How to manage your monthly budget on baby diapers

monthly budget?

by Maggi Thomas

Your bundle of joy has just arrived! And of course along with the baby have come a huge amount of expenses! Your baby will require diapers every day. Diapers are used until the age or three, or sometimes even four, and this requirement drills a huge hole in your pocket. But that does not mean you have to keep spending money to get those expensive diapers.

Why do you need to save on diaper use.

It may save time and effort to put a diaper on your child nearly every day. After all, it does save on washing and cleaning of clothes. But if you can take some effort to reduce the numbers of diapers you use for your little one, you will help in saving the environment. Used diapers that we dispose off are a huge burden on the environment. This combines with the depletion in the ozone layer, as well as pollution problems, creates an unending circle of ecological destruction. It is our duty to protect the environment for our children, and even a small conscious effort in limiting the usage of diapers will help in the centuries to come.

Here are some simple tried and tested strategies which will help the environment and reduce your spending on diapers

See that you buy large amounts of disposable diapers. This makes it cheaper in price as you are buying in bulk, and it also cuts cost on transportation charges, advertisements, packaging, and the gas required for excursions to the shop. With lesser energy expenditure, you are definitely doing your bit to conserve the environment! Cloth diapers are a cheaper as well as more hygienic version, if maintained properly. Invest in good quality cloth as they will last for months and they are reusable. You will save a lot of money with this feasible option although it might be a little difficult to clean and dry. Try using cloth nappies alternatively with diapers. Maintain a normal diaper-free hour for your little one. Use a washable mattress that can be put in the washing machine. Re-use it efficiently by washing it daily. Your baby will enjoy playing in the mattress and you can save the diapers for later. If your baby is a bit older, take him out in the backyard and make him pee on the pots. It is good manure for the plants and you can save a diaper. If this routine is practiced daily, your baby will be only too happy outside and your pots and plants will surely be grinning. Try scheduling a potty time for your baby. Generally in the morning, or before bath time. This will help you save a lot of diapers. Save coupons as they may come in handy. You can ask for diapers as gifts for Easter or Christmas or even till the second birthday when relatives or friends ask you a suggestion on what gift to buy. Watch out for sales and you can also buy in bulk online. Call up friends who have kids nearly your baby's age and so you can share the diapers since babies grow very fast.

Some babies develop diaper rash so you have to be very careful while choosing your diapers too. Without a diaper, your baby will learn to toilet train faster. See that you buy the right size as too-large diapers will cause leaks and you will have to change them more often.

Use diapers with care and you will end up saving your environment as well as your monthly budget!

How to diaper a baby

by Amber Richards

Diapering a baby can be challenging for the first time. Many parents know that if you put the diaper on to tightly, it will be uncomfortable for the child. If it is put on to loosely, well now that can be a dirty mess! So what is the right way to diaper a child?

There are two types of diapers; cloth and disposable. Most parents love the convenience of disposable diapers.

However, every parent should know how to make a cloth diaper, just in case you don't have time to make it to the store! To diaper your baby using cloth diapers, by using The Flying Angel Wing Method, read the following instructions.

-Lay the diaper flat on the floor
-Place the baby on the diaper so that the short side of the diaper is at the baby's waist.
-The part that the baby's bottom isn't on, should be folded into thirds and bring that section up between the baby's legs.
-Bring the back sides around to the front and pin them.

Here is another cloth diaper method called the twist.

-Lay diaper flat on the floor
-lay the baby on the diaper
-Flip the bottom of the diaper over 180 degrees
-Pull the diaper up between baby's legs and pin

You can buy cloth diapers in the store called All in Ones (AIO). They are used like a disposable diaper and they fasten with velcro. They are a step up from the old cloth diapers that many of us know, so they are much easier to use than the methods of pinning the diapers as listed above.

Disposable diapers come in all sizes and in all brands. The most expensive brand is not necessarily the best brand. Sometimes you must go through several types of diapers before you find what works best for your baby. To diaper a baby using disposable diapers, read the instructions below.

-Place the baby on it's back
-Remove the dirty diaper
-Wipe the babies bottom (for girls its font to back) and allow the area to dry
-Apply diaper cream or baby powder
-Slightly lift up babies legs
-Place the diaper under the babies bottom
-Pull apart the sticky tabs
-Attach the back to the front using the sticky tabs

Make sure not to get the diaper to tight or to loose. Practice makes perfect! Remember, babies are fast, so the faster you become at changing diapers, the less of a chance that the baby will make wee wee on you! (and yes this will happen at least once!)

References:

http://www.preggiepeggy.com/di aper.htm

The best choices in diapers for babies

The factors for determining best choice in diapers for your son or daughter depend on many factors. For example, if you are living a "green" lifestyle, or if your baby is too sensitive for paper diapers, cloth diapers might be the best choice for your lifestyle. If cloth diapers aren't exactly your cup of tea, perhaps a disposable brand would work best for you.

Here is a more in-depth look at different kinds of diapers to hopefully help you decide on the best diapers. We will also explore swim diapers and diaper rash.

-Disposable Diapers
Disposable diapers are probably the most widely-used diapers these days. They are easy to use and even easier to dispose of. They are generally very absorbent and most brands of disposable diapers are very reliable in preventing leaks. Over time the cost of purchasing these diapers adds up, but in this busy day and age, most parents are willing to make the financial sacrifice.

The disposable diaper brands that are most popular these days, despite cost, are Huggies, Pampers, and Luvs. However, many other brands (including store brands) have been deemed equally effective by most parents.

-Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers have long been considered more economical and more environment-friendly than disposable diapers. Many people think of cloth diapering as being the old-fashioned cloth-and-safety-pin method, but these days cloth diapering is far beyond that. There are so many options. There is the choice of cloth diaper closures (snaps, Velcro, hook and loop), cloth diaper varieties (fitted, pocket, all-in-one, one-size), and cloth diaper accessories (inserts, liners, doublers).

As with any kind of diaper, there have been very mixed reviews about cloth diaper brands, but three of the top names in cloth diapers are bumGenius!, Fuzzi Bunz, and Happy Heiny's.

-Diaper Covers
Used with cloth diapers, the main duty of diaper covers is to prevent accidents from leaks that were not absorbed by the diaper. Generally, diaper covers contain a layer of waterproof material, often nylon; however, there are wool and fleece varieties of diaper covers available.

Some of the more popular and higher-rated brands of diaper covers are Thirsties, Bummis, Proraps. Again, there are mixed reviews about diaper covers, but the general consensus is that these brands are the best.

-Swim Diapers
Swim diapers, unlike regular diapers, are not made to absorb urine. This is because the absorbency would lead to absorbing the water around your son or daughter. The main purpose of swim diapers is to catch any bowel movements before they spread out of the pool. These diapers come in reusable and disposable varieties.

Some of the better-known reusable swim diaper brands are Imse Vimse, Kushies, and IPlay. Huggies, Pampers, and Luvs are the top brands for disposable swim diapers.

-Diaper Rash
Unfortunately, a problem that all parents run into at some point is diaper rash. Diaper rash is often caused by too much moisture, friction, or, in some cases, may point to an underlying problem. If the diaper rash is frequent or seems severe, your child should probably see a doctor because it may be a yeast rash, psoriasis, or a more uncommon disease.

The recommended regimen is to apply Desitin to the rash and allow air to reach the rash. The diaper, regardless of brand or type, should be changed more often than usual while there is a rash. If the diaper rash does not improve, your son or daughter should be taken to a doctor who can accurately diagnose the rash and possibly prescribe some ointment.

by April O'Keefe