Elimination Communication Breakdown

Made by Mommy. The "Flaming Wreckage" diaper.

I love cloth diapers.

I know.  What a ridiculous thing to love, right?  But if you ask any mama who does it nowadays, she’ll probably tell you the same thing. 

Not only are they easy to use (no, really – they are), but they are ridiculously cute!  Crazy cute.  And who can resist an already adorable tushie that is covered with soft goodness in your favorite colors?  Makes the Charmin look unappealing at best.

Yes, the cult of the cloth is firmly entrenched in even the mildest of crunchy families.  But a new cult is forming.

It’s called “Elimination Communication,” or EC for short.

Basically, it means that you pay attention to your baby’s signals and learn when they need to eliminate, then you take them to the potty and let the potty begin.  There are also cues you develop to let baby know it’s okay to shake the dew from her lily or let loose the bowels of hell.

I’m all for being close to your babies, listening to them and trying to understand what they need.  I think it’s absolutely necessary in fact.

But maybe there are just too many distractions in modern life for this to be really workable for me.

I ask my friends who do this if there are accidents, and the answer is always, “Sometimes,” but she will sort of look at the floor, or her eyes will suddenly start darting around as if the woman is contemplating chewing her arm off to get away. 

Because she doesn’t want you to know the truth.

In my house, within seconds of taking off the diaper, there is poop on my floor, or I get urinated on, and not in a good way.*  I just figure some airing out does a body good now and again, but dammit, every time I let him go commando I have a mess to clean up.

There.  If I can admit it, anyone can.  Except I guess not everyone has that whole  ”lack of shame” thing going on like I do.  So unless I can get some serious help up in here and have time to do absolutely nothing but stare into my baby’s eyes all day…well.  I know not what others may choose but, as for me, give me diapers…

or give me a maid.

 

 

*I’m kidding! About there being a good way to be peed on, I mean.  Like I really had to tell you. 

Wordless Wednesday: What’s For Dinner

Charentais Melon: A French heirloom

Organic Local Strawberry Plants For My Garden: Not quite edible yet.

Arugula Mosh Pit: These need thinning, obviously.

Reduce, Reuse, Reincarnate

I recycle!  Yes, I do.  In fact, you might say I have a bit of a problem.

I’ve have been asked, and answered with complete seriousness, the question, “Are you keeping this dryer lint for a project?”

I won’t tell you how I answered.

It all started with using wool as a cloth diaper cover.  It worked so well for my heavy wetter, I could hardly believe it.  It became my cover of choice, and with a little research I learned how to take discarded wool sweaters and turn them into rockin’ baby pants with almost no skill involved at all.

Gradually, I realized that I could make more than just pants – I could have matching sweaters!  Hats!  Wool appliques!

It’s easy to see now, in hindsight, how a person with my proclivities might get carried away.  A Goodwill sweater here, a silk shirt from a pile of junk on the side of the road there – you see where I’m going, right?

Before long, I had a stash of historic proportions.  The thing is, the more I bought, the more I realized I could do with them.  I started using the scraps to stuff toys (and knitted breasts, but that’s another post), I use the larger pieces to make little embellishments for hats.  I started buying clothes made from gorgeous fabric and making something I would actually wear.

It’s not that I don’t buy anything new.  My kids have regular clothes, in among the pants that I mended with fabric I rescued from the thrift store and the recycled sweater pants.

But I dress them in cashmere.  I have awesome diaper bags that I made from castoff place mats.  I have a baby bib I made from a Sublime tee shirt.  I have the coolest kids on the block, in my book.

When I walk into a clothing store and see row after row of all that fabric, I wonder where it will end up, and why we think we need so much.  It makes me nauseated, dizzy, the overwhelming choice of it all, when just down the road, if you can spend just a few minutes digging, are bargains waiting for new incarnations.

Even if you can’t sew, there are amazing things to be found in a thrift store.  And I’m not saying you have to buy your under drawers at the Salvation Army, honey. You can buy tee shirts from the dollar bin, cut them up and use them as cleaning cloths.  Make a reusable shopping bag from an old Sex Pistols shirt.  Fly your freak flag with pride.  Or buy that designer skirt you’d never be able to afford in real life and don’t ever tell a soul where you got it.

Buying thrifty is just one way to make a dent in the crazy amount of waste that happens in this country.  It cuts processing, which involves chemicals, as well as transportation and other environmentally damaging parts of the clothing industry.  And when you only spend  a few dollars on an item, you can afford to buy more!  It’s a win-win situation.

Another great way to reduce your impact on our earth is to use environmentally friendly cleaning products.  SC Johnson has developed a new line of cleaners that are designed to actually, you know, work while still retaining their eco-friendly personalities.  They are called Nature’s Source and I can’t wait to try them.  They, along with The Parent Bloggers Network weekly Blog Blast are the reason for this post.  So, uh – check them out.  Right after you send me your wool.

Hormotional* and Green: Feminine Hygiene Products go Eco-Friendly

WARNING:  The following post is for women.  Actually, it’s only for some women.  If you have get dry heaves at the thought of using anything but a scented plastic applicator near your hoo-hoo, this post is probably not for you.

In case you’ve been sleeping under a rock without wi-fi for the last few years, you should know there is a movement afoot to go green with our lady gear.  Now, not only can our babies have soft tushie padding, we can too.  Most of the information out there seems to be coming from the same group of women who, like me, are totally obsessed with cloth diapers, natural parenting, recycling…all that crunchy stuff.  And there is some wacky wear for the derriere out there.

Um.  Yeah.

Greenyour is a site dedicated to lessening your carbon and/or maxi-pad footprint.  At least, this part of it is.  Included on this page are some truly awesome shops that have been making these for years.  They have great reputations and excellent products.

I should also mention the New Moon Cloth menstrual pads.  This company has been around for almost twenty years, and their site is filled with great information and a simple, easy to use product that looks good, too!  Not that you’ll go around showing it off, but every month you’ll get a little serotonin boost knowing you’re wearing something cute down there.  And who doesn’t want cloissone elephants in their undies?

Etsy, of course, is chock full of choices as always.  My personal favorite?  Say it with me gals – SOCK MONKEYS!  Yes, that’s right.  The perineal favorite (ha!  get it?) stuffed toy right there in your crotch.  But if that doesn’t shock your monkey, there are over 1200 results for a tag and title search on Etsy.  So add an extra tag like your favorite color, or “sugar skulls” (like it’s not scary enough, right?) and happy hunting.

“So,” you say, “what if I don’t like pads?  What kinds of alternatives are out there for me?”

Ladies, have I got some good news for you.  If your pelvic floor is still sturdy enough to use a tampon, there are several options available.

The first are a variety of cups like the Diva Cup and The Keeper that you simply insert (similarly to a diaphragm) and rinse out.  Then reinsert.  Easy peasy!  They are made from natural gum rubber or silicone and are phthalate and Bisphenol A (BPA) free.

But surely you know I’ve saved the best for last.  Or at least, the most humorous.

I’m not called Barely Knit Together for nothing.  Check this out:  Knitted tampons!  (cue choir of angels singing)  Aren’t they cute?  I haven’t tried these yet, but you bet I’m going to.  The pattern is super cheap at $0.50; it’s at least worth it just to laugh with your friends about your latest knitting project.

And if you just can’t do without your disposable feminine hygiene products, at least have the decency to hide them with these.  Someone please buy those squid, pronto, or I will have to do it myself.

As always, here are some links for you DIYers out there.  Free patterns to sew your own!

Cloth Menstrual Pads (free pattern)

Multi-layered with removable liner (dries faster!)

A fabulous site with tutorials, info on fabrics, sewing on-the-cheap, and different styles

These can all be laundered just like you would cloth diapers or towels or other such items.  Cold first, though, so as not to set the blood, then hot if you want them sterilized.  Of course, if you aren’t planning to eat off of them, you might want to save your hot water**.  Your call.

And just so you know, even though I’ve handled this topic glibly, I do mean what I say about this being a great idea.  I, for one, am glad to never again have to hear the crinkle sound of plastic and paper when I walk.  And as a bonus (can I say it again?) -  Sock monkeys!

Stop in for next week’s Fiber Friday giveaway, featuring a free jewelry item from the Bunny in Disguise Etsy shop!

*Ooh!  I got to use a new word

**Kidding!  Sheesh.