How to get all of your cloth diaper supplies for under $300!
By MAKEunder - February 16, 2018
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you choose to purchase after clicking my affiliate link. This costs you nothing extra, and might actually save you money! I only link to products I know and love, and strive to find you the best price. Thanks for supporting MAKEunder
I had decided before I was even pregnant that we were going to cloth diaper. I'm a low-key crunchy mom, so I LOVED that we wouldn't be producing massive amounts of garbage. What I liked most about them, however, was that I could afford everything I needed to cloth diaper until potty training for not much more than we wound up spending on disposables when Bubba was a newborn. He hated being wet. Like there would be less than an inch of blue on the wetness indicator and he would be having a full blown meltdown. Our poor, precious peach couldn't handle moisture on his poor, precious peaches.
So we spent (I kid you not) almost $300 on diapers in his first month. I hadn't wanted to buy a whole newborn sized stash (and couldn't get downstairs to the laundry room after my c-section anyway), so we figured they'd be easier.
Now Bubba just turned 9 months old and he is in cloth diapers full time, except for at night because I was exhausted from changing him every two hours throughout the night. I can now literally change diapers with my eyes closed, though. So that's a skill. I guess.
Anyway. You didn't come here to listen to me ramble on. You came here to save money.
So here's how I got EVERYTHING that I use to cloth diaper for under $300:
I have a stash of just over 40 diapers. Before I had ever even touched a cloth diaper I was convinced that stuffing pockets would be the bain of my existence, but for my shower my friend Kirstie got me a 6 pack of Alva pockets. I love them and now my stash is made up almost entirely of them (I won't go into detail about what my other diapers are because I don't love them as much and don't want to bad mouth them). I don't find pockets annoying to stuff and now that I've done it so many times, I don't even think about it anymore. I bought two more 6 packs of them from Amazon for about $40 per set. Then I found a seller on eBay who gives an awesome discount if you buy in bulk. I got 20 diapers for $99.99!
So you can easily get 40 diapers with inserts for $200!
Wipes: I bought two packs of 24 baby washcloths for a total of $16 and they are awesome. They grip the ick really well, they're just the right size, and they've lasted super well. I kept a bin from some Huggies wipes that we got in the disposables days and it's still trucking. I fold them so that they will come out of the wipes container (like this tutorial). To make my wipes solution I use a capfull of rose water (for soothing and nice scent), a tiny squirt of 70% rubbing alcohol (to keep bacteria from growing in the wipes) and then I fill the bin to just past the little vertical lines at the bottom with regular tap water. I put my stack of wipes in and smoosh them down so they absorb the solution, then I flip them over and let gravity spread the solution through the rest of them.
Pail & liners: I got a large step garbage can from Wal-Mart for $15 and I use these liners I got for $11 (I have two) in it. It fits usually 3 days worth of diapers and I haven't noticed a stink except when I open the lid. I just take the whole bag out to the laundry, turn it inside out, and wash it along with the diapers, then put another one in the pail.
Travel: I carry a small stack of the same wipes with me along with a mist bottle that has the same solution as I put in my wipes bin in it and I just spray the cloth. I got this set of travel PUL bags for $9.99. I just pop the dirt diapers and wipes in there while we're on the go, then toss them all in the pail when we get home.
Swimming: Yes, I even got swim diapers in that budget! I got these ones for $13 and they'll fit for aaaages.
Cleaning: I use Purex Free and Clear and have since day one. Since moving to Arizona where the water is much harder, I've started using Borax as a detergent booster and I've been using more Purex as well. For stains I use Buncha Farmers; my sister-in-law sent me a stick and this stuff is incredible. I ended up buying a big pack of them and I give them to my new mom friends as gifts. In stick form it works great, but I made a spray solution by grating it and dissolving it in hot water in a spray bottle and it's awesome and so much easier!
Rashes: the Grovia Magic Stick ($13.95) really is magic. We put it on every night after bath time just preventatively and Bubba has really only had one rash ever. It twists up like a deodorant stick, so it's not messy, and it smells seriously amazing. We're only about half way through the stick after 9 months of use, so it's totally worth the price, and it's one of the only CD-friendly rash creams I've found.
So your total cloth diapering setup comes to a total oooof (drumroll please):
$290!*
I mean... when Parenting.com says the average cost of diapers in the first year alone is $2448?? That's what I call savings.
Now, keep in mind that you're obviously going to have to buy detergent and pay for water. And it is time consuming (if you HATE doing laundry, cloth is not for you), so of course there's still an extra cost involved, but even then... this is just the more fiscally responsible choice (aren't you proud, Dad?)
Products mentioned:
*The links in this post are affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you choose to purchase after clicking my affiliate link. This costs you nothing extra, and might actually save you money! I only link to products I know and love, and strive to find you the best price. Thanks for supporting MAKEunder!
I've seen plenty of baby-proofing hacks floating around the internet, and sure, they'll keep your wee one from getting a gaping head wound, but they won't keep your guests from gaping at the pool noodles duct taped to the edges of your coffee table...
We're finally grown-ups. We have grown up things. We want our homes to look grown up (even if there are sticky yogurt handprints on every surface...)
I wasn't willing to compromise on either safety or aesthetic, so I found some pretty great solutions that span the gap.
(Links to all of the products I used can be found at the bottom of this post)
1. Table Corner Protectors
I got a 20 pack of these clear,adhesive table protectors. They were super easy to apply, they're barely noticeable (someone actually asked me if they were part of the table), and so far they've survived being pulled at and gnawed on by curious hands and mouths, and if they eventually come off, I have a whole bunch of replacements at the ready!
2. Clear Outlet Covers
These too came in a giant multi-pack. We've managed to fill every empty outlet in our 2 bedroom apartment with one pack. They're nice and flat, so they don't catch annoyingly on things, and they're clear, so they don't draw your attention. They draw so little attention, in fact, that Bubba hasn't even noticed them yet, but when he inevitably does, they stay in well enough that I doubt even his mischievous little paws will be able to pry them out.
3. Adhesive Magnetic Cabinet Locks
I have very few things around the house that are dangerous or toxic, but those that I do have are now safely locked away from curious gums. With this pack of locks all you have to do is stick two 3M adhesive-backed pieces to your cabinet and... that's it. No drilling, no screws, no holes. Renter friendly, for the win! They come with a super strong magnet key that, with a little practice, I can now use to unlock the cabinet and open it with one hand. The one thing I would say with these is: keep in mind how many rooms you'll be using them in. If you have two bathrooms and a kitchen to lock up, make sure you get three keys.
4. Free-standing Baby (pet) Fence
We're on the second floor, so our balcony is basically a death trap, but we like having the screen door open to let in the (Winter) Arizona air. The screen is flimsy, and even with 16 lbs leaning on it it was bowing something fierce; the sliding door is also only single paned (because apparently no one has explained insulation to these people) and looks like it could crack with very little effort. So we needed something that would keep Bubs at a safe distance, would still allow Cally access to her cat door, and didn't look like garbage. I found this Craftsman-inspired one on eBay for just $40! (A steal. Trust me. I Googled, like, a lot.)
5. Smash-proof Coasters
Now, these are not usually on the typical baby proofing shopping list, but if you have glass tables, they should be. We had a set that my cousin made for us that have Ernst Haeckel and Muscha illustrations on them. They're amazing. They're also porcelain tiles (aka hard af). Bubba was determined to slam them into our glass coffee table as hard as possible and it was just inevitable that he was going to smash it eventually. So I got these! They're cute, they'r cheap, and he can throw them around the room if he wants.
6. Furniture Straps
Now these I haven't installed yet because I'm going to paint our bedroom set and will need to move around our dresser, but these came highly recommended and won't be visible from behind your furniture or TV.
7 IKEA plants that are safe for kids and pets (and 16 that aren't!)
By MAKEunder - February 04, 2018
Disclaimer: I am not a botanist nor a medical expert. I have assembled this list based on several internet sources. None of these plants should be consumed on purpose, even if deemed "safe" to have in your home, and although not necessarily toxic, ingestion of these plants could cause nausea, vomiting, and/or stomach pains. If your pet or child consumes a plant, call poison control at 1-800-222-1222 or the SPCA at 1-800-213-6680 (a $35 fee applies) to confirm the safety of a plant or for treatment information.
Surprisingly, a great place to get affordable house plants is Ikea! But as a mum of a wee one who's taken quickly to crawling, and a cat who does things to spite us, I am acutely aware of the dangers that house plants can often pose to our tiny loved ones.
I Googled, but couldn't find a comprehensive list of which Ikea plants are and are not poisonous, so I thought to myself "I can save other folks some time!"
So without further ado:
| Plant Name | Safe (✔) or Unsafe (❌) for: | ||
| Humans | Cats | Dogs | |
Aechmea |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Alocasia Amazonica |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Alocasia Regal Shield |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Aloe Vera |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Araucaria |
✔ | ❌ | ❌ |
Beaucarnea Recurvata |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Bromelicae |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Chamaedorea Elegans |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Codiaeum |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Crassula |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Dracaena |
✔ | ❌ | ❌ |
Dracaena 'Song of India' |
✔ | ❌ | ❌ |
Dracaena Marginata |
✔ | ❌ | ❌ |
Dracaena Massangeana |
✔ | ❌ | ❌ |
Euphorbia |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Ficus Microcarpa Ginseng |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Hippeastrum |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Kalanchoe |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
|
Pachira Aquatica |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Phalaenopsis |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Philodendron |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Ravenea |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Sansevieria Trifasciata |
? | ❌ | ❌ |
Schlumbergara |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Spathiphyllum |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Tradescantia |
✔ | ✔ | ❌ |
Yucca Elephantpipes |
? | ❌ | ❌ |
Zamioculcus |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
If an Ikea plant is not included on this list, I either couldn't find any information on its toxicity, or Ikea's website didn't list the plant's name. If you have more information or new research on the toxicity of any of these plants, please comment!
Further reading:
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/HealthAZ/SafetyandtheEnvironment/Poisoning/Pages/Plant-safety.aspx https://laidbackgardener.blog/tag/houseplants-safe-for-children
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list
*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you choose to purchase after clicking my affiliate link. This costs you nothing extra, and might actually save you money! I only link to products I know and love, and strive to find you the best price. Thanks for supporting MAKEunder
I used to store my cloth diapers in a shoe organizer as I'd seen on Pinterest- which was pretty brilliant I'll admit- but I was looking for an easier way to have my diapers all in one place and easily accessible. I had seen diaper stackers in places but they weren't going to be big enough because cloth diapers are so bulky. I had also seen a disposable dispenser and thought to myself: "why couldn't I do that?"
I went searching for a cardboard box with that would be just the right size. I figured about 7x7x36" would fit perfectly and stack basically all of our diapers.
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find a box that size?!
Amazon seemed to have them in similar sizes but in groups of like 5 or 10 and I only needed one. I then happened to order a playpen for Bubba that came in exactly the right size of box. Unfortunately an overzealous husband who was trying to be helpful managed to throw it away before I could get to it. I ended up finding a box at U-Haul that was 6 by 6 instead of 7 by 7, but you'll see that it works, though is a tiny bit tight.
I went on Amazon and found a two and a half pound weight that works perfectly to press down the diapers so they pop out at the bottom without any effort. I also covered mine in a pretty contact paper that I happened to have on hand frim lining Bubba's vintage toy box, but you could cover it in basically anything that you wanted- you could Mod Podge children's book pages, or use wrapping paper, or even just a cool duct tape.
So the first step is to tape your box together on the bottom. Use a lot of tape make sure that it's really sturdy.
Then you want to cut off the top flaps.
Then what I did was just hold one of my diapers up against the bottom to measure how big my hole needed to be and then cut it out (about 1").
I then used two of the heavy duty 5 pound Command hooks and applied them after cleaning the wall with rubbing alcohol. I left them to set for 24 hours to make sure that they had really adhered well.
I put two little dots of shaving cream on the end of each and then pressed the Box against them to mark where I needed to cut a hole for each. I ended up just going with one large hole because it made it easier to hang up.
Then all I needed to do was put my diapers in all folded the same way, put the weight on top, and hang it on the wall.
Simple. All together this cost less than $20 including the box that I had to buy, and it's made my life so much easier. AlI have to do is reach in grab a diaper and the next one falls into place. Hopefully this makes your cloth diapering life a little bit easier and a little less cluttered.
