Baby Needs a Swim Diaper

May 21, 2013 by Attached Mama

Uh-oh. Baby in the pool! Do you worry that your baby will leave a mess in the pool? The answer is easy: use a swim diaper. The idea of a reusable swim diaper is very simple: catch poop and let the pee flow through.

A soggy, leaking mess of a plastic or paper diaper leaks everything, not just urine. That is what gives swim diapers a bad name. Avoid those.

A swim diaper is not designed to hold in urine. If it were absorbent, it would weigh the baby down, which would make swimming a much less pleasant activity for a child. Babies need swim diapers just to hold in solids and prevent those getting into the pool. A great reusable swim diaper also has mesh to hang on to what needs to stay and to let flow what needs to go.

Reusable Swim Diapers – How novel!

Anything but a reusable swimsuit, even for a child, confuses me. After adults and older children swim, they don’t toss their suits in the garbage. We rinse, dry, and repeat.

It’s very easy to do the same for your baby. Your baby deserves a soft, comfortable swim diaper that won’t weigh her down or get in the way of her doing what we should be doing in the pool— having a great time and learning how to swim.

We’ve noticed at byNature.ca that even parents who use disposable diapers otherwise will often buy a reusable swim diaper for the pool because it just makes sense. Granted, some of them are completely wowed by how cute reusable swim diapers are.

Really, Use a Swim Diaper

Cloth diapering parents ask us if they can just use a diaper cover for swimming. Yes and no.

If you use a diaper cover as a swim diaper, you risk chlorine destroying the laminate that makes the cover waterproof. More chlorine means greater chance of leaky cover. Leaks don’t matter with a swim diaper, since they are designed to let urine and pool water flow through.

If you do use a diaper cover as a swim diaper then as a diaper cover again, you may find that you have leaks. If your child has grown out of the cover or it isn’t holding in leaks well enough to pass it on to another child, you can use a polyester or laminated cotton diaper cover as a swim diaper. (Don’t try this with wool! Wool absorbs and stretches, so you will have a baggy, soggy mess.)

Baby Swim Diapers Made in Canada

A note from Nature Mom:

“I realized when talking with a customer in the store the other day that all of the swim diapers we carry are made in Canada. That wasn’t done intentionally, but I certainly wouldn’t change it!”

Swimmis from Bummis is a version of their original diaper cover with fun cotton prints on the outside and a cool mesh lining inside. Lycra bindings are stretchy and comfortable for babies. Made in Canada.

Mother-ease swim diapers are made of soft, stretchy, bathing suit material. If you have ever caught hook-and-loop closures from you baby’s swim diaper on your swimsuit, you will understand why some parents prefer snaps. Netting on the inside of the swim diaper catches messes. Made in Canada.

AMP swim diapers have two layers of micro mesh to catch messes. We like that snaps will last a long time, but wiggly babies and anxious toddlers might not stick around long enough for snaps. Made in Canada.

Apple Cheeks swim diapers have one layer of knit and one layer of mesh to let the water flow through easily. This two-size system adjusts with a snap at the waist and another at the thigh. Made in Canada.

When you get home, either toss the swim diaper in the diaper pail if soiled or rinse the swim diaper and wet bag with the rest of the swimsuits if it’s just wet.

Have a great swim!

Everything Is a Smoothie

July 14, 2012 by Attached Mama

Dark, berry smoothie

It has been so hot this summer that everything we drink, even water, we buzz with ice in our super duper VitaMix. We’ve been far more experimental, especially with bases. We don’t just reach for cow’s milk or even almond milk, we use apple juice, grape juice, lemonade, or anything liquid in the refrigerator. The key ingredient is ICE.

I have found that my kids are less hungry when it is terribly hot. They drink plenty of water during the day, but it’s difficult to get enough nutritious food into them. Before they reach for chips or crackers for an afternoon snack, I offer smoothies. This is part of our afternoon routine.

Our basic smoothie is the same as my mother made for me since she started doing yoga in the early 1970s: banana, milk, pumpkin pie spices, and ice. Since half of the family can’t drink cow’s milk, we use almond or soy milk. This is easy and always tasty.

Our newest favorite is strawberry lemonade. We like sour drinks, so the strawberries alone make it sweet enough for us, but you could add grapes, honey, or some other sweetener. We buzz the ice, water, and lemon first then add the fresh strawberries toward the end so the strawberries stay a little bit chunky. The ice clumps together if you don’t add any fruit at all. Think of it as a good excuse to add a few nutritious ingredients.

More smoothie lessons learned

Avoid broccoli and watermelon. Broccoli makes the drink taste bitter, and watermelon ruins everything—or so my kids have said. I think watermelon is one of those tastes that just doesn’t fit with others so well. After seeing sad, melting glasses of watermelon smoothie go undrunk, I believe them.
Add herbs and spices. Cinnamon, cardamon, allspice, and other warm spices go very well with banana smoothies. Fresh mint leaves go well with a light, not too sweet flavors like cucumber, yogurt, and green apple. I love pulling herbs directly from my garden and using them.
Freeze the fruit first. Berries work especially well frozen, but I have had no luck at all with frozen bananas. If the fruit is frozen already, you need less ice to make the drink cold. A drink made with frozen fruit is thicker and heavier. It depends what you want. Sometimes light is more refreshing.
Add black strap molasses if you want a little bit of sweetness with a punch of nutrition. Molasses is left after most of the sugar is extracted from sugar cane. The sweetness comes from the sugar that is left, but the you are also left with higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals.
Disguise the vegetables. Though my kids don’t object to vegetables the way some do, they don’t love vegetable juice. A little bit of avocado or carrot is easy to add to a smoothie without the result of turned-up noses, but a lot can mean that kids are less eager to drink. Just choose your vegetables carefully.

Image © Isabel Poulin | Dreamstime.com

Protect Newborn Babies from Extreme Heat

July 10, 2012 by Attached Mama

Mother and baby in the shade at the beach

With a heatwave across much of North America, be sure to take care of the most vulnerable members of your family. In particular, take steps to protect newborn babies from the extreme heat.

Every day lately I see heat-related weather alerts. In my city today, there is a red air quality alert, which is a frequent occurrence on the hottest days of the year. With highs in some areas of Canada expected to be in the mid-30s Celsius and highs in the U.S. well over 100 Fahrenheit, a lot of us are focused on keeping our children cool. As average high temperatures trend upward, we can all expect to need more information on how to stay safe in extreme heat.

The heat alone, though, puts elders, pets, and especially babies at greater risk. Babies don’t sweat as much, but they gain heat faster than adults. A baby’s heating and cooling systems are as well developed as yours.

Your baby can’t cool off alone. Your baby depends on you to reduce the impact of summer heat.

Precautions for Babies

Make sure your baby drinks a lot. Breastfeed on demand. Babies don’t need water as a supplement, just be sure to feed your baby frequently.
Avoid the sun. If you do go out, stick to the shade, or make your own shade. Have your baby wear a hat with a wide brim. Don’t use sunscreen on a baby less than 6 months old.
If you do go out, go in the early morning or in the evening when it is cooler.
If the Air Quality Health Index (pollution) is high, stay inside. Babies and children are more vulnerable to pollution both in the short term and in the long term for their developing lungs.
Choose a baby carrier that allows maximum air circulation, and check frequently that your baby is well. You might also want to put a prefold cloth diaper between the two of you to absorb any excess moisture.
Keep your house cool by opening windows at night and closing them again when the sun comes up. Also, don’t cook hot meals during the day, since the oven warms up your house.
Take a cool bath. If it isn’t too hot outside, play in a wading pool. Even splashing by drumming on a bucket of water will keep a baby a bit cooler (and distracted).
Dress your baby in lightweight clothing. If you are staying home, try diaper only or going diaper-less (if you don’t mind cleaning up the occasional mess).
Never never never leave your child in the car. The temperature inside a closed car is much higher than outside. We hear too many sad stories of deaths in locked cars.

Signs of Trouble

Dehydration signs are dry mouth, irritability, listlessness, no tears when crying, or concentrated urine in the diaper. If you see these symptoms, rehydrate. Breastfeed, or, for an older child, you could use fluid replacement (electrolyte) solution.

Heat stroke signs are flushed skin, dizziness, and little or no sweating. If you see these symptoms, start with a cool bath.

Heat rash looks like tiny pimples, often in the creases where your baby isn’t getting as much air circulation. If you see rash, dry the area and keep the air less humid when you can. Consider going diaperless. Heat rash is less serious that dehydration or heat stroke.

If you have any questions about your baby’s health, call your healthcare provider. In this heat, you won’t be the only one with questions.

Sign up for weather alerts by email at:

Weather Watchers in Canada (Environment Canada provides alerts) – http://www.weatherwatchers.ca/
National Weather Service in U.S. – http://www.nws.noaa.gov/emailupdates/index.php/

Image © Jandrie Lombard | Dreamstime.com

Summer with Baby Roundup

July 7, 2012 by Attached Mama

Mother and baby outside in the summer

If you are planning to go camping, hiking, or just walking around town with your baby, you will find some helpful tips in our round-up of posts from Eco Baby Steps.

Camping

Your Camping with Baby Checklist
Are you ready to jump in? Check your packing list and make sure you have these basic items before you go camping with your baby.

Camping with Cloth Diapers
Long post on using cloth diapers while camping covers what to take, how to wash, and what to do when you run out. Fun personal experience resources as well.

Hiking

Hiking with Baby
Start out hiking with your baby, and you end up with toddlers and children who can’t wait to explore the outdoors. Tips for safety, gear, and other considerations.

Flying & Other Travel

Using Cloth Diapers on a Plane
What you need and how to make it work when you are flying to your vacation and you want to keep your baby in cloth diapers. What works depends on your needs, but this list is a great start.

Travelling with Cloth Diapers
If you haven’t travelled with cloth diapers before, it might seem a bit of a mystery. A lot of parents do use cloth diapers while they travel, though, and they have created very helpful resources for you.

Closer to Home

Daycation Exploration with Toddlers
Whether money, time, or the stress of travel has you wanting to stay closer to home this year, you can still create that vacation feeling for children with short explorations. Includes ideas how to make day-long vacations work for you and your children.

5 Tips for Non-toxic Sun Protection for Babies
If you are going to be outside with your baby, especially if your baby is less than 6 months old, you need sun protection. The basics of non-toxic protection from the sun.

7 Tips for a Successful Picnic with Kids
You can still improvise summer fun if you know you have the basics covered. Just a little planning and preparation will help you and your child avoid a hot, sticky meltdown.

Cool Summer Babywearing
Basic tips for keeping cool(er) while wearing your baby in the summer, plus a few recommendations for carriers depending whether you have dry heat or humid heat.

3 Steps to Summer Babywearing Success
Another post on staying cool while babywearing. Walks you through three basic steps for you to find a baby carrier and a carry that will work for you.

Summer in Nature for Your Children
How to give your child enough structure that they get curious about nature and start to explore on their own. Great list of resources.

Is Your Insect Repellent Safe?

June 26, 2012 by Attached Mama

Mosquito on human skin

How do you balance the need to keep your children free from insect bites in the summer against the need to keep them free from the toxic chemicals that can pass as insect repellent? Understand what is in insect repellents and why, then choose a bug spray that is most effective at keeping mosquitos and ticks away while still being the least toxic for your children.

We don’t just repel insects in the summer because they are a nuisance. Mosquitos and ticks carry disease. We are trying to prevent the spread of West Nile virus, malaria, and Yellow Fever from mosquitos and Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever from ticks. Obviously, it’s worth using some form of insect repellent to keep our families safe from mosquitos and ticks.

We are faced, though, with the dilemma that insect repellents contain pesticides. Of course they would, when their goal is to kill insects.

Synthetic repellents like DEET and Permethrin promise low toxicity, but studies continue to show adverse effects, especially for children and pregnant women. Both of these common ingredients in insect repellents are neurotoxins. Effects of DEET haven’t resulted in outright bans, but there is a widespread awareness of the potential effects of DEET. Health Canada has limited DEET concentrations in insect repellents, increasing the limitations for younger children to a recommendation of no DEET for infants under 6 months. Many parents avoid DEET altogether.

If you are going to avoid these synthetic neurotoxins, how will you keep insects off your children?

Some essential oils repel insects for a couple of hours. Think of the particularly strong smelling essential oils like peppermint, lavender, lemon balm, cedar, basil, or even garlic.

You can also find natural substances that repel bugs for a longer period of time. Neem oil is a natural insect repellent. This oil is pressed from the fruits and seeds of the Indian Neem tree, and the strong smell is a bit like peanut and garlic and the taste is quite bitter. This is used widely in cosmetics. Don’t use neem oil internally. It’s a natural pesticide, but it’s still a pesticide with mild toxicity that you don’t want your child licking or yourself ingesting, especially if you are pregnant.

How can you keep the bugs away without causing harm?

First, start by creating spaces that deter insects. Keep basil and lemon balm plants at windows. Grow catnip, rosemary, and lavender throughout the garden. Put a dab of peppermint essential oil (not flavor oil) on your child’s collar in the morning. Clean with natural d-limonene cleaners made from citrus oil. These plants and oils won’t guarantee that bugs stay away, but you can create a less buggy environment for your children.

Second, carefully choose a personal insect repellant (one that you apply on each person) that uses the most natural ingredients.

We carry two insect repellents made in small batches in Canada: Graydon and Shoo! Natural Bug Spray.

Graydon

Graydon Natural Insect Repellent Spray is based on a traditional Metis recipe, made mindfully in small batches in Canada.

Ingredients: unrefined plant protein complex, soya bean oil, lemon juice, lime juice, grapefruit juice, food grade citrus oil extract, vegetable glycerin, lecithin, citric acid and sodium bicarbonate.

Shoo!

Shoo! Natural Bug Spray is handcrafted in New Brunswick.

Ingredients: Glycine soja (Soybean) Oil*, Lauris Nobilis Leaf Extract*, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Leaf Extract*, Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Seed Oil, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood) Bark Oil, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil, Tocopherol. *USDA certified organic.

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Ecobaby steps for modern parents.

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