10 Things Everyone Should Know About Babies

Ignorance about babies is undermining society.

Have you noticed all the stressed babies? Maybe one in 30 I see has glowing eyes, a sign of thriving. What's up? Perhaps ignorance about babies and their needs. Here are 10 things to know.

1. Babies are social mammals with social mammalian needs. Social mammals emerged more than 30 million years ago with intensive parenting (the developmental nest or niche). This is one of the many (extra-genetic) things that evolved other than genes. This developmental nest is required for an individual to develop properly. Intensive parenting practices include years of breastfeeding to develop brain and body systems, nearly constant touch and physical presence of caregivers, responsiveness to needs without distress, free play with multi-aged playmates, and soothing perinatal experiences. Each of these has significant effects on physical health.

2. Human babies are born "half-baked" and require an external womb. Humans are born way early compared to other animals: 9 months early in terms of mobility and 18 months early in terms of bone development and foraging capacities. Full-term babies have 25% of adult brain volume and most of it grows in the first 5 years. Thus, the human nest for its young evolved to be even more intense than for other social mammals because of the underdeveloped newborn, lasting for 3-5 years. Humans also added to the list of expected care a village of positive social support for both mother and baby. Actually, human brain development lasts into the third decade of life, suggesting that social support and mentoring continue at least that long.

3. If adults mess up on the post-birth “baking,” longterm problems can result. Each of the caregiving practices mentioned above has longterm effects on the physical health but also social health of the individual. For example, distressing babies regularly or intensively (by not giving them what they need) undermines self-regulatory systems. This is common knowledge in other cultures and was so in our past. In Spanish, there is a term used for adolescents and adults who misbehave: malcriado (misraised).

4. Babies thrive on affectionate love. When babies receive food and diaper changes and little else, they die. If they receive partial attention and stay alive, it is still not enough—they won’t reach their full potential. Urie Bronfenbrenner, who emphasized the multiple systems of support that foster optimal development, said that babies do best when at least one person is crazy about them. Others have noted that children grow best with three affectionate, consistent caregivers. In fact, babies expect more than mom and dad for loving care. Babies are ready for a community of close, responsive caregivers that includes mother nearby.

5. Babies’ right hemisphere of the brain is developing rapidly in the first three years. The right hemisphere develops in response to face-to-face social experience, with extended shared eye gaze. The right hemisphere governs self-regulatory systems. If babies are placed in front of screens, ignored or isolated, they are missing critical experiences.

6. Babies expect to play and move. Babies expect to be “in arms” or on the body of the caregiver most of the time. Skin-to-skin contact is a calming influence. After learning this one of my students when at a family gathering took a crying baby and held it to his neck, which calmed it down. Babies expect companionship not isolation or intrusion. They expect to be in the middle of community social life. They are ready to play from birth. Play is a primary method for learning self-control and social skills. Companionship care—friendship, mutual responsiveness and playfulness—builds social and practical intelligence. Babies and caregivers share intersubjective states, building the child’s capacities for the interpersonal “dances” that fill social life.

7. Babies have built-in warning systems. If they are not getting what they need, babies let you know. It is best, as most cultures have long known, to respond to a baby’s grimace or gesture and not to wait till crying occurs. Young babies have difficulty stopping crying once it starts. The best advice for baby care is to sensitively follow the baby, not the experts.

8. Babies lock their experiences into procedural memory vaults that will be inaccessible but apparent in later behavior and attitudes. Babies can be traumatized from neglecting the list of needs above. They won’t forget. It will undermine their trust of others, their health and social wellbeing, and lead to self-centered morality which can do much destruction to the world.

9. Culture does not erase the evolved needs babies have. Babies cannot retract their mammalian needs. Yet, some adult cultures advocate violating baby needs as if they do not matter and despite the protests of the baby. Everyday violations include baby isolation like sleeping alone, “crying it out” sleep training, infant formula, or baby videos and flashcards.* When violations occur regularly, at critical time periods or are intense, they undermine optimal development. These violations are encoded in the baby’s body as the optimal development of systems is undermined (e.g., immunity, neurotransmitters, endocrine systems like oxytocin). Surprisingly, some developmental psychologists think it fine to violate these needs** in order for the child to fit into their culture.

The rationalization of “culture over biology” reflects a lack of understandingnot only of human nature but of optimal development. This has occurred in laboratories with other animals whose natures were misunderstood. For example, Harry Harlow, known for his experiments with monkeys and “mother love,” at first did not realize he was raising abnormal monkeys when he isolated them in cages. Similarly, at least one of the aggressive rat strains used in lab studies today were first created when scientists isolated offspring after birth, again not realizing the abnormality of isolation. Note how the cultural assumptions of the scientists created the abnormal animals. So it matters what cultural assumptions you have.

The culture-over-biology view may be doing the same thing with human beings. By not understanding babies and their needs, we are creating species-atypical human beings. We can only know this to be the case in light of knowledge about human beings who develop under evolved conditions, with the evolved developmental nest: typically, small-band hunter-gatherers. They are much wiser, perceptive and virtuous than we humans in the USA today.

Thus the final point:

10. Experiences that consistently violate evolution undermine human nature. When species-atypical childrearing occurs, we end up with people whose health and sociality are compromised (which we can see all over the USA today with epidemics of depression, anxiety, high suicide and drug use rates***). Such mis-raised creatures might do all right on achievement tests or IQ measures but they may also be dangerous reptiles whose world revolves around themselves. A lot of smart reptiles (“snakes in suits”) on Wall Street and elsewhere have been running the country into the ground.

What to do?

(1) Inform others about the needs of babies.

(2) Be aware of the needs of babies around you and interact sensitively with the babies you encounter.

(3) Support parents to be sensitive to the needs of their babies. This will also require many more institutional and social supports for families with children, including extensive parental leave which other developed nations provide.

(4) Read books that convey the evolved principles of caregiving, like the following:

The Science of Parenting

Attached at the Heart

The Attachment Parenting Book

The Other Baby Book

Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids

The Science of Mother-Baby Sleep

* Note that sometimes violations (e.g., formula, isolation) are required under emergency conditions that are matters of life and death.

**Of course they don’t think it’s a violation because they don’t take the set of mammalian needs seriously.

*** In the USA, everyone under 50 has numerous health disadvantages compared to citizens in 16 other developed nations (National Research Council, 2013).

References

Babiak, P. & Hare, R.D. (2006). Snakes in Suits, When Psychopaths Go To Work. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Blum, D. (2002). Love at Goon Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection. New York, NY: Perseus Publishing.

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Chiron, J.I., Nabbout, R., Lounes, R., Syrota, A., & Dulac, O. (1997). The right brain hemisphere is dominant in human infants. Brain, 120, 1057-1065.

Fry, D. P. (2006). The human potential for peace: An anthropological challenge to assumptions about war and violence. New York: Oxford University Press.

Fry, D. (Ed.) (2013). War, peace and human nature. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Hrdy, S. (2009). Mothers and others: The evolutionary origins of mutual understanding. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press.

Ingold, T. (1999). On the social relations of the hunter-gatherer band. In R. B. Lee & R. Daly (Eds.), The Cambridge encyclopedia of hunters and gatherers (pp. 399–410). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Konner, M. (2010). The evolution of childhood. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press.

Liedloff, J. (1977). The Continuum concept. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books.

Montagu, A. (1986). Touching: The human significance of the skin. New York: Harper & Row.

Narvaez, D. (2013). Development and socialization within an evolutionary context: Growing Up to Become "A good and useful human being." In D. Fry (Ed.), War, Peace and Human Nature: The convergence of Evolutionary and Cultural Views (pp. 341-358). New York: Oxford University Press.

Narvaez, D. (forthcoming). Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality: Evolution, Culture and Wisdom. New York, NY: W.W. Norton.

Narvaez, D., & Gleason, T. (2013). Developmental optimization. In D. Narvaez, J., Panksepp, A. Schore, & T. Gleason (Eds.), Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development: From Research to Practice and Policy (pp. 307-325). New York: Oxford University Press.

Narvaez, D., Panksepp, J., Schore, A., & Gleason, T. (Eds.) (2013).Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development: From Research to Practice and Policy. New York: Oxford University Press.

Narvaez, D., Valentino, K., Fuentes, A., McKenna, J., & Gray, P. (2014).Ancestral Landscapes in Human Evolution: Culture, Childrearing and Social Wellbeing. New York: Oxford University Press.

National Research Council. (2013). U.S. Health in International Perspective: Shorter Lives, Poorer Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Schore, A. (1994). Affect regulation. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

Schore, A.N. (2002). Dysregulation of the right brain: a fundamental mechanism of traumatic attachment and the psychopathogenesis of posttraumatic stress disorder. Australian & New Zealand Journal ofPsychiatry, 36, 9-30.

Schore, A.N. (2003). Affect dysregulation & disorders of the self. 1st ed. New York: W.W. Norton.

Schore, A.N. (2005). Attachment, affect regulation, and the developing right brain: Linking developmental neuroscience to pediatrics. Pediatrics In Review, 26, 204-211.

Spitz, R.A. (1945). Hospitalism; an inquiry into the genesis of psychiatric conditions in early childhood. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child. 1, 53-74.

Tomkins, S. (1965). Affect and the psychology of knowledge. In S.S. Tomkins & C.E. Izard (Eds.), Affect, cognition, and personality. New York: Springer.

Trevarthen, C. (2005). Stepping away from the mirror: Pride and shame in adventures of companionship”—Reflections on the nature and emotional needs of infant intersubjectivity. In C.S. Carter, L. Ahnert, K.E. Grossmann, S.B., Hrdy, M.E. Lamb, S.W. Porges, & N. Sachser (Eds.), Attachment and bonding: A new synthesis (pp. 55-84). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Trevarthen, C. (2006). First things first: infants make good use of the sympathetic rhythm of imitation, without reason or language. Journal of Child Psychotherapy 31(1), 91-113.

Trevarthen, C., & Aitken, (2001). Infant intersubjectivity: Research, theory, and clinical applications; Annual Research Review. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 42, 3-48.

Trevathan, W.R. (2011). Human birth: An evolutionary perspective, 2nd ed..New York: Aldine de Gruyter.

If you'd like to learn more you can find this article here.

31 Things No One Tells You About Becoming A Parent

You’re going to need to know this stuff before you take the plunge.

1. At some point you will accidentally hurt your kid and you’ll feel like the worst parent ever.

Try not to take it so hard. It happens to the best whether they admit it or not.

2. You will know a lot less about this:

“Wait. What happened?”

3. And a whole lot more about this:

4. Your Netflix account will eventually only suggest kids’ shows.

“I am a grown-ass person, Netflix! I don’t want to watch Bubble Guppies!”

5. Your pet will no longer be your top priority.

You: “When did we last feed the dog?” Spouse: “Dog?”

6. You will gain 15 pounds.

Kids love to eat ice cream, and what are you gonna do? Let them eat that tiny, 4-ounce kid’s cup without getting a jumbo for yourself? That would just be rude.

7. The backseat of your car will be nasty.

I don’t care how often you wash your car now. Crushed Cheerios, spilled juice, and a whole lot of other crap are in your car’s future.

8. You will eat 95% of your meals either incredibly fast or with one hand. Or both.

9. You’ll basically become a ninja.

When you need something from the baby’s room late at night you’ll be able to slip in and out without upending a feather.

10. Despite your best efforts, your kids will get their hands on your iPhone.

And this is what your photos will look like afterward.

11. Parenting is harder than you think it’ll be, but you won’t really notice.

Kind of like how lobsters don’t notice the water getting hotter, parents don’t notice how increasingly difficult parenting becomes.

12. You will have to sneak candy like it’s a contraband substance.

If your kid so much as smells chocolate on your breath, you’re screwed.

13. You will laugh more than at any other time in your life.

Kids do and say the funniest stuff ever. It’s pretty awesome.

14. You’ll be awakened at 2 a.m. to fetch a glass of water only to find your kid passed out when you deliver it.

The good news, though, is that the water is now totally yours!

15. You will see your own faults reflected back at you.

It’s sobering when you see your kid imitate your own bad behavior, and it will make you want to be a better person.

16. Folding kid and baby clothes is torture.

A normal-sized pile of laundry will take you three times as long to fold if it’s full of baby stuff.

17. It’s impossible to feel manly when folding said baby clothes.

Aww, look at the big man folding the tiny, widdle clothes.

18. The power of cute is more formidable than you realize.

Right now you’re like, “I’ll never give in to my kid’s whims and desires.” But you have never had a 3-year-old peer up at you and say, “Pwease? PWEASE?”

19. You will find talking to your friends without kids more difficult.

Friend: “I met this gorgeous girl at the club last night and we’ve been texting all day.” You: “I changed a poopy diaper.” Awkward silence.

20. Kids become actual people and not baby blobs way sooner than you think.

By the time your kid is 2, you’ll be having conversations more rewarding than many you have with adults.

21. Something you love will get ruined.

Kids have a knack for breaking, dirtying, or losing your favorite possessions. Don’t get too attached to that deer head, pal.

22. You will turn into your parents.

At some point you will actually find yourself saying, “That’s it! I will turn this car around!” and “Your face is gonna freeze like that!”

23. Very little will embarrass you.

Singing to your crying baby in public? Dropping your kid off at school in a robe? Nope. It’ll take more than that.

24. You won’t be able to watch movies where kids are killed or kidnapped.

When you have a little person in your house who you love more than anything, those movies hit a little too close to home.

25. You won’t want to spend money on yourself because you’ll know every dollar spent on yourself is a dollar you could’ve spent on your family.

This is why parents are famous for wearing outdated jeans.

26. Buying your kid something will make you way more happy than buying yourself something.

27. When your kid is little, every trip out of the house will feel like getting ready to go to the airport.

“Got the wipes?” “Check.” “The diapers, change of clothes, blanket, baby bottle, pacifier?” “Uh, check.”

28. You will love to watch kids’ movies.

This isn’t because the movies are so great (though most are tolerable these days), but because they’re an amazing bonding experience with your kid.

29. You will cram your entire adult life between the time your kid goes down and you go to sleep.

“Quick! Turn on The Walking Dead! Pour the wine! Tell me what you think about Obamacare! Ah, crap. It’s time for bed.”

30. For a while, only you will be able to understand them, so you’ll basically become their interpreter.

Grandma: “What did she say? Moogle woogle boo?” You: “No, she wants me to take her and her cousin to the park over on Smith Street next Tuesday.”

31. And lastly, it’s all worth it.

OK, so this is something people will tell you, but it’s true. Even with all of the maddening things that come along with being a parent, being someone’s mommy or daddy is one of life’s most rewarding experiences.

Baby Walkers are Banned in Canada!

DID YOU KNOW?!?!

In Canada, the sale of baby walkers was banned on April 7, 2004. Canada is the first country in the world to ban the sale, importation and advertisement of baby walkers. This ban extends to modified and second hand baby walkers, including those sold at a yard sales or flea markets. The Consumers Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) changed the items that were allowed to be sold at such sales. Owners of baby walkers may be fined up to $100,000 or sentenced to up to six months in jail.

Yet the US still sells them like crazy... I hope at least one mom reads this and does NOT buy walker but maybe an activity station like the around we go or an excersaucer. I recommend the "around we go" as it teaches the child to walk around the table to each toy station. It is also not considered a walker as it is still a stationary toy that stays in one place (just rotates around the stationary table in 360 degrees). To find out more about the around we go, view yesterday's blog click here. It's a product review on the around we go by bright starts.

Here's an article from the NY Times to let you know a little bit more.

Q: D. J. from New York City asks the Consults blog:

I know some people use baby walkers to help young children learn to walk. Is it true that this may actually be harmful to developing bones and muscles?

A: Pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene responds:

It’s so exciting to see a baby take the first step! When wheeled seats arrived on the scene that would allow babies to move around with their feet on the floor, parents and babies alike were delighted. Some parents still use these baby walkers to help their children learn to walk or to give them some exercise or mobility. Some use baby walkers almost like pacifiers for the legs: many babies seem happier when they are propelling themselves across the floor.

And let’s face it, sometimes parents need to get things done. Sometimes parents use walkers as a baby-sitter, to keep their baby occupied and entertained so they do other things.

Parents should know that walker use typically delays motor development – and that it delays mental development even more. Beyond this, walker use is dangerous.

Back in 1994, when baby walkers were still extremely popular in the United States, the Consumer Products Safety Commission declared that baby walkers were responsible for more injuries than any other children’s product. The types of injuries included head injuries, broken bones, broken teeth, burns, entrapment of fingers and even amputations or death.

Walkers allow mobility beyond a baby’s natural capability, and faster than a parent’s reaction time. Most of the injuries involve falls down stairs, but injuries can also come, for instance, from allowing reach to hot, heavy or poisonous objects. Today’s walkers are safer, but they are still hazardous – and of no benefit to the baby.

Canada banned baby walkers in 2004. Possession of a baby walker can lead to fines up to $100,000 or six months in jail. But in some countries, more than 75 percent of babies still use walkers– and the injuries continue.

Sometime in the second half of the first year, healthy babies develop a strong urge to move across the floor. At first, this is a struggle for them as they work their arms and legs, stretching, rolling, scooting or crawling. They find delight in accomplishment as they achieve their goal of a toy out of reach. Later, the focus of their work will turn to pulling themselves upright.

Babies who use a walker skip some of this magnificent developmental journey. With their toes in an unnatural position, they glide across the floor with ease, moving upright before their time.

What’s the outcome?

Besides the added dangers of moving faster, falling farther and reaching higher, babies who use walkers learn to crawl, stand and walk later than they would have otherwise, and continue to show delayed motor development for months after they have learned to walk. The delay seems to be a little more than three days for every 24 hours of total walker use.

But the biggest delays – and the biggest surprise to many parents – are delays in mental development and lower scores on mental developmental testing, still present 10 months after initial walker use.

Stationary activity centers for babies can provide many of the benefits parents are looking for from walkers, without the serious problems.

I’m so glad for your question. Almost every week I still come across a parent who is using a walker in the mistaken belief that it will benefit their children, unaware of the risks and the costs of walker use.

Alan Greene, M.D., is the founder of the Web site DrGreene.com and the author of “From First Kicks to First Steps.”

Cloth Diapering 101: FAQS

New parents have a lot of questions about all sorts of topics. When researching about cloth vs disposable diapers, many questions are brought up. For centuries using cloth was the way of the world for new parents. It's only been about a half century that disposable diapers have been available.  Parents may want to use them for many reasons: to save money, be environmentally friendly, or maybe they just don't want all those chemicals, that are in the disposables, touching their baby. Regardless of the reason why you would like to use cloth, you will definitely have a few questions about the subject. I would recommend seeing if you know anyone or maybe a friend of a friend that uses cloth, and ask them a few questions or what kind of advice could help you. Moms who use cloth LOVE to share their knowledge because it can really help you see how easy and wonderful it really is. Personally my best advice could be buy one diaper and just use it/look at it/actually see it. Once you start, whether it's your first or fifth child, you won't go back!

Q: Aren't cloth diapers more difficult to use than disposables?
A: Nope! These days, you can buy cloth diapers that go on and off your baby just like disposables. Then, instead of throwing your disposable into your Diaper Genie, you simply place it into a lined diaper pail. And instead of running out to the store to buy more disposables, all you have to do is walk into your laundry room and place your diapers, liner and all, straight into your washing machine. No need to touch any dirty diapers!


Q: Do I have to use safety pins?
A: These aren’t your parents’ cloth diapers! Don’t worry; you won’t need any safety pins for any of these products, even with pre-folds. Most cloth diapers secure to your baby with velcro or snaps.


Q: What are all these different types of diapers? Covers, AIOs, Pockets, and Prefolds?
A: Prefold diapers are rectangular pieces of absorbent cloth that have several layers. Most prefolds are either 4x6x4 or 4x8x4, which indicates the number of layers on each side and in the super absorbent thicker strip down the middle of the diaper. Fitted diapers are contoured cloth diapers which generally have elastic leg openings and either snap or Aplix (Velcro) closures. Fitted diapers are not waterproof so they do require a cover. Pocket Diapers consist of a waterproof cover outside and stay dry liner inside with an opening in between in which parents can stuff absorbent materials (such as an insert or a prefold). Pocket diapers are available with Velcro or snap closures, depending on your preference. All-in-one diapers are exactly that: A waterproof outer and absorbent inner all in one! These are available with snaps or Velcro fasteners. For more details on the types of cloth click here.


Q: How many cloth diapers do I need to get started?
A: You need to consider the age of your baby. Newborns and infants use about 10 to 12 diapers per day while toddlers may need 6 to 8. Ideally, you would have about 24-30 diapers for a newborn, and 18-24 diapers for a toddler. Many parents use only one system of diapering (like prefolds with covers or all in ones), while others like to have a few of each type for different situations. For example, a family might use prefolds at home during the day, all-in-ones for outings and/or babysitters, and a fitted diaper with wool cover for overnight.

Other items you may need are:

· Snappis for securing prefolds (if using them).

· Diaper covers if you intend on using prefolds or fitted diapers

· A Diaper pail liner or Large Hanging Wet Bag – this is a waterproof liner or bag that can be thrown in the wash with your diapers on laundry day. Most families have two of these for when one is in the wash.

· Wet bags for outings – these are waterproof zippered bags that are used to transport your soiled diapers home to be washed. You may want to have more than one depending on how often you go out and how often you launder your diapers.

· Cloth wipes – these can be washed right along with your diapers. I like to pre-moisten mine and keep them in a disposable wipes container. Just as easy as disposable wipes!

· Laundry Detergent for Cloth Diapers – Specially formulated detergents like Rockin' Green or The Laundry Tarts keep your diapers free of residues, which can cause leaking or smelly diapers! Personally we use Tide Original (Powder for HE).


Q: What is the most cost-effective cloth diapering system?
A: Prefolds and covers are the least expensive way of diapering your baby, especially if you want to use them for more than one child. However, if folding doesn't appeal to you, the next option we recommend would be the one-size diapers. The only downside to the one-size cloth diapers is that they tend to be quite bulky on small newborns, so you may have to invest in some sized cloth diapers for the first month or two.


Q: How do I clean my cloth diapers?
A: You don’t need any special equipment to clean cloth diapers. For newborns and infants, you can throw the entire bag of soiled diapers into the wash, bag and all. Just turn the bag inside out into your machine and wash as usual. When your child’s stool becomes more solid you will need to dispose of as much as you can in a toilet before you put the soiled diaper in the diaper bag. For more on washing please click here.


Q: Why would I use prefolds and how do I use them?

A: Prefolds are the perfect workhorse diaper! They are relatively inexpensive, very versatile, easy to wash and put away, and easy to get stains out of. They are also great burp cloths, change pads, car rags, and the list goes on!


Q: What is the difference between inserts, doublers, and liners?

A: Inserts are used inside pocket diapers and are usually made of microfiber or hemp. Many pocket diapers come with an insert included already, but extras can be purchased to add absorbency (for example, adding a hemp insert to the pocket for overnight). Microfiber inserts are meant to be used inside the pocket of the diaper only and not intended for use next to your baby's skin. Doublers are great for adding more absorbency to all-in-one diapers or fitted diapers (they can be placed next to baby's skin). You can also use them for extra absorbency inside pocket diapers. Liners help keep messes off your diapers making them easier to clean and preventing stains. They are also great for keeping creams off of your diapers since creams can cause cloth diapers to repel liquids. Microfleece liners create a stay dry liner between your baby and the diaper, keeping them feeling dry and comfortable. Liners can be cloth or biodegradable/flushable.


Q: What are Wool diaper covers?
A: Many people decide not to try wool because they think it is difficult to care for. No, wool can’t be tossed in the wash with the rest of your diapers but the washing and lanolizng process is certainly not difficult or time-consuming, and only needs to be done if the cover is soiled, retaining a urine smell, or losing its waterproof properties. Click here for wool care instructions.

Wool makes a wonderful diaper cover for many reasons:

· Wool is a natural fiber

· Wool is breathable and an amazing insulator as well. It keeps baby cool when it is hot and warm when it is cold. Wool also prevents diaper rash by allowing the skin to breath.

· Wool can hold up to 1/3 of its weight in moisture, yet it doesn’t feel wet. Wool begins evaporating moisture into the air as soon as it is absorbed.

· Most parents agree that wool is the most leak-proof system, especially for night time when leaks happen most often.

· Wool contains natural lanolin, which creates a natural waterproof barrier.

· Wool is naturally anti-bacterial, which means it does not need to be washed if only wet with urine.


Q: Do I have to pre-soak soiled diapers?
A: For infants this isn’t a concern, as their poop is water-soluble. If you wash your diapers within two days, they will come out perfectly clean. When your baby starts solids, you should try to remove as much poop from the diaper as possible before putting it into the diaper pail. Remember, you must do this with disposables as well!


Q: What about day trips? Do I have to use disposables?
A: Not at all. You just need a wet bag in which to put your soiled diapers.


Q: Do I have to use a special detergent for washing diapers?
A: You should use a fragrance-free detergent in order to avoid any potential skin reactions. We offer some environmentally responsible alternatives that you may find interesting.

Q: Is it unhygienic to wash soiled diapers in the washing machine?
A: Nope. Your washing machine was designed to keep itself clean. And the drain water goes into the sewers with all the rest of the dirty water.


Q: Doesn’t a bag of soiled diapers smell really bad?
A: Not necessarily, as long as you don't keep it air-tight. You can also minimize odours by putting a couple of drops of tea tree oil onto a small cloth wipe or washcloth, and dropping it in with your diapers.


Q: Do cloth diapers leak a lot?
A: All diapers leak occasionally. This may be due to your baby moving around, or an over-tired parent who puts a diaper on backwards! In our experience, cloth diapers leak less often than disposables when used properly.


Q: What is PUL?

A: PUL (polyurethane laminate) is fabric that has had laminate applied to the back. It is what most diaper covers as well as pocket diaper and all-in-one outers are made from. PUL is waterproof, not bulky, and easy to care for.


Q: What about “green” disposable diapers?
A: There are a few disposable products on the market that use bio-degradable materials and are made without bleaches or chemicals. These products still contribute greatly to landfill and fossil fuel usage, but we think they are some occasions where they provide a good alternative.


Q: I've decided to use cloth diapers. Should I choose snaps or Aplix (i.e.velcro) versions?
A: In general, snaps last longer than velcro. However, you may at times not get as perfect a fit if your child is "between" snaps. The other disadvantage to snaps is that the diaper change takes slightly longer, since velcro is much easier to fasten and unfasten. However, this is also a disadvantage since older babies love to pull velcro tabs off!


Q: Don’t you think this is all a bit preachy?
A: We certainly hope not! Ultimately, using cloth or disposables is a personal decision. But we want everyone to know that cloth, in our opinion, is a great choice from all perspectives. We can all do a lot more to live a more sustainable lifestyle, and this is just one way we can all help.


Q: Am I doing enough to reduce my impact?
A: Remember that all diapers have an environmental impact, but the way you use cloth diapers can make a big difference. Use an Energy Star washing machine, reduce your washing temperature to about 60 degrees, Celsius, and line dry your diapers when appropriate. Always remember to avoid small loads of laundry which waste water and energy.


Q: What can I do with my used diapers?
A: There are lots of options. First of all, if you or anyone you know are planning on having more children, your diapers can be safely re-used. Alternatively, you can sell your diapers or donate them to someone in need. Some cloth diapers make great rags as well.


Q: Aren’t cloth diapers bulky?
A: Yes, cloth diapers tend to be a bit bulkier than many disposables. Consider this a bonus when your child starts walking and falls on his/her tushie!