choices of cloth

AIO
-most expensive
- most like disposable
-least bulky besides flats
- no cover needed
-my personal favorite for babies on the move

One Size
- only have to buy one time
-more difficult to launder ; soaker must be removed for washing and then restuffed afterward
-can be bulky on young or petite babies

Fitted
- Diaper shaped cloth
-has to be fastened in some way
     1)pins (not recommended)
     2) snappi ( recommended)
- must purchase several sizes
-needs a cover

prefold
- economical
-needs fastened
-only one size needed
-needs cover
-extremely bulky
- my least favorite for any age or size

Flat
-can be difficult and timely; greatest learning curve
- needs fastener
-needs covered
- only one size needed
-hard to put on babies who squirm usually after they start Crawling
- least bulky
-economical
-My favorite for newborns thru pre- walkers

Average cost thru Potty Training
all in one (aio) $540
one size $480
fitted $536
prefolded $32.00
flat $32.00
disposable $4,000

environmental effects

contaminated ground water

Most people have never read the side of their diaper package;  however it clearly states that soiled diapers should be emptied in the toilet and then rinsed before disposal. When this is not followed the contaminated diapers will contaminate ground water and create a breeding ground for disease. You may be thinking that this does not effect you as you trust the water treatment facility or only use filter water, but unfortunately this contaminated water effects not only the farmers crops but also any animal that may drink from an open waterer contaminated by rain.

Non-Biodegradeable

Every infant who exclusively uses disposables will create 2000 pounds of trash. Each year 7.6 billion pounds of contaminated wastes enter the landfill every year. The big diaper companies state it only takes 500 years for each diaper to decompose. The truth is that the lack of air and sun light after burial in a land fill causes them to be basically indestructible.

The Dirt on Disposables

Would you let your baby spend the day soaking in paint thinner, arsenic or how about lead? 95% of American babies spend their days doing just that, and the majority of parents are not even aware. Where is this danger? Their disposable diaper! Most people know that disposables are bad for the environment, more than 100 times more expensive and help the rise of oil prices. However few know just how dangerous these everyday items can be for the most precious thing in their lives. There are more than 50 dangerous chemicals in the common disposable. Here is some of the most dangerous and what they could mean for baby.

Dioxin- a by product of the bleaching process; Causes skin cancer, suppresses the immune system, and causes genetic damage.

Sodium Polyacrylate- The white powder in the center of diaper that turns to gel when wet. It can absorb 100 times its weight. Reactions can include but are not limited to allergy, oozing blood and or puss from the diaper area, fever vomiting and staph infections that can be deadly. This chemical was removed from tampons after being linked to TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROM. Has killed children who accidently ingested and/ inhaled miniscule amounts.

Phthalates- The plastic that is bleached with softeners has recently been banned from teething, feeding and other baby products because of its ability to mimic human hormones . This phenomenon can cause sterility in boys as well as early puberty and ovarian cancer in little girls.

Tributyl Tin (TBT) Like the Plastic this heavy metal can create a hormone like effect when exposed to the tiniest amounts. The biggest danger of this chemical is sterility in boys. This and other heavy metals are in the dyes and odor absorbers.

Cumen- A highly flammable crude oil. A dangerous carcinogenic know to cause lung and liver tumors.

Toluene- A solvent used in glue, paint thinner and paint. Low levels of exposure can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, memory loss, hearing loss, and color blindness.

Ethylbenzene- Is also flammable and carcinogenic. Know to cause tumors in kidney, testacies, lung and liver.

Styrene- Can cause damage to the nervous system, pancreatic cancer and is highly flammable and toxic.

Dipentene also know as limonene is less dangerous than most of the other chemicals and is derived naturally from citrus fruit peels. Mainly irritates the skin and lungs. May be linked to the development of asthma.

M-methoxybenzaldehyde- also related to Vanillin an artificial vanilla extract used as a scent. Allergic reactions and migraine headaches are common with exposure to this chemical.

1.3.5 trimethylbenzene- highly toxic by ingesting and inhaling, depresses central nervous system, causes breathing disorders (such as asthma and emphysema. Other effects include headache, tension, nose bleeds, seizures and DEATH. This chemical is classified as a Narcotic by OSHA and the FDA.

Trichloroethylene- irritates eyes, skin, lungs and causes headaches dizziness, cardio arrhythmia, liver injury and male sterilization.

1.2.3 trimethylcyclopentane is know to cause dry mouth headaches dizziness and nausea.

The VOCs (off gassing) emitted from disposable diapers can cause cancer, brain damage and even death. A lot of parents will say something like I wore disposables and I am fine, but the truth is a lot of these injuries are not fully evident until well in to adulthood and will never be linked to the chemicals found in your diapers when you were a baby. Disposable diapers are a relatively new invention and new scientific research comes along every year with evidence that say they are undeniably dangerous.

That mom

Do you ever get tired of being called " THAT MOM". It's not so much the words used but the way the other moms scrunch up there whole faces when they say it and the tone that they use. I find it was more acceptable to be "THAT MOM" when my children were babies but now that they are older it is almost as if people expected me to out grow being green. They say things like. "You still do that" or "why can't he have that he is 8." I am sorry if you like to give your 8 year old cheese balls at 9 am but that's not for me. Yes, I make my own bread that is poison free. I prefer not to feed my children highly processed nutrition-less snacks... whats wrong with an apple. I don't walk around saying "Eww You're that mom who tries to poison my babies". I probably get THAT MOMED 20+ times a week. Quit judging when you know better you do better. We are all a shade of green some are just greener then others

Peanutbutter and Jelly done right!

Peanut butter and Jelly done right!
What is in your peanut butter? Preservatives? Added food colorings? Sugar? Salt? Honey? Oils? The answer should be much simpler peanuts, organic if you can afford them but always just plain unsalted peanuts! To make your own peanut butter all you need is a high quality food processor such as a ninja. Place one pound unshelled roasted nuts in food processor and process until smooth. Which is usually seven to nine minutes. What is the benefits of one ingredient peanut butter you may ask? First of all there are no added preservatives, some of which have unknown effects on human development. Peanuts are filled with healthy oils and fats , there is no reason to add more fat of any kind (processed peanut butter usually has cheap unhealthy fats) Honey and sugar have two negative effects, the obvious is the added sugar itself. The other is that added sugar has been proven to be addictive and one must retrain the brain to enjoy foods in their natural form. Have no fear once enjoying a real food life style you will no longer crave added sugar and actually prefer naturally occurring sugar such as fruit. Yes even for desert! One ingredient peanut butter should be kept in a refrigerator in an air tight container.  Now it is time to make that Jelly!
You will need one pound frozen fruit of your choice. My children always seem to choose strawberries or mixed berries. 1 tbsp gelatin 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 c honey (preferable farm fresh) 1/2 tsp vanilla. Combine all ingredients except gelatin in to a sauce pan. Heat to a boil, reduce mixture to about half (about 45 min) add gelatin cook for 1 minute. Pour in to mason jar refrigerate for 10 days or freeze for future use. Store bought jelly or jam usually contains at least 3x as much sweetener or worse artificial sweeteners, as well as red 40, and preservatives.
I recommend making 5 ingredient wheat bread to go with your Pb and J. Enjoy!

What's in your food?

Americans consume more than five times the amount of food dyes than we did in 1955. These food colorings have been linked to everything from cancer to hyperactivity. Although many countries around the world such as Finland, Norway and France have banned these unsafe substances the U.S. Food and Drug administration will not get on board. In fact the Center for Science in Public Interest insisted that Blue dye # 2 is not fit for human consumption because it can cause brain cancer but the Food and drug administration still did not ban the substance which is still widely used in our drinks and candies. Continuing to use blue #2 as a example; blue dye number 2 use to be extracted from plants and sea snail however nearly all of this dye is now synthetic. The ingredient list in this particular dye is now as follows, Sulfonic acid, Sulfoanthranilic acid, disodium salt, sodium salt, lead, arsenic and mercury. Not one of those ingredients is something I would willingly flavor my family's food with knowingly yet millions of people consume them unknowingly everyday. What are some other dangers of food colorings?

Color of dye Damaging Effects
Blue # 1  Chromosomal Damage
Blue #2  Brain Cancer , hyperactivity
Red #3 hyperactivity, thyroid tumors, chromosomal damage
Red #40  Chromosomal damage, lymphomas, hyperactivity, eczemas
Carmine (red dye from smashed bugs) Possible severe allergic reaction  sometimes resulting in death
Green #3 Bladder tumor
Yellow #5 Eczema/hives, chromosomal damage, hyperactivity, thyroid tumors, allergies, asthma, insomnia, aggressive behavior
Yellow #6 Eczema/hives, chromosomal damage, hyperactivity, thyroid tumors, allergies, asthma,

While these substances are mostly found in sugary drinks and candies; they can also be lurking in our soup, medications and even meat. Almost nothing is safe. The best protection we have is to read the food labels. "Natural coloring" on a food label can cover every thing from beets to carmine and anything else derived from the earth. It is not necessarily as healthy as it sounds. When in doubt choose organic when you can afford to and see my up coming blog about real food.

Food is fuel

Food Is fuel

Everyone knows what happens if you put sugar in a gas tank. The same thing happens when you put chemicals in to your body. I'm talking food coloring, pesticides and persevatives. Not everyone can afford to choose organic all the time. Believe me I get that. but its is easy to choose a real food diet. When you start making food at home instead of out of a box you will see a major difference in your energy level, the way you sleep, basic health and even your mood. Take the first step by shopping in just the outside isles of your grocery store. Dairy, frozen, meat and produce are the only areas you should be shopping; with the exception of the baking isle to pick up basic baking supplies such as yeast, flour and, honey. Choose real butter over margarine; and olive oil over vegatable oil or canoila oil. Every healthy decision is better than doing nothing so don't feel guilty if you can't give up that store bought coffee creamer or your husbands favorite ice cream just yet.