Breastfeeding and Yeast Infection – Taming the yeast beast
March 30, 2008 | 29 Comments
Now that it’s getting warm out, it’s time for me to write about an issue that might be affecting a nursing mommy out there: breastfeeding and yeast infection (thrush). Troubles with yeast are more common in the warmer months because yeast loves to hang out in damp warm sweaty places.
Thrush is one of those things that can creep up on a nursing mother and cause pain, even lead to her giving up breastfeeding. Sometimes women have no idea that a yeast infection is what’s causing their pain. It’s not understood very well and many women don’t even know that yeast infection of the breast exists. But it does!
I struggled with it for a long time when my oldest was born. At first it was just painful nipples, but because I didn’t know how to resolve it, it got much worse. The pain was very bad – I felt as if someone was sticking ice picks into my back. (This is because the yeast can colonize the milk producing glands high in the breast.) Even my shirt rubbing across my chest hurt. It felt like sandpaper.
I wonder how many moms have given up breastfeeding because they thought it was “supposed” to hurt like this?
I finally kicked it, but me, my baby AND baby daddy had to be treated. (Yes, it can be passed through THAT kind of contact too, and men are usually asymptomatic.) He and I took Diflucan, and that was enough to stop the cycle of transmitting it back and forth.
As was mentioned before, sometimes a breastfeeding mother will suffer from pain during nursing which she thinks is “normal”. But breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt. Repeat after me: pain with breastfeeding is common, not normal. If everyone knows what they’re doing and there are no anatomical anomolies (I just love saying that!), then there won’t be any pain. I had no pain nursing babies 2, 3 and 4 because we didn’t have this issue.
What often precipitates yeast troubles is that mother takes antibiotics around her birth (often in the case of a Cesarean delivery or a postpartum urinary tract infection) and comes down with symptoms. The baby may have thrush in his mouth, or he may not. He may have a diaper rash or he may not. But the baby and Mom pass the yeast infection back and forth. Baby may even be fussy at the breast. Mom thinks it’s “her milk”, and weans. This is a sad outcome.
While it is “normal” (again – in the sense of common) to experience some soreness with the initiation of breastfeeding, especially in the first time Mom, this should be little more than a temporary discomfort that goes away after the first few days or weeks. The tissue is becoming used to a new activity. It Mom is having PAIN, that is not normal and is a sign that something is wrong. Normal soreness typically only hurts when baby first latches on, then subsides as the feeding continues. Yeast hurts all the time, even when baby isn’t feeding and gets worse over time.If Mom has seen a Lactation Consultant or La Leche League leader and corrected any problems with latch on or positioning and baby’s anatomy is normal, she should suspect yeast.
This is especially true if Mom has had antibiotics, eats a high sugar diet, baby has any signs of thrush (white patches in the mouth, crying/fussing when feeding, diaper rash) or Mom’s partner suffers from yeast related symptoms (itching in the boy bits, although as I said, men usually get off scott free in this area).Keep in mind that weaning won’t make the yeast go away. It will just move to the vagina or gut if Mom weans the baby (it’s probably already there anyway), and the baby will have pain in his mouth when he bottle feeds also. Better to just get rid of the yeast altogether. Shall we?
Natural Treatments For Breast Yeast And Infant Thrush
Baking soda
Baking soda can be an effective treatment for thrush. It changes the ph of the skin, inhibiting fungal growth. You can make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to Mom’s nipples. Rinse off before feeding the baby. Baby can also take baths with a little baking soda sprinkled in the water, which will soothe any yeasty diaper rash (it looks bright red and hurts).
Vinegar
Vinegar also kills yeast by changing the alkaline/acid balance of the skin, in the opposite way that baking soda does (obviously you would choose one or the other, not both treatments!). It can be irritating to the skin however, so care is needed. One tablespoon added to a cup of water and applied to Mom’s nipples several times a day with a cotton pad can help.
Olive Oil and Coconut Oil
Olive and coconut oil are highly nutritious for lactating women and should be used daily in the diet. Both have antifungal properties and coconut oil in particular is excellent for immune system health. Coconut oil is delicious for baking, added to smoothies, used to cook eggs, etc. Olive oil is delicious in soups, casseroles, used to cook meats, etc. Olive oil and coconut oil can also be taken straight from the spoon.
Some moms have had success applying a bit of oil to their nipples. both for pain and to help heal the infection. I wouldn’t recommend leaving it on if the baby is a newborn, but it’s fine for older babies who are eating solid foods.
Don’t shy away from healthy fats if you’re in your reproductive years ladies. These two fats don’t make you fat. Nursing Mothers all over the world since the beginning of time have thrived on high fat diets. Low fat is not healthy for the lactating or pregnant woman. And eating cheap oils means the fat in your breastmilk is of lower quality.
Strict Hygiene
Fungus is very hardy. Good hygiene is important if you want to prevent reoccurence. Wash your nursing bras and pads, panties and cloth diapers in hot water and do a double rinse. Add vinegar to the first rinse to help kill yeast and prevent irritation from detergents. Wash your hands well with hot soapy water after using the toilet or changing diapers.
If you’re using any bottles or pacifiers, boil them before use. Throw away nipples and pacifiers after treating the thrush and buy new ones. Or better yet don’t use them if at all possible. Be sure to sanitize your breast pump parts too if you use one.
Avoid plastic backed nursing pads. They create moisture and heat which yeast loves. Use cloth nursing pads instead. Go braless when you can to let the breasts air out. And don’t use any type of soap on the breasts, ever.It’s a good idea for Mom and baby to use their own towels and washcloths for awhile. Launder them separately, using the vinegar rinse mentioned above. If it’s hot and sunny out, hang them in the sun to help kill yeast.
Wipe baby’s mouth with a clean wet washcloth or cloth napkin after feeding.
Herbal/Supplements
Garlic and Pau d’Arco have antifungal and immune building properties. Caprylic acid and oregano oil are also antifungal, and they’re found in Yeast Assassin. Oregano oil is antifungal also. You can find many supplements that contain these ingredients in one formula.
Nutrition
Another thing that will help is supplementing with probiotics. Eat plenty of plain yogurt, kefir and cultured veggies like homemade sauerkraut. These kinds of foods contain lots of beneficial bacteria that help keep the yeast in check in the gut. It’s also very important to eliminate sugar while treating yeast infections. This will be hard because you’ll crave it something terrible! But stay strong and remove sugar, white flour, all junk food and simple carbs (white rice and even fruit) for awhile. Eat plenty of meat and protein, and tons of vegetables while you’re clearing the infection.
There are some prescription medications that you can get for yeast troubles from your baby’s Pediatrician or your OB/GYN. One is Nystatin. It’s commonly prescribed as a liquid suspension. It’s sticky and full of sugar. I hated using that stuff. It didn’t work, and it only made me and the baby and my clothes stick together like glue. And the sugar content – hello!
Another old fashioned remedy is Gentian Violet, sold in some pharmacies. I tried this one too and it’s messy to work with because it stains everything bright purple. I couldn’t take my baby out for a week because he looked like Papa Smurf. And I had to wear an old purple T shirt so as not to ruin my entire wardrobe. But it is pretty effective. There are some concerns about Gentian Violet being carcinogenic with long term exposure, but it typically only has to be used for a day or two to work so most people who care about babies and mothers say it’s ok for this short term use. It’s also very inexpensive and available without a Doctor’s prescription or even a visit to the office.
Diflucan was the ticket for me. Along with the nutrition and other self help measures listed above, we finally kicked it for good. The thing with Diflucan is that a lot of Doctors who are ignorant of how breastfeeding works will tell you that it’s not safe for nursing moms. That’s pretty ridiculous because Diflucan is prescribed for premature infants! Medications and Mother’s Milk is considered the authoritative source on the safety of various drugs for breastfeeding women and Diflucan gets the ok. As for me, we had tried everything else first and the meds helped me get relief, fast so it was worth it.
Have you ever had breast yeast and what did you do about it? Do tell!
Another Natural Mommy Ponders Her Personal Care Product Choices
March 29, 2008 | 12 Comments
Beth over at NaturalMommy posted on her blog that she’s rethinking some of her makeup and skin care shopping as of late. I left a few lengthy comments over there but also wanted to discuss this on my blog. I’ve already expressed what I see as some of the problems of working the CVS system – the tempation to obtain products that really aren’t good for you or for the environment, just because they’re free.
Basically Beth was asking for other natural mommas to share their tips for getting pretty on a budget – and using natural and safer products all the while. This can be a challenge. Personally I hate spending money on beauty stuff, so I do a combination of things to get cute on a budget including:
1) Just plain using less stuff to begin with (a lot of skin care stuff is unnecessary and overkill). Most beauty experts agree that noone needs toner, for example. You need a gentle cleanser (only once a day, at night. Splashing your face with water in the morning is sufficient) and a moisturizer, preferably with sunscreen.
Washing your hair less (or skipping the shampoo altogether) works too. I have very thick, coarse, wavy/curly hair and only shampoo once every 4 days. Any more than that and I resemble a brunette Brillo pad. Or Simba with his finger stuck in a socket. And the styling product I use is a little bit of moisturizer in my hands mixed with a tiny bit of styling gel. I learned this trick years ago and it works great for my hair texture.
When it comes to the kids, I never used soap on their skin at all when they were babies. Ever. Water is sufficient to clean a baby’s skin. As they got older, Dr. Bronner’s was my friend. The stuff goes a LONG way. I dilute! dilute! mine just like it says on the bottle. 
I never needed diaper rash cream because my kids didn’t get rashes because if they even looked rashy I just took the diaper off or loosely pinned on a prefold and it cleared up the same day.
2) Making my own or using really simple ingredients for skin care. For instance olive oil for a makeup remover and moisturizer. And sugar or salt scrubs to scrub my body, and baking soda to exfoliate my face. Oh and making my own homemade tooth powder. (which my Dentist approves, sans the cinnamon!) Here are some more of my cheap green beauty tips and natural skin care recipes.
One thing that surprised me was the Pollyanna attitude of some of the other commenters. Perhaps they don’t realize that cosmetics and personal care products aren’t regulated the way that the food supply is. Manufacturers can put pretty much whatever they want in makeup and skin care products without anyone looking over their shoulder. They don’t have to prove the safety of their products.
Putting our head in the sand about stuff we slather on our bodies isn’t smart. We take care to eat well – why would we pay less attention to what we rub in and on our skin, the body’s largest organ and the immune system’s first line of defense? To pretend that everything in the marketplace is safe is not smart. As an example, women in my mother’s generation thought they were doing the right thing by applying talc to their baby’s tushies. Now we know that talc can cause cancer. If we can easily make a safer choice, why wouldn’t we?
One good place to search for safer products is the Safe Cosmetics Database. Searching through the website, I’ve found that some of the data needs to be taken with a grain of salt. For example, some of the Burt’s Bees products get poor ratings, but upon closer inspection, it appears that the ingredients in question (like sodium borate or castor oil) are only harmful or toxic in very large amounts. Still, it’s a good place to start.
How do you get pretty on a tight budget – while still using natural ingredients?
Salad Saturday!
March 29, 2008 | 2 Comments
Each Saturday I’ll post a free salad recipe from my new salad cookbook. It ha
s over 365 recipes, so you can either buy it now or just hang around here for the next 6 years. LOL!
Autumn Fruit Salad
2 red delicious apples
1 sliced banana
1 Granny Smith apple
2 Bartlett pears
1/2 pound red grapes
1/2 cup almond slivers — toasted
1 cup organic vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon apple cider cider
Wash and core apples and pears, peeling if desired. Cut into one inch chunks. Slice bananas 1/2″ thick. Wash grapes and cut in half. Combine fruits and almonds in salad bowl. Mix yogurt with spices and cider. Pour over fruit salad and stir to coat fruits evenly. Chill.
Are You Reading These Reviews?
March 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Do you ever read the reviews on the Natural Mom Product Reviews site?
We’ve gotten some really great reviews lately. Thanks to those of you who submitted well written reviews! (And the Paypal cash was nice, no?)
It helps to get someone else’s opinion before you spend your hard earned money on stuff. Go read some of these:
- Gripe water reviews
- Balance ball workout DVD
- Raising Baby Green book review
- Jason Naturals Kids Shampoo
- Earth Mama Angel Baby New Mama Bottom Spray
- Kissaluvs Fitted Cloth Diapers
- Kiss My Face Swy Flotter Insect Repellent
- Burt’s Bees Head to Toe Starter Kit
If you’re a mom in business you can send your products to me and I will review them personally. Contact me at carrie at naturalmomstalkradio dot com if you’re interested.
Chores And Your Kids
March 27, 2008 | 1 Comment
How many and what kinds of chores do your kids do?
Yesterday I met a friend at the park so our kids could play and we could chat (we Moms know we get together just as much for ourselves as for them!). One of the things my friend talked about was how her kids don’t do enough chores. She made the statement:
“We (meaning she and her husband) do everything for them. They just don’t know what it means to work.”
It kind of shocked me to hear her say that. I’m pretty laid back about a lot of things with my kids. But one thing I insist on is them working around the house.
I believe that kids NEED and WANT to work hard. It makes them feel good about themselves. It shows them that, in a very tangible way, they’re essential to the running of the household. Instead of being a burden, they’re important helpers!
When my show was very new I interviewed a woman named Kelly Nault. She wrote a book called “When You’re About To Go Off The Deep End, Don’t Take Your Kids With You.” (You can read one of her articles on my site here: proactive strategies for preventing behavior problems.)
One of the core principles in her book was that kids WANT and NEED to do chores. In our interview she pointed out that years ago, young kids were entrusted with valuable tasks. For example, a child of 10 may have been operating the family tractor – something more costly than the home they lived in! It helped them develop self esteem and self worth, among other benefits.
With my own kids, I like to talk about what life was like for early American children. I’m not above reminding my kids that Laura and Mary Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder went to the breakfast table HUNGRY in the morning because they had already done chores for an hour or two before they got there (after arising at sunrise or earlier!). There was no pickiness at the table back then. When you’re hungry you don’t care what’s put in front of you!
My boys have chore charts on the refrigerator, and before they are allowed to do something like play on the computer or watch a PBS show, they have to have their chores completed.
They have daily chores (like putting their dishes in the dishwasher, helping me unload the dishwasher, feeding the cat and the chickens and gathering eggs, taking out the trash, picking up their play areas before dinner) and they have weekly chores (things like mopping the floor, vacuuming, helping me clean out the car, sweeping the front porch). The oldest cooks a lot too. And they all put their laundry away afer I fold it (sometimes they help me fold the easy stuff).
The girls don’t have chore charts yet but I expect the 5 year old to pick up her toys twice a day, to keep the mountain of artwork she creates in check, to put her laundry in the hampers, and pick up her closet area. She also likes to help wash dishes. And anything that has to do with spraying a cleaner and wiping anything.
And the baby “helps” me pick up toys. Sometimes. LOL! She has a little kid size mop and broom that she loves to use whenever one of the older kids or I are sweeping or mopping too.
Maybe because my friend has her husband to help, and also doesn’t work from home every day, she can handle it all herself. But I can’t. If I had to do everything I would lose my mind, and I wouldn’t have any time to get work that earns money done either! Even if I could do it all, I would be doing my kids a disservice by not expecting them to work.
And you know what I’ve noticed about kids? They resent being told what to do but love to join you in whatever you’re doing. It’s natural and normal for kids to want to mimic adults. That’s why they’re always getting in the way trying to help when you’re doing something.
How many times have you been doing a chore and had one of your kids ask if they could help? Of course they don’t do a very good job but who cares? I’ve always tried to be a little more patient and lower my expectations. Helping is how they learn and I don’t want them turned off of cleaning or cooking because I always shooed them away.
Aurelia, miss Real Life Coach extraordinaire sent me this article today and I decided to publish it here. Let me know what you think and how chores are handled in your house.
Children and Chores – Do You Delegate?
A few generations ago, children were commonly expected to help around the house. When society was mainly based on agricultural endeavors, children were expected to help around the farm as well. Our society has changed and so has our expectation of our children. Learning to delegate household chores to children can benefit both the children and the parents.
Let’s admit it, mom and dad work hard all day. Facing household chores in the evening can take away time that should be spent with kids, stress you out or just add another burden to your otherwise overloaded to do list. Delegating household chores between all the occupants of the house seems only fair. There are jobs around the house even the smallest child can do.
Chores are great for the kids as well. Though they may complain, forget or otherwise try to find ways out of chores they do benefit from them. They are taught responsibility, essential life skills and even some reasoning skills. Learning to do dishes or laundry is essential to any child. They need to be able to do these on their own some day so they may as well start doing these at home. It also gives them a feeling of accomplishment.
What chores kids can do, really depends on the age and the ability of that child. You may want to do the chore with them to begin with. Show them the correct way, then let them try it with your supervision. If they do ok, assign them this chore. Always follow up and make sure their chores are done and done correctly. Remember they are kids and are just learning.
Preschoolers can perform the basic chores. They can learn to pick up after themselves. Take care of their toys, make their beds and this kind of chore is ideal. Older from 6 to 9 children can do all this plus learn to take care of the pets, fold and take care of laundry and even learn to vacuum and sweep floors. Children for 10 to 13 can take on even more responsibility. They can do dishes, clean the bathrooms and even learn to cook simple meals with supervision. Once they have reached the age of 14 consider more responsibility. Laundry can be done by older children as well as car care, preparing meals or any other chore that parents feel they are capable of doing.
Some children are more adapt at helping around the household than others. Children who want to learn to cook and clean should be encouraged. Supervising young children around the stove and other hot appliances is essential, but they should be allowed to try these things when they feel they are ready.
With the question of chores comes the question of allowance. This is a very popular subject in many a child’s mind. There are different theories as to who should get allowance, how much and what for. Sit down and discuss with your child their responsibilities around the house. Talk to them about how much they think these chores are worth. Teach them that their time and effort is worth something, but they have to be realistic. Let them be part of the decision of allowances and what chores are parts of that.
Parents are responsible for teaching their children important life skills. Teaching them how to keep up a house and themselves should be included. Show them it is a team effort to keep the house running smoothly. Everyone pitching in to keep a comfortable, clean house will show them it is worth the effort.
Aurelia writes about Balancing work and family and avoiding the supermom trap.
Natural Moms Podcast #77
March 27, 2008 | 1 Comment
After becoming a mom, Kathy Cozonac of Broomhuggers switched to natural cleaning products. Then she started a business to meet the needs of people who only want non-toxic, safe products in their homes. Some of her customers have chemical sensitivities, others just want to minimize their exposure to harmful chemicals.
Kathy likes the Shaklee line of cleaning products and also makes other recommendations on her blog.
To increase speed and effectiveness with cleaning, use the right tool for the job. Homemade cleaners are fine for light, frequently cleaned areas, but for deeper cleaning or for neglected areas, a commercial product is often more effective.
Kathy mentioned that apple cider vinegar has been proven more potent at killing germs than white distilled vinegar.
You can listen on the site or download the mp3.
Why Aren’t You Eating More Coconut Oil?
March 26, 2008 | 18 Comments
I love coconut oil. I love the flavor. I love the smell. I love the versatility. I love how it is solid in cooler temperatures and liquid at warmer ones. I love the health benefits.
Maybe that’s where I lost you.
Coconut oil has gotten a really bad reputation, and I’m convinced it’s a bunch of hooey. Coconut is a natural food. And you know how I feel about natural food!
Coconut oil fell out of favor (remember when we were warned about the dangers of theatre popcorn because it was popped in coconut oil? Those were the good old days!) because it is a saturated fat and the diet dictocrats said saturated fats cause heart disease. (They don’t, but “they” have been trying to convince us otherwise for decades now.)
The truth is, however, that coconut oil is at worst, neutral in terms of its effect on heart disease, and at best, quite beneficial for good health.
Coconut oil, along with palm and palm kernel oil, work a little differently than animal fats. Coconut oil is composed primarily of medium and short chain fatty acid molecules. Many other fats and oils, in contrast, are composed of long chain fatty acids. This means that the fatty acids in coconut oil are easier for the body to break down, and as a result, the body tends to break them down more quickly for energy. So in that sense, coconut oil functions more like a carbohydrate.
Because coconut oil is a saturated fat, it is very stable, meaning it doesn’t rot easily. Food prepared with coconut oil will be preserved longer than food prepared with vegetable oil. The oil itself isn’t subject to the rancidity problems of vegetable oils and so it won’t form damaging free radicals in the body. For these reasons, it is a good idea to use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil for food preparation. In fact, most vegetable oil isn’t good for you at all, especially corn and canola oils.
There are three main medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) which make up coconut oil. They are caprylic acid, capric acid, and lauric acid. These have been used in hospitals to treat and nourish critically ill patients and premature babies, as well as to help athletes with weight control and enhanced performance. Lauric acid is used in soaps and lotions to promote soft skin. It has also been shown to improve digestion, soothe bladder and skin diseases, and provide protection against insect stings.
MCFAs are known to have antimicrobial properties. They work effectively against viruses and bacteria that have a lipid coating. When you consume coconut oil, or even rub it on your skins, enzymes in your saliva and on your skin break up the fat molecules into their individual fatty acids. MCFAs can then go to work on germs in or on your body. They incorporate themselves into the germ’s lipid membrane and weaken it because they are smaller than the fatty acids that normally make up the membrane. When enough MCFAs have incorporated themselves into the lipid membrane, the cell bursts. The MCFAs in coconut oil work against the bacteria causing strep throat in this way. It is believed that MCFAs are some of the primary ingredients in breast milk which provides protection against diseases to the nursing infant. Mothers who consume coconut oil have more MCFAs in their milk, which is a great thing for baby.
To sum up, coconut oil is great for your immune system. Anyone who has a chronic illness or autoimmune disease should eat lots of coconut oil every single day. Weston A. Price, author of Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, named it one of those special foods that certain native peoples (obviously those who lived in tropical areas) ate that contributed to their overall excellent health.
The easiest way to eat coconut oil is to use it in cooking. Coconut oil can be used for light frying and sauteeing on the stove. It makes for the best popcorn ever (I’ll share my popcorn recipe later). It can be used as an ingredient in baking instead of butter or vegetable oil. You can also take it as a supplement, either straight or in a drink. I like to add it to smoothies. If I haven’t used it much in cooking, I’ll take a spoon and drink it straight. It’s got a very mild and pleasant flavor.
And remember what Tom Hanks’ character in Castaway said? “Coconut is a natural laxative“. Which for me is a very good thing. LOL!
Bo
oks About Coconut Oil:
The Coconut Oil Miracle by Bruce Fife
Eat Fat, Lose Fat: The Healthy Alternative to Trans Fats
Edited 6/23/2009: Since I wrote this article back in 2008, I have come to appreciate that Tropical Traditions has the best tasting coconut oil (at least among the brands I have tried). I am also impressed with their manufacturing methods and how they stick to the old fashioned, traditional method of extracting coconut oil via fermentation.
You can get Tropical Traditions coconut oil in bulk inexpensively at Amazon.com – the quality is far better than products you find on grocery store shelves. If a gallon is a bit much for you, buy one and split it with a friend. You’ll still come out cheaper in the end.
Salad Saturday!
March 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Each Saturday I’ll post a free salad recipe from my new salad cookbook. It has over 365 recipes, so you can either buy it now or just hang around here for the next 6 years. LOL!
Artichoke Salad
4 Each Fresh artichoke hearts
1 Tablespoon Red Wine vinegar
2 Cups Artichoke hearts, quartered
1 Teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce
1 Small garlic clove
2 Teaspoons Sea Salt
1 Teaspoon Lea & Perrins
3 Tablespoons Olive oil
1 Tablespoon Lemon juice
In a wooden salad bowl, mash garlic and salt with a strong fork. Add fresh artichoke hearts, and mash with the garlic and salt. Add olive oil, stir, add lemon juice, stir, add wine vinegar, stir, stir, add hot sauce, stir, add Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce, Mix well. Put canned artichoke hearts in dressing and let marinate for 1 hour then eat as is or serve on a bed of greens.
Just When I Thought It Was Safe to Read Parents Magazine
March 21, 2008 | 9 Comments
My incredible waste of paper Parents magazine arrived in the mail yesterday. As I’ve said before, I didn’t subscribe to this publication. It was a incredible waste of trees gift from a well meaning friend. I thought there was hope for them after last year’s “Green” issue, but apparently not. I’ve thought of asking them to stop sending the magazine, but their dumb parenting advice is such great blog fodder.
Their latest bit of bad journalism was an op-ed piece on cloth diapering. First they start with the usual refrain,
“Cloth diapering is too haaaaaarrrrdddd!…”
Oh, whine me a river. Birth is hard. Parenting is hard. Relationships are hard. Life is hard sometimes. Get over it already!
While I do give the guy props for at least trying cloth diapering, I’m so very disappointed in his very (in my opinion) biased and inaccurate depiction of what cloth diapering is really like.
Parents magazine seems to have a real prejudice against everything involved with natural parenting. Of course, I’m sure that has nothing to do with the fact that their advertisers with the deepest pockets are formula companies, does it?) Breastfeeding is TOO hard. Don’t try to make it work. Natural birth it TOO hard. Don’t try to endure the pain (nevermind it serves a useful biological purpose and is better for you and the baby). Nighttime parenting to TOO hard. Don’t answer your baby’s cries, buy earplugs. Do not get me started on the circumcision article they published awhile back.
Women are too weak to endure the pain of birth, remember? My personal view was that if I couldn’t get through a few hours of pain to birth my kid, how was I going to get through its adolescence?
But then they got really stupid. They started attacking the environmental superiority of cloth over disposables. That’s when I got irritated.
The piece referenced a British study that claimed that cloth diapers were not more eco friendly than disposables, but anyone with any common sense could poke holes in this “scientific” study. First of all, they didn’t look at the way cloth diapers are typically used. (Did you know there is a study that said that single use disposable coffee cups were more eco friendly commuter mugs? I’m not kidding.)
Every parent I have ever known who used cloth diapers did some or all of the following:
- They bought used cloth diapers (some or all of their stash)
- They sold or gave away their cloth diapers when the kid was potty trained (instead of tossing them in the trash)
- They used their diaper stash for a second or third or fourth (or more) baby
- They used their old cloth diapers as cleaning rags
- They made or bought cloth diapers sewn from recycled flannel baby blankets
That one thing (the almost infinite reusability of cloth diapers) blows this study out of the water because it didn’t take that factor into consideration.
Many cloth diapering parents also hang their diapers out to dry (using the bleaching properties of the sun). Most cloth diapering parents also don’t rinse every diaper (flushing afterwards would point to more water use). Even if they only rinsed the poopies, they don’t do it until the poopies are solid (around 6 months) and by then, the baby is only pooping once or twice a day anyway, meaning one or two extra flushes a day.
And if you wanted, you could time your own potty usage with changing baby’s diapers. I always did this. When I changed baby, I would go afterwards so I only had to wash my hands once after all was said and done.
You see, there is this little invention called a Washing Machine. It works remarkably well for removing all kinds of soiled clothing and I highly recommend it!
I love the quote on page 128 that says:
“Maybe, I thought, the disposable diaper is one of those inventions, like toilet paper, that the Western world just can’t live without – no matter the environmental impact. After all, if we really wanted to, we could wipe our own butts with cloth and throw the cloths into the wash every night.”
Ooh, what kind of freak would do a thing like that?
Another issue that was never even mentioned in the article is the health and safety superiority of cloth. I blogged before about being praised by my baby’s Pediatrician for using cloth, because, to quote him, disposables contribute to asthma and are bad for baby’s skin. Cloth diapered babies experience less rash and less yeast infection, and also tend to potty train several months before disposable diapered babies. There is also a concern with our little boy’s privates being wrapped up in hot plastic for the first two years of his life (or longer).
None of this was mentioned in the article. Then at the end, this little jab:
“And while I think it’s extremely important to make sacrifices for the environment, I need to be sure that my sacrifices are making a difference – especially when the thing I’m sacrificing is the most important time of all: time with Isaac.”
Oh please! Now the author gets to feel superior as a parent because he does two fewer loads of laundry a week than me. Yes, I admit it. I had to take my attention off my babies (who were usually strapped in a sling while I did laundry) to do those two extra loads a week. Poor things! The emotional pain and suffering they must have endured.
I came across this “Project Educate Parents” thread on Diaper Swappers. It’s worth a read if you want more info on why this argument is so very sill
y. Here’s another great article tackling why cloth is so much easier on the environment. Read some of the comments from cloth diapering parents to the article online.
All I’m sayin’ is, if you don’t want to do cloth diapers, at least be honest about it and admit you’re too lazy or grossed our by dealing with your kid’s poop and would rather pass along TWO TONS of biohazard waste and plastic in the landfill (per kid). Don’t come up with junk science and incredibly silly excuses already.
But, you can always make up for that by taking their recommendation to buy a diaper bag made from recycled materials. LOL!
Cold Hard Cash for Natural Kid Product Reviews
March 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Happy first day of Spring 
I have a favor to ask you. Would you be willing to write a review of one of your favorite (or not favorite!) natural kid products in exchange for $5 cash in your Paypal account?
Go here: Submit natural product reviews
I’ve paid out dozens of moms for their honest thoughts on all kinds of products including:
* Homeschool supplies
* Natural health products
* Toys
* Cookbooks
* Skin care and baby care
and a lot more. Right now I’m really looking for reviews for products for your kids. All you have to do is fill out the form here: submit natural product reviews for cash
Do take a moment to read the terms. I’m not looking for you to write a thesis or anything, but many of the reviews are rejected because they were either copied from another website
(not nice!) or way too short.
Thanks so much!
