Starting Solid Foods- Making Homemade Baby Food

Just when you think you have all the baby supplies you need, baby is ready to start solid foods, and you need a whole new set of supplies.

I decided to make my own baby food because it is cheaper and I wanted to know what I was feeding my child. It takes more time than opening a jar of commercial baby food, but it is healthier, and I can use my own garden vegetables. I used a book as a guideline for what to introduce when, and for good recipes and storage information. The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet  


There are a few tools that make homemade baby food easier. I purchased and inexpensive small blender to keep handy on the countertop. The Hamilton Beach Personal Blender works great for making purees and smoothies. I also use it to make healthy mommy smoothies!  A Kitchenaid food processor is good for making big batches of baby food.


I found that silicone Tovolo Ice Cube Trays work great for making big batches and freezing in baby size portions. I then packaged the cubes in bags and sealed with my FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer. This keeps my baby food fresh and healthy, and I can easily pop a cube out and thaw.


I fed my baby commercial infant cereal, because it is a nice smooth starter food with vitamins and minerals added. I like  Earth's Best Multi Grain Cereal because it is organic, whole grain, non-GMO, and all the good stuff I look for. You can start with Earth's Best Wholegrain Rice Cereal as a first food, and then introduce oatmeal and other grains after rice is tolerated well.

Keeping in Shape for New Moms

It is a good idea to stay fit before, during, and after pregnancy. If you start a workout routine or activity before you become pregnant, it will be easier to stick with it. While pregnant, exercise can help you regulate your weight gain, ensure a speedy recovery after delivery, help you sleep better and  lift your moods. After baby is born and you are recovered, a workout routine will help you lose the baby weight, and give you the strength to carry and chase after baby. (Some exercises and activities are not recommended, please consult your doctor for more information)

I decided to combine a healthy diet with brisk walking and a pregnancy toning workout. I found The Perfect Pregnancy Workout  DVD, and I love it. The workout was easy to fit into my schedule, and I could do it at home. It is designed for pregnant women, and has three levels of difficulty, so that you have something to work towards. I did the workout 3 times a week and tried to go for walks the rest of the days.

The workout made me feel really good, and I had a relatively easy delivery. My abs were strong so I didn't have a huge belly and I was able to recover quickly. I am over 30, so knew it was going to be more difficult to bounce back.

I continued with the workout after baby was born, as much as I could, and the exercises have really helped me keep up with an active baby. The music in the video, and the woman's accent can get old after a while, but I memorized the routine and now I do it to my choice of music. I also take baby for brisk walks in the stroller. I have found that a  jogging stroller works best for this, and you can take it on a little rougher terrain.

Accessories for your workout:

Yoga Mat
Rubbermaid Small Step Stool
Neoprene Hand Weights

Baby Bath Time Products

Giving baby a bath can be a simple as using a sink or plastic basin, but a special baby bath can make it easier and more fun for both of you. I picked out the First Year's Infant To Toddler Tub with Sling. It has a sling for newborns, and after that there are two ways for babies to sit in the tub, reclining for infants, and sitting up for bigger babies. It has a drain in the bottom and is easy to use. This worked great for many months until my baby was ready for the big tub.


A bath-time necessity is a water temperature tester. I use the Munchkin 'White Hot' Duck Bath Toy. It says 'hot' on the bottom if the water is too hot, and it's also a cute toy to play with in the bath.

Once baby is big enough for the big tub, you need to make sure it is safe, with a Spout Cover, and a non slip Rubber Safety Mat. 

 I also like to use Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Bath, Lavender & Vanilla. It's a nice calming scent and Aveeno is relatively gentle as far as soaps go.

I also use the Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo, but I add drops of Grapefruit seed extract because my baby had a little cradle cap and it seemed to help.
 

Baby Sleepwear- Newborn to Toddler

To keep baby snuggly and warm at night, you can't beat swaddle blankets and sleep sacks. Most newborns love to be swaddled, it calms them and helps them sleep. 

Unless you are an expert swaddler, like the nurses at the hospital, you will appreciate the new swaddle blankets with velcro. It's really easy to wrap them up and keep them happy and secure. The swaddle blankets come in a couple sizes and many colors. You can get jersey cotton for warm weather, Organic Cotton, or Microfleece for cool weather. Make sure you have at least 2 blankets for when you have to wash one. You can usually buy a 3 Pack in the Cotton Knit and save a little money.

My baby loved his swaddle blanket for the first few weeks, but after that he wanted his arms out, so I moved up the the sleep sacks. The sleep sacks are also available with a swaddle type flap, but it won't be wrapped as tight as the swaddle blankets. Every baby is different if what they prefer, so if you purchase several options, make sure you can return the ones you don't need.

Sleep sacks are great for any age baby. Even babies that are crawling or walking as long as they are used to being in the sack. The are great because baby is warm and comfortable and can kick and move around as much as they want and not kick off their blanket. They will sleep better, which means you will sleep better!

The sleep sacks come in Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large. They are also available in several colors and fabrics. They come in thinner cotton for warm weather, Micro-Fleece for cool weather, and Deluxe Velboa, which is somewhat in between, and a little more breathable than the microfleece.

Make Nursing Baby More Comfortable

If you are breastfeeding your baby, you will be spending a lot of time feeding, especially in the first few months. It is a good time to bond with your baby, but after a while you will need something to occupy you. If you're like me, you don't watch television, so you read instead. Reading a book while nursing is not that easy though. I found that an eReader is a great option.

I received a Refurbished Kindle Touch, Wi-Fi for my birthday and it has turned out great. I can hold it and turn pages one handed, and it saves your place like a bookmark. I save money by borrowing ebooks from my local library. It is a wonderful tool, and I've been able to read many good books instead of killing brain cells watching television. I love it.

The refurbished Kindle saves about $20 compared to a new one, but it is not always available. I also looked at the Kindle Fire, but I already have a phone and laptop that can do what the Fire offers. I didn't think the extra cost was worth the additional features for me. It is a nice little e-reader though, from what I can see.

Boppy Nursing Pillow

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Another way to make sure your breastfeeding experience is good is to have a comfortable place to sit. Being relaxed and comfortable makes it a better experience. Make sure you have plenty of pillows. The Boppy Pillow is a great invention. I have two and use them all the time.

Baby Changing Station

Changing diapers is one of the not so fun parts about having a baby, but having a good diaper changing station helps make it easier. If you have everything you need in one convenient place, it is much more efficient. Plan on changing diapers up to 10 times a day at first, during the day and in the middle of the night.

Most people have their changing table in the nursery, but due to lack of space and the fact that I use cloth diapers, I decided to have my changing station in our half bath, which I found is much more convenient, especially with cloth diapers.

I selected the Badger Basket Sleigh Style Changing Table because it was attractive, fit into the space, and had a hamper and 3 baskets/drawers included. The hamper is great because you can throw dirty clothes right in there, and it is removable for washing. The 3 drawers hold all of my diapers, and accessories.

The changing table came with a thin pad, but I decided to use the Summer Infant Contoured Changing Pad with it, because it was thicker, and contoured to make it less easy for baby to roll off. A Basic Changing Pad Cover is a nice addition because it is soft and warm on baby's skin, and easy to wash. I also use a Carters Keep Me Dry Flannel Lap Pad on top of the cover because it is easier to wash than the whole changing pad cover in case of accidents. This is especially useful for baby boys!

I also have a Shower Caddy that I hung on the wall to hold my cloth wipes, washclothes, vaseline, and olive oil (for diaper rash). My homemade disposable wipes and solution are on the sink right next to the changing table. It also just so happens that a towel bar is above the changing table, which I use to hang up clothes and toys to distract baby. With everything within reach, a diaper change is quick and easy.

Tips and Tools for Easier Breastfeeding

If I wasn't so passionate about the benefits of breastfeeding, I probably would have given up on it. I had so many problems right from the start. It did get easier, but I have still had periodic problems. I know some women find it easy, but it wasn't so for me. I did receive a lot of help and support from the lactation consultants at my hospital, and I found some products that really helped and made the experience better.

Helpful online resources include La Leche League and Kelly Mom.

My baby was born with a slight tongue-tie which combined with a laid back feeding attitude, made the  first couple weeks pretty difficult. The hospital lactation consultant set me up with a Medela Contact Nipple Shield, which made it easier for the baby to latch properly and avoided soreness and other problems from bad latching. I was able to wean my baby off of it after a few months when his tongue tie stretched out enough to latch properly.

The lactation consultant also recommended Motherlove Herbal Nipple Cream to sooth sore, cracked nipples. It is an all natural, healing salve. The period of transition from nipple shield to without was pretty painful, and this cream really helped. I used it through the whole breastfeeding period to keep nipples soft and avoid plugged pores. I also mixed in a few drops of  Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract  which is a natural disinfectant with antifungal properties, which fights and prevents yeast and thrush problems. 

I also had periods of low milk supply, mostly due to stress or cold viruses. I took Motherlove: More Milk Plus supplements to bring up my supply. They really do work and are all natural.

I also had regular issues with plugged ducts and a couple rounds of mastitis. It was very painful and not fun. I finally figured out what was going on and got the problems under control. After the first few difficult months, I only had about 1 or 2 plugged duct issues every month. I tried everything I could to clear the plugged ducts and nothing worked, until I realized that the plug was in a pore in the nipple. I realized that every time I had issues there was a white spot I could see on the nipple. Sometimes the baby feeding would open it up, but if it didn't clear up within a day I used a hot moist compress and a sterilized needle to open the pore and express the hard white plug. Relief was instant and the problem was gone. I don't know why I kept getting the plugs. I did start taking a Lecithin supplement, which the lactation consultant suggested to make milk less 'sticky' and thick. It seems to help.

I noticed that my two rounds of mastitis occurred after I had busy weekends with house guests. I was stressed and worked too hard cleaning the house and getting ready for guest. I had plugs that were not cleared out and the extra stress made me susceptible to the infection. Both times I had to take antibiotics, which I hated to do while breastfeeding. After the antibiotics I made sure to take Probiotic Acidophilus Pearls to reestablish the good bacteria in my body. This really helped me and the baby's digestion and immune system.

Pumping is not really fun, but it is nice to have milk in the freezer and fridge for when the baby is at the sitters or when we're out in public. I used the Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump  and it worked very well and was convenient and discreet for travelling. You can often find the Medela breast pumps at rummage sales and save money, but you need to get new parts that come in contact with milk. Medela sells a Breast Pump Accessory Set. I also found that a Hands-Free Breastpump Bra was very useful. It allows you to read or work on the computer while pumping.

I didn't like the idea of freezing milk in plastic, so I used glass bottles. The Evenflo Pack Classic Glass Bottle worked great. They fit right on the Medela pump and you can thaw out, heat up, and feed right to baby. My baby refused the bottle at 5 months, so I transitioned to a sippy cup. I tried a few different kinds, but the Born Free Trainer Cup was the best because the spout was soft and it was designed for easy transition from breast to cup.

Shopping for a nursing bra was also a long and difficult search for me. I have a small frame and above average size breasts, and I had a lot of trouble finding something that would fit and support. I was happy to finally find the Glamourmom Nursing Bra Full Bust Long Top. It fits great and is long enough to cover my post baby belly. The straps are nice and wide and the tank top is nice to wear under anything. You show very minimal skin when nursing. For women with average size breasts you can probably use the Glamourmom Nursing Bra Long Tank.

Another necessity is the nursing pad, in case of leaks. I preferred the washable kind because they were thinner and felt better on my skin. I wore them everyday to protect my clothes and avoid embarrassing wet spots. My favorite was the TL Care Organic Cotton Nursing Pads but I also had the Philips AVENT Washable Nursing Pads. The Avent pads were thicker and tended to get stuck to dried milk easier.

I'm glad I breastfed my baby for all the health benefits and the bonding time. He is a strong and happy boy, and did not have any problems with gas, colic, or colds. I know it was good for him, but it wasn't easy, and I'm glad I found some things that helped.

 

Cloth Diapering Necessary Accessories

I spent almost as much time researching my cloth diaper accessories as I did the diapers themselves. It became almost an obsession for a while!

Wipes

As long as you are doing cloth diapers it makes sense to use cloth wipes as well. You can wash them right along with the diapers and it's better for their skin and the environment. I use them with straight warm water most of the time, because you don't want to add soaps or oils to your diaper wash. I purchased a package of Charlie Banana Organic Cotton Washable Baby Wipes, and they are very soft and good quality, but honestly my favorite wipes are ones I made out of old flannel receiving blankets. I cut the blankets into pieces, doubled them up to make a thicker wipe, and sewed a zigzag stitch around the edge. You can also use the cheap baby washcloths as wipes as long as you keep separate from other washcloths.

I also made homemade disposable wipes and a cleaning solution for when I needed more cleaning power. The wipes are made from thick recycled paper towel cut in half. If you remove the cardboard tube and put them in a plastic container with a hole in the lid it makes an easy dispenser. I tried having the soap solution in with the wipes, but they always became moldy after a week or so. Now I have a squirt bottle of solution next to the wipes that I use as needed. The cleaning solution is made of sterilized water, olive oil, and baby shampoo. It works great to remove sticky poop messes. 

I also tried a wipes warmer with my fabric wipes, but found that they became musty quickly, and it was hard to remember to keep adding water. I gave up and just used warm tap water. It really helped that I was able to put my changing table in our half bathroom, making the water easily accessible. This also made the next item an easy pick. 

Diaper Sprayer

I had a tip from another cloth diapering mom that a diaper sprayer would be essential. I'm glad I listened, because it makes life much easier. We purchased the bumGenius Diaper Sprayer, although there are instructions online to make your own if you're up for the challenge. It attaches to the water valve on your toilet, and it works great to clean off much of the mess, and you can flush it away. I have a toilet brush cup under the sprayer because it drips sometimes after using. I also have an old spatula there to clean off stubborn messes. 

Diaper Pail

Most people use the dry pail method for cloth diapers. The best accessory to have is a pail liner. I was able to find inexpensive nylon drawstring bags in the camping department of my local discount store, but you can buy a variety of ones online - Outdoor Products Dry Sack, Thirsties Diaper Pail Liner, or Planet Wise Diaper Pail Liner. There are also instructions to make your own if you're handy and can find the fabric. 

My diaper pail is a plastic garbage can, the Sterilite White Ultra Touch-Top Wastebasket 28 Qt. It was inexpensive and has an easy to open and close lid. I put baking soda deodorizers in the bottom, and I've never had a problem with odors as long as I wash the diapers every 2 days. 

Washing Diapers

Figuring out your washing routine is the hardest part of cloth diapering because everyone's water and equipment is different. I have moderately hard water and a top load washer. After some trial and error, this is my routine...

1. Soak in cold water a couple hours or overnight

2. Rinse or Prewash cold water

3. Regular wash in hot water with 1/6 to 1/4 cup washing soda, 1/3 to 1/2 cup soap nuts liquid (depending on size of load), and 1 Tablespoon Calgon liquid. (Add a towel to load because my washer doesn't spin out all the water on small loads)

4. Line dry diaper covers, tumble dry liners on warm/hot

Soap nuts are not recommended by the diaper companies because they say they can leave a residue, but I have not had a problem as long as I use the washing soda and Calgon water softener. I buy the NaturOli Soap Nuts. I like that they are natural, safe for the environment, and hypoallergenic and fragrance free. I make the liquid in batches in my pressure canner, because the liquid is a perishable product, but it's an easy thing to do. I pour boiling water into sterilized jars with 5 soapnuts per pint and fasten lids, then process in the pressure canner for 15 minutes.  

When I used soap nuts alone, I did have problems with residues, stains and odors. I started using water conditioners and this made all the difference. I found Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda in the laundry aisle of my grocery store, and Calgon Water Softener Liquid. This adds a little more cost to the very inexpensive soap nuts, but I'm sure it's cheaper than the fancy diaper detergents you can buy and it works great for me.

If you don't want to spend the time making the soapnuts liquid, you can also get NaturOli EXTREME 18X Soap Nuts Liquid Laundry Detergent (96 Loads per 8-oz bottle). 

Drying Rack

A drying rack or clothesline is also essential for drying the diaper covers or shells. Line drying extends the life of the the diaper and sunlight is a great stain remover. I found a nice collapsible Folding Clothes Drying Rack that works great and can be easily stowed away when not in use. In the winter I put it up in front of a sunny window and I still get some of the sun's stain-fighting power. 

The Best Cloth Diapers and Supplies to Buy

I always knew I wanted to do cloth diapers, to save money and avoid sending a mountain of disposables to the landfill. My husband and I both have sensitive skin, and we figured our baby would too, so cloth diapers were definitely the way to go.

I spent hours researching what kind to get and how to do everything right, and I think I made some choices, because I love the cloth diapers and would not go back to disposables. I love how they have worked so far. I started my baby in the cloth diapers at about 3 weeks old, when he was big enough and also done with really icky early meconium diapers. There is a trial and error period where you figure out how to wash and use the diapers properly, but if you are patient and persistent, this is a great system. It is good for the baby's skin, you have less chance for diaper rash, you will save money, and it's better for the environment.

Most people that ask me about my cloth diapers have the same questions...

Don't they leak?  No, they don't leak if you wash them properly and they fit the baby (if you wash them wrong they can actually repel liquid). The new systems are nothing like the cloth diapers and plastic pants of the past. They are designed and fitted well. The microfiber liners are super absorbent, and the shells are PUL material, which keeps moisture in. Plus, you can get diaper doubler liners if you need more absorbency for a heavy wetter. The only time I had leaking was before I figured out my washing system, or if I went too long between diaper changes.

Isn't it Gross? I don't know how it's any more gross that what you deal with anyway. You may have slightly more contact with poop and pee, but I don't think it's that bad. Breastfed poop is water soluble so it rinses right out, and later on when it's more solid it comes right off. I use a dry pail with an open top in a closet and it's not noticeably smelly, even in summer. I wash every two days and use baking soda deodorizers, which helps with odors.

Isn't it a pain to wash them all the time? Except for when travelling, I don't find the washing routine to be too much trouble. Once you get in the habit, it's just something you do, and you get pretty fast. It helps if your washing machine has a pre-wash setting, and if you have a drying rack or clothesline for the covers. I suppose if you were working full time it would be more difficult, but I am home most of the time, so it doesn't upset my schedule.

What about rash? Diaper rash is far less common with cloth diapers, and if they do get rash it can be easily remedied by changing how you wash or adjusting sizes. The only times my baby had diaper rash was after I used disposables on him for vacation and when he was ready to move up the the next size adjustment and needed more room. If you do have rash, you're not supposed to used diaper creams unless you add a disposable liner, because they can cause the diapers to repel liquid. I was able to use a little olive oil on the rash overnight without any problems.

Aren't they bulky? The one size adjustable diapers are more bulky on a smaller baby, but they work great, and the cost savings and comfort benefit more than make up for any appearance problem. The baby doesn't care and I think they are cute with the different colors they offer. They can be work with just a shirt in the summer and look very cute and comfortable. The Flip system is probably the trimmest diaper option if that concerns you.

Aren't the fancy ones expensive?
You can do your own calculation here. I spent about $300 total on all my diapers and accessories, and compared the cost of disposables, I break even after 6 months of using cloth diapers. I will save over $700 if I use them for a year and a half. If I use them for a second child, I will save another $1000!

After reading countless reviews, I decided on the BumGenius brand of diapers by CottonBabies. They have great information on their website and you can sometimes get pretty good deals when they have sales or when they sell seconds.

Within the BumGenius line there are several styles to choose from. I went with a combination of the Flip and the BumGenius 4.0. I also picked up some used BumGenius 3.0 (older style). They are all adjustable one size diapers, which will allow me to use them from tiny baby up to potty training. I will outline the pros and cons of each below.

Snaps vs Hook and Loop
I chose mostly the snap style over the hook and loop because I felt they would last longer through washings, but I did get a few hook and loop to make it easier on dad and babysitters. I did learn a trick for tiny babies that makes the diaper fit better over the umbilical stump, and it works best with the hook and loop. You simply fold down the top and fasten with just the tabs (there is a youtube video I'm sure if you need more details). I heard in other reviews that bigger babies can figure out how to remove the hook and loop diapers easier.

BumGenius 3.0 and bumGenius 4.0
The 3.0 version is the older style, and from what I can tell it is slightly larger, which makes the 4.0 a better fit for smaller babies. The fabric on the 3.0 seems a little different, but I haven't noticed any difference in performance. I use the 4.0's for overnight, because I can stuff them with an extra liner so it lasts all night. It takes more time compared to the Flips to stuff the diapers after washing, and unstuff after use, but you get used to it. They are quicker than the Flips however, when changing diapers because they are all ready to go. This makes them more 'daddy friendly'. The microfiber one size liners are very absorbent, and easy to use with the snaps to adjust sizes. They also wash up and dry faster than the Flip liners.

Flip Diaper System
The Flip system was just released when I started shopping, and I thought it was a good option to try. The liner is separate from the PUL cover. The real benefit to the Flip system is that you can reuse the liner if you just have a wet diaper. This means less expense because you could potentially get by with 6 liners ($10 or so each) and a couple dozen liners ($3-4 each). With the 4.0 diapers ($15-18 each) you need a new diaper for each change. You can get even more economical with liners and Cotton Prefold Diapers as liners. I do like the Stay Dry Liners thought, they are very absorbent and soft. The liners are a little more difficult to get clean and dry compared to the 4.0's, but they hold more liquid. The Flips could also be more of a problem with wiggly babies, since there is nothing holding the liner in place besides flaps they are tucked into. The Flip also offers  Disposable Diaper Inserts for convenience, which I think could be useful for travelling.

Both styles are great in different ways, and I'm glad to have both options in my stash. There are other options offered by Cottonbabies including an organic cotton diaper, and many other brands including Fuzzibunz, Thirsties, gDiapers, and more.

My next post will be about the best and most cost effective diapering accessories, including diaper sprayers, cloth wipes, pail liners, and detergents.