Five Reasons Why Cloth Nappies are Easier Than You Think {Share Your Passion}

Today's guest post comes from Serene from Living Serenely  and she is sharing about cloth nappies. After reading this I think I am regretting the amount of Huggies nappies I have bought in the last 4 1/2 years. Check it out and let us know your thoughts and experiences.

Hi everyone, my name is Serene and I'm jumping on board this series hosted by Lisa to share one of my key passions: Cloth Nappies!

Yes, I am proud to call myself a Cloth Nappy Addict Aficionado. I first started using cloth nappies over two years ago not long after my son was born and I have to say it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Apart from well known reasons for using cloth nappies such as environmental benefits and cost savings, for me cloth nappies are simply just so much fun!

To be honest, I didn't always feel this way about cloth nappies. The biggest deterrent for me at first was the convenience factor. After all, how can anything else compare to the ultimate convenience of simply rolling up a disposable nappy and tossing it away and not having to worry about it anymore.

What initially got me started with trying out cloth nappies was due to a bad nappy rash on my son's bum. I was advised to give cloth nappies a go as they are said to be more breathable and better for baby's skin. My son's rash cleared up wonderfully and so I seriously considered using cloth nappies on a regularly basis.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover how far cloth nappies have come since the days of traditional muslin and pins. Today's Modern Cloth Nappies (MCNs) are so easy and fun to use, there are really so much less deterring factors to using them these days.

So today, allow me to share with you five reasons why cloth nappies are easier than you think...

#1. Modern velcro and snaps - Gone are the days of fiddling with pins and folds, MCNs nowadays come fully equipped with velcro and snaps so they operate pretty much exactly like a typical disposable nappy. I personally prefer snaps because they are more durable and look neater, but I have a few velcro MCNs which are easier for outside carers and babysitters to use.

#2. Easy-to-use flushable liners - I know a big deterrent many people find with using cloth is getting rid of poo. However these days you can get flushable liners which you simply lay inside the nappy to catch any messes. Then at nappy change time, you simply lift them out and flush them down the toilet.

#3. The wonderful washing machine - This is truly one of man's best inventions. I think we often underestimate the wonder of this basic machine. It's really easy as tossing the nappies in and with a flick of the switch, clean nappies are on the way back in circulation once again.

#4. The amazing cost savings - The average cost of diapering a child can add up to $2,500 to $4,500 over the course of 2-3 years, depending on how soon they are toilet trained. Compared to an initial investment of $300 to $900 for a full set of brand new MCNs which can be reused for subsequent kids, there is no contest. I find it so much easier on my mind knowing how much money we are able to save in this department.

#5. The cuteness and fun factor - This is absolutely one of the best motivating factors for continuing to use cloth nappies. I just love the look of colourful fluff on my baby's bum. This is truly what makes using cloth nappies so much fun, and the fun factor is what makes the whole experience so much easier!

If you're interested to learn more, you can check out my posts on cloth nappies on my blog Living Serenely or on The Bub Hub community as The Crunchy Mum.

Thanks for reading!

Share your thoughts or experiences with cloth nappies

Exercise and Motherhood {Share Your Passion}

Today we have Lynda from All About Muma sharing with us her passion for keeping fit and healthy as a mother. This is something that I am really passionate about too so I was excited when I received her post and am happy to share it with you today.

I believe God designed our bodies to move and not be idle.  If you are passionate about exercise like I am you will know what I mean.  I am often in awe of the way our creator made us and what the human body is capable of doing.  In only a relatively short period of time we are capable of becoming fit, gaining enormous strength and seeing wonderful changes in the shape of our bodies.  If you have ever stood and watched as your child runs it's truly a beautiful sight - flushed cheeks, little legs pumping, hair swaying in the wind and a real sense of joy with knowing what their little bodies can do.  I also think that regular exercise both cardio and strength training helps to make me a better mother.  

These are the reasons why:

 

• Your body craves good healthy food when you are regularly exercising.  It's burning energy and it needs as many minerals and nutrients for energy and muscle repair.  Junk food is just something that my body doesn't want or need.  It's akin to putting some cheap, nasty petrol in a car - it won't run as smoothly or efficiently.  This benefits the kids because the food that comes into the house is for the most part healthy.

• I'm always in a better mood after exercise, particularly after running due to the endorphin high that accompanies it.  It is a great stress reliever and let's face it  - that's something all mothers could do with!

• Regular exercise means I have more energy meaning I am more inclined to do energetic type activities with the kids.  Further, I set up my exercise program with them in mind.  I do thirty minutes of cardio which will sometimes include:
  
  

1.     Ten minutes on the trampoline with the kids (jumping tends to give me a headache so we pretend to be cars and run around in a circular motion (complete with traffic lights, petrol fill ups and change of direction) which is lots of fun.

2.     We have a fairly decent sized backyard so I've come up with a running trek for us for 10 to 20 minutes.  Again, this is loads of fun, the kids try and beat me (they think it is a hoot to work out sneaky short cuts for themselves) and they love it.

I used to really enjoy participating in fun runs and am planning on participating in my first since having kids in November.  While my kids are a little young to join me at the moment they are really keen to also participate when they are older.  Nothing would give me a greater thrill than running in a fun run with my kids jogging alongside me!

If exercise has never been your thing, I cannot recommend getting started enough.  Like getting into a habit with all new things, it's often hard at the start but once you set yourself regular times to do it every week and stick to it - you will see the benefits, have formed that habit and won't want to give it up!

I've been exercising three times a week (cardio and strength training) consistently since December last year when my youngest was fifteen months (exercise has been my thing pretty much all my life but I had three children in five years and so the regularity stopped during that period). 

Initially it was hard and on those three days I had to talk myself into it and push myself (and felt sore afterwards) but after about a month the habit was formed and I once again I was hooked.  I recommend telling someone positive in your life what your training plans are and ask them to regularly check in with you to hold you accountable.  In the early days it's really easy to talk yourself out of it as too hard, you don't have enough time and just too much work.  Ask the nominated person to not accept any excuses from you :-).

If you would like to know more about getting started I wrote a series of posts a few months ago called 'How to stay (or become) fit and healthy after giving birth and beyond.’

Part 1: the benefits of exercise

http://www.allaboutmama.com/2013/05/27/how-to-stay-or-become-fit-and-healthy-after-giving-birth-and-beyond-part-1/

Part 2: how to get started (cardio)

http://www.allaboutmama.com/2013/05/29/how-to-stay-or-become-fit-and-healthy-after-giving-birth-and-beyond-part-2-2/

Part 3: how to get started (strength training)

http://www.allaboutmama.com/2013/06/04/how-to-stay-or-become-fit-and-healthy-after-giving-birth-and-beyond-part-3/

Part 4: the importance of stretching

 http://www.allaboutmama.com/2013/06/08/how-to-stay-or-become-fit-and-healthy-after-giving-birth-and-beyond-part-4/

Love to hear if you share my passion and if exercise has helped you as a mother :-).



Do you have a passion to share? 

Share Your Passion {Calling for Guest Post Contributors}

What are you really passionate about? For me there are so many things and I am sure that you are bored of hearing all the things I am passionate about. With that in mind, I am hoping to start a series of guest posts from my readers, other bloggers and anyone else who is keen. I would love to have guest contributors share what they are passionate about. It could be anything from your faith, your family, fitness or even something as simple as your passion for chocolate :)

I am happy for it to be a blatant plug for your blog or small business but I also want to hear from non bloggers. If you have never written a blog post before don't be afraid. I can give you some tips. Who knows...you might get a taste for it and start your own blog.

If you are interested, send me an email (mummysundeservedblessings@gmail.com) and tell me what you would like to write about.

As soon as I have a few people to share their passions I will start sharing them on the blog.

I hope you are as excited as I am. If you know anyone else who might be interested share this post with them.

I look forward to hearing from you.