Traveling with Cloth Diapers or Hybrid Diapers?

Posted on May 2, 2013 | 2 comments

My family and I just enjoyed a quick family trip out of town. It is getting to be summer and a great time for traveling and visiting family. I imagine others will be planning summer travel soon and wanted to share some tips on how to travel with cloth or hybrid diapers. Traveling with hybrid diapers is super convenient, and with these tips, traveling with cloth diapers may be easier than you think.

If you saw my posts on getting started with cloth diapers or composting diapers, you know that we are big fans of using reusable diapers at home. Many parents wonder what to do, however, when getting on the road. Disposable diapers are convenient, sure, but we still had concerns about using them traveling, including the environmental impact, the cost of buying a product you use once a then throw away, and increased diaper rash. We found using the gDiapers hybrid diaper system away from home surprisingly easy! So far they have joined us on numerous long weekend trips and a three-state, two-week journey last summer. Here are some of my tips.

Plan ahead.

If you will be staying with friends or family, ask them ahead of time if they would mind if you washed cloth diapers in their washing machine. So far no one has turned us down, but we also let them know that we wouldn’t mind using disposables if they did. Tip: I brought a small amount of our dye- and perfume-free detergent with me.

If you will be needing a hotel, consider getting a vacation rental instead. We LOVE vacation rentals for the privacy, kitchens and amenities–not to mention value. So far we have stayed in a condo right on the beach in Florida, cabins in Big Bear, and (for our honeymoon) an amazing house in Bali. Two websites I have had luck on are vrbo.com and homeaway.com. Just make sure the property you are considering has a washer and dryer. You will want it for laundry anyway. :)

Use disposable inserts.

At home we use gDiapers cloth inserts during the day and biodegradable disposable inserts for sleep. For long car rides and flying, we also like to use the disposable inserts. They hold more, can be changed less often, and can conveniently be tossed in the trash when done.

Even if you use strictly cloth at home, consider trying a biodegradable insert in your pocket diaper for travel. Although the fit is maximized for gDiapers, I’ve heard other families use them with other brand cloth diaper covers with success.

For a long trip (4-5 days or longer)…

… I liked setting up a mini diaper changing station, just like at home, with cloth diaper wipes and diaper area spray. I brought two waterproof laundry bags (one for clean and one for dirty) and washed the diapers every few days. I also liked packing all of the clean cloth diapers and wipes in a clean laundry bag for travel days. It made the suitcase a little more organized.

For a short trip…

…cut yourself some slack! On our last 2-night trip it just seemed easier to use a mix of gDiapers with biodegradable inserts and traditional disposable diapers (in our case, we like Huggies Pure and Natural) instead of taking our cloth diapers traveling. We also made it easy with disposable wipes. Hey, it’s vacation!

And don’t forget the swim diapers!

So far we like iplay’s plain white swim diaper and their swim diaper with a matching rash guard. Pack at least two.

Update: A version of this post has been republished on the gDiapers blog “Diaper Therapy.” Check it out!

what tips do you have for traveling with cloth diapers? Please share in the comments.

2 Comments

Posted in Green Parenting, How To, Parenting

Tagged cloth diapers, family travel, hybrid diapers, natural parenting, parenting, travel, travel with babies

Baby Goats! (…Which Means Fresh Milk!)

Posted on April 22, 2013 | 1 comment

I’m so excited! Yesterday we received our first milk delivery in a while. As I explained in my Home Dairy 101 post, we are members of a goat co-op and receive fresh milk weekly. We actually haven’t been receiving milk for the last few months as all of the does have been pregnant and just had their babies.

Springtime is for babies! I know I claimed that there was nothing cuter than a baby chick in the post on how we hatched chicks without a rooster, but these baby goats are pretty cute!

Many thanks from Cari at White Mountains Ranch for the use of her photos, as well as taking such excellent care of our goaties. You can see more of the goats and their babies here.

Even if you don’t own goats (or a part of a goat) spring is the best time to buy fresh goat milk at farmer’s markets and other stores. Not sure what to do with fresh goat milk? Brush up on how to pasteurize milk at home, homemade cajeta, and how easy it is to make goat cheese (chèvre) at home. I hope to add some posts soon on ricotta, feta, and a mold-ripened goat cheese, inspired by Humbolt Fog.

Click on any picture in the gallery below to enlarge.

1 Comment

Posted in Backyard Goats, Home Dairy, Urban Homesteading

Tagged Backyard Goats, homesteading, Urban Homesteading

Rustic Split Pea and Chicken Stew in a Pressure Cooker

Posted on April 21, 2013 | 1 comment

We have really been enjoying our pressure cooker. I think it really shines in a dish like this Split Pea and Chicken Stew. (I make this recipe multiple times a month with either lentils or peas.) In twenty minutes I have a dish that tastes like it cooked all day. I also love that I can sear in the same pot, unlike in my Tagine or slow cooker, making this an easy, one pot meal that the whole family enjoys. Combining the lentils or peas with a small amount of chicken really stretches the protein, making it very economical. And the small amount of pancetta is optional but adds a secret richness to the peas. The result: well, the next morning, Little Bird asked for “soup” for breakfast.

Rustic Split Pea and Chicken Stew Recipe

1 Tablespoon of olive oil
1 oz of diced pancetta (optional)
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
salt and pepper
1 sweet onion, diced
2 celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 oz mushrooms, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup of dried split green peas (or lentils)
3-4 cups of chicken broth or water (use the larger amount if you want it to be more like soup)
1 bay leaf
2-3 sprigs of thyme
1/2 tablespoon of a dried spice and herb blend
balsamic vinegar, for serving

In a pressure cooker, over medium heat, sauté the onions and pancetta (if using) followed by the carrots, celery and mushrooms, until soft, adding the garlic and any spices for the last minute. Add a splash of broth to deglaze, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan and mixing it into the broth. Add the rest of the broth, the split peas or lentils, chicken, and any herbs and spices. Give a quick stir and then cover and cook in the pressure cooker, according to the manufacturer’s instructions for 10 minutes at pressure. (At this point mine just starts to smell like split peas.) Allow the steam to release naturally (or quick release if you are inpatient like me.) Taste to check the seasoning, and adjust if needed. Serve with a drizzle of the balsamic vinegar.

This serves 4-6. (Or two hungry adults and one toddler, twice.)

1 Comment

Posted in Food, Healthy Recipes, Recipes for the Whole Family

Tagged meals for the whole family, naturally gluten free, soup

Ticket Giveaway: Your Natural Baby Fair!

Posted on April 17, 2013 | 10 comments

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Your Natural Baby Fair and by New Mommy Media who are providing the free tickets and prices. All opinions are my own.

Last year Baby Bird and I ventured out to Your Natural Baby Fair. As it so happens, I won my ticket by commenting on the San Diego Breastfeeding Center’s blog. Even though my family will be out of town this year, I was thinking about sharing about the fair anyway, as it is something I really believe in. When I was recently offered the opportunity to pass on some free tickets to my readers, I figured this is a perfect way to pay it forward (or is it pay it back?), in gratitude for my free pass last year!

This year’s fair features Dr. Sears, the author of the Vaccine Book, as the keynote speaker. The fair has grown, supposedly doubled, and is in a new location. Even if you are not in San Diego, please consider entering the contest, as there is also the opportunity to win a subscription to a New Mommy Media podcast.

Scroll down to the bottom to enter!

The following information (in blue) was provided by Your Natural Baby Fair:

Your Natural BabyFair partners with local businesses to reinvent the traditional baby fair by focusing awareness on natural supports and holistic health from before your baby is born through childhood. Parents, practitioners, experts and families are welcomed to learn the latest trends of creating a healthy and nurturing environment for the whole family.

We are excited to announce our keynote speaker – Dr. Sears, MD FAAP, Author of the newly revised and updated “The Vaccine Book.” Dr. Sears will be speaking on Vaccine Decisions for Pregnant Women, Infants, and Families.

Our online and live auction the day of the fair will be benefitting the Protect our Children Now Campaign to demonstrate the results of Vitamin D health for pregnancy and children brought to you by GrassrootsHealth and the DAction Network.

This event is for anyone who is interested in learning more about all things supportive for fertility, pregnancy, birth and baby. Whether you are a practitioner, expert, parent or someone interested in learning the most recent trends in health and wellness for you and your family, we will have something worth your while!

FREE goodie bags for the first 200 to arrive
THREE classrooms filled with educational presentations by local and national experts in the fields of fertility, birth, bonding, health and baby care
A room full of vendors, shopping and demonstrations (sign language, food making, chiropractic, kids fitness, music, baby-wearing, cloth diapering and more!)
Kids’ entertainment, including face painting, kid’s classes and HULLABALOO!!!
ONLINE AUCTION to benefit the Protect our Children NOW and GrassrootsHealth
A great event for both practitioners / professionals and families!!
ARRIVE EARLY! Our first presenters start at 10:00…doors open at 9:00am… Registration will begin at 8:30am.

TICKET SALES: Click Here

When: Saturday April 27th 9am to 4pm
Where: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina 1380 Harbor Island Drive

This year Your Natural Baby Fair is expanding its reach with LIVE broadcasting from the event via New Mommy Media, which produces three podcasts that cover topics new and expecting parents want to know more about in a dynamic panel discussion with a new episode released each week.

Mama Bird here: New Mommy Media is the group that produces the podcast I recently was a panelist on–which I mentioned in the post on Introducing Solids.

Please submit a question for Sunny Gault of New Mommy Media to ask of one of the amazing speakers:

Dr. Bob Sears will deliver the keynote: Vaccine Decisions for Pregnant Women, Infants, and Families.

Penny Simkin will talk about The First Hour After Birth: What Parents Need To Know.

Carole Baggerly’s talk is titled: Vitamin D for LIFE Protection–Pregnancy through Maturity.

AND if your question is chosen you may end up asking it LIVE either at the event or via phone!

In the comments below pose your best question to one or all three of the experts, please indicate to whom your question is directed. If one of your questions is chosen, you will receive a one year subscription to the New Mommy Media podcast program of your choice, Preggie Pals, The Boob Group or Parent Savers and also win a ticket to attend the event PLUS the opportunity to ask the expert your question LIVE on air!

IN ADDITION Natural Baby Pros and New Mommy Media are awarding 2 tickets to a random winner, so submit your questions and get your bonus entries to increase your chances of winning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 Comments

Posted in Contests, Giveaways and Promotions, Green Parenting

Tagged freebies, give away, give aways, natural baby, natural baby fair, natural parenting, Pregnancy

Cooking with Very Small Children: Baby Bird’s Applesauce

Posted on April 14, 2013 | 3 comments

No, the title does not refer to cooking up children for dinner. I’ll try some adventurous food, but I’m no cannibal. I’m talking about how wonderful it is to have children, even infants, helping in the kitchen. You’ve heard of farm to table, but how about tree to highchair? In one of my proudest parenting moments, my 11-month-old helped pick apples from a tree and made them into applesauce.

We like to involve her in cooking, showing her the whole foods and every step of the process. It makes her more excited to eat the food. And we love to show her plants growing, so that she knows tomatoes come from a plant, carrots from the ground, as well as eggs from chickens. It was a wonderful experience to take her to a local orchard last fall for apple picking. Babies at this age love putting things in bowls and bags (and taking them out again.)

When letting babies and toddlers help in the kitchen there are plenty of chores that do not involve heat or sharp knives. Since moving things from one container to another is a fun game at this stage, have little one (from 9 months on) move the apple pieces from the cutting board or a bowl into a (room temperature) pot. The pieces were too large for swallowing, in case she wanted to chew on or taste one. Mine also liked to move scraps and peel into the compost container. After 12-15 months, toddlers love to stir things, too. At 18 months, Little Bird loves to help scramble her eggs. We put a heavy bowl on the kitchen floor, let her watch us crack the eggs and she “stir, stir, stirs”!

Baby Bird’s First Applesauce Recipe

apples, peeled, cored and cut in chunks
a few splashes of apple juice or water
1/2 – 1 teaspoon grains of paradise
(optional) 1/4 teaspoon salt

Place the apples in a medium sized pot. Add enough juice or water to cover up the apples 1/3 to 1/2 the way up. No sugar is needed, as apples are naturally sweet, but if you prefer the sauce to be sweeter, choose apple juice over water. Add the grains of paradise and salt to taste. Bring the apples up to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes until they are soft and start to fall apart. Mash with a fork or the back of a spoon for a slightly chunky sauce.

Notes:

Grains of Paradise are a pepper-like spice. They have less bite than black pepper and are absolutely wonderful with apples (as well as on eggs, in guacamole, and almost anywhere you would use pepper.) After trying them, I no longer like cinnamon in my apple pie or applesauce, but feel free to substitute. We keep ours in an extra pepper mill and grind as needed.

Baby Bird enjoyed her first adventure apple picking, apple bagging, sorting, eating and cooking!