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<title>Diaper Junction: Blog Posts</title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>List of Latest Blog Posts at Diaper Junction</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<isc:store_name><![CDATA[Diaper Junction]]></isc:store_name>
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<title><![CDATA[DIY Tutorial: Zippered Wetbag ]]></title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com/DIY-Tutorial-Zippered-Wetbag-_b_673.html</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ For this tutorial you will need the following: PUL (Polyurethane Laminated Fabric), a zipper, sewing machine, coordinating thread, and a zipper foot for your sewing machine. The size that you make this is up to you. You can make it large or small and still follow this tutorial. Mine is a small/medium that is the perfect size for your diaper bag. It can fit 3-5 dirty diapers or one change of clothes for a toddler or preschooler. ]]></description>
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[For this tutorial you will need the following: PUL (Polyurethane Laminated Fabric), a zipper, sewing machine, coordinating thread, and a zipper foot for your sewing machine. The size that you make this is up to you. You can make it large or small and still follow this tutorial. Mine is a small/medium that is the perfect size for your diaper bag. It can fit 3-5 dirty diapers or one change of clothes for a toddler or preschooler.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiaperJunctionBlogPosts/~4/dorDnHG9a70" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[For this tutorial you will need the following: PUL (Polyurethane Laminated Fabric)--found at Hobby Lobby, sometimes at JoAnn Fabric, and at lots of cloth diaper suppliers online.A Zipper (Make sure it's at least 3 inches wider than the completed width of your wetbag.)Sewing machineCoordinating threadA zipper foot for your sewing machine The size that you make this is up to you. You can make it large or small and still follow this tutorial. Mine is a small/medium that is the perfect size for your diaper bag. It can fit 3-5 dirty diapers or one change of clothes for a toddler or preschooler.For this tutorial, the directions will be placed above the accompanying photos.Step #1: Cut your fabricCut out a rectangle that is twice as long as the length of the wetbag you desire and 1/4 to 5/8 inches wider on either side. The fabric for my wetbag measured 20½ x14.Cut a small, thin strip twice the length and width that you desire for a strap with which to carry your wet bag. The fabric for my strap measured 15x2Step #2: Choose your ZipperI like to choose a zipper that is actually longer than I need. In this case, I chose a 16 zipper which was 2 inches longer than the width of my fabric. I choose extra long zippers so I can sew and cut off the ends rather than try to fit my fabric to the length of the zipper I chose and having to deal with the ends of the zipper and trying to sew them perfectly. Zippers intimidate me, so eliminating each end makes things easier for me. Step 3: Sew ZipperPlace the right side of your zipper against the right side of your fabric at one end of the fabric. Unzip the zipper so that the actual metal zipper pull is lying off the edge of your fabric. Switch out the presser foot on your sewing machine to the zipper foot.Pin your zipper against the edge of the fabric. Move your needle over to the correct side of the presser foot. Sew along the length of the zipper, remembering to back tac (sew back and forth) at the beginning and the end of the seam. (You should always back tack a little at the ends of every seam. It's a sewing machine's equivalent of tying a knot to keep the seam from unraveling.)Check your work by looking at the right side of the fabric and zipping and unzipping the zipper. The zipper pull should slide back and forth without any problems if you sewed it correctly. If it won't zip correctly, you'll need to get out your seam ripper, pull out the stitches, and try again. Now, you want to sew the other side of your zipper to the other end of your fabric. Pull your zipper completely closed. With right sides facing each other, fold the bottom end of your fabric upwards so that the right side of the fabric lies against the right side of your zipper. Pin this side of the zipper to the other end of the fabric. Now, unzip the zipper (you may have difficulties getting it past your pins, but with some wiggling and a bit of care, you can do it) and sew up the other side of your zipper, making sure that your needle position is moved to the correct side of the zipper foot. Now, zip it closed, turn it right side out, and admire the awesome job you've done so far. Again, if the zipper won't close easily, you will have to rip out your seam and sew it again, correctly this time, which means that the stitches should be next to, but not touching, the teeth of the zipper. If you'd like, you can call your zipper “done and skip to Step #5. Step #4 will be adding a few touches that should make your wet bag just a bit more waterproof, but it brings the difficulty level of the sewing project up just a bit. Step #4: Waterproofing the ZipperUnzip the zipper all the way. With your fabric right side out, topstitch (sew a seam visible on the outside) the fabric to your zipper on one side. You can't iron PUL without ruining it, so this will take away any bulges in the fabric and allow it to lie flat against the zipper without ironing it. Now, we're going to make a little flap to cover the zipper seam entirely, allowing less moisture to pass through this vulnerable area. On the other side of the zipper, fold your fabric so it makes a little flap over the zipper. Pin this flap evenly along the entire length of the zipper. Sew the flap down. Turn your work right side out and zip it closed to make sure it was sewn correctly. If it won't zip closed, you may have accidentally sewn over the teeth of the zipper. If this is the case, you'll need to get out your seam ripper, pull out the stitches, and sew it again.  Switch your presser foot from the zipper foot back to the zig zag foot (or whatever presser foot you regularly prefer to use).Pull out the long strip of fabric that will become the handle of your wetbag. Fold it in half lengthwise, and sew it closed along the open edge. Beware, sometimes the shiny side of PUL likes to stick to your machine and the feed dogs (The teeth under your presser foot that move and push your fabric along) may have difficulty moving it along. I like to lengthen my stitch length and pull gently on the back of the fabric as I sew it to help it along if this becomes a problem. Attach a large safety pin or a diaper pin to one end of this strip, and push it through the tube you just created to turn it right side out. If you'd like, you can topstitch the seam to help it lay flat, but this is merely aesthetic and not necessary for the functionality of the bag. Topstitching will also help the strip to lay flat and keep it from twisting. Step #6: Sewing the bag closedThere are two ways to sew this bag closed on either side. Option #1 (a single seam) is very functional and will do the trick but may be prone to slightly more leakage than Option #2. Option #2 (the French seam) will make the bag a bit more waterproof because it hides one seam within another. The French Seam also has a nicer, more finished look. I'd read through both before deciding which you'd prefer. Option #1: A Single SeamTurn your work inside out, and unzip your zipper about halfway. The more you unzip it, the easier it will be to turn out when you're done. However, you don't want the zipper pull to be too close to the other edge of your fabric because it will get in the way of your presser foot as you sew the seam closed near the zipper. Fold your handle in half. Insert it into the wetbag above the open end of the zipper, loop side first. You want to make sure that there is enough room above the zipper for the handle to be inserted without actually overlapping at all with the zipper. Push the handle all the way in so that its ends are flush with the raw edge of your wetbag, and pin it. Now, pin all the open edges of your wetbag closed. Sew along the seams, remembering to lengthen your stitch and pull on the back of your fabric if your feed dogs are having a hard time moving the fabric along. If your machine is moving your fabric along fine on it's own, you can keep a shorter stitch length. When you get to the part where the zipper is sticking out, stitch back and forth over the zipper a couple of times over the zipper to reinforce the seam there. Now, cut the excess zipper off either end. Now, you're done. Turn the wetbag right side out, making sure to push the corners out crisply, and it's ready to be used! Good job!!!Option #1: A French SeamTurn your work right side out, and unzip your zipper about halfway. The more you unzip it, the easier it will be to turn out when you're done. However, you don't want the zipper pull to be too close to the other edge of your fabric because it will get in the way of your presser foot as you sew the seam closed near the zipper. Pin the wetbag closed along both sides. Be sure to take extra care when pinning the open end of the zipper, that you're not overlapping the teeth, but that the teeth of the zipper are laying right next to each other, just barely touching. Now, fold your handle strip in half and pin its raw edges to the raw edge of the wetbag just above the open end of the zipper. Sew the seams closed on either side, leaving a smaller seam allowance--more like 1/4 rather than 5/8. When the seams on both sides are sewn, your wetbag should look like this: Now, cut off the extra zipper from each side. Turn the project inside out and pin the seams--especially at the zipper. Sew along these seams, leaving a seam allowance of at least 1/2 to 5/8 to be sure that the seam you sewed along the right side of the fabric is fully enclosed.  When you're done, your seams should look like this: And that's it! You're done! Turn the wetbag right side out, making sure to push the corners out crisply, and it's ready to be used!Great job!!! Here is a comparison of the wetbag finished with a simple seam and a French seam. Both wetbags were made from a cut of fabric that had the exact same dimensions, but the one with the French seam (on top) is a bit thinner because it needs more seam allowance--1/2 to 1. Grab your wet bag and stick it in the dryer at least once to help re-seal any holes made from sewing and pinning. Then, it's ready to go into your diaper bag along with your wipes and your extra cloth diapers. I always like to have at least two travel wet bags so I can switch one out for another. The blue one is one that I bought off Etsy. This Wahm made hers with a very simple zipper seam and also, simple side seams and it works great. Having the flap over the zipper and the French seams is just a little extra insurance against leakage. ]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[673]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Becca]]></isc:author>
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<title><![CDATA[Cloth Diaper Tip: Diapers After Potty Training]]></title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com/Cloth-Diaper-Tip-Diapers-After-Potty-Training_b_672.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ I don't know about you, but I'm sort of a pack rat. I keep things just-in-case and also for sentimental reasons. Over the years (and I do mean years) I'll slowly and repeatedly weed through old boxes and thin out stuff I no longer need or stuff I finally decide I can part with, but I never really get rid of all of it.  ]]></description>
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[I don't know about you, but I'm sort of a pack rat. I keep things just-in-case and also for sentimental reasons. Over the years (and I do mean years) I'll slowly and repeatedly weed through old boxes and thin out stuff I no longer need or stuff I finally decide I can part with, but I never really get rid of all of it. <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiaperJunctionBlogPosts/~4/jUlIdS8xUv4" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[I don't know about you, but I'm sort of a pack rat. I keep things just-in-case and also for sentimental reasons. Over the years (and I do mean years) I'll slowly and repeatedly weed through old boxes and thin out stuff I no longer need or stuff I finally decide I can part with, but I never really get rid of all of it. I kept my cloth diapers more for practical reasons than anything. We tried for a long time to get pregnant with our second child and even when I'd given up and accepted that maybe God just wanted to give us one child, I wasn't going to part with my stash quite yet. Maybe had 5 or 10 years passed before our family size finally increased I may have seriously destash, but as it stood, even fully accepting the fact that God may not choose to give us a second child, I held onto my diapers just in case. However, I found that they were more useful than I thought they would be. Even though my daughter was fully potty trained a couple of months after her second birthday, we found occasion to use them for her now and again. The first time we used a diaper on her was when we went on long car trips. My family lives a 7 hour drive away from us and, though Bunny was fully capable of making it to the potty, there are long stretches of that drive where there is no place to pull over, so we put a diaper on her as a preventative measure. She never actually used it, but it gave us peace of mind to know we wouldn't have a mess to clean up. For the next couple of road trips, we continued to put diapers on her just in case. Then, we wised up and just put a little potty in the trunk. Soon after Bunny turned 3, she and her father were hit with a stomach bug, complete with uncontrollable diarrhea. Poor Bunny. She didn't even know what vomiting and diarrhea felt like until that point. My husband recalls that she came up to him innocently and said incredulously, Daddy, my underwear is wet and it smells like poop! He had to explain to her what had happened and that it was because she was sick. We immediately swapped out her underwear for a diaper for the next few days to save her outfits and to give us a little extra security against messes. She walked around like she'd been riding a horse while it was on, but sweetly obliged in allowing us to put a diaper on her. Last week, Bunny suddenly started having inexplicable accidents. She had seven accidents in only four days. It wasn't the kind of accident she started having frequently when I first got pregnant and had severe morning sickness and she was desperate for attention, it was more like she was peeing and had no control over it. All seven times that it happened, she was on her way to the potty. I took her to the doctor who tested her urine and found a bit of bacteria in it. She was immediately given antibiotics as her urine was tested more thoroughly over the next few days, but the accidents continued to happen for four days. Finally, I went downstairs to our large tub of cloth diapers and chose a few that would fit her easily and be trim on her and she wore one of those the rest of the day. I think it made both her and I feel better about the whole situation. I love that, on all three of these occasions, people said, Oh, you'll probably need to get a couple pull-ups to help her out and I was able to say, No, I'll just use one of her old cloth diapers. It was nice to know that the diapers were there and still saving us money when we got into a potty pinch. Using them also made me feel much better about being a pack rat. If I hadn't been hoarding my stash, I would have had to go out and buy some wretched, disposable pull-ups. Now, many of you used cloth trainers for your little ones as they potty trained. I made my own and, ironically, they no longer fit, while some of her cloth diapers still do. For this next child, I might consider buying the cloth pull-up diapers made by brands such as bumGenius and Grovia because it was a bit tricky getting some of those diapers to slip on and off just like underwear, but it was possible. I found that the following diapers work find as pull-ups for my 32lb three year old when snapped to the largest settings both at the waist and in the rise: Grovia One Size AIO, bumGenius 4.0 with snaps, and Best Bottoms One Size. I'm sure there are even more that would do well, but those are the ones that I happen to have in my stash that work well for my daughter. So, think twice about gifting, selling, or tossing all of your cloth diapers once your baby is potty trained. They may fit your growing preschooler for a couple of years yet and you never know when they'll come in handy. ]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[672]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Becca]]></isc:author>
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<title><![CDATA[Mom to Mom Monday:  Gimmicks work on kids! ]]></title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com/Mom-to-Mom-Monday-Gimmicks-work-on-kids-_b_671.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It happened again, a concept that seemed so hard to implement and enforce with my kids turned out to be simple, easy and effortless with the help of a gimmick.Sometimes the answer is right in front of you and you don't realize until you try! They don't shape chicken nuggets like dinosaurs for nothing. ]]></description>
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[It happened again, a concept that seemed so hard to implement and enforce with my kids turned out to be simple, easy and effortless with the help of a gimmick.Sometimes the answer is right in front of you and you don't realize until you try! They don't shape chicken nuggets like dinosaurs for nothing.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiaperJunctionBlogPosts/~4/kZ2PVTe9bAY" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[It happened again, a concept that seemed so hard to implement and enforce with my kids turned out to be simple, easy and effortless with the help of a gimmick.Sometimes the answer is right in front of you and you don't realize until you try!They don't shape chicken nuggets like dinosaurs for nothing!What gimmicks are working for us?Want your kids to drink more water? Get them their own special reusable water bottle. We went from wasted glasses of water all over the house to using their own water bottles. They can't get enough and now I'm constantly refilling.Want your kids to eat the apple skin? Get an apple slicer. It's a fancy round apple cutter that perfectly slices the apple and removes the core. When my kids saw how it worked and how neatly and perfectly shaped the apple slices were they never again asked me to take the skin off (which they claimed to hate). Now they eat the skin and don't complain.Want your kids to offer to do chores? Get a duster buster (handheld vacuum)! I thought they were a thing of the past until Santa brought one for our kids a few years back. Now they fight over who gets to vacuum up the dog hair and clean up with it. It comes in handy for so much more, but for the kids to have a small vacuum I can trust them to get out, use and then put back is absolutely priceless!Want your kids to eat a healthy dessert? Buy freezer pop molds, I prefer the silicone kind. I was amazed that a frozen organge juice pop or left over frozen smoothie pop would suffice for dessert. So instead of them wanting a sugary or chocolately treat they now are content with frozen juice popsicles!These are just a few of my favorite gimmicks. I could go on. Ultimately they'll grow out of the gimmicks and won't even realize they were duped into liking or doing what we wanted for them.So, do you have any similar stories about things that worked for you that were right in front of you all along?]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[671]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Julie Clark]]></isc:author>
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<title><![CDATA[Happy Father's Day from Diaper Junction!]]></title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com/Happy-Fathers-Day-from-Diaper-Junction_b_670.html</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It's Father's Day and we just wanted to take a moment to really share with you just how much we appreciate our own dads and hope you're taking today to enjoy the dear men in your lives.Family is of utmost importance to us here at Diaper Junction and...(Read more) ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diaperjunction.com/Happy-Fathers-Day-from-Diaper-Junction_b_670.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[It's Father's Day and we just wanted to take a moment to really share with you just how much we appreciate our own dads and hope you're taking today to enjoy the dear men in your lives.Family is of utmost importance to us here at Diaper Junction and...(Read more)<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiaperJunctionBlogPosts/~4/QAYLwkrOerk" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[It's Father's Day and we just wanted to take a moment to really share with you just how much we appreciate our own dads and hope you're taking today to enjoy the dear men in your lives.Family is of utmost importance to us here at Diaper Junction and we know that the role and responsibility of a father, either biological or by choice, is one of the most special and unique relationships you'll ever witness.While we may all be celebrating Father's Day in different ways be appreciating and acknowledging different men in our lives, they're ALL important and worthy of the honor.Happy Father's DayWhile we enjoy our day with family and fathers, we hope you are enjoying yours too!From Diaper Junction to all the GREAT dads out there, Happy Father's Day!Photo credit: Pinterest]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[670]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Diaper Junction Team]]></isc:author>
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<title><![CDATA[FYSF Winner, Apple Cheeks Lil Bundle Giveaway]]></title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com/FYSF-Winner-Apple-Cheeks-Lil-Bundle-Giveaway_b_668.html</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Do you enter our weekly giveaways? Want to see who the winner of our Apple Cheeks sponsored giveaway for an Apple Cheeks Microterry Lil Bundle?Read on to see if you're the lucky winner! ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diaperjunction.com/FYSF-Winner-Apple-Cheeks-Lil-Bundle-Giveaway_b_668.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Do you enter our weekly giveaways? Want to see who the winner of our Apple Cheeks sponsored giveaway for an Apple Cheeks Microterry Lil Bundle?Read on to see if you're the lucky winner!<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiaperJunctionBlogPosts/~4/umrojtOCu6U" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Do you enter our weekly giveaways? Want to see who the winner of our Apple Cheeks sponsored giveaway for an Apple Cheeks Microterry Lil Bundle?Read on to see if you're the lucky winner!The lucky winner is...Congrats to Tanya P! She's the winner of an Apple Cheeks Microterry Lil Bundle from Apple Cheeks! Check your email for details on how to claim this great prize!]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[668]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Julie]]></isc:author>
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<title><![CDATA[06/14/13 FYSF, Win TWO Diaper Rite OS Pocket Diapers!]]></title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com/061413-FYSF-Win-TWO-Diaper-Rite-OS-Pocket-Diapers_b_669.html</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ New giveaway featuring TWO of our most economical and popular one size cloth diapers, the Diaper Rite OS Pocket Diaper!Enter this week's giveaway and you could win two of these great workhorse diapers to add to your stash!  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diaperjunction.com/061413-FYSF-Win-TWO-Diaper-Rite-OS-Pocket-Diapers_b_669.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[New giveaway featuring TWO of our most economical and popular one size cloth diapers, the Diaper Rite OS Pocket Diaper!Enter this week's giveaway and you could win two of these great workhorse diapers to add to your stash! <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiaperJunctionBlogPosts/~4/KyxMoWbgyGA" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[New giveaway featuring TWO of our most economical and popular one size cloth diapers, the Diaper Rite OS Pocket Diaper!Enter this week's giveaway and you could win two of these great workhorse diapers to add to your stash! About Diaper Rite OS Pocket DiapersThe Diaper Rite one size pocket diaper is a tremendously economical cloth diapering system. The Diaper Rite pocket diaper cloth diaper comes in bright and adorable colors for girls and boys.Diaper Rite Pocket Diaper Details:TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)OuterSuedecloth inner to provide that stay dry feeling2 Microfiber Inserts; 1 smal & 1 largeDurable snap closuresAdjustable from 8 - 35 lbsThe PrizeWin TWO Diaper Rite OS Pocket Diapers with stay-dry suedecloth interior.Open to the USA & Canada. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize. All winners entries will be verified.document.write('');a Rafflecopter giveaway]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[669]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Julie]]></isc:author>
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<title><![CDATA[Family Fitness:  Deconstructing Diets, Paleo Edition! ]]></title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com/Family-Fitness-Deconstructing-Diets-Paleo-Edition-_b_667.html</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Welcome to week 1 of our Deconstructing Diets series! My hope for this series is to give you the easy, 1-2-3 basics of a few of the popular diets that are out there. I'll try not to get too scientific or wordy with these posts; I know I hate reading lengthy explanations and medical jargon. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diaperjunction.com/Family-Fitness-Deconstructing-Diets-Paleo-Edition-_b_667.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Welcome to week 1 of our Deconstructing Diets series! My hope for this series is to give you the easy, 1-2-3 basics of a few of the popular diets that are out there. I'll try not to get too scientific or wordy with these posts; I know I hate reading lengthy explanations and medical jargon.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiaperJunctionBlogPosts/~4/g1twxT6weqY" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Welcome to week 1 of our Deconstructing Diets series! My hope for this series is to give you the easy, 1-2-3 basics of a few of the popular diets that are out there. I'll try not to get too scientific or wordy with these posts; I know I hate reading lengthy explanations and medical jargon.We're looking at the Paleo Diet today and I have to admit it's a favorite of mine. Why? It's really pretty easy to follow when you keep this in mind: Did a caveman eat this? That's right; the Paleo Diet is also known as the Caveman Diet because it's all about eating the foods that cavemen ate. That means no processed goodies, very little to no carbohydrates (only those found in fruit and vegetables are okay), no grains (good bye bread!), no dairy, no legumes and most definitely no refined sugars. The claim is that our bodies are wired to eat this way since it's how things were done before the agricultural revolution. I'm not sure if I buy into the science part of this with our genetics handling this way of eating better than others but I do think that because of its low carb nature the possibility of losing weight is very high. One of our Diaper Junction fans, wanted to know if this diet was safe to do while breastfeeding. I'm not a Paleo dietician (nor am I any kind of dietician) so here's the link to the article that I found answering this question. Paleo Plan - Q & A Breastfeeding While Starting PaleoI found some great sites about the Paleo Diet, as well as awesome well-researched articles, on it. Paleo Plan: Paleo Plan Food GuideUS News: Best Diets - Paleo - This is an overview, quick read on eating Paleo, as well as a few reviews from those who have done it.Web MD: Review of the Paleo DietPaleolithic Diet: Infographic - DJ fan, Jillian, sent me this easy to read and fun to look at infographic on the premise of the Paleo Diet.Balanced Bites: Practical Paleo Tear Out Guides - Jillian also said that she and her husband printed these guides out so that they could use them as quick references.They Call Me Oystergirl: What Paleo Means to Me - Our pal, Julie, found this gem of inspiration.So after a quick read through, what do you think about the Paleo Diet? Have you ever followed the Paleo Diet or are you currently doing so? If so, tell us your tips!Bio: Bert is a stay at home mom of two, wife to college sweetheart, and what she calls a semi-crunchy mama. After four years of being overweight related to pregnancies, Bert submitted a video entry into a local Biggest Loser type of fitness challenge; she was chosen and lost 25% of her body weight in 90 days. She blogs at FirstTimeMom about everything from cloth diapers, parenting, life and her recent passion with health and fitness.]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[667]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Bert]]></isc:author>
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<title><![CDATA[Carry of the Month: Double Hammock Back Carry]]></title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com/Carry-of-the-Month-Double-Hammock-Back-Carry_b_665.html</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ This month's installment of Carry of the Month from Babywearing International of Hampton Roads teaches us about the Double Hammock Back Carry. This is a woven wrap carry and allows for great support for a heavier child.  ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diaperjunction.com/Carry-of-the-Month-Double-Hammock-Back-Carry_b_665.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[This month's installment of Carry of the Month from Babywearing International of Hampton Roads teaches us about the Double Hammock Back Carry. This is a woven wrap carry and allows for great support for a heavier child. <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiaperJunctionBlogPosts/~4/25Prgf00ToU" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Please read our disclaimer before trying this carry.A lot of babywearers will tell you how much they love a double hammock. (DH for short.) Double hammock is made of a rebozo pass, a horizontal chest belt, and ruck style shoulder straps. It's multilayered making it fabulous to support a heavier child or carry on for lengthy periods of time. It centers the weight to your chest so you aren't using just your shoulders for support. It's rather forgiving, not as much as say a Back Wrap Cross Carry (BWCC) but definitely helpful. While some say it's the best beginner carry, others will find the passes confusing so go slow and don't feel discouraged if you struggle. I used my base size 6 for this carry and am about a dress size 8/10.Follow along with our video, or, if you need a slower pace, check out our full written tutorialBabywearing International of Hampton Roads is the local chapter of Babywearing International, Inc, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote babywearing as a universally accepted practice, with benefits for both child and caregiver, through education and support. BWIofHR supports this mission by hosting monthly meetings and a variety of meetups and special events throughout the year. Our certified Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBE) provide assistance and guidance at our meetings. You can also find us at on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BWIofHR. ]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[665]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Babywearing International of Hampton Roads]]></isc:author>
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<title><![CDATA[CD Tip: Preventing and Treating Mold in Your Diapers]]></title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com/CD-Tip-Preventing-and-Treating-Mold-in-Your-Diapers_b_662.html</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Warm weather is here and the time is right for picnics, playdates, and trips to the beach. Warmer temperatures are often accompanied by an increase in humidity, which can bring about an increase in mold. While mold in diapers is not terribly common, the majority of the calls and emails we receive about moldy diapers come in the summer months. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diaperjunction.com/CD-Tip-Preventing-and-Treating-Mold-in-Your-Diapers_b_662.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Warm weather is here and the time is right for picnics, playdates, and trips to the beach. Warmer temperatures are often accompanied by an increase in humidity, which can bring about an increase in mold. While mold in diapers is not terribly common, the majority of the calls and emails we receive about moldy diapers come in the summer months.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiaperJunctionBlogPosts/~4/TlYWSH2HF8U" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[Warm weather is here and the time is right for picnics, playdates, and trips to the beach. Warmer temperatures are often accompanied by an increase in humidity, which can bring about an increase in mold. While mold in diapers is not terribly common, the majority of the calls and emails we receive about moldy diapers come in the summer months.What is mold?Molds are a type of fungus that can grow indoors and outdoors. Tens of thousands of species of mold exist throughout the world. Warm, humid climates encourage mold growth, which is why we are more prone to see mold in the summer months and in our bathrooms and kitchens. Mold can be black, green, red or brown in color and often gives off a musty odor. In some individuals mold exposure can cause nasal stuffiness, wheezing, and eye and skin irritation. While not all molds are harmful to all individuals, mold has the potential to be toxic and we want to take extra precautions to keep our families safe.How can I prevent mold?Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This definitely rings true in regards to mold. Since mold thrives in moist environments, the best way to prevent mold is to minimize your diapers’ exposure to humidity. Store your dirty diapers in a cool, dry place. It might seem logical to store dirty diapers in your bathroom or laundry room, however these rooms are often warmer and have higher humidity than the other rooms in your home.Make sure your diapers are well-ventilated. Sometimes this is as easy as leaving your wet bag cracked open or removing the lid from your diaper pail. Some people may find it is necessary to run a dehumidifier (especially if your home is just prone to mold), but running your AC unit can often have a similar effect.Wash your diapers regularly. I always recommend washing your diapers every other day. Not only can this preserve the quality of your diapers, but it can also help with mold and ammonia issues. Washing frequently does not allow mold the chance to grow. Some of our customers wash daily during particularly warm or humid weeks.Maintain your washing machine per the manufacturer guidelines. Mold can grow in your washing machine and imbed itself in cloth fibers during the wash cycle. Be certain to follow manufacturer instructions to keep your washing machine clean and sanitized.How do I treat my diapers if they have mold?Mold on your diapers isn’t the end of the world, but you do need to act quickly to prevent the problem from spreading. All of the diapers sharing the storage space will need to be treated regardless of how many diapers are actually affected by mold. There are a few methods you can use to treat your diapers:Bleach. Chlorine bleach can kill mold. I recommend using 1/4 cup of bleach in your top-loader, or just 1/8 cup in a front-loader. Just pour the bleach into the appropriate receptacle in your washer and run a hot wash cycle. This method is generally safe for pockets, covers, and prefolds, but you will want to try a different method if you are using a dyed or printed natural fiber (such as a fitted).*The use of chlorine bleach may void your manufacturer’s warranty, so I always recommend reaching out to the manufacturer to confirm that using bleach is safe in this type of situation.White Vinegar. Vinegar is mildly acidic and has the capability to kill a majority of mold species. You can spray vinegar directly on your diaper or add 1/8-1/4 cup to your wash cycle. Vinegar is less hazardous than chlorine bleach, however it is not as effective and will require multiple treatments to ensure the mold has died.*The use of vinegar may void your manufacturer’s warranty, so I always recommend reaching out to the manufacturer to confirm that using bleach is safe in this type of situation.Tea Tree Oil. Tea tree oil can be used to treat mold, however it needs to be in a concentration of at least 4% in order to be effective. I recommend mixing a few drops of tea tree oil with a tablespoon of water and a small amount of detergent and spot scrubbing with a toothbrush. Follow up with a regular hot wash. This method works well on a small number of diapers, however it can be quite costly if your whole stash needs treatment.Grapefruit Seed Extract. Like tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract is a natural mold-killer, however it can also be costly. I recommend mixing 5-10 drops of grapefruit seed extract with half a cup of water and spraying it directly on the affected diaper. Allow the diaper to sit for 30-60 minutes and follow up with a hot wash.Sunlight. UV rays from sunlight are effective at sanitizing your diapers. Sunning diapers works in some areas, however it may not be worthwhile if you live in an extremely humid climate or have an abundance of mold spores in your environment.Bleach is definitely the most effective and least costly method for treating mold in your diapers, particularly if you have a large number of diapers that are affected. I certainly understand why some families may choose not to use bleach and I encourage you to weigh both the risks and the benefits before choosing a course of action. Mold can often stain fabrics which makes it hard to tell if the mold is actually dead. It is always a good idea to thoroughly inspect your diapers following treatment. Do not put a diaper on your child if you have any reason to believe the mold may still be living. Try retreating your diapers if the problem still exists. Remember to sanitize your diaper pail and/or wet bag to prevent further occurences.Continuous bouts of mold in your diapers is not to be expected. If you have problems with persistent mold it may be worthwhile to have a specialist inspect your home for mold and moisture damage. For More InformationI recommend checking out the following resources if you would like to learn more about mold and it's effects:Center for Disease Control - Mold - General InformationUS Environmental Protection Agency - A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[662]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Valerie]]></isc:author>
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<title><![CDATA[Mom to Mom: My Preschooler's Self Image]]></title>
<link>http://www.diaperjunction.com/Mom-to-Mom-My-Preschoolers-Self-Image_b_661.html</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ It all started with Disney princesses. Sometime over a year ago, Bunny fell in love with those princesses. My husband and I certainly had nothing to do with it, but my sisters started giving her tons of princessy things and Bunny just loved them. Dave and I were fine with that. It's what she liked, so we indulged her. We bought her princess dolls and watched the princess movies with her and picked up princess T shirts and pajamas at yard sales. Soon, she'd start picking her church dresses based on the princess she wanted to be. If her dress was purple, she was Rapunzel. If she wore blue, she was Cinderella and needed her hair in a bun. If she wore yellow, she was Belle, and wore her hair half up, half down. And so it went. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.diaperjunction.com/Mom-to-Mom-My-Preschoolers-Self-Image_b_661.html</guid>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[It all started with Disney princesses. Sometime over a year ago, Bunny fell in love with those princesses. My husband and I certainly had nothing to do with it, but my sisters started giving her tons of princessy things and Bunny just loved them. Dave and I were fine with that. It's what she liked, so we indulged her. We bought her princess dolls and watched the princess movies with her and picked up princess T shirts and pajamas at yard sales. Soon, she'd start picking her church dresses based on the princess she wanted to be. If her dress was purple, she was Rapunzel. If she wore blue, she was Cinderella and needed her hair in a bun. If she wore yellow, she was Belle, and wore her hair half up, half down. And so it went.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiaperJunctionBlogPosts/~4/hZavbQW72sc" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
<isc:description><![CDATA[It all started with Disney princesses. Sometime over a year ago, Bunny fell in love with those princesses. My husband and I certainly had nothing to do with it, but my sisters started giving her tons of princessy things and Bunny just loved them. Dave and I were fine with that. It's what she liked, so we indulged her. We bought her princess dolls and watched the princess movies with her and picked up princess T shirts and pajamas at yard sales. Soon, she'd start picking her church dresses based on the princess she wanted to be. If her dress was purple, she was Rapunzel. If she wore blue, she was Cinderella and needed her hair in a bun. If she wore yellow, she was Belle, and wore her hair half up, half down. And so it went. Last summer, when school let out and I had more time to pour into all my her whims and fancies, I started making her dresses for all the princesses. By summer's end, I'd made a dress for Cinderella, Rapunzel, Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), and Snow White. She loved those dresses and started wearing them to church in addition to all of her other frilly, ruffly frocks. Sometimes she even wore fairy wings and tiaras. It was fun, and cute, and we didn't see any harm in it. Honestly, I still don't think that there's any harm in it by itself. Unfortunately, wearing those dresses was reaping more consequences than just her temporary happiness, though we didn't realize it.A couple of months ago, I pulled Bunny's hair out of some braids and her hair was all crimpy. “Ooh, look at that pretty curly hair!” I proclaimed! She thought it was great and wanted curly hair all the time. Night after night, I set about finding ways to make it curl, from braids, to buns, and finally to rag rolls. All those methods worked marvelously and Bunny felt so beautiful when her hair was curled. Then, one night, morning sickness took over and I was too sick to oblige her. “But Mommy, I won't be PRETTY if I don't have curly hair!” she whined and moaned.  “Baby girl, that is not true. Straight hair and curly hair are both beautiful. Besides, you're beautiful no matter what.”Bunny goes to daycare 2-4 days a week for 2-4 hours in the mornings, because I teach part time every morning. One day she came home from daycare a little down in the mouth. We were getting ready for naptime and she and proclaimed sadly, “Miss Katie didn't like my outfit today.”  “What?” I asked. “What makes you think that?”  “She didn't say she liked it.” Bunny responded matter-of-factly.  “Well, dear, I'm sure she liked it but she was probably just too busy to say anything about it.”That answer seemed to satisfy her just fine and she resumed her cheery face and we finished her naptime book and snuggle without incident. Soon, Bunny started asking to wear a dress to daycare every day. Again, we didn't see the harm in it so for the next couple of weeks, Bunny wore any and every dress she had when she went to her learning center in the morning. I gave in to her requests for elaborate hairstyles and sparkly bows and barrettes and she even wore her favorite shoes, the ones she calls “clickety clack” shoes because of the way they make staccato sounds as she walks across our wooden floors. I found so much joy from seeing her glean happiness form the whole affair. Every day when I'd pick her up she'd be happy and cheery and tell me about how all her little friends loved her Snow White dress or how her teacher exclaimed and proclaimed about her pretty hair. Suddenly, Bunny was suddenly a little fashionista and seemed to be choosing her outfits to make a statement. I, not being into fashion anymore, found it odd, but didn't see any harm in it. In fact, I sort of liked letting my preschooler express her individuality in her clothing. Then, one day, I decided she'd worn enough dresses. I didn't really have a reason to decide it, but I guess I thought she needed a change. “Bunny,” I said that morning, “Why don't you wear pants or shorts today?” There was no calmly discussing the matter, just a riotous temper tantrum that ensued without any warning.  “No, NO! I HAVE to wear a dress. I won't be BEAUTIFUL if I don't wear a dress,” she declared between screams and moans.” Warning bells sounded in my heart. Three years old and she was feeling this way already?  “Um, well that settles it. You are NOT wearing a dress with that attitude. Bunny, you are beautiful no matter what you wear. You are beautiful when you wear pants, and you're wearing pants today.”  Despite kicking and screaming through the whole morning routine, Bunny wore normal play clothes to daycare that day, like it or not. My husband and I discussed the matter later and decided that she wasn't going to be allowed to wear a dress to daycare, at least for awhile, because we don't want her to think her beauty is dependent upon what she wears, or even what she looks like. We also decided that, though she is beautiful and we tell her all the time, we were going to start saying it less and stressing other amazing character traits that she has. Bunny, of course, wasn't happy with the decision that she couldn't wear a dress, but our minds were set and she would learn to comply. That following Monday, Bunny made bad choices in daycare. On one particular day, she was grumpy and out of sorts, and decided to push two of her little friends. Now, this is very unlike her. She has her moments, sure, but I never get bad behavior reports from daycare or church or babysitters concerning her. She has always made good choices in public. We dealt with the issue, and after apologies from her to all parties involved, we really started talking to her to try to get to the root of the matter. Something was making her upset and it was being manifest in her behavior towards others. Whether or not it had to do with her self-image, I don't know. The poor girl has dealt with a lot of changes lately--mostly due to my difficult pregnancy. In any case, in addition to constant reassurance and instruction, we felt she needed some incentive to make good choices. So we decided that if she was good all week at daycare, she would be allowed to wear a dress on Thursday--her last day there that week. She behaved as well as she always had before and earned her dress. Thursday came and she chose a lacy, light blue dress and I put her hair up in a bun like Cinderella's and topped it off with some pretty, sparkly blue barrettes and some white Mary Janes. She looked like a little doll. She went to daycare in very good spirits and came home to tell me how everyone liked her dress and how other girls in her class were wearing dresses too. The dress incentive seemed to be an effective one--though we still didn't know the cause of her self-image issues.That afternoon, I had an appointment with my midwife. I took Bunny with me, as I always do, and being out in public with her while she was dressed that way while I was overly observant of her actions opened my eyes quite a bit. Literally every single person we talked to stopped and stared at her and exclaimed over her little dress, her hair, and her shoes. “Oh, look at you! Aren't you a pretty little girl! Wow, you look beautiful in that dress.” One person after another exploded in exuberant praise and Bunny beamed and soaked it all in like it was oxygen. Later, we went to the store and the praise continued. Cashiers commented without fail, and even some strangers noticed her and commented on how lovely she was. Granted, she is beautiful and does get these comments even in street clothes, but dressed like a princess, the comments were superfluous and non-stop and she couldn't get enough of it. That's when it dawned on me. Society was impressing upon her the importance of her physical and outward appearance. It wasn't me or Dave--though we weren't really helping while we were ignorant of the issue. Dave and I can work overtime to show her and teach her that her self-worth lies within and that she is precious and valuable for who God has made her to be inside. We can tell her that real beauty is kindness and sweetness and not what you wear. We can show her movies about how people who look ugly on the outside are really beautiful inside and read her books that help reinforce the theme. We can do all of this in the home, but the moment she steps outside the door, the world is going to teach her that she is wonderful because of her looks. It's utterly frustrating. As I sat there in my midwife's office surrounded by all these well-meaning nurses and secretaries who were exclaiming sweetly over my daughter, I knew I couldn't just coach them all and ask them not to say she was beautiful. I can't go before my daughter and prepare the way for her, prepping the world to emphasize the values her father and I want to instill within her. Our culture cares a lot about physical appearances and they will emphasize what they see. I'm ashamed I didn't see this earlier. It never occurred to me how it would affect my daughter to emphasize her beauty among the many other types of praises I give her. Granted, she could look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame and I would still think she is the most beautiful little girl in the world, but all the same, making that characteristic important isn't good for her self image. I feel terribly that I've contributed to the fact that she feels she isn't beautiful if she isn't wearing a dress or her “clickity clack shoes,” or a barrette in her hair. I mean, what if her striking beauty is one day stripped away? What if, one day, she finds that she doesn't fit society's definition of beauty? It will be, eventually. Age will come and rob what youth has painted all over her features. Whether she's 13 or 30 when this happens will she suddenly feel worthless? I hope not. And with every breath in my body I plan on striving to let her know that her worth is in things far deeper than her outward beauty. All I can do now is begin to emphasize those character traits that make her beautiful from the inside out. “Bunny, I loved how you were kind to your friend today. That makes you so beautiful.” Or “It was really sweet that you shared your dessert with Daddy. You didn't have to do that.” Or, “Sweetheart, do you know how much I love when you tell me stories? It's cool that God made you so creative.” It's not like I never say these things to her, but I guess I want to say them more. When I'm tempted to say, “You're so pretty” I think it is better to give a characteristic that makes her pretty. I'm new to this. I honestly don't know how to raise a little girl to know her self-worth and to realize that beauty is much deeper than her skin, but I'm trying. I'm an amateur and this is all I know how to do to help change the way she sees herself. So Monday rolled around again, and Bunny had to wear pants to daycare. She was not happy about it. She begged, she pleaded, she tried to manipulate, and she cried, but she went to daycare wearing jeans and a T shirt that I, of course, let her help me pick out. Every day, my husband or I send her to school with a special lunch note with a drawing and some encouraging words and on Monday I drew a picture of a little blonde girl with a green shirt and jeans on and I wrote that she was beautiful even if she was wearing pants. “You're beautiful because of who you are, not what you wear.” I ended the note. It was a start, I know, but hopefully, the message will ultimately embed itself into her little heart. ]]></isc:description>
<isc:productid><![CDATA[661]]></isc:productid>
<isc:author><![CDATA[Becca]]></isc:author>
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