I met Hannah through a blog hop super awesome mama.
She asked if she could interview a couple of us mamas on some cloth diapering questions and I offered because when it comes to cloth diaper Im all ears.. love talking about fluff :) so here is my interview with Hannah.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hello my name is Pollyanna Valenzuela. I am happily married to a US Navy Sailor, stay at home mom to Adryana 5 yrs old, Ashton 4 months old. Currently living in Texas we go wherever the Navy takes us, but originally born and raised in Southern California. I’m a Christian and I love GOD.
What made you decide to use cloth diapers?
(Start off by saying my daughter Adryana was not cloth diapered though I wished she was I didn’t know about this then I was so young just married and knew nothing really except for Pampers) That being said…
My hubby and I totally planned our little Ashton. So as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I started doing research on nice things
I wanted to get for him, or wanted on my baby shower registry. “ Way early I know” I also wanted to buy Ashton things I wished I had for my daughter but never got. I wanted to do things different with Ashton. So while search for new products Bum Genius website popped up somewhere on my window page so I took a look and read more on “CLOTH DIAPERS” I was hooked!! ) All I would do everyday was look at diapers and read a lot of information as far as how to start, what you really needed, the difference between AIO, Pockets, Covers ect. I was reading all the information yet not really understanding how to do go about it because I didn’t have Ashton yet. One thing was for sure I was going to CLOTH DIAPER Ashton. It was going to save us a lot of money is the first thing I thought then later on doing more research I found out about all the chemicals and bad stuff diapers are made with not to mention buying disposables to throw away and adding to our waste lands, was something I did not want to do again. I was determined!! I couldn’t wait to see just how cute my little Ashton would look in his diapers.
*When Ashton was born he was wearing disposables my family gave me disposables for my baby shower so I thought I would be to tired to do any laundry at the beginning and I didn’t want to NOT use these diapers I didn’t want them to just sit there. (Now in retrospect I could’ve just sold them and bought some Newborn Diapers you live and learn) So Ashton was not cloth diapered at birth not until this year 1/1/2012 did I start cloth diapering he was born 11/1/2011 so I waited a whole 2 months so start. Wish I had cloth diapered him since birth.
What type of cloth diaper(s) do you use?
I use Pockets, AIO, Covers, and Pre-Folds
Why did you settle on that type of diaper?
At first I only wanted to do Pockets because that’s what seemed easiest to me!! After having Ashton here with me, I decided I wanted to try EVERY diaper known to mama kind J so I have tried a few brands some just don’t work for us and some do. So I have a variety of Pockets, AIO, Covers, Pre-Folds, I haven’t settled for just one kind. I think I would get bored. I love trying NEW things.
What are some positive and/or negative points to cloth diapering that you have found while cloth diapering?
The positives I love about cloth diapering is that of course you reuse your diapers, better for your munchkins, eco-friendly, super adorable, you save MONEY!!
The negatives I’ve found is that you really need to have your washer or have a laundry mat close by. Some mamas would love to cloth diaper but they don’t have the means for a washer or go to the laundry mat to wash diapers every other day. So not being able to have those things could be hold you back from not cloth diapering your baby.
What is your method for rinsing and washing your cloth diapers?
I use:
Rumparooz & Blueberry Pail liners
Homemade Diaper Sprayer
(Hubby made it for me; the water comes out with a lot of pressure so its perfect for my diapers I love it!!)
Rockin Green (Hard Rock) Detergent
Wood Drying Rack
If Ashton goes tinkles, I get the diaper and spray it down so that I don’t get that ammonia smell. When he dinkles J I grab the diaper take it to the restroom spray it till there is no more signs of dinkles on it, at this point I have the insert super soaked I ring it out a little bit take the insert out and throw both the insert and diaper in my dry diaper pail. I wash every other day so when its time for diaper laundry. I do the following steps.
Throw Diapers, Inserts, Wipes, Wet bag in the washer,
Cold water rinse or pre-wash (no detergent)
Heavy Duty Hot Water Wash/ Extra Rinse (with Detergent)
1-2 Extra Cold or Warm Rinses
Hang Dry both diapers and inserts on my drying rack.
When you are out and about, how do you handle diaper changes, especially messy ones?
We don’t really go out much we live in a super small town so when we go into town I make sure to change Ashton's diaper before we leave and I take extra diapers with me but we are never out of the house more then 7 hrs.
Believe it or not I’ve never had a messy diaper only tinkle diapers so I really can’t say but I’m sure I would handle it as if I was home. I'll have to let you know how this one goes once I experience it.
Do you use cloth wipes? If yes, what made you decide to use them? What type do you use (homemade, bought etc)? What kind of solution do you use? Tell us about your method.
YES I DO!! I thought if I’m going to cloth diaper my son I must also use cloth wipes.
I use Swaddlebees, and Meg-a-roos wipes (WAHM).
“THE BALM” Juice Those Wipes Solution
Prince Lionheart Wipe Warmer
I mix my solution soak all my wipes roll them up and stack them up in wipe warmer. Super easy, and I enjoy doing it.
Do you think you could handle two children in cloth diapers at the same time? Why or why not?
I only have Ashton in cloth diapers, and I think I handle it pretty well I enjoy every minute of it, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I definitely think I could handle two in diapers if I had to.
What is an item you wish you could have for cloth diapering?
Maybe more wipes, and small doublers for night time diapers.
What is your go-to place for cloth diaper items and products?
Abby’s Lane, Cottonbabies.
How many Cloth Diapers (and Diaper Wipes) do you own and use?
Cloth Diapers: 30ish
Wipes: 20
Do you use Disposable Diapers? If so, when and why?
NO!! I actually don’t even have one. Cloth diaper all the way baby!!!
(Good for you, Pollyanna! –Hannah)
Has your child had diaper rash or other issues? How do you deal with that?
Ashton has had some gnarly diaper rash. I have used CJ’s BUTTer and that worked great. Recently Ashton had a really bad one and I used “THE BALM” MAD RASH and that did it for me it worked amazingly.
What advice could you give to people who are looking into using cloth diapers and/or cloth wipes?
Don’t think twice about it. Just do it.
You wont regret it’s just like disposables except you’ll be saving money, eco-friendly. Try it with a couple of diapers and see if its something you can do.
Really I think you’ll love it. If you have any questions just ask away.
Thank you, Hannah, for this awesome interview.
Hannah's Blog
