Whitening Your Teeth Naturally

I HAVE to share this with you guys!

Activated charcoal. Heard of it? Maybe? How about for whitening your teeth? No?

I read this article from Crunchy Betty months ago. I was skeptical, but wanted to try it anyway. I finally got around to buying some activated charcoal (aka activated carbon) about two weeks ago. Oh. My. Gosh. The results are incredible!

Crunchy Betty suggests using capsules of activated charcoal like this. You can open a capsule and it's the perfect amount for one treatment. I chose to purchase this one (wayyy cheaper). It's for an aquarium, so it's tablets instead of powder.

Pour out a bit of the AC.

Grind it up into a powder (I do it mortar and pestle style). You should have roughly a teaspoon of powder. Be careful when dealing with the AC in powder form, it can be harmful if inhaled.

Add a dash of water to make a paste and spread it on your teeth with your finger. I pour the rest in my mouth, swish around a little, and then hold it in front of my teeth. Keep it there 3-5 minutes then rinse WELL, and brush normally.

So easy! You don't have to worry about any harmful chemicals, and it won't cause any tooth sensitivity like traditional peroxide-based whitening creams.

Look! This is after only THREE treatments! You guys, this is amazing! (sorry I don't have Hollywood straight teeth)

Remember, you need ACTIVATED charcoal (carbon). Don't go out and grab a brick from your barbecue, it's not the same thing.

Did you try it? What were your results?

HE Cloth Diaper Routine

I recently made the switch to full time cloth diapering, which means I had to perfect my washing routine. No more getting away with tossing stuff in the sanitize cycle and walking away.

I'm no expert, but from what I've read, the most important part of washing cloth diapers is using lots of water. HE (high efficiency) washing machines are made to use as little water as possible. So that makes washing diapers a challenge.

The first few washes my diapers came out smelling...weird. Not bad, like they were dirty, but kind of musty and earthy. Clean diapers should come out of the wash smelling like nothing, so obviously that wasn't working. I read this was probably detergent build up. As these diapers came to me second hand, it was definitely possible! Because I don't have a good ol' water wasting top loader, I used my bathtub to help me strip the detergent out. I filled the (clean!) tub with cold water and loaded up the diapers. After a few swishes, it was obvious there was detergent in the diapers. I swished and swished then drained the tub and filled it again about 6 times. I then ran 8-10 rinse and spin cycles before they finally came out smelling like NOTHING. Hooray!

I hunted around and I saw that some people open their detergent drawer and add water through it. That's a great idea, except you void the factory warranty and run the risk of damaging your washing machine by adding extra weight the washer isn't accommodating for. If I owned my washer and dryer, I'd absolutely take the risk for clean dipes without 10,000 wash cycles every time, but I don't, so I had to come up with something else.

HE washers weigh your laundry before adding water so the least amount of water can be used. Diapers are absorbent, so that tiny amount of water gets soaked up in the diapers and they flop around not getting clean. So, here's what I've come up with. I am using a Kenmore Elite High Efficiency machine.

• Saturate diapers with water before tossing them in. There is a utility sink in my laundry room. I fill it with cold water and soak the diapers in it. It's a bit messy transferring the diapers from the sink to the washer
• One Kids wearcycle with detergent, on warm/warm, 2nd rinse, and auto soak options
• One Express cycle on cold, 2nd rinse, heavy soil level, no detergent
• One Rinse&Spin cycle, No detergent. After this cycle I pull the dipes out and smell them. If I smell anything they go back in for another rinse.

I sun my diapers when I can, but if I don't have the time (or the daylight), I tumble dry. Be sure to check your diapers' specifications on using the dryer!

My diapers have come out smelling fresh and clean. It takes a bit of extra work, but I am successfully full time cloth diapering with an HE machine and my dipes are pristine!

What's your wash routine? 

Cloth wipes... Again!

Since its gotten a bit colder, my cloth wipe solution isn't working for me anymore! My diaper station is right next to the window and the coconut oil solidifies in the bottle, making the solution a pain to get out of the bottle and a huge mess when it finally sprays out! I fiddled around and have landed on this recipe as my new favorite:

1T Avocado oil
2T baby shampoo
1/2tsp vitamin E oil (or one capsule broken open)
5 drops GSE
10 drops TTO
10 1/2 cups distilled water

You can adjust the recipe if you feel this makes too much, I just like to make a lot at once so I don't have to worry about it.

Tea Tree oil and grapefruit seed extract are both antibacterial and fungus fighting. Because this makes such a large batch, I like to have the essential oils in to be sure no bacterias can grow. Alternatively, GSE is wonderful against yeast. If you're fighting thrush or yeast diaper rash, up the GSE by a few drops.

I keep my solution in a spray bottle and wet each individual wipe before I use it. Soaking the wipes in solution and then storing them wet sets up the perfect breeding ground for nasty bacteria, so if you decide to pre moisten your wipes, add a bit extra tea tree oil to combat the bacteria (but be aware of your baby's sensitive skin!).

A few people have asked if I use disposable wipes for outside the home. I don't. Instead, I have a small bottle (a little plastic spray bottle from the travel section) full of solution and a couple wipes in the diaper bag for when we go out. Dirty wipes go in the wet bag and come home with us!

Let me know how this works for you! :)

Sizing of woven wraps

Woven wraps come in a variety of sizes, the most common being 2-7. Woven wraps are always sized in meters.

2: 2.6m (8.5ft)
3: 3.1m (10.2ft)
4: 3.6m (11.8ft)
5: 4.2m (13.7ft)
6: 4.6m (15.1ft)
7: 5.2m (17.1)

Why so many different sizes?

The length of the wrap will determine what carry you can do. Multi-pass carries require a longer wrap. Single-pass carries require a shorter wrap.

So how do I know what size to get?

Before purchasing your wrap, you need to determine your base size. Your base size is the size you can do every carry with, including carries with many passes, such as a front wrap cross carry (FWCC) or a double hammock (DH). The "average" person has a base size of a 6. If you consider yourself petite, your base is probably a 5. If you consider yourself to be plus size, then your base is probably a 7.

What about a "shorty"?

A shorty a term used for a short wrap. Short wraps are great for quick carries, such as a ruck, when you don't want long tails. The typical shorty is a size 2 or 3. My base is a 6 and I like using a size 3 as my shorty, because it gives me a little bit more versatility with my carries. Depending on your size (plus/petite) your shorty might be a 2 or a 4.

What about all the other sizes?

There are a few of  you might see that you need "one size up from your base", but for the most part when you are moving one size up or down from your base, the main difference is the way you tie off. For example, a DH carry in a size smaller than your base, you can tie at the shoulder instead of in front.

Here is a list of a few carries the averaged sized person can do with each size wrap. Each carry is linked to a YouTube tutorial. Many of these carries can be done in multiple sizes. If you see a carry listed under a size 3, that means it can also be done in a size 4, or 5, and so on.  Keep in mind, this changes whether you are petite or plus sized. There are many more carries than the ones I've listed. For a more comprehensive list, click here.

2

Rebozo,No Sew Ring Sling, Ruck Tied Under Bum

3

Rebozo, No Sew Ring Sling, Ruck Tied in Front, Robin's Hip Carry, Half Jordan's Back Carry 

4

Short Cross Carry, Kangaroo, Poppin's Hip Carry, Double Hammock (tied at the shoulder)

5

Petite base size carries

6

Average base size carries

Front Wrap Cross Carry, Back Wrap Cross Carry, Secure High Back Carry, Double Hammock, Front Cross Carry, Coolest Hip Cross Carry

7

Plus size base carries

Breaking in a woven wrap

Purchasing a woven wrap new is great. You don't have to worry about any undisclosed stains or rips, pets, smoke, or scents. All new wraps require some form of breaking in.

A broken in woven should:
Feel soft
Be floppy and moldable
Glide smoothly over itself without sticking
Knot easily

Breaking in a wrap essentially means breaking down the fibers, so anything that gets some friction going is going to help. So how do you break it in?

(Wrap pictured is Didymos Anthracite Hemp Indio, 5)

Twist it.
Loop the wrap over the edge of a railing. I use the crib (gotta use that thing for something!). Pull the tails so they are even, your middle marker should be on the railing.

Grab the tails and start to twist

Keep twisting until your wrap ends up in a little knot

Un twist and repeat! It's a great forearm workout!

Braid it.
Braiding a wrap is the same thing as a daisy chain. Tie one tail in a circle.

Stick your hand through the circle and grab the wrap

Pull the wrap through and repeat with your new loop.

Make a hammock.
Hammocks are fun! You can use a table like this mama does, but I use the crib. E was not into the hammock today, so here's what it looks like sans baby

Use it. 

Sorry, no action shots yet!

Of course, using your wrap is one of the best ways to break it in. If it's too stiff for a good wrap job, try one of the above tricks to soften it up first!

A few other ideas:
Steam iron (check the tag for heat settings)
Sit on it
Sleep with it (blanket)
Leave it under the couch cushions for a week
Tug o war
Run it through sling rings

Remember, breaking in a wrap is breaking down the fibers. Don't be afraid to rough it up a bit, it's made to last! (avoid sharp objects, of course)

Happy Babywearing!

Breastfeeding a newborn: My tips and tricks

My breastfeeding journey has not been an easy one. It was a lot of work for me to breastfeed my daughter, and I am very proud to have come this far. I had no help, so I had to figure things out on my own. I poured over tons of research and finally came out on top. Here's a little advice for breastfeeding your new baby.

The first few weeks are so hard. A newborn's stomach is teeny, and breast milk is digested quickly, so you nurse a lot. Embrace it. You are forming a wonderful bond with you new baby, and these first weeks are crucial to your breastfeeding experience. Avoid using a pacifier (if you can stand it) and absolutely avoid bottles until at least 6 weeks. I introduced a bottle at 3 weeks, and it was the cause of our downfall.

But I'm worried I'm not making enough milk. My baby constantly wants to nurse! That's good! Remember, newborns have teeny tiny stomachs, they need to nurse often. Your baby is also working on building up your milk supply. Breastfeeding is supply and demand. Your baby needs to nurse in order for you to make enough milk! If you are truly concerned, get in touch with a local lactation consultant (NOT your pediatrician), or WIC office. Ask to see someone with a baby scale. You can weigh your baby, feed them, then weigh again to see how many ounces they've taken. Reno locals, I highly recommend contacting someone at The Nurturing Nest. They are a great resource for you! (no, they didn't pay to me to say that, I just like them!)

My partner wants to bond with the baby also, so they need to give a bottle.
There are so many ways to bond with a new baby that don't involve sabotaging your nursing relationship. Have your partner take their shirt off, strip baby down to a diaper, and they can snuggle up on the comfy couch together under a blanket, basking in each other's newness. Assist your partner in a bath with the new babe: have them get in the bath first while you hand baby over. Let your partner have little squish snuggles in your carrier. All those are far more intimate than a bottle, anyway.

I'm tired! I want to sleep for a feeding during the night.
This is completely understandable. Hang in there mama. In a couple weeks, this will get so much easier. If you just stick it out a little while longer, you'll be far better off than a bottle feeding mama! Sitting up in bed to feed your little one takes far less effort than getting up to prepare a bottle in the middle of the night. You can do it! Practice side lying nursing, once your baby is a few weeks old (I felt comfortable at four weeks). You can relax when you are side lying, and you might even be able to fall asleep! Don't worry, breastfeeding moms have an acute awareness of their child. Be sure to follow the guidelines for safe co sleeping.

Have a basket or a bag you can easily bring with you anywhere in your house stocked with a few essentials:

• A water bottle (partner:this is your responsibility! Keep this full of icy cold water!) Breast milk is comprised almost completely of water! You should be used to drinking tons of water from your pregnancy, anyway, but staying hydrated is very important. 
• Non perishable snacks (granola bars, almonds, apples, beef jerky) Breastfeeding gives you a hunger you have not known before! Eating a good, solid meal may not happen as often as you'd like, so be sure to keep your strength up with healthy snacks. 
• Book/phone/tablet/eReader (and the charger!) Something to keep you entertained while you sit on your sore bum for hours on end. 
• Children's books (if you have other children) Your older child(ren) will likely be feeling a bit miffed at mommy spending so much time with the new baby. Having books handy to read to them, while you're nursing the baby will help everyone settle into the new routine better. 
• A pen and paper, or app on your phone, to keep track of which side you last nursed from. Keeping track of feedings themselves is not important. It's not important to nurse at a certain time for a certain number of minutes. It is important to switch back and forth between breasts (somewhat) equally, so your supply is built on both sides. It will be hard for your sleep deprived brain to remember which side was last. This paper or app would also be a good place to track wet/dirty diapers (a great way to tell if your baby is getting enough milk!) 
• Unrefined coconut oil For those sore nips, coconut oil does wonders. It is safe to apply as much as you want, and does not need to be washed off before baby nurses. 
• Nursing padsI recommend soft, cushy, re usable pads like these. Or, you could make them yourself, its easy! The disposable pads always stuck to my nipples when I leaked! It was like pulling off a band aid. Ouch!

Whew! That was a lot of information, but I hope that has helped you in some way.

Breastfeeding is hard work. You are an awesome mom for working so hard for your baby! Thank you for breastfeeding.

Hemp, cotton, silk--OH MY!

You've decided to give wrapping a go? Great! Time to choose your fabric!

Woven wraps can be made with many different types of fibers: Cotton, linen, silk, hemp, bamboo, and wool are the ones you will see most often.

Cotton
Cotton is the most common fiber you'll see a woven made from. Wraps almost always have cotton in them. It is cheap and easily accessible. Because of that, cotton wraps usually have a lower price point than other fibers (excluding handwoven wraps). Cotton is easy to care for. Usually soft right out of the package and requires little breaking in. Some find that cotton wraps aren't supportive enough for heavy babies or toddlers. Cotton tends to be on the warm side.

Linen
Linen is another common fiber. Linen is easy to take care of, although it wrinkles much easier and is prone to perma-creasing. Linen is supportive for heavier babies and toddlers. It is great for hot weather, as it is very breathable. The amount of effort required to break in linen varies from wrap to wrap. I've had a linen wrap that was soft after a wash, and I've had linen that needed a good beating before it softened. Although not terribly expensive (for the babywearing world anyway), linen-blend wraps will usually be priced higher than 100% cotton.

Silk
Silk is a less common fiber you'll find in a woven wrap. Silk wraps are hand wash only, and most must be dryed flat and out of sunlight (but always check the tag before washing/drying). Silk is generally better for smaller babies. It is wonderfully soft, but it often as a "silk smell" to it (that can only be described as the way silk smells!). Silk is not hard to break in, but it takes some time and effort for the smell to go away. Silk is better in cooler weather.

Hemp
Hemp is my favorite! Hemp wraps are rock solid for heavy babies and toddlers. Hemp is very easy to care for. Hemp requires effort to break in. The thicker the wrap, the harder it will be to beat into submission. If you're purchasing a thick hemp wrap (you can tell by the weight of the wrap) I'd suggest buying used if you can. Hemp wraps have a higher price point. Hemp is better in cooler weather.

Bamboo
Bamboo wraps are buttery soft. Woven wraps are typically made from bamboo vicose, which does take some special care. Bamboo is prone to shrinkage, so avoid heat. It must also not be submerged for more than 40 minutes, and air dryed (again, check your wrap's label before washing). Bamboo/cotton blends tend to get saggy with heavy babies. When blended with another fiber, such as hemp, you can get the wonderful softness of the bamboo with the solidity of the hemp (bamboo/hemp blends are pricey). Some say that bamboo is hot, I personally thought it was fine in warm weather.

Wool
Wool is surprisingly breathable during the warm weather! It's great for winter too, a year round wrap. Wool is hand wash only, and needs to be flat to dry. Taking care of your wool wrap is important, improper washing could lead to felting of your wrap, and felting is dangerous. When wool becomes felted, the weave is tightened up. A tight weave is prone to tearing, which you definitely don't want while wearing your baby! Wool wraps are great for big or small babies. Some do have a scratchy wool feel to them. No breaking in will change that, just the nature of the fiber.

A wrap can be 100% one fiber, or it can be a blend of fibers. The possibilities are almost endless. One fiber is not better than another. It truly is a personal preference and what suits your baby.