Quick & Easy-to-Sew Changing Pad

I wish I was better at sewing but it is just not a talent that I have. I use my sewing machine for small projects like tablecloths, table runners and minor tailoring of my wardrobe but that is the extent of my skills. So, I can honestly say this is the easiest sewing project ever! Before Ellie was born, I could not find a cute changing pad for my diaper bag anywhere. I finally got the idea to make one using vinyl tablecloth material. I was fortunate to find this pretty brown and green pattern since I didn't want it to actually look like a picnic tablecloth :) What I love about this is that you can easily wash or spray it down to disinfect the changing pad. These also make great gifts for baby showers since most everyone appreciates a homemade, unique, and functional gift!

I also found plain white to back this pretty leftover fabric. I like this one because I know the white vinyl goes face down and the side that baby lies on, never touches the dirty changing station. I used both of these with Ellie and they held up so well I'll be able use them again with baby sister. All I did was cut the fabric out for the size of changing pad I wanted and sew it together. When I was finished sewing it together, I went ahead and sewed around the border to help it lie flat and give it a more polished look....well, as "polished" as any of my sewing projects could look ;-)

Homemade Baby Wipes

So when I decided to take the cloth diaper plunge, I also decided to give cloth wipes and homemade wipe solution a try. It is more natural but my main reasoning was (as always!) to save money. I've used all kinds of fabric for making cloth wipes but I really like to use old t-shirts so I just save ours up and cut them into the size I want when I need more wipes. I have also used some old pre-folds and dish towels.

If you search online, you will find endless recipes for wipe solution. I use 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of baby wash. You can also use baby lotion in place of the olive oil (which I did this time because I'm low on olive oil). I like to just spray the wipes as I need them. If we are on the road or have a real *ahem* blowout diaper, I just use regular wipes or I sometimes pack homemade disposable wipes for the road using paper towels that I cut into the appropriate size. I just put them in a baggie with a little of the solution.

I'm wishing now I would have put my new solution in this cute spray bottle that I recently got from the Target dollar bin but I already filled it with part water and part conditioner to use as a detangler spray on Ellie's unruly curls :)

Cloth Diapering

In preparation for baby sister, I ordered some new cloth diaper covers and I can't wait until she will fit into them!

I started cloth diapering with Ellie when she was about seven months old and used them until she was potty trained at 22 months. We saved a lot of money on diapers this way and, maybe this makes me weird, but I actually enjoy cloth diapering :) Chase was a little hesitant when I began this endeavor but when he realized how much money we were saving (about $50/month), he was thankful and didn't even mind changing the diapers! I only invested about $50 in covers and pre-folds when I started out with Ellie so they paid for themselves after the first month. 

The Flip brand of covers are my favorite because they hold up the best in the wash and are reasonably priced. I have also used Econobum (which is the cheapest!) but they only come in white and aren't quite as good of quality. 

I use all types of traditional pre-folds on the inside of the covers.

 I just take the pre-fold and fold it into thirds, place it in the cover and that is it! Unless the cover gets soiled, I can use it several times throughout the day and only have to replace the pre-fold. 

 With Ellie I used cloth diapers mainly just at the house and for short trips. I am *hoping* to use them almost exclusively with baby sister after the first couple of months. I've even bought some disposable inserts from the Flip line that can be used instead of pre-folds for when we are out and about. I also bought a cute little wet bag for putting dirty diapers in until we get home. I keep a plastic lidded container in our laundry room and just wash all the diapers at once at the end of the day. I use homemade laundry soap for washing them which you can find here. Being a keeper of the home is such a joy and I am thankful for the privilege I have to be a wife and mommy!



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