Hand washing diapers - grape stomp method

I have at times been in a position where hand washing my diapers was the most practical option.  Hand washing diapers is thoroughly us doable.  However this is a method I recommend only for natural fiber diapers (cotton and it hemp).  Also it is best for diapers that are not thick (flats, prefolds,  butterflies).  Some Fitted's, Mini's and AI2's can be hand washed but it depends in construction.  First, natural fibers.  Second, thin layers (soaker layers that are max 4 layers when opened up). 

Fill tub (hot water if possible) with correct punt of detergent for load being washed. 

Spread out opened diapers. 

Roll up pants, or wear shorts, or shirt skirt. 

Stop in tub like you were stomping grapes for about 15 min. 

Drain tub and wring out diapers. 

Fill tub with cool (not cold, you'll freeze your feet) water.  Mix with white vinegar. 

Put diapers back in. Opened up.  Stomp 5 min. 

Wring and shake out diapers, then drain tub. 

Hang (if possible in sun) diapers till dry. 

Tips:
• do in morning for full day if sun.
•iron when dry to soften up diapers.
•if you have access to a dryer, throw dried diapers in dryer with a wet (but not soaking) cloth for 5-10 min to soften up.
•soak pail in vinegar water while washing diapers, then rinse and wipe when done.
•put music on and dance/stomp out the diapers
•enjoy the healthy exercise while getting diapers cleaned
•yes I use same detergent when hand washing.  I use xtra or gain.  Tide is also very good.

Yeah, I said that.

Its no secret I think disposable diapers and disposable diapering customs are gross.  So when I saw the petition to make pampers correct their pamphlet about diapering (pampers good, cloth gross), i also shared to fb, where i posted my opinion about it.   And I directed my comments towards the Pampers conpany

Well, what a fb backlash I got from some lol.  It seems some disposable diaper moms took it personally that I disapproved of Pampers making a diaper that lasts 12 hours (cuz that's nasty), or all their chemicals.   So let's get this straight.   Me criticizing Pampers is a mommy wars act?  But if a mom chooses disposable diapers cuz she thinks handling cloth is gross, that's not.  Kind of like if a mom raves about breastfeeding that's a mommy war, but if moms talk about how they could never bring themselves to nurse in public or "I can't believe she is STILL nursing, at that age"....that's not a mommy war?  

Let you in on a secret.  Mommy wars are an imagined construct created by commercial retailers to attack things they can't profit from, and moms have stupidly bought into it!  There has always been different parenting styles and choices.  There has always been moms insecure enough about their choices that they felt defensive.  Thay they now can demean another mom and accuse her of a so called mommy war simply because she is insecure in her choices and doesn't want to hear that there are better options, that's new, and ridiculous.  And yes BETTER choices cuz Breast is best. Science proven.  I could go on, but I'll leave it at that cuz I have a diaper to change. 

Where Can You Get My Diapers

Well if you sew you can make your own!  I've made several tutorials.  Most of our stash is butterfly fitteds.  I have made them on the following combinations which I will list from most to least absorbent.  That said the least absorbent are still awesome and are as absorbent as needed for day use.  For night, they'd need a doubler. 
*for those new to butterfly's, the sides are folded in, tripling each layer
•1 cotton fleece (with micro fleece sewn to one wing), 1 hemp fleece
• 1 CV (cotton velour), 1 hemp fleece
•1 flannel  (with micro fleece sewn to one wing), 1 hemp fleece
•3 flannel

Will I be selling these, like my mai tei?
I honestly don't know.  I'd like to see more hemp diapers out there, especially since I'm all about natural (for real natural, not bamboo-rayon). 
If you email me, I might lol.  My biggest issues are:
• what to charge that equals cost + labour and is still a fair price?
•snaps, I don't use them, really truly my diapers are snapless, but I think most like snaps.  And they are an added cost, and for sure added time.

I'll take input on that from those who want these.   

Another Reason Disposable Diapers Discust me

In a perfect world everyone reduces, reuses and recycles.  The majority of us however still do make garbage at varying levels.  And when make garbage we all know it belongs in the trash and littering is wrong.  However we have all at some point been a bad steward of this Earth and littered at least once. 

Maybe we justified that it was compostable. Or that some park or sidewalk cleaner would be picking up.  Whatever out justification, we knew better. 

Of course some just don't care: junkies tossing needles, those people who toss a used condom and skanky panties late at night in a playground (who are these people)....and people who toss disposable diapers as litter. 

Harsh comparison? Not when you consider they are tossing human waste and harsh chemicals.  That makes it a pretty even comparison.  Baby poop isn't magical gold, its ecoli carrying feces.  Nasty

Mai Tei orders and fabrics

This post is for those local (southeast Ontario) looking to order a mai tei.  The mai tei has two fabrics, structural and decorative.

Structural
It takes 2m canvas bark cloth. Its soft, organic, and 9 oz weight (can carry a preschooler).  It cost me $45

Decorative
It takes me 1/2 meter organic knit this cost $10.  The left over will make up the carry bag. 

Here are a few organic wovens (1/2m for $10 also) that match a few of the bark cloth fabrics better. 

Shipping to me is $9, plus thread and shoulder padding and tax

With it costing me $75 CND (first time I added up cost I forgot to include tax and exchangr rate on one of the fabrics) to make, I carge $105.  If you wish to order one out of less expensive, non organics fabrics I can make for $60.  The structural fabric will likely be twill or denim and the decorative panel would be a quilters cotton.  I would purchase these from fabricland.  Your need to tell me your preferred colours and print types.  If you can text while I'm  there so we can have fabric confirmation prior to me purchasing.

To order email mamamossdiapers@gmail.com with a title "mai tei order".  In the email include screen shot of fabric choice, fabric combo name or description of a fabricland order.  Include text and name if possible.
$75 is required upfront for an organic, or $35 for fabricland.  When complete (1week tops) I'll send pic.  You will have two weeks to pay remainder.  Pick up is in Kingston unless you wish to pay for shipping.

Some fabric combo ideas

                          Owl Nesting

                         Forest Party

                    Meadows blue-gold

             Birds of a Feather; Sun Splash

                 Crack of Dawn Wood's

                     Turquoise Splash

                          Knotty Owls

                               Foxy

Peacock Blooms

                      Apples and Vines

                            Girl Roar

                        Chic bubbles

Girly whirly

Bird song

Classy

                        Under the Sea

                         Knot Garden

Birds of a Feather; Earth & Sky

Candy Land Woods

 And many more combinations you discover.

*unpaid for items will be put up for resale to re-coup labour.

Summer rompers

Today I made a light weight knit romper for the summer.  Its the one piece back snap romper in the tutorial section but the legs are shorter and without cuffs and there are no sleeves.  I added a fish applique to the bum.  

You'll notice how short the inseam is.  Babies have very short inseams and monkey is long legged.  Its hard to believe this is a long short on him lol.  

Monkey needs more clothes (growth spurt)

So I was shocked when the size 2 clothes from grandparents fit.  Then i was shocked when his romper was to small.  I threw on. Size 3 outfit the other day...the fit was baggy but pants stayed up.  Apparently monkey had a growth spurt, no biggie.  At the park i hear "can you tell him to share" "can you make him hurry up the steps" (to the slide) "oh he isn't talking yet??". To which I keep explaining he is one....his birthday was only a couple weeks ago....yes just had his first bday".  It's frustrating.  He's my perfect monkey.  I'm the mama who doesn't want her little baby criticized.  All us moms feel that way.  And so he was weighed and measured.  26lbs.  That didn't sound right, he's slimmed down and not that chunky.  34 1/2 inches.  Wait; what?  Thirty-four and a half inches?  Where is that on the chart.  Doctor doesn't use chart for Native Breastfed babies, WHO charts don't include First Nations.  OK. But if you used it where would that be.  Above the 100th percentile, average size of a 2 year old.  100th percentile for am 18month old.  Well that explains the comments....sort of.  He babbles like a baby.  He's a solid walker but walks like a newly turned toddler. Not a 2yr old.  I have to say its hard to swallow that my lil monkey is that big....and how to tell Daddy that we need all new clothes (more fabric)?. 

I have a suggestion moms.  Watch comments and pay attention.  The baby with eating and dress....likely a girl.  The brown tiddler with a braid and daddy's little slugger shirt... Likely a boy.  Baby not walking. Make a cute comment.  My solution to such a convos the other day was telling the adoring mama that such a beauty of a princess knows she should be carried instead if walking like the commoners.  She laughed and smiled and showed be the sparkly little shoes she just bought her.  And the waddling, babbling lil Monkey on the play ground is likely just a big busting baby, not and under developed 2 year old.