to conventional baby wipes, we spray this  all-purpose solution onto a moist cloth. We also have a stack of Water Wipes in case we’re out of any supplies, or if we’re on-the-go.

Changing Surface
We prefer Gathre mats for changing, and always have 1 hand on the baby since there are no safety straps. We have one padded mat, and one foldable mat that can be used on softer surfaces.

Rinsing + Storing (after use / pre-laundry)
After changing the baby and relocating her to a safe spot, we rinse soiled diapers above the toilet with a handheld sprayer / bidet nozzle. This ensures that no major messes make it into the washer/dryer. (It takes about 5-10 minutes to install, and works with most toilets.)

Mop Bucket
We temporarily store rinsed, used diapers in an open-top mop bucket (which we suspend from a shower curtain rod in order to save space) so they can breathe. After emptying the bucket for laundry, I spray the container with an all-purpose, non-toxic solution and let it sit while starting the wash wash. Then I wipe out the bucket with a washable cloth so it’s clean and ready for the next round. 

Solids
To catch solids (to then dispose of in the toilet), we prefer bioliners. They’re not zero waste, but compared to a full disposable diaper, these dryer sheet-sized liners aren’t hugely wasteful and make cloth diapering much more doable for folks who wash at home. One roll of liners lasts a long time.

Laundry 
After removing fecal matter from diapers via our rinse method (outlined above), we run diapers on rinse/spin cycle on cold with no detergent. Then we wash using hot water and 1 Tbsp of concentrate, and 1-2 scoops of Oxygen Boost. (I personally am not obsessed with keeping the diapers pure white. As long as they’re clean, I’m not bothered by slight discolorations when they happen.)

Drying
When possible, we dry the diapers in the sun on our retractable clothing line. It helps bleach the cloth while saving energy.

Travel / Diaper Bag
We tote a zippered wet bag around for used diapers while on-the-go. 

Averting Fuss
Our newborn is too young to require entertaining during changes. However, when our son was of an age when he needed some entertainment to get him through the cleanings, we showed him musical greeting cards that folks had sent him over time. They offered plenty of amusement with no need for a screen.

Fourth Trimester + Newborn Baby Essentials

As I blissfully but groggily navigate the fourth trimester, I’ve compiled the following list of items that have been the most useful to me over the past 8 weeks. However, much more important than any of these material goods is clear communication inside my partnership with Adam. The sharing or division of responsibilities, as well as making space for feelings and new realities are the most effective tools in our possession. And, at the end of the day, as long as our baby has food, shelter, health and love, she’s getting what she needs.

Note: I’ve linked many of the items below so readers can learn more about any given product, but if something sparks your interest, perhaps consider exploring a Buy Nothing Group, second-hand resource, or local small business rather than buying new via a big box retailer.

Click here for this customizable, handmade ring

Adaptable nursing pillow
I thought of nursing pillows as unnecessary items… until our little one ended up in the NICU. During the long hours there, I found it difficult to hold her tiny, cord-covered body without some sort of stable neck and wire support for her, and the pancake pillows at the hospital weren’t helping. This adjustable nursing pillow has a back pocket for a heating pad, built-in pockets for books, phones, cloths (etc), and three inserts for varying degrees of height and support.

Collapsable Cup
Any time I start breastfeeding the baby, I immediately become wildly thirsty. As I did while pregnant, I bring this cup absolutely everywhere with me. It’s collapsible (and then pocket-sized), and it helps me stay on track with my water intake.

Block dish soap
This is our favorite package-free dish soap, which we use in addition to boiling pump + bottle parts.

Reusable sponges + brush
Behold— a reusable sponge that actually works and lasts! We use it in tandem with this set of bottle brushes. 

0-3 mo pacifier 
We likely would’ve tried to skip the pacifier with the baby, but the NICU team provided her with some, so we occasionally do the same. We used this rubber version (plastic-free) with our first child (who stopped using them when he caught a cold around 1 year old), and so far they’ve worked well with the newborn, too.

Folding bottle drying rack
With all the pumping I do, a folding bamboo drying rack (atop a foldable, washable drying mat) is one of our most used items. 

Stainless steel bottles
These bottles are lightweight for little hands, while being plastic-free and durable. 

Breast milk collector
This brilliant little silicone, plastic-free suction pump is the most minimal, no fuss way of saving breast milk that I’ve tried. I use it when nursing by placing it on whichever breast the baby isn’t occupying. 

Plastic-free milk storage bags
I don’t like freezing milk in glass (because I’m clumsy), so these silicone bags, which stand upright for easy filling + cleaning, are my favorite plastic-free method of freezing or warming breastmilk. 

Baskets-turned-mobile-nightlights 
For a portable nightlight, I popped rechargeable battery-operated twinkle lights into these sweet baskets.

Baby dock 
I believe we have gotten more use out of our versatile baby dock than any other baby item.

Baby carrier
I was pleased with the washable, multi-directional carrier that we used with our first. I couldn’t wait to use it again with our second once she put on a bit of weight. 

Portable, hands-free pump 
I used this portable pump during my first pregnancy, and made it hands-free by adding a pump bra. There are also truly hands-free pumps, which are now available with reusable inserts (rather than disposable plastic milk collection bags). 

Baby eat, sleep, poop journal
We found this journal helpful when keeping track of the baby’s functions per our doctor’s request. 

Reusable wipes
While we do have a small stash of Water Wipes, we mainly use washable cloths from Etsy and Grovia. (I bought ours, but I plan to get a sewing machine and make my own soon!)

Cloth diapers
We used All in One cloth diapers for our first child, and have happily returned to using them with our second.

Spray nozzle toilet attachment 
In order to rinse the cloth diapers before tossing them into an open-weave bucket where they await a proper machine wash, we use this easy-to-install handheld nozzle, which can also function as a bidet.

Peri bottle
On the subject of bidets, this upside-down peri bottle is pretty much a portable bidet. It’s especially helpful for post-delivery recovery when paired with a few drops of Witch Hazel.

Organic large swaddle 
These Willaby undyed, organic cotton swaddles (gifted to our family by @dr.organicmommy) are slightly oversized  and thus usable as a baby blanket, nursing chair cover, swaddle, burp cloth, and stroller or baby carrier sunshade.

Folding baby gym
Perfect for small humans and small spaces, this minimalist folding baby gym was a favorite of our son’s, and is now being put to use by our daughter (and — occasionally — by a pushy beagle as well).

Stretchy toys / Teethers
These handmade, stretchy fabric and natural BeachWood Teethers can be used on their own or with an activity center, like the one we have.

Folding upright bouncer
We didn’t use one of these with West, but little Léa has reflux and spits up large amounts of milk regularly. This bouncer has been extremely helpful for keeping her safely upright during the moments when we’re unable to hold her. It has a minimal design and folds easily, making it practical for small spaces.

Unbreakable books 
“Indestructibles” are chew proof, rip proof, 100% washable, and non-toxic.  While we like board books, they take up a great deal of space.  By contrast, this series of slim books for early readers is practical for families with young kids in compact quarters. 

Lactation bites
When nursing overnight, I usually eat one of these yummy little lactation bites to help keep my milk supply up.

Skincare (body)
This pregnancy + nursing safe, fragrance-free, all-body moisturizing stone is handmade by a small business, and is entirely plastic-free. It’s the only body moisturizer I’ve used for years, and it’s even mild enough to use on babies. The stone travels easily and requires very little space on the shelf or in a bag.

Skincare (face)
Other than soap and sunblock, these are the only two products I use daily on my face— a serum and a treatment essence. I feel comfortable using them while pregnant and breastfeeding, and they replace an entire suite of other skincare products. They arrive in minimal, plastic-free packaging, and are housed in compact glass bottles. 

Apron
I’m constantly being spit up upon, and I’m always in need of spacious pockets.  As such, rather than tailoring my entire wardrobe to accommodate such realities, I’ve started covering my outfit with this handmade linen apron, which has roomy pockets and easy access for nursing.

My Attempt at a Lower Waste Hospital Bag

Unlike our multitasking nursery, which I was sluggish to tackle since we’re in a temporary space, I packed my hospital bag more than a month ago. At 29 weeks, I was admitted to the hospital with complications regarding my high-risk pregnancy, and was gently told at the time to be prepared for labor and delivery every week since. I prepped my suitcase shortly thereafter, and it has since been standing dutifully by. I’ll soon reach 37 weeks — a marker I didn’t think I’d reach, but am profoundly grateful to be approaching.

SIMILARITIES + DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MY FIRST BAG VS THIS BAG
For this upcoming laboring experience, the contents of my hospital bag are largely similar to those from my first time around, and I’m reusing several necessities. I’ve made a few small adjustments to try and curb some of the single-use supplies that are regularly used in the hospital. But my attempts at a lower waste birthing experience are lopsided, as I’ve had to acquire some items I didn’t need the first time around— mainly in anticipation of a smaller baby and, potentially, a lengthier stay in the hospital. For some goods, I sourced second-hand, whereas I purchased new for others.

GIFTS FOR LABOR + DELIVERY STAFF
Another difference is that this time we’ve thought to include something else for the medical staff, as I’ve already logged long hours in the maternity department in recent weeks. Rather than guessing what goods might be useful to the large medical teams at our new hospital and scrambling to have bundles ready at any moment, Adam and I decided to have freshly baked pastries catered to the department come delivery day. (I asked a doctor well in advance if such a gesture would be permitted given COVID, and inquired outright if such a gift would be put to good use.) We figured this was a practical, low waste, affordable token of our appreciation.

Here are some of the items* in my hospital bag (a compact suitcase by Steamline), curated in anticipation of our specific situation:

Underwear
I packed a small pile of Knix period underwear, which I used prior to my pregnancy as well. They’re available in a variety of styles and absorbency levels. I also have a few nursing bras from Boob, and a hands-free breast pumping bra.

Large Collapsible Cup with Lid
I never leave the house without my oversized Stojo collapsible cup. The contact-free machine at the hospital allows us to refill it with water and ice chips whenever needed. (Those ice chips definitely helped me experience my first labor without an epidural.)

Portable Pump + Accessories + Bottles + Parts
In case the baby and I have a longer stay at the hospital, I’ve charged and packed the same tiny, portable breast pump and parts I used with West. (I updated the tubing and smaller accessories for hygiene purposes.) I also added a set of Colostrum Collectors, and my single, manual breast pump for use on one breast when feeding with the other.

Pura Stainless makes an interchangeable-part bottling system that we’ve used and appreciated for years. In case of a lengthier stay for the baby, we have a supply of stainless baby bottles and corresponding newborn/slow flow nipples packed in a small cooler bag that slides within/beneath our diaper bag.

Recycled Tech / Accessories 
Thanks to their sustainable materials and plastic-free packaging, I’ve been a loyal Nimble customer for years. They make tech accessories such as longer-length phone / iPad cords, portable batteries, adapters and more, and I have a small supply in my hospital bag, as well as my purse at all times. I’ve also added a lightweight, travel LED mirror to my tech sleeve. And, just in case, I’ve got my laptop and password book for work, along with an e-reader and the portable bluetooth speaker that we usually keep on our cargo bike.

Cloth Diapers
We have a collection of new + used cloth newborn diapers from Grovia. These all-in-one washable diapers were what West wore, and we’ve always been pleased with how well they work, and how comfortable they seem to be for little ones.

Premature + Newborn Clothes 
We have a few hand-me-down preemie garments (like the puppy onesie below) that we’ve packed for the hospital and for going home. Unlike last time, we also purchased some extra-small preemie pieces, as we expect they’ll be needed.

Toiletries
I cut off a slice of my tea tree + charcoal face wash bar, and packed it alongside the only two products I’ve relied on daily for years: Active Treatment Essence and Active Botanical Serum (both in glass vials) by Vintner’s Daughter. I also included items like refillable toothpaste tablets by Bite, plastic-free hair elastics, and bamboo brushes.

Baby Daily Log
This is the same journal we used to log West’s nursing + sleep + movements for his first few months. We had pages to spare, so the book is being put to repeated use.

Maternity / Nursing Clothes + Slipper-Socks + Masks
I’ve got my usual maternity and old nursing-friendly dresses ready to go, and opted to skip anything with a waistband entirely. I packed a few pairs of pilates-style, no-slip sock/slippers, as they’re practical for climbing in and out of hospital beds and traversing cold floors.

Vitamins, Snacks (for myself and family), etc.
We have a mini-cooler at the ready with my travel container of Ritual Prenatal Vitamins, my 8Greens tablets (which I began using once we started traveling across the country for our move and didn’t have easy/safe access to daily greens), routinely (re)packed fresh fruit, nuts, sugar-free hard candies, and Cerebelly granola bars for my 4+ year old in case he’s allowed to visit the hospital if COVID regulations regarding visitors change.

*Please note that some of the above links direct to major online retailers in order to provide readers with additional product details, while simultaneously supplying us with information on the number of clicks each link receives, and occasionally a (very) minor commission that helps support our small business. However, I encourage folks to search for any of these items via smaller, independent, low waste, and/or local shops when possible.

Before + After: A (Temporary) Multitasking Nursery + Bedroom + Playroom

Our second child arrives this month! As such, I figured it was time for us to finally finish the nursery / bedroom / playroom that we’re sharing while we await the construction of our prairie cottage, and the ability to travel to our little French farmhouse. Below are the before + after, along images, along with detailed views and process visuals. (I’ll let the photos do the heavy lifting in this post, as I’m currently wading through a thick cloud of third trimester insomnia and can’t seem to find my words the way I usually do.)

• Click here to read about the space, and what we could change vs what we couldn’t.

• Click here for the nook makeover, and details regarding how we hid the textured wall.

Below: The quick mockup / mood board I created to help me picture the space:

Beyond the nook, the primary pieces in the space are the rug, compact swivel chair, arched floor mirror, and side table from Lulu & Georgia:

Flexible jute baskets from Will & Atlas:

Below: A space-savvy vintage lamp I found on Etsy, then painted with Adam to better suit the space:

Below: Our favorite, all-in-one, washable cloth diapers by Grovia:

Below: Brass cranes by Justina Blakeney of Jungalow.:

We used several brass details throughout the space in honor of my Grandpa Lou, who ran a scrapyard. and collected brass pieces from the site.

Below: A space-saving, swivel-arm wall rack that we painted white:

Below: A handmade Sandhill Crane figure (via Etsy) floats above the crib.

Below: We chose a convertible mini crib from Bloom that expands in size and adapts in style when outgrown. Click here to read the full post about this piece, which we first assembled at the Cottage.

Below: A vintage wicker, toy lantern dangles from a wall hook from Connected Goods:

Designing a Multi-Functional Nursery in a Borrowed Space

Post Summary: Designing a Temporary Nursery in a Borrowed Space (as a Method of Soothing Anxiety) 

Our baby is expected in April. Due to recent complications, it was recommended to us by medical professionals to prepare for the possibility of his/her early, emergency arrival. For now, we’re taking it one milestone week at a time, grateful for every tick of the clock with this little one incubating inside me. 

I actively try to think positive. I do believe that there’s unfathomable power in our energy and mindsets. Still, I’ve found the anxiety I’ve experienced during this pregnancy impossible to shelve entirely. It bubbles up in odd times, and has crept into my actions — or inactions — throughout the first and third trimesters in particular. This has been the root of my reluctance to plan a nursery of some sort. To be uncomfortably transparent, I was scared of creating an environment for a little one who might never experience it.

With my first pregnancy, I found myself mentally designing the closet nursery from the day I saw my test results. It was such a deliberate and heart-filled little process and place, with no detail left unconsidered. This time around, I’m more focused on the baby’s first home— my body— and the way it has both bolstered and betrayed us. My priorities have simplified and slowed. I’m honed in on one sanctuary at a time. One event at a time. One day at a time. (This isn’t so much by choice as it is by necessity.)

In the first trimester, I looked ahead by bits and pieces. I squared away the crib, dug out the old carrier and cloth diapers, and made a list of pump parts that needed replacing.  But then, between our move from the cottage and the subsequent health scares, I stopped. I felt stuck in every way. 

Besides, this is my second time I’ve found myself planning a nursery — our last nursery — in a borrowed space. And much like my health, there are things I can change, and things I simply and frustratingly cannot. Sometimes it’s a relief to surrender to one of the limited paths before you. Other times there’s a sense of urgency to fight like hell to form a new path. I didn’t want to surrender. But I also felt far too stretched to do much of anything else. 

This past weekend I turned 40, and I rounded a curve. I’m diving back into this precious pregnancy with a shifted mindset. Every kick and roll from the baby is part of a new, intimate conversation between the two of us about our future. Sleeplessness is no longer time wasted, but bonding time gained. 

As far as the nursery is concerned, I’m regaining sight of an activity I love— working with what I’ve got. I’m blending what already exists in the room with a mix of layers and materials thick with meaning. (The photos in this post are various pieces + inspirations I’m putting to use.) 

I can’t change the carpet, the ceiling light/fan, or even certain furnishings… just like I can’t change some of the things taking place within my body and the baby’s. But I can create a safe, and loving space— inside and outside the womb. And I am finally able to envision and embrace a multi-functional place for our growing family to experience together. 

Posts showing the room transformation to come.

Mini Crib for Our Small Space Nursery

This was a bittersweet moment. I really wanted to have our second child here at the cottage.

Unfortunately, the timing simply didn't align. (Click here to read my post about becoming pregnant after trying to conceive for 2 years.)

For months, West asked to see where the baby will sleep, so we finally showed him the lil’ convertible crib, which will accompany us on our next adventure... 

We have the Bloom alma mini+ crib, which is more compact than a standard design, and can convert to a larger size and toddler bed when the time comes. 

Tiny Nursery Lighting Options

When we first created baby West's nursery bay (full post here), one of the things I struggled with the most was lighting. We definitely needed a light source, but it had to be very specific for the space. Most nursery table lamps would take up too much surface space on the tiny chest of drawers, and most overhead lighting was either too bulky or would've glowed too hot in the little closet nook. I eventually found a combination of accent lighting we loved, and that can be easily moved and adjusted for safety as West grows.

The design I use most frequently is a strand of warm-hued battery-operated twinkle lights, dropped into a rattan backpack. It hangs on the wall or from a curtain rod like a lamp, and can be toted around the cottage like a glittering flashlight.

As always, please keep safety in mind when decorating your home. Take particular care to avoid choking, strangulation, shock, and fire hazards when it comes to nursery lighting.